Notesnook

Overview

Notesnook is a cross-platform note-taking app for people who want encrypted notes without giving up a generous free tier. Its strongest case is the combination of device-side encryption and open-source apps and sync server; attachment caps and paid-only full offline mode are the trade-offs to weigh.

It belongs on a shortlist of note-taking apps and secure notes apps for anyone choosing software with privacy and limits in mind.

Key features

Encryption and protection: Notes are end-to-end encrypted before leaving the device. App locks support fingerprint, PIN, or password, while a separate password can protect especially private notes. This is a useful layered approach for sensitive material, though the encryption model does not remove the need to protect access to an unlocked device.

Organization and attachments: Free accounts get unlimited notes across unlimited devices, with 50 notebooks and 50 tags. The 50 MB monthly attachment quota and 10 MB per-file ceiling make text-heavy use a better fit than storing a large archive of documents or media.

Sharing and capture: Notes can be shared, and a single note can be published as a web page with optional password protection. Zapier, IFTTT, or a custom script can send material into Notesnook through its Inbox API, making it more useful in automated workflows than a closed notebook.

Offline use: Web-clipped content can be read offline, while full offline mode is included with paid plans. That distinction matters for frequent travelers or anyone who needs their complete notebook available without a connection.

Open source: Every app and the sync server are open source under GPLv3. That scope is a meaningful advantage for readers who want the client and synchronization software open, not only the apps they install.

Pricing

Notesnook is freemium. The Free plan costs nothing, forever, with no card required. It includes unlimited notes and devices, 50 notebooks, 50 tags, 50 MB of attachment storage per month, and a 10 MB maximum file size. It is a credible long-term option for ordinary notes, but the storage and organization ceilings can constrain heavy attachment use or elaborate filing.

Essential costs $1.99 a month, billed including tax. It raises storage to 1 GB per month, file size to 100 MB, and limits to 500 notebooks and 500 tags. It suits users who have outgrown the free attachment allowance but do not need unlimited organization. Pro costs $6.99 a month, billed including tax, and provides 10 GB per month, 1 GB files, and unlimited notebooks and tags. Believer costs $8.99 a month, billed including tax, with 25 GB per month and 5 GB files, while retaining unlimited notebooks and tags. The larger tiers make sense when bigger attachments are routine; they are unnecessary for a mostly text-based notebook.

Paid plans include full offline mode. Annual and five-year billing options are offered for some plans; the published annual totals are 3,961.57 ₹ for Pro, 2,263.26 ₹ for Essential, and 10,188.65 ₹ for Believer, each including tax. The five-year prepaid totals are 33,964.82 ₹ for Pro and 45,286.82 ₹ for Believer, with no trial on those prepaid options. Other paid-plan prices are custom pricing. A 14-day free trial is offered on several paid options; the Essential Monthly trial requires a payment method. Refunds can be requested from support within 14 days of subscription purchase. Subscriptions can be cancelled anytime without fees, and notes remain readable and exportable.

Platforms

Notesnook runs on Android, iOS, Linux, macOS, web, and Windows. That breadth makes it viable for mixed-device households and desktop users as well as phone-first note takers. Offline access is supported, with full offline mode reserved for paid plans; web-clipped content remains readable offline.

Who it's for

Notesnook is best suited to people who want private notes across several platforms, value open-source software, and can keep attachment use within the free quota or justify a paid storage tier. The free plan is unusually accommodating for text notes, but readers who need complete offline access or routinely handle large files should budget for a paid plan. It is a weaker fit for anyone seeking a wholly free offline notebook with generous file storage.

Pros and cons

Pro: Unlimited free notes on unlimited devices make it practical to keep using the free plan for years if attachment needs stay modest.

Pro: Device-side end-to-end encryption, optional note passwords, and open-source apps and sync server give privacy-minded users several concrete protections and transparency.

Pro: Six platform families, note publishing, and Inbox API integrations cover access, sharing, and automated capture without requiring a single-device workflow.

Con: Free attachments are capped at 50 MB per month and 10 MB per file, so the free tier is less compelling for document-heavy notebooks.

Con: Full offline mode requires a paid plan, despite offline reading for web-clipped content being available.

Con: The substantial jumps in storage and file-size limits are tied to higher monthly prices, which may be hard to justify for users whose notes are mostly text.

Alternatives

Choose SiYuan if you want a freemium, open-source option that also spans self-hosted use and browser extensions. Goodnotes is worth comparing if its free allowance of 3 notebooks, 3 text documents, 3 whiteboards, 3 folders, and 100 MB storage better matches a more bounded workspace. Pick Workflowy if its Basic plan's 100 nodes per month and 100 MB file uploads suit your needs. Notion is another freemium choice, with a free plan centered on pages, blocks, databases, and basic collaboration. Consider Joplin if its Basic plan and 14-day trial are a better fit; its listed Basic price is €2.99 a month. Obsidian is an alternative if you want its Sync Standard option, priced at $5 a month billed annually for one synced vault, 1 GB total storage, and a 5 MB maximum file size. Zoho Notebook offers a free Essential plan with 500 MB cloud storage, 20 note versions, a 3 MB maximum notecard size, and 10 MB file uploads. Logseq is a free alternative for personal use.

Verdict

Choose Notesnook if you want encrypted, open-source notes across mobile, desktop, and web, with a free tier that does not ration the number of notes or devices. Its central compromise is clear: modest free attachment limits and paid-only full offline mode. Look elsewhere if those constraints matter more than the privacy model and broad platform coverage.