WPS Office vs Joplin
Both are free office & productivity tools. Here is how they actually differ.
WPS Office and Joplin at a glance
| Feature | WPS Office | Joplin |
|---|---|---|
| Developer | Kingsoft | Joplin |
| Licence | Free tier | Open Source |
| Cost | Free tier | Free |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Mobile | Yes | Yes |
| Source code | Closed | Public |
WPS Office: what it's good at
WPS Office offers a well-designed, fast office suite with excellent Microsoft format compatibility and one of the best mobile document editors available. The free tier is fully usable, with ads and some premium features reserved for paid plans.
- Writer, Spreadsheets and Presentation
- Strong Microsoft Office compatibility
- Excellent Android and iOS apps
- Tabbed multi-document interface
Joplin: what it's good at
Joplin is an open-source note and to-do application with end-to-end encryption and the freedom to sync through whichever backend you prefer, including Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud or WebDAV. A strong option for anyone leaving a proprietary notes app.
- End-to-end encrypted synchronisation
- Sync via Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud or WebDAV
- Markdown notes with attachments
- Web clipper browser extension
Which should you choose?
Both are free, so the honest answer is that you can install either and decide for yourself — that is the advantage of free software over a paid trial.
Both run on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS. If open source matters to you, Joplin publishes its source code and WPS Office does not.
We deliberately do not publish a star rating for either. We have no way to verify a rating that would be honest at scale, and an invented one would be worse than none — so we give you the facts and let you decide.
Frequently asked questions
Is WPS Office better than Joplin?
Neither is universally better. WPS Office polished, lightweight office suite with a strong mobile version, while Joplin open-source encrypted notebook with flexible sync. The right pick depends on your platform and workflow.
Are both really free?
WPS Office is free tier and Joplin is open source. Both can be downloaded without paying.
Can I install both?
Yes. Since neither costs anything, installing both and comparing them on your own files is usually the fastest way to decide.