Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Decipher TextMessage VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Decipher TextMessage VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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Decipher TextMessage logo Decipher TextMessage

Save your iPhone text messages to your computer. Print iPhone text messages as a PDF. Save and print iPhone text messages for court, trial, business, or personal needs.

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
  • Decipher TextMessage Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-19
  • Decipher TextMessage Decipher TextMessage - Save and Print iPhone Text Messages
    Decipher TextMessage - Save and Print iPhone Text Messages //
    2023-12-15
  • Decipher TextMessage Decipher TextMessage - Exported PDF example of iPhone text messages
    Decipher TextMessage - Exported PDF example of iPhone text messages //
    2023-12-15

Decipher TextMessage is software for saving and printing iPhone text messages on any Windows or Mac computer. The program is used worldwide to print text messages for personal and business needs. Users can export and print iPhone text messages as a PDF. The software also lets users search for keywords across all text messages and a user can export messages by date range. Decipher TextMessage is also the premier software for saving and printing iPhone text messages for court, trial, or other legal needs. Product testimonials for Decipher TextMessage can be read at https://deciphertools.com/testimonial.html

  • 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.

Decipher TextMessage

$ Details
paid Free Trial $29.99 / One-off
Platforms
MacOS Windows
Release Date
2012 January

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

Decipher TextMessage features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Decipher TextMessage offers a straightforward and intuitive interface that simplifies the process of backing up and exporting text messages.
  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    The software is compatible with both macOS and Windows, making it accessible to a broader range of users.
  • Backup and Export Features
    It allows users to efficiently back up and export their text messages, along with attachments, from their iPhones, which is useful for record-keeping or transferring data.
  • Privacy and Security
    Decipher TextMessage values user privacy and does not send or store data on external servers, ensuring data security.
  • Focus on iOS Devices
    It is specifically designed to handle iOS device messages, providing specialized support compared to more generalized data extraction tools.

Possible disadvantages of Decipher TextMessage

  • Cost
    The software is not free, which might be a barrier for users looking for a no-cost solution to manage their text messages.
  • Limited to iOS
    Decipher TextMessage primarily works with iOS devices, which means it isnโ€™t useful for users looking to back up messages from Android devices.
  • Dependency on iTunes Backup
    The software relies on iTunes backups to extract messages, which requires users to have knowledge of and access to their iTunes backups.
  • Extracted Format
    While it exports messages well, users seeking more customization in the exported format might find their options limited compared to other tools.
  • Technical Limitations
    Users with more complex technical requirements or those experiencing deep technical issues might find the need for a software tool with more advanced features beyond basic message extraction.

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 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

Decipher TextMessage videos

How Print iPhone Text Messages for Court

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Print iPhone Text Messages

PrivacyNotes videos

No PrivacyNotes videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Decipher TextMessage and PrivacyNotes)
iPhone
100 100%
0% 0
Journal
0 0%
100% 100
Device Management
100 100%
0% 0
Private Journal
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Decipher TextMessage 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 Decipher TextMessage and PrivacyNotes

Decipher TextMessage Reviews

  1. Lauren Handler
    ยท V.P. at Handler Associates ยท
    Great software!

    Decipher Text Message helped me print and save my text messages for a legal case. Super easy to use and the price was great. Simple program that worked well for my needs when I was in a bind to produce text messages.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Its flexible and easy to use

PrivacyNotes Reviews

  1. Everything I Needed in One App

    This app checks every box for me. Clean interface, no learning curve, local-first encryption, and secure sync across all of my devices.

    The biggest surprise is how many apps it replaced. Instead of juggling separate apps for notes, habits, mood, activities, and important dates, everything lives in one place now. It's made staying organized a lot simpler.

    Paying once and knowing I won't lose access to my workflow because I canceled yet another subscription is incredibly refreshing. That peace of mind is worth a lot to me.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Capacities, Evernote, Notion, Obsidian.md
  2. 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.

What are some alternatives?

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

iMazing - iMazing lets you transfer music, files, messages, apps and more from any iPhone, iPad, or iPod to a computer, Mac or PC. Manage and backup your iOS device simply without iTunes. (was DiskAid)

Obsidian.md - A second brain, for you, forever. Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files.

Touch Copy - TouchCopy allows you to transfer all your iPhone content back to your PC or a Mac. You can backup your Music, Photos, Videos Contacts and other media from your iPhone, iPad or iPod, as well as save and print your iPhone Messages.

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

TextPort - TextPort allows you to export text messages from any messaging app on your iPhone to PDF or Excel.

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