Dash vs Notesnook

Dash is a private notes app for Mac and iPhone, with a web PWA that also supports Android. Notes remain on the device and the app works offline unless sync is enabled. Locked notes use AES-256-GCM encryption, with keys derived through PBKDF2-SHA256 using 600,000 iterations. App locking supports a master password, Touch ID or Face ID, and configurable auto-lock timers. A duress password opens decoy notes while actual notes remain encrypted; notes can also be configured to delete after one hour, one day, one week, or one month. Its block editor includes wiki-style links, folders, and tags. Local AI can connect to Ollama, LM Studio, LocalAI, Jan, and other OpenAI-compatible servers running on localhost, and rejects non-local endpoints. Pages and folders export as Markdown, DOCX, or PDF, and encrypted.dashpack backups are supported. Dash is open source under the MIT license. The web PWA and iPhone options are free. Dash for Mac is $14.99 a month, billed as lifetime access with no subscription required. Sync is $4.99 a month or $47.99 a year, each with a 7-day free trial.

Notesnook is a note-taking app for web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, with note sharing and offline access. Notes are encrypted end-to-end before leaving the device, and the apps and sync server are open source under GPLv3. The app can be locked with a fingerprint, PIN, or password; selected private notes can also have a separate password. Individual notes can be published as web pages, optionally password protected. Zapier, IFTTT, or a custom script can send notes through the Inbox API. The free plan offers unlimited notes on unlimited devices, 50 MB of attachment storage per month, files up to 10 MB, and limits of 50 notebooks and 50 tags. Free users can read web-clipped content offline; paid plans include full offline mode and provide from 1 GB to 25 GB of attachment storage per month. Monthly plan prices listed include Essential at $1.99 per month, Pro at $6.99 per month, and Believer at $8.99 per month, including tax. Subscriptions can be cancelled without fees, with notes remaining readable and exportable.