Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Toby VS PrivacyNotes

Compare Toby VS PrivacyNotes and see what are their differences

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Toby logo Toby

Better Than Bookmarks

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
  • Toby Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-01-29
  • 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.

Toby

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

Toby features and specs

  • Enhanced Organization
    Toby offers a streamlined way to organize and categorize browser tabs into collections, which helps in managing large numbers of tabs effectively.
  • Cloud Sync
    With cloud synchronization, users can access their tab collections from any device, ensuring seamless continuation of work across different platforms.
  • Collaboration
    Toby allows users to share their tab collections with others, making it useful for collaborative projects and team-based work environments.
  • Reduce Tab Clutter
    By saving tabs into collections, Toby helps reduce browser clutter, improving the overall browsing experience and system performance.
  • Ease of Use
    The user interface of Toby is intuitive and easy to navigate, which minimizes the learning curve for new users.

Possible disadvantages of Toby

  • Privacy Concerns
    Because Toby syncs collections via the cloud, there may be concerns regarding the privacy and security of saved tabs and browsing data.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users may experience performance issues such as slower browser response times when using Toby, especially with a large number of saved tabs.
  • Dependency on Internet Connection
    Toby's cloud features require an active internet connection, which means users cannot access their collections offline.
  • Limited Integration
    Toby might offer limited integration with other tools and services, potentially limiting its utility for users who rely on a broader ecosystem of productivity tools.
  • Subscription Costs
    For advanced features, users may need to subscribe to a paid plan, which could be a drawback for those looking for a free solution.

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 Toby

Overall verdict

  • Yes, Toby is generally considered a good tool for managing browser tabs effectively. It has received positive feedback from users who appreciate its simplicity and functionality.

Why this product is good

  • Toby is a browser extension designed to help users organize and manage their tabs for better productivity. It offers features such as creating collections, easy tab recovery, and a clean user interface which can help save time and improve workflow efficiency.

Recommended for

  • Students who need to organize research materials
  • Professionals managing multiple projects
  • Anyone who regularly works with a large number of browser tabs and needs a way to keep them organized

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

Toby videos

Toby - The Secret Mine: Switch Review (Also on PS4, Xbox, PC, Mobile)

More videos:

  • Review - TOBY: THE SECRET MINE - PS4 REVIEW
  • Review - Ticci Toby Review

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 Toby and PrivacyNotes)
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Note Taking
0 0%
100% 100
Chrome Extensions
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100

Questions & Answers

As answered by people managing Toby 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 Toby and PrivacyNotes

Toby Reviews

Top 10 Bookmark Managers for Chrome 2024
You can tag your tabs and data to organize your collections or create notes for your to-dos. It is pretty much your content manager, just less nagging! Because Toby offers a โ€˜freemiumโ€™ plan, you can use a few premium features without any charge.
Top 10 New Tab Extensions for Chrome
This isn't a speed dial extension, if you have used OneTab, and want something similar for your new tab page, Toby is the extension youโ€™re looking for. To quickly save your tabs, use the browserโ€™s context menu or right click on Tobyโ€™s icon on the toolbar and select the Save Session option. Or open a new tab to access the pluginโ€™s interface, and drag tabs from the sidebar to...
Source: www.ghacks.net

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 Toby and PrivacyNotes, you can also consider the following products

Raindrop.io - All your articles, photos, video & content from web & apps in one place.

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

Workona - A better way to work in the browser.

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

OneTab - Whenever you find yourself with too many tabs, click the OneTab icon to convert all of your tabs into a list. When you need to access the tabs again, you can either restore them individually or all at once.

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