Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Simple Flashlight VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Simple Flashlight VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

Simple Flashlight logo Simple Flashlight

A clean flashlight with an extra bright display and customizable stroboscope.

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
  • Simple Flashlight Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-30
  • 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.

Simple Flashlight

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Platforms
-
Release Date
-

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

Simple Flashlight features and specs

  • Open Source
    Simple Flashlight is an open-source application, which means the source code is publicly available for scrutiny and modification, ensuring transparency and community-driven improvements.
  • Privacy-Focused
    The application does not track user data or display ads, ensuring user privacy and a clutter-free experience.
  • Simple and Lightweight
    The app has a minimalistic design and a small file size, making it easy to install and run on most devices with negligible impact on storage and performance.
  • No Unnecessary Permissions
    Simple Flashlight requires minimal permissions, often just access to the camera's flash, reducing security risks associated with over-permissioned apps.

Possible disadvantages of Simple Flashlight

  • Limited Features
    The app offers basic flashlight functionality without any additional features, such as strobe light options or customizable brightness levels, which some users might expect.
  • Compatibility Issues
    Given that it is a simple app, it might not be optimized for all devices, potentially leading to operational inconsistencies on less common or very new hardware.
  • Lack of Support
    Being a community-driven and free app, it may not have dedicated customer support, so users might need to rely on community forums or GitHub issues for help.

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 Simple Flashlight

Overall verdict

  • Simple Flashlight is a highly regarded app for users seeking a no-nonsense, reliable flashlight tool. Its focus on privacy and efficiency, coupled with the absence of ads, makes it a strong choice for those who prioritize simplicity and performance in their apps.

Why this product is good

  • Simple Flashlight, part of the Simple Mobile Tools suite, is appreciated for its minimalistic and ad-free design. It is open-source, ensuring transparency and ongoing community-driven improvements. Users appreciate it for its intuitive interface and the efficient use of device resources, which is a significant advantage for users who want a straightforward flashlight app without unnecessary extras.

Recommended for

    This app is ideal for individuals looking for a straightforward flashlight solution without superfluous features. It's especially recommended for users who value open-source applications, transparency, and the principles of minimalism in software.

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

Simple Flashlight videos

A simple flashlight hack to increase brightness & runtime

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 Simple Flashlight and PrivacyNotes)
Tool
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
84 84%
16% 16
OS & Utilities
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Simple Flashlight 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 Simple Flashlight and PrivacyNotes

Simple Flashlight 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 Simple Flashlight and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Flashlight - Control your Mac with a keystroke.

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

Tiny Flashlight + LED - Tiny Flashlight + LED is free to use application that can be used anywhere else, having nicely built-in functionality.

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

Task Killer - Task Killer is an application which automatically forces other applications to stop which are running in the background, making you enhance your smartphone performance and battery life.

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