PrivacyNotes

PrivacyNotes brings notes, tasks, files, a vault, journals and bookmarks into one encrypted workspace. It is best suited to people who want private, searchable notes that remain usable offline and can be imported from several established apps. Its free tier is a practical starting point, but its two-device cap and small file allowance make the one-time Pro plan worth considering.

Overview

PrivacyNotes encrypts notes on the device before syncing them, using XChaCha20-Poly1305 with keys derived from a 12-word BIP-39 phrase. The synchronized copy is kept as encrypted blobs on servers in Zurich, Switzerland, rather than readable note text. This is a strong fit for users who want encryption before synchronization, but self-custody puts recovery in the user's hands: if the phrase is lost and no signed-in device remains, the company cannot restore the notes.

A vault can be created with a phrase and no email, or users can sign in with Google, Apple or GitHub. Provider sign-in supports server-held or device-only key custody, giving users a choice about where keys are held. PrivacyNotes has no AI features or background AI processing and does not train models on user content. Its web, desktop and mobile apps, along with their encryption code, are published on GitHub under the AGPL; security vulnerabilities can be reported by email, with coordinated disclosure offered when needed.

Key features

Notes, tasks, files, a vault, journals and bookmarks share one workspace. Free includes full-text search and tags, while local-first operation keeps reading, writing and searching available offline; changes sync when connectivity returns. That makes the app useful during travel or outages, though offline access does not remove the need to sync across devices.

Imports cover Apple Notes, Obsidian, Evernote, Standard Notes, Notesnook, UpNote, Google Keep, Simplenote, Samsung Notes, Apple Journal, Bitwarden, browser passwords, browser bookmarks and Markdown files. Google Keep checklists can become native task lists, and Markdown folders can be edited directly from desktop apps or supported desktop browsers. The breadth is valuable for consolidating existing material, while those specific conversion and editing workflows make it more than a basic notes-only destination.

Exports are supported in Markdown, JSON, HTML, PDF and encrypted backups. A browser demo runs without signup or email, makes no server calls, saves nothing and clears when the tab closes, so prospective users can explore the workspace without creating an account.

Pricing

PrivacyNotes is freemium, with no free trial. Free costs nothing, billed Free forever, with no credit card and no time limit. It includes notes, tasks, files, a vault, journal and bookmarks; sync across 2 devices; 5 MB per file; full-text search and tags; import and export; Burn After Reading; mood and wellness tracking; and dark and light mode. That is a substantial no-cost toolkit, but the device ceiling and file cap will constrain people using several devices or larger attachments.

Pro costs $48, paid once, billed Pay $48 once; its early-adopter price is locked before it rises to $89. It includes everything in Free, unlimited devices, the last 20 note versions, read-only notes, PIN-protected notes, wellness analytics and export, Zen mode, extra themes, 500 MB storage and 50 MB per file. The one-time price suits users who need wider sync and larger attachments without a recurring bill; the main trade-off is that Free users give up those higher limits and Pro tools. Free is the better fit for a small, light personal workspace.

Platforms

PrivacyNotes runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, the web and Windows. That range makes it a reasonable choice for people mixing mobile and desktop devices, though Free sync is capped at two devices.

Who it's for

Choose PrivacyNotes if you want a single offline-capable home for notes and adjacent personal material, need broad import options, or value a no-email vault and encrypted synchronization. It is less suitable for anyone who may be unable to safeguard a recovery phrase while using self-custody, or whose free workflow needs more than two synced devices or files above 5 MB.

Pros and cons

• Pros: Device-side encryption and encrypted synchronized blobs keep readable note text off the server.
• Pros: Offline reading, writing and search continue through a lost connection, with changes syncing again later.
• Pros: Wide-ranging imports and multiple export formats make it easier to move material in or out.
• Pros: A free plan has no time limit or card requirement, and the browser demo needs no signup.
• Cons: Under self-custody, losing the phrase without a signed-in device makes notes unrecoverable by the company.
• Cons: Free sync covers only two devices and limits files to 5 MB each.
• Cons: Pro's stated early-adopter price is set to rise from $48 to $89, so its one-time price is not permanent for future buyers.

Alternatives

Secure Notes Apps is a useful starting point if you want to compare the category rather than choose a single app immediately.

Choose Notesnook if its free plan's 50 MB storage per month and 10 MB maximum file size better suit your attachment needs; it also offers a free trial. Cryptee is another freemium option on the same broad set of platforms, with a free tier of 100 MB and software and cryptography it says can be reviewed independently. Standard Notes may suit readers who prefer unlimited device sync and plain-text notes on its free Standard plan, which also includes offline access.

Dash is a free option with ongoing Web PWA and iPhone use, offline support and no account requirement. Notyra is free forever, requires no account to begin and says every line of code is auditable. Choose Turtl if its Basic plan's three collaborators per Space and 50 MB storage better match a collaborative setup; Premium is $3 a month for 10GB note storage. Binderus offers a free desktop app with every feature included and no account required, while Paste is a free, open-source option for Linux, macOS and Windows.

Verdict

PrivacyNotes is a good choice for people who want an encrypted, offline-ready personal workspace with broad import support and a generous free starting point. Pro makes the most sense when two-device sync or 5 MB attachments are too restrictive. Look elsewhere if you cannot reliably protect a self-custody phrase or need a recovery route that does not depend on a signed-in device.