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Best Secure Notes Apps in 2026
Secure notes apps help you keep personal writing and reference material while considering how notes are protected, accessed, and moved. Compare encryption models with offline access, file attachments, and export formats to assess practical fit. Open-source status, supported platforms, and free-plan availability provide other comparison points, while paid-from pricing indicates where costs begin. Notesnook, Cryptee, and PrivacyNotes are among the options, alongside Standard Notes and Dash. Weigh the safeguards and portability features you want against the platforms and note-taking capabilities you rely on.
- 30 apps
- Research read 23 Sept 2026
- How the order is worked out
- 1
Cryptee
Free plan Open source AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Cryptee pairs photo and video storage with a capable encrypted editor, including offline use and several import paths. Its free plan is small at 100 MB, with paid capacity starting at €3/mo for 10 GB.
- 2
PrivacyNotes
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIiPhone+4PrivacyNotes combines offline access, encrypted sync and broad import options in one personal workspace.
- 3
Turtl
Free plan Open source AndroidAPIExtension+4Turtl combines collaborative Spaces, note organization, and on-device encryption, with self-hosting and profile export as additional options.
- 4
- 5
Dash
Free plan AndroidiPhoneMac+1Dash combines offline notes, device-side encryption and local AI support, with free web and iPhone options.
- 6
Binderus
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsBinderus pairs a Markdown-based workflow with local storage choices, desktop exports, and third-party sync options.
- 7
Joplin
Free plan AndroidExtensioniPhone+5Joplin combines offline notes, multiple sync options, and end-to-end encryption. Its paid plans set storage and file-size limits, so check those against the material you plan to keep.
- 8
Nolio
Free plan AndroidLinuxMac+2Nolio combines local encrypted storage with a broad editor and multiple ways to organize notes. The master password is critical, and users must manage recovery through encrypted backups.
- 9
- 10
Notyra
Free plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+2Notyra centers on local, offline notes with device-side encryption and optional sync.
- 11
OpenVLT
Free plan LinuxMacSelf-hosted+1OpenVLT combines Markdown-based notes with canvas tools and flexible organization views.
- 12
Cipher Notes
Free plan AndroidCipher Notes keeps encrypted notes on-device and offers offline access without accounts or cloud sync. Keep passwords safe, since lost passwords make notes undecryptable.
- 13
Lockpad
Free plan Self-hostedWebLockpad offers a self-hosted, single-person notes setup with organization, search, encryption, and import and export options.
- 14
QOwnNotes
Free plan AndroidAPIExtension+5QOwnNotes centers on local Markdown files, with editing, import, and encryption features for working with them.
- 15
Crypto Notepad
Free plan WindowsCrypto Notepad pairs familiar text-editing functions with locally encrypted files and portable use. Its main caveat is limited ongoing support, with only critical bug fixes planned.
- 16
Paste
Free plan LinuxMacWindowsPaste combines offline notes and clipboard syncing with on-device encryption and open-source components. Its desktop setup depends on Pear, while mobile versions are still in development.
- 17
MadNotes
Free plan WebMadNotes offers a focused way to write and organize Markdown notes, with a local free option and paid sync features.
- 18
Standard Notes
by Standard NotesFree plan AndroidiPhoneLinux+3Standard Notes covers plain-text note keeping in its free plan, with offline access and device sync. Paid plans add editing features, revision history, storage, and account capacity.
- 19
NoteSR
Free plan AndroidNoteSR focuses on private, offline Android note-taking with encrypted storage and backups.
- 20
VaultNote
Free plan AndroidExtensionLinux+1VaultNote combines local encrypted note-taking with optional GitHub synchronization, bookmark saving, and Markdown export.
- 21
NULVEX
Free plan AndroidChoose NULVEX if you want an Android IRC client with multi-network connections, encryption, proxy options, and scripting.
- 22
Safe Notes
Free plan LinuxWindowsChoose Safe Notes if you want a local, offline application for private information and its included encryption and file tools.
- 23
SecNotes
Free plan AndroidWebChoose SecNotes if you want Android notes, spreadsheets, and checklists with several lock options and organized folders.
- 24
SilentNotes
Free plan AndroidWindowsSilentNotes combines offline notes, flexible sync options, and an encrypted safe on Android and Windows.
- 25
Snug
Free plan AndroidiPhoneChoose Snug if you want device-stored notes, offline access, and a free plan with unlimited notes and PDF export. Look elsewhere if you need a platform beyond Android or iOS.
#1Places #1, #2, #3, #4, #5 on this list can be bought by the makers of the software on it. See the price