PrivacyNotes vs VaultNote
PrivacyNotes
privacynotes.appVaultNote
vaultnote.web.appSide by side
| Figure | PrivacyNotes | VaultNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price from | $0.40/mo | Free |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Free trial | — | — |
| Open source | Yes | — |
| Web | Yes | — |
| Windows | Yes | Yes |
| macOS | Yes | — |
| Linux | Yes | Yes |
| iOS | Yes | — |
| Android | Yes | Yes |
| API | Yes | — |
| Plans published | 5 | 1 |
| Spec score · Secure Notes Apps | 8.9 (#5) | 7.3 (#26) |
| Encryption | The clients encrypt note data locally with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before synchronization. | The site says synced notes are encrypted with AES-256-CBC before leaving the device, and the master password is never stored. |
| Offline use | The app is local-first, so reading, writing, and searching work without an internet connection and changes sync when connectivity returns. | GitHub sync is optional, and VaultNote can be used as a local-only note app. |
| Product | PrivacyNotes is an end-to-end encrypted personal workspace for notes, tasks, files, a vault, journals, and bookmarks. | VaultNote is an encrypted markdown note app that syncs notes to a GitHub repository the user owns. |
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.
VaultNote
VaultNote has no write-up on Specifiction yet; its figures are above.