Do these 3 things before closing this tab:
1Repair Windows errors before they cause bigger problems2Scan for outdated or missing drivers - takes under a minute3Clear out junk files and repair common Windows errorsDo not treat an open-source label as a security verdict. Before moving private notes, verify the app’s encryption design, device protections, recovery process, export and backup options, account controls, and the evidence behind its security claims. Then test those controls with disposable data before importing anything irreplaceable.
The right choice depends on what you are defending against: a provider reading synchronized data, a thief holding your phone, someone opening an already-unlocked computer, an account takeover, a malicious update, or accidental deletion. No single feature answers all of those risks.
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1. Define what “private” must mean for you
Write down the events you need the app to withstand. A person who steals an encrypted laptop is a different threat from a family member who can open your already-unlocked phone, and both differ from a cloud account takeover.
- Cloud inspection: You want the synchronization provider unable to read note content.
- Physical device access: You need full-device encryption, a strong operating-system passcode, and a short screen-lock timeout.
- An already-unlocked device: You need an application lock or another control that hides notes after the operating-system session is open.
- Account takeover: You need two-factor authentication, session visibility, revocation, and a recovery process that does not silently weaken encryption.
- Loss or deletion: You need exports and backups that you can restore without the service being available.
- Malicious or compromised updates: You need reproducible release practices, a trustworthy update path, and independent review where available.
Use this threat list when reading documentation. A feature that helps with one item should not be presented as protection against all of them.
#1 Best Overall
- FIPS 197 with XTS-AES 256-bit Encryption: Provides business-grade security with hardware-based encryption to protect your sensitive data
- Brute Force and BadUSB Attack Protection: Safeguards against unauthorized access attempts and malicious USB attacks with digitally-signed firmware
- Multi-Password Option with Complex/Passphrase modes: Offers flexible password configuration options to meet various security requirements and user preferences
- New Passphrase Mode: Enhanced security feature allowing users to create longer, more memorable password phrases for easier access without compromising protection
- Dual Read-Only (Write-Protect) Settings: Enables write protection functionality to prevent accidental data modification or deletion when needed
2. Check what open source actually tells you
Published source code allows inspection, but publication alone does not prove that the installed application is secure. The repository may not match the binary you downloaded, the code may contain vulnerabilities, or nobody independent may have reviewed the relevant parts.
Match the code to the app you install
- Identify the official client repository and confirm that it names the platforms and release you use.
- Check whether release tags, build instructions, and signed packages connect a published version to the source tree.
- Look for separate repositories for mobile clients, desktop clients, server components, and synchronization services. Open client code does not automatically mean the server is open.
- Read the issue tracker and release notes for security fixes, key-handling changes, and migrations.
Look for independent assurance
Independent audits are useful evidence only when the report is public, recent enough for the version you run, and clear about scope and unresolved findings. A security page for Standard Notes says audits were completed by Trail of Bits and Cure53; that is a vendor statement, so verify the actual reports, dates, and covered components before relying on it. An audit is a point-in-time examination, not a guarantee that later releases are safe.
Privacy Guides’ notebook criteria treat open-source clients as a minimum condition, alongside end-to-end encrypted cloud synchronization and export to a standard format. Those criteria are a screening tool, not a certification.
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3. Verify end-to-end encryption instead of assuming it
End-to-end encryption (E2EE) means data is encrypted on your device before synchronization and decrypted on authorized clients. Ask four separate questions: where encryption occurs, which objects it covers, what remains visible to the service, and whether it is enabled on every client and sync target.
| Question | What to establish | Why it matters |
|---|---|---|
| Where is encryption performed? | Confirm that keys and plaintext processing occur on the client before upload, rather than only encrypting a server disk. | Server-side encryption can still leave the provider able to read your notes. |
| What objects are covered? | Check note bodies, notebooks or folders, tags, attachments, images, and other resources individually. | A private note can leak through an unencrypted attachment or title. |
| What metadata remains visible? | Look for account identifiers, timestamps, file sizes, sharing data, search indexes, and device information. | E2EE may protect content while leaving useful activity details exposed. |
| What are the defaults? | Determine whether E2EE is automatic, optional, or unavailable for particular sync providers or clients. | A strong design that is disabled by default can still result in plaintext synchronization. |
Joplin’s documentation states that its E2EE covers notes, notebooks, tags, and resources. Notesnook’s help material describes encrypting each database item before synchronization, while explicitly presenting that page as an explanation rather than a formal specification. Treat those statements as claims to verify against the version and clients you actually use.
4. Configure encryption in the correct order
Configuration mistakes can defeat a sound design. Joplin is a clear example: E2EE requires deliberate setup and synchronization across devices.
