Overview

Turtl combines personal note-taking with selective collaboration: users can group material into Spaces, invite chosen collaborators and set their permissions from read-only to full ownership. That makes it useful for shared reference collections as well as individual notes, without requiring every collaborator to have the same access.

Its open-source server can be installed by users who want to host their own data. The project is owned and operated by Lyon Bros LLC. Offline access is supported, which helps when a notebook needs to remain usable without a connection.

Key features

Notes, search and writing

Turtl handles text, bookmarks, passwords, images and files or documents. Full-text search and tag filtering help keep a mixed collection navigable; Markdown and TeX rendering make it more suitable than a plain clipping tool for formatted writing and mathematical notation. Users can attach photos and documents, then import or export a full profile for backup or moving between servers.

Spaces and sharing

Spaces let users share selected collections with specific collaborators and set permissions to match. For shared material, Turtl generates a separate random key for each object, so a recipient can unlock the item shared with them rather than gaining access to unrelated content. There is an important qualification: Turtl warns that an email invitation sent without a separately communicated shared secret could expose a Space if intercepted. Teams should account for that risk when choosing how to invite collaborators.

Security and compliance

Turtl says encryption happens in the app before data leaves the device, using keys derived from the user's email and password. Self-hosting gives technically capable users control over where their data is stored, while the per-object sharing keys narrow access to shared items. These measures do not make Turtl a fit for every regulated workflow: its FAQ says it likely is not HIPAA compliant, citing missing access logs, fine-grained access controls and physical access safeguards. Organizations handling protected health information should look elsewhere.

Extensions and support

Chrome and Firefox bookmarking extensions and Android sharing provide ways to collect material from those environments. Basic and Premium include community support, with the Turtl Community serving as the place for questions and help; Business adds dedicated support. The product's described integrations are focused on capture rather than a broad application ecosystem.

Pricing

Turtl is freemium, with a free plan, paid plans from $3/mo, and a 30-day trial. The Basic plan has custom pricing and allows 3 collaborators per Space with 50MB of storage. That cap makes it best for a small, light-use notebook, not a substantial shared archive.

Premium costs 3.00 USD per month (billed $3/mo) and raises capacity to 10GB of note data and 10 collaborators per space, with community support. It suits individuals or small groups who need more room and sharing capacity without dedicated support. Business costs 8.00 USD per month (billed $8/mo), with 50GB of note data, 50 collaborators per space and dedicated support; it is the better fit for larger collaborative Spaces that need a direct support channel. Custom plans have custom pricing; their terms and inclusions are not detailed.

The listed plan terms do not state trial conditions, renewal terms or a separate free-plan cap beyond Basic's 50MB and 3 collaborators per Space. Buyers should choose based on the stated storage and collaborator limits rather than assuming broader allowances.

Platforms

Turtl supports Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, a Chrome extension and self-hosting. Offline access is supported. The Chrome and Firefox bookmarking extensions and Android sharing address capture and sharing, while the available platform list does not include a dedicated iOS app.

Who it's for

Turtl is a strong candidate for people who keep varied personal reference material and want search, tags, attachments and a choice between private use and controlled sharing. It also suits privacy-conscious users prepared to self-host, and small teams that can work within the relevant collaborator and storage limits. It is not the right choice for HIPAA-sensitive work, or for a team that needs a wider set of integrations or stronger documented access controls.

Pros and cons

Pros: Supports several useful note types, including bookmarks, passwords, images and documents, so a single notebook can hold more than prose.
Pros: Per-object sharing keys, selectable Space permissions and self-hosting give users meaningful control over access and hosting.
Pros: Offline access, full-text search, tags and profile export support practical use and portability.
Cons: The email invitation caveat means shared Spaces require care if the secret is not communicated separately.
Cons: The 50MB Basic allowance is restrictive for a notebook that accumulates files and photos.
Cons: The stated HIPAA limitations rule it out for many healthcare workflows.

Alternatives

For a broader shortlist, see Secure Notes Apps and Note-taking apps. Abmatic AI, Hushly, AdRoll, Ploy, Warmly, Factors.ai, FlashGTM and Propensity are also listed as alternatives, but the available descriptions do not establish a basis for comparing their fit with Turtl.

Verdict

Choose Turtl if you want a searchable, offline-capable notebook for mixed personal material, with selective sharing and the option to run your own server. Its combination of note types and control over hosting is the main reason to choose it; the invitation caveat, limited Basic storage and likely lack of HIPAA compliance are sound reasons to look elsewhere.

	Plainpad	Turtl
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Free trial	No	Yes
Paid from	€20/mo	—
Open source	No	No
Platforms	Web	Android, extension, Linux, macOS, self-hosted, Windows
Free plan	Yes	Yes
Offline access	No	Yes
Supported platforms	web, self_hosted	windows, macos, linux, android, chrome_extension
Note sharing	—	Yes

Plainpad vs Turtl

Plainpad

Turtl