Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GhostText.app VS PrivacyNotes

Compare GhostText.app VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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GhostText.app logo GhostText.app

Ghost Text - Text Recognition, Reinvented. Extract unselectable text from anywhere on your screen instantly.

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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  • GhostText.app Ghost Text
    Ghost Text //
    2026-04-11

What Ghost Text Can Do

Screen OCR — Capture text from anywhere on your screen instantly using macOS's built-in Vision framework 100% Offline — All OCR processing happens locally on your Mac — your data never leaves your device Menu Bar Access — Always ready from your macOS menu bar with one click or global shortcut (CMD+Shift+2) Smart Clipboard — Automatically copies recognized text and maintains history of copied content Customizable Sounds — Change the sound notification when text is successfully captured Direct Browser Search — Search extracted text directly in your default browser with one click Drag & Drop OCR — Drop images, screenshots, or files directly into the app to extract text Lightweight & Fast — Runs silently in the background without slowing down your Mac

  • 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.

GhostText.app

$ Details
Free Trial $4.99 / One-off
Platforms
MacOS
Release Date
2025 October
Startup details
Country
India
State
PUNJAB
City
mohali
Founder(s)
Anand sahni

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

GhostText.app features and specs

  • Browser-to-editor synchronization
    GhostText allows you to connect text areas in your browser directly to your preferred code editor, enabling real-time two-way synchronization so you can write and edit text using a full-featured editor instead of a basic browser text box.
  • Supports multiple editors
    GhostText is compatible with several popular code editors including VS Code, Sublime Text, Neovim, and others, giving users flexibility to work with their preferred development environment.
  • Free and open source
    GhostText is an open-source project available for free, meaning users can inspect the code, contribute to its development, and use it without any licensing costs.
  • Syntax highlighting and editor features
    By routing text editing through a full code editor, users gain access to syntax highlighting, auto-completion, linting, and other powerful editor features that are not available in standard browser text areas.
  • Cross-browser support
    GhostText offers browser extensions for major browsers including Chrome and Firefox, making it accessible to a wide range of users regardless of their browser preference.

Possible disadvantages of GhostText.app

  • Setup complexity
    Using GhostText requires installing both a browser extension and an editor plugin, then ensuring they connect properly, which can be a somewhat involved setup process for non-technical users.
  • Limited to text areas
    GhostText primarily works with standard HTML text areas and may not function correctly with all web-based editors, rich text editors, or custom content-editable elements found on modern websites.
  • Connection reliability
    The WebSocket-based connection between the browser and editor can occasionally drop or fail to establish, requiring users to reconnect or restart the extension, which can interrupt workflow.
  • Niche use case
    The tool serves a relatively narrow audience—primarily developers and writers who frequently edit code or long-form text in browser fields—limiting its broad appeal and community size.
  • Maintenance and updates
    As an open-source project with a small team, updates and bug fixes may not come as frequently as with commercial software, and compatibility issues with new browser or editor versions can sometimes take time to resolve.

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 GhostText.app

Overall verdict

  • GhostText.app appears to be a browser extension/tool that lets you edit text from web page input fields using your favorite external text editor, syncing changes in real-time. It's generally considered a useful productivity tool for writers and developers who prefer working in a dedicated editor rather than small browser text boxes, though its usefulness depends on your specific workflow and editor compatibility.

Why this product is good

  • Enables real-time syncing between browser text fields and a preferred external text editor
  • Useful for writing in a more comfortable environment with better editing features, spell-check, and shortcuts
  • Lightweight and focused on a single, specific task without unnecessary bloat
  • Supports multiple popular text editors through plugins/extensions
  • Free to use for most core functionality

Recommended for

  • Writers who prefer composing in a dedicated text editor before pasting into web forms
  • Developers who write code snippets or documentation in browser-based tools like GitHub or forums
  • Bloggers and content creators who want better editing tools than basic browser textareas
  • Users who frequently switch between browser input fields and desktop editors
  • People who want to leverage editor-specific features like syntax highlighting or macros while writing online

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

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GhostText.app and PrivacyNotes)
Mac Tools
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Swift Programming
100 100%
0% 0
Journal
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing GhostText.app 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 GhostText.app and PrivacyNotes

GhostText.app Reviews

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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.

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GhostText.app and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

TextSniper - Instantly extract any text from your Mac's screen

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.

Clean Text - Clean Text for iOS is a tool to reduce text cleanup time.

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

Clean Text for iOS - An essential tool for removing text formatting on iOS 📱👌

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