Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Hiver VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Hiver VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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Hiver logo Hiver

The modern AI customer service platform

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
  • Hiver Landing page
    Landing page //
    2025-11-06

Say hello to the customer service platform for the modern AI era. Make exceptional service feel effortless by letting AI agents handle the busywork.

  • 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 $48.0 / One-off (Early adopter price)
Platforms
MacOS Web Firefox Google Chrome Edge Safari
Release Date
2026 June
Startup details
Country
Switzerland
Employees
1 - 9

Hiver features and specs

  • Shared Inboxes
    Hiver allows teams to manage shared inboxes directly within Gmail, enabling collaborative email handling without the need for external software.
  • Email Delegation
    The platform enables users to assign emails to specific team members, streamlining the process of task delegation and ensuring accountability.
  • Notes and Tags
    It provides functionality for adding context to emails via notes and tags, facilitating better communication and organization within the team.
  • Email Templates
    Hiver offers customizable email templates to improve response times and maintain consistency across team communications.
  • Reports and Analytics
    The tool provides comprehensive reporting and analytics features, helping teams monitor performance and optimize their email operations.

Possible disadvantages of Hiver

  • Cost
    Hiver is a paid service, which might be a barrier for smaller teams or organizations with limited budgets.
  • Gmail Dependency
    The tool is heavily integrated with Gmail, which may limit its utility for organizations that use other email services.
  • Learning Curve
    New users might experience a learning curve as they become accustomed to Hiver's features and workflow.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users have reported occasional performance issues, such as lag or slowing down of Gmail when using Hiver.
  • Limited Mobile Functionality
    The mobile experience of Hiver is not as robust as its desktop counterpart, potentially affecting users who need to manage emails on the go.

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 Hiver

Overall verdict

  • Hiver is considered a good option for teams looking to streamline their email management and enhance productivity without the hassle of switching between different platforms. Its direct integration with Gmail and robust set of features provide an efficient solution for teams that rely heavily on email communication.

Why this product is good

  • Hiver is a widely used tool that integrates directly with Gmail, helping teams manage shared inboxes, collaborate efficiently, and assign tasks seamlessly. It eliminates the need for external help desk software by providing features like email delegation, assignment, and tracking directly within Gmail. Additionally, its simple and intuitive interface requires minimal training, making it accessible for teams of all sizes.

Recommended for

    Hiver is recommended for customer support teams, sales teams, and any organization that wants to manage shared email accounts with greater efficiency. It is particularly beneficial for small to midsize businesses that are already using Google Workspace and want a tool that can easily integrate into their existing workflows.

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

Hiver videos

Paysage d'Hiver - Im Wald ALBUM REVIEW

More videos:

  • Review - Giorgio Armani - Vetiver Babylone/D'Hiver Review
  • Review - (4K) Hiver The Honey Ale By Hiver Beers | Craft Beer Review
  • Review - Hiver Review: The Best Email Management Tool for Small Businesses?
  • Tutorial - Hiver for Gmail Review & Tutorial: Best Help Desk Inbox
  • Review - Hiver Review: 7 Things You Need To Know Before Buying (Best AI-Powered Customer Service Platform)

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 Hiver and PrivacyNotes)
Email Management
100 100%
0% 0
Journal
0 0%
100% 100
Email Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Document Encryption
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Hiver 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 Hiver and PrivacyNotes

Hiver Reviews

9 Best Tidio Alternatives Compared
Hiver is a shared inbox solution designed for businesses using Gmail for customer communication. It integrates directly within Gmail and provides basic help desk features. This software also allows teams to manage customer inquiries through shared inboxes, track email conversations, and automate workflows. It helps businesses excel in their email interactions with customers...
Source: www.tidio.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.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Capacities, Evernote, Notion, Obsidian.md
  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, Hiver seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 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.

Hiver mentions (5)

  • Is there a better way to have a customer-facing inbox?
    Depending on the potential value of the workflow, https://gmelius.com/ and https://hiverhq.com/ are both pretty awesome. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Email for small business team
    If you're u sing shared inboxes, you may want to consider https://hiverhq.com/ or https://www.dragapp.com/ for doing shared inbox functionality with workspace. Source: over 3 years ago
  • alternative ticketing systems?
    You might want to check out Hiver. It's built on top of Gmail, it's really easy to set up and even easier to grasp. It has all the features that your team would need to run its support operations successfully. And its pretty cost-effective against Zendesk. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Reporting
    Hey I was wondering if you considered trying Hiver since you mentioned that all CX operations were conducted out of Gmail. Hiver's a support solution that works on top of Gmail UI and is therefore really easy to use. Full disclosure: I work with the content team at Hiver. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Discovering the value of Mattermost Playbooks
    I'm thinking that all these other apps might be facilitated in Mattermost. Probably not the email client and inbox email sharing but perhaps there's an integration to another tool like front.com or hiverhq.com (gmail based) that would help take care of managing email too. Source: almost 4 years ago

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 Hiver and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Freshdesk - Freshdesk is a cloud-based customer support software that lets you support customers through traditional channels like phone and email, social channels like Facebook and Twitter, and your own branded community

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.

MailClark - The Slack bot for external communications

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

Nylas Mail - The Nylas Cloud API powers your application with email, calendar & contacts features. Built-in features for better email, calendar, and contact management.

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