Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

PrivacyNotes VS Shynet

Compare PrivacyNotes VS Shynet and see what are their differences

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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Shynet logo Shynet

Modern, privacy-friendly, and cookie-free web analytics.
  • 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.

  • Shynet Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-01

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

Shynet

Website
github.com
Pricing URL
-
$ Details
Platforms
-
Release Date
-
Startup details
Country
United States

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.

Shynet features and specs

  • Open Source
    Shynet is an open-source project, which means its source code is available for inspection, modification, and enhancement by anyone. This fosters transparency and community contributions.
  • Privacy-Friendly
    Shynet does not collect any personal information or use cookies, making it a privacy-friendly alternative to other analytics tools.
  • Self-Hosted
    Being self-hosted, users have full control over their data and how it is managed. This also reduces dependency on third-party services.
  • Real-Time Analytics
    Shynet offers real-time traffic analytics, which helps users monitor their websites and applications as events unfold.
  • Flexibility
    Shynet can be customized to suit the specific needs of its users, including support for multiple sites and various data collection settings.
  • Lightweight
    The tool is lightweight compared to other analytics solutions, which can make it faster and easier to deploy.

Possible disadvantages of Shynet

  • Complexity of Setup
    Since Shynet is self-hosted, setting it up requires some technical expertise in server management and configuration. This may be challenging for non-technical users.
  • Maintenance Overhead
    Users need to ensure their Shynet instance is properly maintained, including updating the software and managing backups.
  • Limited Integrations
    Shynet may not integrate as seamlessly with other services and tools compared to some commercial analytics platforms that offer extensive integrations.
  • Lack of Advanced Features
    While Shynet covers basic analytics needs, it might lack some advanced features and metrics available in other sophisticated analytics platforms.
  • Community Support
    Being an open-source project, the level of support available might be limited to community forums and documentation. There may not be dedicated customer support.

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

Analysis of Shynet

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Shynet is generally considered a good tool for those who prioritize user privacy while still needing to collect essential website analytics. It balances functionality with ethical data practices, making it a strong choice for privacy-conscious individuals or organizations.

Why this product is good

  • Shynet is a privacy-focused web analytics tool that provides insights into your website's traffic without tracking or collecting personal data from users. It offers an open-source alternative to more invasive analytics services and is maintained actively on GitHub, allowing for community contributions and transparency.

Recommended for

    Shynet is recommended for website owners, developers, and organizations who seek an ethical web analytics solution that respects user privacy. It's particularly suitable for those who want transparency and the ability to modify or extend the service through its open-source code.

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to PrivacyNotes and Shynet)
Journal
100 100%
0% 0
Analytics
0 0%
100% 100
Private Journal
100 100%
0% 0
Web Analytics
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing PrivacyNotes and Shynet.

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 PrivacyNotes and Shynet

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.

Shynet Reviews

We have no reviews of Shynet yet.
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Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Shynet seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 8 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.

PrivacyNotes mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of PrivacyNotes yet. Tracking of PrivacyNotes recommendations started around Jun 2026.

Shynet mentions (8)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing PrivacyNotes and Shynet, you can also consider the following products

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.

Matomo - Matomo is an open-source web analytics platform

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

Google Analytics - Improve your website to increase conversions, improve the user experience, and make more money using Google Analytics. Measure, understand and quantify engagement on your site with customized and in-depth reports.

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

Counter - Counting characters and words in the text layer.