Software Alternatives & Startups

DEVONthink VS PrivacyNotes

Compare DEVONthink VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

DEVONthink logo DEVONthink

DEVONtechnologies develops DEVONthink, DEVONagent, and other Mac and iOS apps for document and information management and web research.

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
  • DEVONthink Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-15
  • 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.

DEVONthink

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

PrivacyNotes

$ Details
freemium $48 / One-off (Early adopter price)
Platforms
MacOS Web Firefox Google Chrome Edge Safari
Release Date
2026 June
Startup details
Country
Switzerland
Employees
1 - 9

DEVONthink features and specs

  • Organization
    DEVONthink offers powerful organization features, including tagging, hierarchal groups, and custom metadata, which make it easier to manage large datasets.
  • Search Capabilities
    The software has advanced search capabilities that use AI to provide highly relevant search results, making information retrieval fast and efficient.
  • File Format Support
    DEVONthink supports a wide range of file formats including PDFs, emails, and web archives, allowing users to store various types of data in a single repository.
  • Automation
    It offers robust automation options, including smart rules, scripts, and workflows, which can streamline repetitive tasks and improve productivity.
  • Data Security
    With built-in encryption and the ability to store data locally, DEVONthink ensures that user data remains secure and private.
  • Syncing
    DEVONthink offers secure syncing across multiple devices using their own sync technology, or through third-party services like iCloud and Dropbox.

Possible disadvantages of DEVONthink

  • Complexity
    The software can be complex and has a steep learning curve, which may require significant time investment to utilize its full potential effectively.
  • Cost
    DEVONthink is relatively expensive compared to some other note-taking or data management applications, which might not be justified for casual users.
  • Mac-Only
    The software is currently only available for macOS and iOS, limiting accessibility for users who are on other platforms like Windows or Linux.
  • Limited Collaboration
    While it has solid individual use features, the collaboration tools are limited compared to other platforms that focus on team-based work.
  • Resource Intensive
    Running DEVONthink can be resource-intensive, especially when dealing with large datasets, which might affect the performance of older or less powerful machines.

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 DEVONthink

Overall verdict

  • Overall, DEVONthink is considered a high-quality application for individuals and professionals who need comprehensive data management and organization solutions. Its deep feature set and flexibility make it worth considering for anyone serious about information management.

Why this product is good

  • DEVONthink is a robust personal information manager created by DEVONtechnologies. It is favored for its powerful document organization, indexing, and search capabilities. Users appreciate its ability to handle a wide range of file types, its advanced AI-based tools for data analysis, and its flexibility in customizing workflows. Additionally, DEVONthink offers strong security features, such as end-to-end encryption, which is crucial for users who prioritize data privacy.

Recommended for

  • Researchers who need to organize large volumes of documents and data.
  • Writers looking for a versatile platform to manage notes and drafts.
  • Professionals and academics requiring a secure place to store sensitive files.
  • Individuals interested in improving their digital organization and productivity.

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

DEVONthink videos

DEVONthink To Go for iOS: Review

More videos:

  • Review - MacVoices #19227: Joe Kissell Takes Control of DEVONthink 3
  • Tutorial - Devonthink Tutorial part 1

PrivacyNotes videos

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

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to DEVONthink and PrivacyNotes)
Note Taking
92 92%
8% 8
Journal
0 0%
100% 100
Todos
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
100 100%
0% 0

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing DEVONthink 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 DEVONthink and PrivacyNotes

DEVONthink Reviews

Top 15 Best Evernote Alternatives You Can Use
If you are one of those few people who has surpassed the limits of Evernote, and even it cannot fulfill all your needs, DEVONthink 3 is just for you. In fact, calling DEVONthink a note-taking app will be undermining its full potential as it’s not only a note-taking app, it’s also a full-blown document management system that can handle PDFs, links, and more. The app even has...
Source: beebom.com

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.

  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.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, DEVONthink seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 1 time 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.

DEVONthink mentions (1)

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 DEVONthink and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

CherryTree - A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

Obsidian - 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.

Cryptee - Cryptee is a safety and privacy focused, encrypted and cross-platform personal data storage service. You can write personal documents, notes, journals, store photos and all sorts of other files.

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

Zim Wiki - Zim is a graphical text editor used to maintain a collection of wiki pages. Each page can contain links to other pages, simple formatting and images.

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