- Choose one trusted device as the initial setup device and create the E2EE master-key password there.
- Enable E2EE in that client’s settings.
- Complete the first encrypted synchronization and wait for it to finish.
- On each additional device, sign in, synchronize, and confirm that the encrypted keys have arrived before editing private notes.
- Check the encryption status and sync logs on every client you use, including mobile and desktop installations.
- Do not enable E2EE on several devices in parallel during initial setup; Joplin’s guide warns that this can create conflicting key states.
Joplin’s documentation gives a blunt warning about the master-key password: “Make sure you do not forget it since, for security reason, it cannot be recovered.” Store the password in a secure password manager and keep an offline recovery record according to your threat model. Never assume that a normal account-password reset can decrypt E2EE data.
5. Separate server privacy from an unlocked-device problem
E2EE protects synchronized data from a provider that lacks your keys. It does not hide notes from somebody who can open an authorized client while your device is already unlocked. The client has to decrypt content for you, so malware, another logged-in user, or a person using your open session may be able to read it.
Rank #2
- Certified to FIPS 197 - High-level information security standard approved by the U.S. Government
- Brute-Force Password Attack Protection - Data is automatically erased after 6 failed access attempts. The data and encryption key are securely destroyed and the crypto drive is reset
- Rugged Double-Layer Waterproof* Design - Protects the crypto drive against knocks, drops, break-in and submerging in water. The electronics are shielded by a hardended inner case. The rubberised silicone outer casing provides a final layer of protection
- Auto-lock - The crypto drive will automatically encrypt all data and lock when removed from a PC/Mac or when the screen saver or "computer lock" function is activated on the host PC/Mac
- Secure Entry - Data cannot be accessed without the correct high-strength alphanumeric 8-16 character password. A password hint option is available. The password hint cannot match the password
Audit the endpoint controls
- Enable full-device encryption and a strong passcode or password at the operating-system level.
- Set an automatic screen lock and require the passcode after sleep or restart.
- Look for a separate application lock, biometric gate, or session timeout inside the notes app.
- Review who has administrator access to the computer and which mobile profiles can unlock the phone.
- Disable notification previews if note titles or text could appear on a lock screen.
Privacy Guides specifically notes that Joplin lacks an application or individual-note password/PIN, while also noting a mobile biometric app-lock option. Check the current behavior on your platform rather than assuming that a desktop and mobile client offer the same protection.
6. Understand recovery before importing irreplaceable notes
Privacy-oriented encryption often removes a provider’s ability to reset your keys. That improves confidentiality but makes recovery your responsibility.
Questions to answer
- What exact secret decrypts the data: an account password, a separate master password, a recovery key, or several items together?
- Can support staff reset access without seeing plaintext?
- What happens if you lose one device, all devices, or the account password?
- Can you change a compromised password without re-encrypting every note?
Joplin says its E2EE master-key password cannot be recovered. Notesnook warns that losing both the password and recovery key makes the notes unrecoverable. Preserve recovery material offline, protect it from unauthorized access, and test the documented process with a throwaway account before depending on it.
Run a restore drill
- Create a small test notebook containing text, an image, and an attachment.
- Export it using the app’s documented format.
- Remove the test data from one client or use a separate test account.
- Restore the export on a clean device or fresh profile.
- Open every item and verify formatting, attachments, timestamps, and links.
A recovery plan that has never been exercised is only an assumption.
7. Check offline use, exports, and backup encryption
Portability limits the damage from a service outage, account lockout, or product shutdown. Privacy Guides lists standard-format export and encrypted local backup or synchronization among its criteria, with encrypted local backup described as a best-case capability.
Joplin describes an offline-first design and stores notes in Markdown, giving you a readable format that can be copied or inspected without the application. Confirm whether your chosen app exports attachments, metadata, notebooks, tags, and embedded resources, not just note text.
Evaluate each backup path
- Application export: Identify the format, whether it is complete, and whether it is encrypted by default.
- Local database backup: Determine where it is stored, who can read it, and whether it contains keys or plaintext.
- Cloud backup: Check whether the backup service receives ciphertext or a decrypted database.
- Manual archive: Encrypt the archive independently and document the password or key location.
An encrypted USB drive or external SSD can hold an independently encrypted export offline, but it does not replace app encryption, endpoint security, or a tested restore procedure. Protect the drive, keep more than one copy when appropriate, and periodically verify that the archive still opens.
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Some open-source note apps let you choose among several synchronization targets or run without synchronization. Compare those options rather than treating “cloud sync” as a single feature.
