Cryptee vs PrivacyNotes
Cryptee
crypt.ee
PrivacyNotes
privacynotes.appSide by side
| Figure | Cryptee | PrivacyNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | €3/mo | $0.40/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | Yes |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | Yes |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 4 | 5 |
| Spec score · Secure Notes Apps | 9.4 (#1) | 8.9 (#5) |
| Documentation | The documentation includes extensive editor instructions, import/export behavior, offline storage details, search syntax and troubleshooting guidance. | The help center contains detailed security, recovery, import, storage, platform and troubleshooting articles, plus a public roadmap and changelog. |
| Encryption | Cryptee says files are encrypted on the device with AES-256 before upload, using keys the company cannot access. | The clients encrypt note data locally with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before synchronization. |
| Founded | 2017 | 2026 |
| Open source | Cryptee says its software and cryptography are open source and can be reviewed independently. | The web, desktop, and mobile apps and their encryption code are published on GitHub under the AGPL. |
| Product | Cryptee provides encrypted cloud storage for photos, videos, documents, notes and journals. | PrivacyNotes is an end-to-end encrypted personal workspace for notes, tasks, files, a vault, journals, and bookmarks. |
| Self-hosting | Cryptee's public repository documentation explains that the closed backend means users cannot self-host the complete service. | The client is downloadable and open source, but the hosted sync backend is not offered as a self-hosted deployment. |
Plans
PrivacyNotes
- FreeFree
- 1 GB storage add-on$4.80 a year
- 2 GB storage add-on$8.40 a year
- 5 GB storage add-on$18 a year
- Pro$48, paid once
In their own words
Cryptee
Cryptee provides cloud storage for photos and videos alongside an encrypted editor for documents, journals, and notes. It says files are encrypted on the device with AES-256 before upload, using keys the company cannot access. Photos supports hashtags, typo-tolerant search, EXIF data, RAW files, favorites, ghost albums, and encrypted sharing links. The editor handles Markdown, Evernote imports, DOCX, PDF, and ODT files, with encrypted PDF exports, offline use, RTL languages, tables, and KaTeX math. Cryptee says its software and cryptography are open source and that signup requires no personal information. It also says it does not track or log user activity or serve advertisements, and keeps user data on its own infrastructure in Europe. The service runs on web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android; its browser-based progressive web app can be installed and used offline. The free plan includes 100 MB. Paid storage begins at 10 GB for €3.00 per month.
PrivacyNotes
PrivacyNotes is an end-to-end encrypted workspace for notes, tasks, files, a vault, journals, and bookmarks. It encrypts notes on the device before synchronization using XChaCha20-Poly1305, with keys derived from a 12-word BIP-39 phrase. Its local-first design supports reading, writing, and searching offline, then syncs changes when connectivity returns. The synchronized copy is stored in Zurich, Switzerland, as encrypted data rather than readable note text. Users can create a vault without email or sign in with Google, Apple, or GitHub; provider sign-in offers server-held or device-only key custody. Imports cover many note, journal, password, and bookmark services, along with Markdown files. PrivacyNotes has no AI features or background AI processing and does not train models on user content. Its web, desktop, and mobile apps and encryption code are published on GitHub under the AGPL. The Free plan costs nothing forever; Pro costs $48, paid once. Under self-custody, losing the phrase without a signed-in device means the company cannot recover notes.