Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

secure-notes VS PrivacyNotes

Compare secure-notes VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

secure-notes logo secure-notes

One-time open-source E2EE notes. AES-256-GCM browser-side encryption; server response sign; pub-key pinning; accident burn protection; PoW captcha; RAM-only; written in Rust; zero-knowledge relay. No account required for creating up to 32Kb notes.

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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  • secure-notes Home page
    Home page //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes How it works
    How it works //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes API Configuration
    API Configuration //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes Notice that an external API will be used
    Notice that an external API will be used //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes Notice that the server key has changed
    Notice that the server key has changed //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes After note is created
    After note is created //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes Checking the server's public key when opening a note
    Checking the server's public key when opening a note //
    2026-05-28
  • secure-notes Opening the note
    Opening the note //
    2026-05-28

SecNote โ€” open-source E2EE read-once notes

SecNote is an open-source, zero-knowledge relay for sharing sensitive notes that should be opened only once. Notes are encrypted in the browser with AES-256-GCM before they leave the client, and the decryption key stays in the URL fragment so the server never receives it.

The backend stores only ciphertext in RAM, never writes note contents to disk, and atomically destroys each note after the first successful read or when it expires. No account is required.

Key features

  • End-to-end encrypted notes with browser-side AES-256-GCM
  • Read-once / burn-after-read delivery
  • Zero-knowledge server that stores only ciphertext
  • RAM-only storage with no persistent note database
  • Accidental burn protection using a key-derived view token
  • Proof-of-work anti-spam protection instead of traditional CAPTCHA
  • Signed server responses with Ed25519 verification
  • Public-key pinning / TOFU support for stronger trust boundaries
  • No accounts, no login, no tracking workflow
  • Self-hostable Rust backend
  • Offline-capable static frontend with no CDN dependency
  • Tor Browser-friendly design

SecNote is built for developers, security-conscious teams, journalists, administrators, and privacy-focused users who need a minimal way to exchange short secrets without relying on accounts, persistent storage, or server-side plaintext handling.

  • 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.

secure-notes

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
free
Platforms
Web
Release Date
2026 May
Startup details
State
Dubai
City
Dubai
Founder(s)
PWN-ALL
Employees
50 - 99

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

secure-notes features and specs

  • Rust Implementation
    The backend was written entirely in Rust
  • E2E encryption
    Messages are encrypted on the client side
  • Self-Hostable
    Both backend and frontend
  • AES-256 Encryption
    Using standard browser features without third-party libraries
  • Quantum Resistance
    128-bit Quantum-secure encryption
  • Open Source
    Both backend and frontend is available

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 secure-notes

Overall verdict

  • Secure-notes (pwn-all.github.io) appears to be a niche or lesser-known tool, and without verified, up-to-date information about its security practices, ownership, or track record, it cannot be confidently endorsed as 'good' for storing sensitive information. Users should exercise caution and verify its legitimacy, encryption standards, and privacy policy before use.

Why this product is good

  • Claims to offer note-taking with a security focus, which may appeal to privacy-conscious users
  • Potentially lightweight or simple to use if hosted as a static GitHub Pages site
  • GitHub Pages hosting can imply transparency if the source code is open for review

Recommended for

  • Users who first verify the source code and security claims independently
  • Casual note-taking where no sensitive personal or financial data is involved
  • Developers or technically savvy users comfortable auditing open-source code before trusting it with data

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

secure-notes videos

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Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to secure-notes and PrivacyNotes)
Communication
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100
Secure Messaging
100 100%
0% 0
Notes
50 50%
50% 50

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing secure-notes and PrivacyNotes.

How would you describe the primary audience of your product?

secure-notes's answer

Everyone who take a care about secure transfer of secrets

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?

secure-notes's answer

Rust, Claude Cyber

PrivacyNotes's answer:

React, TypeScript, Vite and Tailwind CSS.

What makes your product unique?

secure-notes's answer

Server response sign; pub-key pinning; accident burn protection; PoW captcha; RAM-only; option for self-hosting frontend and back-end

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?

secure-notes's answer

1-click self-hostable frontend with 0 hustle on choice any public instance

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.

Who are some of the biggest customers of your product?

secure-notes's answer

A Chrome extension that uses secure-notes instances has been adopted by dozens of organizations around the world

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's the story behind your product?

secure-notes's answer

SecNote was built for one simple reason: sharing a secret should not require trusting the server.

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.

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Reviews

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PrivacyNotes Reviews

  1. 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 secure-notes and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Privnote - Send notes that will self-destruct after being read

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

Secnote.co - Send encrypted, self-destructing notes instantly with Secnote. Share confidential messages that automatically delete after being read. Trusted, private, and easy-to-use.

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

PrivateBin - PrivateBin is a minimalist, open source online pastebin where the server has zero knowledge of...

Simplenote - The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.