PrivacyNotes is an end-to-end encrypted workspace for notes, tasks, files, a vault, journals and bookmarks. Notes are encrypted on the device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before synchronization, using keys derived from a 12-word BIP-39 phrase. Reading, writing and searching work offline; changes sync when connectivity returns. The synchronized copy is kept on servers in Zurich, Switzerland, as encrypted blobs rather than readable note text. Users can create a vault with a phrase and no email, or sign in with Google, Apple or GitHub and select server-held or device-only key custody. Imports cover numerous note, journal, password and bookmark services, as well as Markdown files. The web, desktop and mobile apps and encryption code are published on GitHub under the AGPL. The free plan is 0.00 USD per free, billed Free forever; Pro is 48.00 USD per once. With self-custody, the company cannot recover notes if the phrase is lost and there is no signed-in device.
Who it is for
PrivacyNotes may suit people who want encrypted notes and related personal materials across devices, including offline access. Its self-custody option is for users prepared to keep their recovery phrase safe.
What is good
- Reading, writing and searching work offline
- Encrypted synchronization stored in Zurich
- Create a vault without an email address
- Imports from many note and password services
- Apps and encryption code published under the AGPL
What to know first
- Losing the self-custody phrase can make notes unrecoverable
- Free plan syncs across 2 devices
- Free plan limits each file to 5 MB
- No free trial
Verdict
PrivacyNotes combines offline access, encrypted sync and broad import options in one personal workspace. Choose its self-custody route only if you can protect the recovery phrase, since the company cannot restore notes without it.
PrivacyNotes plans and pricing
All plansCompared on secure notes apps
- Free plan
- Yes
- Encryption model
- end_to_end
- Offline access
- Yes
- Open source
- Yes
- File attachments
- Yes
- Supported platforms
- Web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
- Export formats
- Markdown, JSON, HTML, PDF, encrypted backups
