PrivacyNotes vs Turtl
PrivacyNotes
privacynotes.appTurtl
turtlapp.comSide by side
| Figure | PrivacyNotes | Turtl |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.40/mo | $3/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | Yes |
| Open source | Yes | Yes |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | Yes |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | Yes |
| Self-hosted | — | Yes |
| Plans published | 5 | 4 |
| Spec score · Secure Notes Apps | 8.9 (#5) | 8.7 (#6) |
| Encryption | The clients encrypt note data locally with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before synchronization. | Turtl encrypts data on the client before transmission, so stored server data remains unreadable without users' keys. |
| Integrations | Sign-in can use Google, Apple or GitHub, while Bitwarden, browser passwords and browser bookmarks have import paths. | The official feature and download pages describe Chrome and Firefox bookmarking extensions and Android sharing, but do not list other integrations. |
| Self-hosting | The client is downloadable and open source, but the hosted sync backend is not offered as a self-hosted deployment. | Turtl publishes an open-source server that can be run on a user's own infrastructure. |
| What it does | PrivacyNotes combines encrypted notes, tasks, files, journals, bookmarks, contacts and a password-style vault in one personal workspace. | Turtl is a private collaborative notebook for organizing notes, bookmarks, passwords, files, images and documents. |
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
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.
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.