Rank #3
- Certified to FIPS 197 - High-level information security standard approved by the U.S. Government
- Brute-Force Password Attack Protection - Data is automatically erased after 6 failed access attempts. The data and encryption key are securely destroyed and the crypto drive is reset
- Auto-lock - The crypto drive will automatically encrypt all data and lock when removed from a PC/Mac or when the screen saver or "computer lock" function is activated on the host PC/Mac
- Secure Entry - Data cannot be accessed without the correct high-strength alphanumeric 8-16 character password. A password hint option is available. The password hint cannot match the password
- SuperSpeed USB 3.0 - Transfer all your confidential files and folders faster than ever before. Works on both PC & Mac
- List every supported provider and determine whether E2EE works with each one.
- Check whether a self-hosted server receives only ciphertext or also receives searchable indexes and metadata.
- Review active sessions and revoke devices you no longer use.
- Enable two-factor authentication, preferably an option resistant to phishing when available.
- Understand whether account recovery can be completed without your encryption keys and what data remains inaccessible afterward.
Standard Notes’ security page describes optional TOTP two-factor authentication and session revocation. Verify those controls in the current product documentation and in your account before relying on them.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.9. Compare apps on the same axes
Do not compare one app’s encryption marketing with another app’s backup features. Use the same questions for every candidate.
| Evaluation axis | Evidence to record |
|---|---|
| Encryption scope and defaults | Objects protected, client-side timing, metadata exposure, and whether every device uses E2EE. |
| Local-device lock | Application PIN, biometric lock, session timeout, and behavior on desktop versus mobile. |
| Keys and recovery | Master password, recovery key, reset limitations, and consequences of losing credentials. |
| Synchronization | Whether sync is optional, supported targets, self-hosting choices, and ciphertext behavior. |
| Offline access | Whether notes remain readable without a network connection and how local caches are protected. |
| Export and restore | Standard formats, attachment handling, encryption of exports, and a successful test restore. |
| Code and audits | Repository-to-release correspondence, open client and server components, public audit scope, and report date. |
| Account controls | Two-factor authentication, session revocation, login recovery, and device management. |
How the documented examples fit
Joplin: An open-source, offline-first example with Markdown notes and several sync targets. Its E2EE is configuration-sensitive: you must enable it, establish the encrypted sync on one device, and then synchronize other devices in sequence. Its master-key password is not recoverable.
Notesnook: Its official help says clients encrypt data before sending it and explains its algorithms and recovery consequences. The same page says it is an explanatory document rather than a formal specification, so seek additional assurance when your threat model requires it. Its repository publishes client code and describes the project as open source.
Standard Notes: Its security page describes on-device encryption, open-source code, named audits, TOTP two-factor authentication, and app lock. Treat those as vendor claims until you have checked current reports, versions, and behavior yourself.
Privacy Guides’ criteria: An independent checklist favoring open-source clients, E2EE cloud synchronization, standard-format export, and—ideally—encrypted local backup or synchronization. Its notebook material, updated in 2025 with comparison information dating to 2022, also highlights the practical difference between server-side confidentiality and an app lock on an unlocked device.
10. Use this pre-migration checklist
- Write your threat model and decide which risks are unacceptable.
- Identify the exact client versions, repositories, release process, and server components involved.
- Document the encryption scope, defaults, metadata exposure, and supported sync targets.
- Enable E2EE on one test device and complete a full encrypted sync before adding others.
- Confirm an app lock or accept that the operating-system lock is your only endpoint barrier.
- Set up two-factor authentication, review active sessions, and record revocation steps.
- Create recovery material, store it safely offline, and verify what cannot be reset.
- Export a sample in a standard format and restore it on a clean device.
- Back up an encrypted copy independently and label the restore instructions.
- Only after these tests pass, migrate a small, noncritical set of private notes and observe the app’s behavior.
11. Warning signs that should stop a migration
- The app says it is “encrypted” but never states where encryption occurs or which objects are covered.
- E2EE is available only on one platform, one subscription tier, or one synchronization method you do not use.
- The repository, binary, and release notes cannot be connected to the version you installed.
- Audit references have no public report, date, scope, or remediation details.
- Recovery instructions are vague, or support can reset encryption without explaining the key implications.
- Exports omit attachments or produce a proprietary format you cannot open independently.
- The app has no application lock and your threat model includes people who may access an unlocked device.
- Backups are described as “secure” without saying whether they are encrypted before leaving the device.
The practical standard is evidence and successful tests, not a label. An open repository, E2EE design, and strong account controls can work together, but each protects a different part of the problem. Trust the app only after you have confirmed the controls on the devices, sync targets, and recovery paths you will actually use.
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