Notesnook vs PrivacyNotes

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.

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.