Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Double Commander VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Double Commander VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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Double Commander logo Double Commander

Double Commander is a cross-platform open source file manager with two panels side by side.

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
  • Double Commander Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-09-26
  • 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.

Double Commander

Pricing URL
-
$ 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

Double Commander features and specs

  • Cross-Platform
    Double Commander is available for multiple operating systems including Windows, Linux, and macOS. This makes it a versatile choice for users operating across different platforms.
  • Free and Open Source
    Double Commander is free to download and its source code is open to the public. Users can modify and redistribute it under the GPL license, making it a cost-effective and customizable option.
  • Two-Panel Interface
    The application features a two-panel interface, which allows users to view and manage files in two distinct directories simultaneously. This enhances productivity and streamlines file operations.
  • Plugin Support
    Double Commander supports Total Commander WCX, WDX, and WLX plugins, providing additional functionalities such as extended file operations and viewing capabilities.
  • FTP/SFTP Support
    It includes built-in support for FTP and SFTP protocols, allowing users to easily manage files on remote servers.
  • Customizable User Interface
    Users can customize the layout, colors, and various other aspects of the interface to suit their individual preferences.
  • Advanced Search Function
    Double Commander offers an advanced search feature with various filters, allowing users to find files quickly and efficiently.

Possible disadvantages of Double Commander

  • Steeper Learning Curve
    The two-panel interface and multitude of features may be overwhelming for new users, leading to a steeper learning curve.
  • Occasional Bugs and Instability
    As an open-source project, Double Commander may occasionally suffer from bugs and stability issues, though these are often addressed by the community.
  • Less Polished UI
    The user interface, while customizable, may not be as polished or modern-looking as some commercial file managers.
  • Limited Integration
    Compared to some commercial options, Double Commander may offer limited integration with other applications and services out of the box.

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 Double Commander

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Double Commander is a well-regarded file manager that can significantly improve file organization and management tasks, especially for users who prefer a Total Commander-like experience on Linux, Windows, or macOS.

Why this product is good

  • Double Commander is considered good due to its open-source nature, cross-platform support, and feature-rich environment. It offers a dual-pane interface, which enhances productivity by allowing users to easily manage files across different directories. Features such as tabbed browsing, an advanced search function, and the built-in file viewer/editor support diverse file formats, making it a versatile tool. Many users appreciate its customization options and support for WCX, WDX, and WLX plug-ins.

Recommended for

  • Users looking for a free, open-source alternative to Total Commander.
  • Those who frequently work with multiple files and directories and require efficient file management.
  • Users who prefer cross-platform tools that offer consistency across operating systems.
  • Individuals who appreciate customization and support for plug-ins to extend functionality.

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

Double Commander videos

Check Out Double Commander File Manager In Ubuntu 16.04

More videos:

  • Review - Context menu suggestion for Double Commander

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 Double Commander and PrivacyNotes)
File Manager
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
FTP Client
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Double Commander 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 Double Commander and PrivacyNotes

Double Commander Reviews

3 Popular Total Commander Analogs for Linux
Double Commander is one of the most popular file managers for Linux. It is open source and available for other operating systems. It is capable of viewing files in binary, hexadecimal and text formats. The developers have provided a text editor with syntax highlighting. The application works with archives and supports batch renaming.
Source: medium.com
The best file managers for your computer
This is a completely free code file manager, endowed with numerous functions that make it one of the preferred by users from all over the world. Double commander is unashamedly inspired by Total Commander.
Source: movilforum.com
8 Best Total Commander Alternatives & Competitors in 2022 (Free & Paid)
Double commander is a free cross platform open source file manager with two panels side by side. It is inspired by total commander.

PrivacyNotes Reviews

  1. 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, Double Commander seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 23 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.

Double Commander mentions (23)

  • GNU Midnight Commander
    [1]: https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io. - Source: Hacker News / 10 months ago
  • File Pilot: A file explorer built for speed with a modern, robust interface
    3. The rich infrastructure of viewers, add-ons that has been added by the community over decades and is supported by the open source alternative implementation https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ Any roadmap that has some of this on the list? Thanks for the cool work! - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • OpenBSD Desktop
    Take a look at double commander: https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/ However, if you use a desktop manager such as Xfce, the file manager (Thunar in this case) is built in and can be configured with traditional double window arrangement. - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • The case of the jump into the middle of an instruction from nowhere (2023)
    Well yeah, I mean no one forces you to use Explorer for file management under Windows. I'm an old-time Norton Commander user, and when Windows came around I switched to Total Commander. There are open-source alternatives too, even cross-platform ones, like this one: https://doublecmd.sourceforge.io/. That being said, no one forces you to use Windows either - except maybe your employer or the software... - Source: Hacker News / over 2 years ago
  • Creating a 'Proper Nouns' List
    Double Commander. Search Replace Multiple files. Source: over 2 years ago
View more

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 Double Commander and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Total Commander - A Shareware file manager for Windowsยฎ 95/98/ME/NT/2000/XP/Vista/7, and Windowsยฎ 3.1.

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

Midnight Commander - GNU Midnight Commander is a visual file manager, licensed under GNU General Public License and...

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

FreeCommander - FreeCommander is an easy-to-use alternative to the standard windows file manager. The program helps you with daily work in Windows. Here you can find all the necessary functions to manage your data stock.

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