Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Boostnote VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Boostnote VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

Boostnote logo Boostnote

Boostnote is an open-source note-takingโ€‹ app.

PrivacyNotes logo PrivacyNotes

Zero-knowledge encrypted notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords in one app. Your keys never leave your device. One-time price, no subscription. Hosted in Switzerland.
Visit Website
  • Boostnote Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-02
  • PrivacyNotes Journal
    Journal //
    2026-06-25
  • PrivacyNotes Settings
    Settings //
    2026-06-25
  • PrivacyNotes Website
    Website //
    2026-06-25

PrivacyNotes is a zero-knowledge encrypted workspace that brings your notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords into one app, so you stop juggling four separate subscriptions.

Everything is encrypted on your device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before it ever syncs. Your keys are derived from a recovery phrase that never touches our servers, so we cannot read your content, your filenames, or anything else. This is real zero-knowledge, not a marketing label.

Five pillars, one encrypted app:

  • Notes - a live markdown editor with note-to-note links, tags, and fast full-text search
  • Tasks - native checklists and task management next to your notes
  • Journals - daily entries with built-in mood, sleep, and medication tracking
  • Files - an encrypted vault for images, audio, and attachments
  • Vault - lock sensitive notes and logins behind a PIN or biometrics

Built for privacy, not surveillance:

  • No ads, no trackers, no analytics, ever
  • Sign in anonymously with a recovery phrase or with Google. No email or personal details required.
  • Open core: the encryption layer and database schema are published for independent review
  • Burn notes: self-destructing shares the server cannot read

Pricing that respects you:

  • Free covers every pillar with two-device sync and offline use
  • Pro is a one-time free, not a subscription, adding unlimited devices, note history, and more storage
  • Optional storage add-ons when you need them

Works on web, macOS, and soon iOS, Android, Windows and Linux with a responsive mobile layout. Import from Apple Notes, Standard Notes, Google Keep, Obsidian, and markdown in a few clicks.

Boostnote

$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

PrivacyNotes

$ Details
freemium $48.0 / One-off (Early adopter price)
Platforms
MacOS Web Firefox Google Chrome Edge Safari
Release Date
2026 June
Startup details
Country
Switzerland
Employees
1 - 9

Boostnote features and specs

  • Open Source
    Boostnote is an open-source application, allowing users and developers to review the code, contribute to its development, and ensure transparency.
  • Cross-Platform
    The application is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that users can access their notes from any device.
  • Markdown Support
    Boostnote supports Markdown, enabling users to format their notes with ease and create well-structured documents.
  • Offline Access
    Users can access and edit their notes even without an internet connection, making Boostnote a reliable tool for note-taking anywhere.
  • Developer-Friendly Features
    Boostnote includes several features aimed at developers, such as code syntax highlighting and snippets, making it a good choice for coding notes.

Possible disadvantages of Boostnote

  • Limited Collaboration
    Boostnote lacks robust collaboration features, which can be a drawback for teams looking to work together on shared notes in real-time.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    The mobile apps of Boostnote are not as feature-rich or polished as the desktop versions, which may limit usability on smartphones and tablets.
  • Complex Setup for Syncing
    Setting up syncing across devices requires the use of external services like Dropbox or Google Drive, which can be cumbersome for some users.
  • No Built-in Cloud Storage
    Unlike some other note-taking apps, Boostnote does not come with built-in cloud storage, requiring users to manage their own storage solutions for syncing notes.
  • Potential Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly with larger notes or extensive use of code snippets, which can impact the user experience.

PrivacyNotes features and specs

  • Privacy-focused
    PrivacyNotes is designed with privacy as a core principle, aiming to keep your notes secure and away from third-party access, which appeals to users concerned about data confidentiality.
  • Encryption
    The service typically emphasizes encryption to protect note content, meaning your data is scrambled and less vulnerable to unauthorized reading if intercepted or stored.
  • Ephemeral notes
    Many privacy note services offer self-destructing or temporary notes that automatically delete after being read or after a set time, reducing the digital footprint left behind.
  • Simple and lightweight
    Such tools often provide a clean, minimal interface focused on quick note creation and sharing without unnecessary features, making it easy to use.
  • No account required
    Privacy-oriented note apps frequently allow you to create and share notes without registration, lowering the barrier to entry and reducing personal data collection.

Analysis of Boostnote

Overall verdict

  • Boostnote is a good choice for developers who need a robust note-taking tool that caters specifically to their coding and technical documentation needs. Its open-source nature also allows for customization according to individual user preferences.

Why this product is good

  • Boostnote is a popular open-source note-taking application aimed at developers and programmers. It supports a variety of programming languages for syntax highlighting, Markdown support for structuring notes, and offline access, which are beneficial for users who need to manage code snippets or technical documents efficiently. Its cross-platform nature makes it accessible on different devices, although it might not have the collaborative features found in other note-taking apps like Evernote or Notion.

