OpenVLT vs Turtl
OpenVLT
openvlt.comTurtl
turtlapp.comSide by side
| Figure | OpenVLT | Turtl |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | Free | $3/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | — | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | — | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| Android | — | Yes |
| API | — | Yes |
| Self-hosted | Yes | Yes |
| Plans published | 1 | 4 |
| Spec score · Secure Notes Apps | 7.7 (#19) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Encryption | Locked notes use AES-256-GCM with a key derived from the lock password using PBKDF2; the key stays in the browser. | Turtl encrypts data on the client before transmission, so stored server data remains unreadable without users' keys. |
| License | The GitHub repository identifies the project as licensed under AGPL-3.0. | The desktop, core and browser-extension repositories identify the GNU GPL version 3 license, while the server repository uses AGPL-3.0. |
| Purpose | OpenVLT is a self-hosted notes app that stores notes as plain Markdown files on your server. | Turtl describes itself as a secure, collaborative notebook for organizing bookmarks, passwords, files, and shopping lists. |
| Support | The documentation directs users to email support or open an issue on GitHub. | Basic and Premium include community support, while Business includes dedicated support; the contact page directs users to the Turtl Community for questions and help. |
Plans
In their own words
Turtl
Turtl is a collaborative notebook for organizing bookmarks, passwords, files, shopping lists, and other notes. It supports text, bookmark, password, image, and document notes, with full-text search, tag filtering, Markdown, and TeX math rendering. Users can create Spaces, choose collaborators, and set permissions from read-only access through full ownership. Turtl says data is encrypted in the app before leaving the device, using keys derived from the user's email and password. Shared items get separate random keys, so recipients can unlock only the item shared with them. The service warns that an intercepted email invitation could expose a shared Space if its secret is not communicated separately. Users can import or export their full profile for backup or migration, and can install the open-source server to host their own data. Listed platforms include Windows, macOS, Linux, and Android, with Chrome and Firefox bookmarking extensions; offline access is supported. Premium costs $3/mo and includes 10GB note data and 10 collaborators per Space; Business costs $8/mo and includes 50GB and dedicated support.