Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Evince VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Evince VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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Evince logo Evince

Evince is a document viewer for multiple document formats: PDF, Postscript, djvu, tiff, dvi, XPS...

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.
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  • Evince Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-07-26
  • 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.

Evince

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

Evince features and specs

  • Open Source
    Evince is free and open-source software, allowing users to use, modify, and distribute it without cost.
  • Lightweight
    Evince is designed to be simple and resource-efficient, making it ideal for use on machines with limited resources.
  • Multi-format Support
    Evince supports a variety of document formats including PDF, PostScript, TIFF, DjVu, and DVI.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Evince features a clean and intuitive interface that is easy to navigate, even for users who are not tech-savvy.
  • Integration with GNOME
    As part of the GNOME project, Evince integrates smoothly with the GNOME desktop environment, offering a cohesive user experience.
  • Annotation Support
    Evince provides features for adding and managing annotations in PDF files, which is useful for reviewing and editing documents.

Possible disadvantages of Evince

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Evince lacks some advanced features found in other PDF viewers, such as extensive editing capabilities and form filling.
  • Occasional Compatibility Issues
    While Evince supports multiple document formats, there can be occasional issues with rendering complex documents accurately.
  • Geared Towards GNOME
    Evince is optimized for the GNOME desktop, which might lead to a less seamless experience on other desktop environments.
  • No Mobile Version
    Evince does not have an official mobile version, thus limiting its accessibility on smartphones and tablets.
  • Limited Customization
    There are fewer customization options in Evince compared to other PDF viewers, which might be a drawback for power users.

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 Evince

Overall verdict

  • Evince is a good choice for users who are looking for a straightforward and reliable document viewer, especially those who are using a GNOME-based Linux distribution. It meets the needs of users who want a no-frills application that performs well and supports various document formats.

Why this product is good

  • Evince is a document viewer developed by the GNOME Project. It is designed to be simple yet powerful, supporting a wide range of document formats, including PDF, PostScript, DjVu, TIFF, XPS, and DVI. Its simplicity and integration with the GNOME desktop make it a popular choice for users who prefer a lightweight and efficient application for viewing documents. Moreover, it comes with features like text selection, search capabilities, and a clean, user-friendly interface.

Recommended for

    Evince is recommended for GNOME users, Linux users seeking a simple and intuitive document viewer, and anyone who needs to open and view multiple types of document formats without requiring advanced editing or annotation features.

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

Evince videos

Evince Learning - Draw with JAZZA review

More videos:

  • Review - Incredible 97% Project Success Ratio | Clients' Review | EvinceDev

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 Evince and PrivacyNotes)
PDF Editor
100 100%
0% 0
Personal Notes
0 0%
100% 100
PDF Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Evince 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 Evince and PrivacyNotes

Evince Reviews

Top 10 Adobe Reader Alternatives for Windows
Evince is a free and open source (FOSS) document viewer that is available on Windows, Linux and Unix-like operating systems. It is included as the default PDF viewer in Fedora, Debian and Ubuntu. The program was originally designed for the GNOME desktop environment and, support a multitude of file formats, including PDF, PostScrip, DjVu, TIFF, XPS and DVI.
Source: beebom.com

PrivacyNotes Reviews

  1. FossFox
    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 Evince and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Okular - Okular is a universal document viewer based developed by KDE.

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

Sumatra PDF - Sumatra PDF is a slim PDF/DjVu/EPUB/XPS/CHM/CBR/CBZ/MOBI viewer for Windows.

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

Atril - Atril is a simple multi-page document viewer. Atril is a fork of Evince.

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