Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Jostle VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Jostle VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

Jostle logo Jostle

A new kind of employee intranet that drives engagement & workplace culture. Achieves social participation in work relevant way. Participation rates are over 85%.

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
  • Jostle Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-06-18
  • 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.

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

Jostle features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Jostle has a simple and intuitive user interface that makes it easy for employees to navigate and use without extensive training.
  • Enhanced Communication
    Facilitates seamless communication through various channels such as news articles, messaging, and comment sections, promoting a more connected workplace.
  • Employee Recognition
    Includes features for recognizing and rewarding employees, fostering a positive company culture and boosting morale.
  • Integration Capabilities
    Offers integration with other tools and systems, allowing for a more streamlined and connected work environment.
  • Strong Support
    Provides robust customer support and resources, ensuring that users can get help when they need it.

Possible disadvantages of Jostle

  • Cost
    Can be expensive compared to other intranet solutions, especially for smaller companies with tighter budgets.
  • Customization Limitations
    Offers limited customization options, which may not satisfy the specific needs of every organization.
  • Learning Curve
    While the interface is user-friendly, some users may still face a learning curve, particularly if they are not tech-savvy.
  • Feature Overload
    Some users may find the multitude of features overwhelming and may not utilize all the available tools effectively.
  • Mobile Experience
    The mobile app experience may not be as smooth or fully featured as the desktop version, potentially affecting remote or on-the-go workers.

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 Jostle

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Jostle is regarded as a good choice for companies looking to enhance their internal communication and employee engagement. While it may not suit every organization perfectly, particularly very small businesses or those with highly specific requirements, its range of features and user-friendly design make it a worthwhile option for many.

Why this product is good

  • Jostle is widely recognized for its robust internal communication and employee engagement features. It helps organizations foster a strong workplace culture by providing tools for communication, collaboration, and recognition. Users often appreciate its ease of use, visually appealing interface, and the ability to customize features according to their organizational needs.

Recommended for

    Jostle is recommended for medium to large organizations that prioritize building a connected workplace culture. It is ideal for companies that require scalable, intuitive platforms to facilitate communication, engagement, and collaboration across diverse and possibly distributed teams.

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

Jostle videos

JoStLe live - Jonas Hellborg, Steve Bailey, Lee Sklar @ Musikmesse 2012

More videos:

  • Review - Jostle - Jostle Meaning - Jostle Examples - Vocabulary Builder 2 - ESL British English Pronunciation

PrivacyNotes videos

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

Add video

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Jostle and PrivacyNotes)
Project Management
100 100%
0% 0
Journal
0 0%
100% 100
Communication
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Jostle 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 Jostle and PrivacyNotes. For example, how are they different and which one is better?
Log in or Post with

Reviews

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

Jostle Reviews

Kick Your SharePoint Addiction with 12 Powerful Alternatives
With employee engagement as one of its highest priorities, Jostle is great for companies that want to establish a strong community, no matter where their employees are based. Built-in shout-outs, company events, and featured stories make it easy to share successes and recognize employees.
Source: blog.continu.co

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 Jostle and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Yammer - Yammer is a leading enterprise social network used by more than 200,000 companies worldwide, including 85% of the Fortune 500, to get work done smarter and faster. Sign Up Today.

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.

MS SharePoint - Share, organize, and discover information with Microsoft SharePoint. Learn about SharePoint Online, OneDrive for Business, and Apps for SharePoint

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

eXo Platform - Digital workplace solution

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