Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Duo Security VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Duo Security VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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Duo Security logo Duo Security

Duo Security provides cloud-based two-factor authentication. Duo’s technology can be deployed to protect users, data, and applications from breaches, credential theft, and account takeover.

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
  • Duo Security 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.

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

Duo Security features and specs

  • Easy Integration
    Duo Security offers seamless integration with a wide range of applications and services, making it easier for organizations to implement multi-factor authentication (MFA).
  • User-Friendly
    The platform is designed with simplicity in mind, providing a straightforward user experience for both end-users and administrators.
  • Comprehensive MFA Options
    Duo supports a variety of authentication methods including push notifications, biometrics, and hardware tokens, giving users flexibility in how they authenticate.
  • Strong Security Features
    Duo incorporates advanced security features such as device health checks and endpoint visibility, enhancing the overall security posture of an organization.
  • Good Customer Support
    Duo Security is known for its responsive and knowledgeable customer support, helping organizations address issues quickly.
  • Scalability
    The platform can easily scale to accommodate organizations of varying sizes, from small businesses to large enterprises.

Possible disadvantages of Duo Security

  • Cost
    The service can be expensive compared to other MFA solutions, particularly for smaller organizations with limited budgets.
  • User Management Complexity
    Managing a large number of users can become complex, particularly in organizations with high employee turnover.
  • Dependency on Mobile Devices
    Many of Duo's authentication methods rely on mobile devices, which can be inconvenient or impractical for users without access to smartphones.
  • Learning Curve
    Despite being user-friendly, there is still a learning curve for administrators new to the platform, particularly for advanced features.
  • Internet Dependence
    The service requires a reliable internet connection to function properly, which can be a limitation in areas with poor connectivity.
  • Limited Offline Options
    Duo Security has limited options for offline authentication, which may pose challenges in environments where internet access is intermittent.

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

Duo Security videos

What is DUO Security 2FA and How it Works With Windows Remote Desktop

More videos:

  • Review - Powerful New Features from Duo Security
  • Review - An Introduction to Duo Security

PrivacyNotes videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Duo Security and PrivacyNotes)
Identity And Access Management
Journal
0 0%
100% 100
Two Factor Authentication
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Duo Security 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

Share your experience with using Duo Security and PrivacyNotes. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
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Reviews

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

Duo Security Reviews

20 Identity Management Solutions You Should Know
Used by WhatsApp and Etsy, Duo Security was designed with modern companies in mind. That means it prioritizes speed. The DuoMobile app, for instance, simplifies multi-factor authentication. Users can merely tap on a push notification instead of typing in an SMS code to complete their login. Duo also allows for a modern, mobile-friendly work culture by letting organizations...
Source: builtin.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, Duo Security seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 33 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.

Duo Security mentions (33)

  • Michigan bill would bar employers from requiring after-hours coms with workers
    Take for example a university. Many of them seem to use Duo[1], which is not something you can replace with Google Authenticator or other TOTP app. They require it for students as well as faculty and staff. Is it reasonable for them to have to provide a device to all those people, forcing them to carry two devices around, and then also deal with replacing lost or broken devices? The cost of this would simply be... - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • How to Enable Duo MFA on GCP Windows VMs for Compliance in 10 Minutes
    The Solution: There are not only one solution to achieve the goal, but this time we choose Cisco Duo as the MFA infrastructure. - Source: dev.to / 7 months ago
  • A list of SaaS, PaaS and IaaS offerings that have free tiers of interest to devops and infradev
    Duo.com — Two-factor authentication (2FA) for website or app. Free for ten users, all authentication methods, unlimited, integrations, hardware tokens. - Source: dev.to / over 2 years ago
  • Additional computer log-in protection
    You could use Duo - https://duo.com/. It can be set to require MFA when logging in locally or only when logging in via RDP (or both). It's free for up to 10 users. Source: over 3 years ago
  • [Data-Mining] Upcoming tunnels from the May 23 patch
    A quick google tells me that Duo is a 2FA service from Cisco. Maybe that's what Anet is using to manage the 2FA in the launcher behind the scenes? Source: over 3 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 Duo Security and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Google Authenticator - Google Authenticator is a multifactor app for mobile devices.

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.

Authy - Best rated Two-Factor Authentication smartphone app for consumers, simplest 2fa Rest API for developers and a strong authentication platform for the enterprise.

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

Lastpass - LastPass is an online password manager and form filler that makes web browsing easier and more secure.

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