PrivacyNotes
Obsidian.md
Standard Notes
Apple Notes
Simplenote
Google Keep
Notion
Google Keep Notes
KeepZen
Obsidian.md
Evernote
Notion
Bear
Apple Notes
Notepad++
Keep My Notes
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:
Built for privacy, not surveillance:
Pricing that respects you:
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.
KeepZen - note-taking app for people who spend more time writing than organizing. No blocks, no databases, no noise. Just you and your thoughts.
Come back to clean writing. KeepZen removes the noise and leaves just you and your thoughts โ no complex setup, no tracking, just your words in calm, clear order.
Your notes are encrypted in your browser with your passphrase. The key never leaves your device โ we never see it, and we never store it. When you use sync, only encrypted data is sent to our servers. We cannot read your notes.
Zero-knowledge by design.
Start keeping your thoughts safe. No account required to get started. Your data stays with you. Optional sync when you're ready.
PrivacyNotes KeepZenPrivacyNotes's answer
Three reasons:
KeepZen's answer:
KeepZen is built for those who refuse to choose between convenience and privacy. While mainstream tools scan your notes for AI training and "privacy-first" alternatives often require complex manual setup to sync, KeepZen offers a "Third Way." You get absolute end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and seamless multi-device sync out of the box. Itโs the only tool that feels as simple as a notepad but is as secure as a digital vault.
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.
KeepZen's answer:
KeepZen occupies the "Goldilocks zone" of note-taking. It is zero-config private: you get the absolute security of end-to-end encryption (E2EE) and the speed of local-first architecture without having to set up a server or manage complex plugins. Itโs a professional-grade vault that feels as simple as a piece of paper.
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.
KeepZen's answer:
Our users are "Digital Minimalists"โwriters, researchers, and creators who find themselves overwhelmed by the "noise" of modern productivity tools. They are individuals who value their intellectual privacy and want a sanctuary where they can think without being tracked, scanned, or interrupted by AI assistants.
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.
KeepZen's answer:
KeepZen was born from a moment of frustration. I opened a popular note-taking app to capture a fleeting, personal thought, only to be met by a loading spinner and a popup for a new AI feature. The realization was immediate: our digital "private" spaces had become crowded and loud. KeepZen was built to reclaim that silenceโcreating a tool that stays out of your way and keeps your data truly yours.
PrivacyNotes's answer
React, TypeScript, Vite and Tailwind CSS.
KeepZen's answer:
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.
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.
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.
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.
Standard Notes - A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work
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.
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.
Simplenote - The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.