Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Evernote VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Evernote VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

Evernote logo 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.

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
  • Evernote Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-18
  • 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.

Evernote

$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
2000 January
Startup details
Country
United States
State
California
Founder(s)
Phil Libin
Employees
250 - 499

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

Evernote features and specs

  • Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Evernote is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, ensuring that users can access their notes from any device.
  • Organizational Tools
    Evernote provides a range of organizational tools such as notebooks, tags, and a powerful search feature to help users keep their notes well-organized.
  • Web Clipper
    The Evernote Web Clipper allows users to save web pages, articles, and screenshots directly to their Evernote account, making it easier to gather and organize online resources.
  • Collaboration Features
    Evernote supports collaboration, enabling users to share notes and notebooks with others, which is useful for team projects and group work.
  • Integration with Other Apps
    Evernote integrates with a variety of third-party applications such as Google Drive, Outlook, and Slack, enhancing its functionality and ease of use.

Possible disadvantages of Evernote

  • Cost
    Evernote offers a free version, but its premium features and higher storage limits come at a subscription cost, which may be a drawback for budget-conscious users.
  • Learning Curve
    New users may find Evernote's extensive features and options overwhelming at first, requiring some time to fully understand and utilize all its capabilities.
  • Syncing Issues
    Some users have reported occasional syncing problems, where changes made on one device are not immediately reflected on others.
  • Limited Offline Access
    The ability to access notes offline is restricted in the free version, which may be inconvenient for users who often work without internet access.
  • Privacy Concerns
    There have been concerns about the privacy and security of the data stored in Evernote, as it involves uploading personal information to their servers.

PrivacyNotes features and specs

No features have been listed yet.

Evernote videos

10 Reasons why You Should Be Using Evernote in 2019

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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 Evernote and PrivacyNotes)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Private Photo Vault
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
100 100%
0% 0
File Encryption
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Evernote 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 Evernote and PrivacyNotes

Evernote Reviews

  1. Olivia_Sass
    Simple and efficient app

    The app helps keep everything organized and is really easy to use. Iโ€™ve been using it for a while now, and I really like it.

  2. Boyd Richardson
    ยท Writer at SE ยท

    If you're someone who likes to keep everything in order and easily accessible, you'll want to check out the Evernote app. This app is designed to help you keep track of all your notes, ideas, and to-do lists in one place, and it does so with style.

    From my experience using the app, I found that it's incredibly user-friendly and has a sleek design. You can easily create notes, organize them into notebooks, and even add tags to make it easier to find what you're looking for later on. Whether you're a student trying to keep track of your class notes or a busy professional juggling multiple projects, Evernote has you covered.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Notion
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    High capabilities|Supports multiple languages|Syncs|Easy integration
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Free plan with limited options|Syncing issue
  3. Deepak Kumar
    ยท Technical Reviewer at Screenshot Chrome Extensions ยท
    Intuitive Software

    The thing that I personally like about Evernote is that before I have used word as my note taking application, than on my smartphone I have had used Google Keep and so my notes were just unorganized mess. But with Evernote now I can have my notes at one place and unified. Also the fact that I can log to another device and my notes are "just there" is really nice. And also I like graphics user interface of Evernote.

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Easy to use|Saves a ton of time|Sync across all my devices|Chrome extension available
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Few webpages takes time to load|Paid plan to use on multiple devices

Quick, Clear Ways to Edit Mac Screenshots for Dailyย Tasks
Skitch: Focuses on user-friendly annotation. Highlight text, blur details, or draw arrows without fuss.
11 Best Google Keeps Alternatives for 2024
It depends on your needs. Evernote offers advanced note-taking features and organization, suitable for complex tasks. Google Keep is simpler and integrates well with other Google services, making it ideal for basic note-taking and quick reminders.
Source: upbase.io
20 Obsidian Alternatives: Top Note-Taking Tools to Consider
Evernote is a note-taking tool with fantastic web-clipping capabilities. This handy app lets you clip, save, and sync notes from anywhere on the web to all your devices.
Source: clickup.com
The 6 best note-taking apps in 2024
Not only is Joplin the best open source note-taking app on our list, but it's also the best free Evernote alternative too. For a number of reasons I'll explore below, I don't feel Evernote merits a spot on this list right now; however, because Evernote has been such a staple of the note-taking app space, most other apps compete by trying to be different. OneNote is awesome,...
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The best note-taking apps for collecting your thoughts and data
That being said, the paid version of Evernote still does what it does well, especially if youโ€™re one of those users who has stuck with it for a while. The basic look and feel of the web app hasnโ€™t changed much, although the homepage now shows recent notes, a scratch pad, and recently captured websites. (The homepage can be personalized with other widgets if you have a paid...

PrivacyNotes Reviews

We have no reviews of PrivacyNotes yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Evernote seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 66 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.

Evernote mentions (66)

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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 Evernote and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

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.

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

Notion - All-in-one workspace. One tool for your whole team. Write, plan, and get organized.

Google Keep - Capture notes, share them with others, and access them from your computer, phone or tablet. Free with a Google account.

Google Keep Notes - Descargar Google Keep Notes para Firefox. Google Keep Notes brings Google Keep right into your Firefox Sidebar.

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