Recommended for

    Boostnote is recommended for developers, programmers, and technical writers who require a focused tool for managing code snippets, technical notes, and markdown documents. Itโ€™s especially valuable for those who prioritize offline access and open-source customization options.

Analysis of PrivacyNotes

Overall verdict

  • I don't have verified, specific information about PrivacyNotes (privacynotes.app) to make a reliable assessment of its quality, security practices, or features. I cannot confirm details about its encryption methods, privacy policy, company background, or user reviews.

Why this product is good

  • Unable to verify claims about encryption or zero-knowledge architecture without independent confirmation
  • No access to current user reviews, ratings, or reputation data for this specific service
  • Cannot confirm company legitimacy, ownership, or track record
  • Unable to verify uptime, reliability, or actual security audit results
  • No information available on pricing structure or terms of service specifics

Recommended for

  • Before using, research independently via security audit reports if available
  • Check for third-party security reviews or penetration testing results
  • Verify the company's privacy policy and data handling practices directly on their site
  • Look for user reviews on independent platforms rather than relying on marketing claims
  • Consider established, well-audited alternatives if handling highly sensitive information

Boostnote videos

Best Note Taking Software - Boostnote (Free)

PrivacyNotes videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Boostnote and PrivacyNotes)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Personal Notes
0 0%
100% 100
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Boostnote and PrivacyNotes.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

Honestly? We have no idea, and that is the entire point. Signup is anonymous (a recovery phrase or Google, no email or personal details), the app ships zero analytics and zero trackers, and zero-knowledge encryption means we cannot see who you are or what you store. We could not name a single customer if we tried. A privacy product that tracked its users closely enough to brag about them would be missing the plot.

What makes your product unique?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

PrivacyNotes is the only zero-knowledge encrypted workspace that keeps notes, tasks, journals, files, and a password vault behind one set of on-device keys. Most privacy apps do one of those well and rent it to you monthly. We do all five, encrypt everything with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before it leaves your device, and charge once instead of forever. The encryption core is open core, published so the claims can be verified rather than trusted.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

Three reasons:

  • One app, not four subscriptions. Standard Notes, Day One, and Lunatask each rent you a slice (notes, journaling, tasks). PrivacyNotes covers all of them plus files and a vault, for a fair one-time fee.
  • Real zero-knowledge. Your keys come from a recovery phrase that never touches our servers, so we cannot read your notes, your filenames, or your metadata. Some encrypted apps leave note or task metadata in the clear; we do not.
  • Verifiable, not just trusted. The crypto and schema are open core and published for review, and there is no ad, tracker, or analytics anywhere in the app.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

Privacy-conscious individuals and independent professionals who handle information they would not want a vendor reading: lawyers, journalists, healthcare and mental-health practitioners, developers, security specialists, researchers, and founders. It also fits anyone who simply wants one private home for their notes, tasks, journaling, and wellness tracking instead of spreading them across surveillance-funded apps.

Which are the primary technologies used for building your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

React, TypeScript, Vite and Tailwind CSS.

What's the story behind your product?

PrivacyNotes's answer:

PrivacyNotes started from a simple frustration: staying organized meant scattering your life across half a dozen apps, most of which could read everything you typed and billed you monthly for the privilege. We wanted one place for notes, tasks, journals, files, and passwords, encrypted so thoroughly that the people running the servers could not read a word of it, and paid for once rather than forever. So we built the encryption first, made the keys live only on your device, and published the crypto as open core so the promise could be checked, not just believed. Everything else grew from one rule: your data is yours, and no one else's to mine.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Boostnote and PrivacyNotes

Boostnote Reviews

8 Best Free Google Keep Notes Alternatives for Easy Note-Taking
Boostnote is a note-taking app designed specifically for coders. It supports rich text and markdown language, making it ideal for writing code snippets. Boostnote offers real-time cloud sync and support for over 100 programming languages. It works on all major desktop platforms and is free to use.
The 7 Best Note-Taking Apps for Programmers and Coders
The best part about Boostnote is that itโ€™s free and open source, itโ€™s cross-platform, and your notes will sync across all platforms you use Boostnote on.

PrivacyNotes Reviews

  1. FossFox
    Feature rich

    The best thing about this: No subscription model, it's a one-time fee for a lifetime license. But you can start for free with the generous freemium model. I only needed to upgrade to pro because I wanted to use the app on my phone, laptop and desktop. Highly recommended! Btw, it's a perfect markdown editor as well, not sure why they don't emphasize this more.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Boostnote seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 6 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Boostnote mentions (6)

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PrivacyNotes mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PrivacyNotes yet. Tracking of PrivacyNotes recommendations started around Jun 2026.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Boostnote and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Joplin - Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

Standard Notes - A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

Apple Notes - Apple Notes functions as a service for making short text notes.

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

Simplenote - The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.