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Tool review — Clippers & Capture · Updated

Joplin Web Clipper Review (2026)

Clips pages into open-source Joplin notes app

Free; Joplin Cloud from €2.99/mo

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What is Joplin Web Clipper?

Joplin Web Clipper is the official browser extension for Joplin, the open-source note-taking app created by Laurent Cozic and launched in 2016. Available for Chrome and Firefox, it saves web pages and screenshots as notes directly into the Joplin desktop app, communicating with it through a local service rather than a cloud intermediary. Notes are stored in an open Markdown-based format and can sync across Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS via Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a self-hosted server, with optional end-to-end encryption. The same local Web Clipper service also exposes an API that external applications can use to create, modify, or delete notes and notebooks. The clipper itself is free and fully open source.

Key features

Where it saves to

Joplin notes app (local Markdown notes) · Your own sync target (Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, self-hosted server)

Pricing

The Web Clipper extension and the Joplin app are free and open source; you can sync for free using Dropbox, OneDrive, or your own server. Joplin Cloud, the optional managed sync service, starts at €2.99/mo (€2.40/mo billed yearly) for the Basic plan with 2GB storage, with Pro at €5.99/mo (30GB) and Pro 100GB at €9.99/mo. A Teams plan costs €7.99/user/mo, and a 50% education discount is offered.

Best for

Privacy-conscious users and open-source enthusiasts who want web clippings saved into a Markdown notes app they fully control, with self-hosted or free sync options instead of a proprietary cloud.

Pros

  • Completely free and open source, with data in an open Markdown format
  • No forced cloud — clips go to the local desktop app and sync via a service you choose, including self-hosted
  • Optional end-to-end encryption for synced notes
  • Local API lets other tools automate note creation beyond the browser extension

Cons

  • Requires the Joplin desktop app to be installed and running — the extension cannot clip to the cloud on its own
  • Only Chrome and Firefox extensions are offered; no Safari support
  • Setup relies on a local service and port, which firewalls or proxies can block, adding troubleshooting overhead

Alternatives to Joplin Web Clipper

Zotero

Research manager with browser connector for saving sources

Free + storage from $20/yr

GoFullPage

One-click full-page screenshot capture in Chrome

Free + $1/mo

FAQ

Is Joplin Web Clipper free?

Yes. The Web Clipper extension and the Joplin app are free and open source. You only pay if you choose Joplin Cloud for managed sync, which starts at €2.99/mo; syncing via Dropbox, OneDrive, or your own server costs nothing.

Does Joplin Web Clipper work with Firefox?

Yes. The extension is available for both Firefox and Chrome. It communicates with the Joplin desktop app through a local service, so the desktop app must be installed and running.

Do I need the Joplin desktop app to use the Web Clipper?

Yes. The clipper sends pages and screenshots to the Joplin desktop application via a local service enabled in Joplin's Web Clipper settings, so it does not work standalone or clip directly to the cloud.

Where does Joplin Web Clipper save my clips?

Clips are saved as notes in the Joplin desktop app in an open Markdown-based format. From there they can sync to your other devices via Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or a self-hosted server, optionally with end-to-end encryption.

Where Joplin Web Clipper fits

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