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Notesnook

End-to-End Encrypted Notes App Free — Notesnook

Keep your notes private with end-to-end encryption — free alternative to Evernote.

v3.3.18
May 2026
WindowsmacOSLinuxAndroidiOSFreeOpen Source

Most note-taking apps store your notes on company servers in plain text — readable by support staff, subpoenable by courts, and vulnerable to data breaches. Evernote has been hacked multiple times. Notion processes your content on US servers under US jurisdiction. Standard Notes encrypts, but its free tier limits you to plain text only.

Notesnook encrypts everything with XChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2 before it ever leaves your device. The server only ever receives ciphertext it can't read. You still get a full-featured editor with markdown, tables, checklists, code blocks, inline images, and callouts — not the stripped-down experience most encrypted apps use to push you toward a premium upgrade.

Organization works through notebooks, tags, colors, and pinnable shortcuts. A private vault adds an extra password or biometric lock to your most sensitive notes, separate from your account credentials. Cross-device sync covers Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, and iOS, and everything is available offline.

The free tier is genuinely usable: unlimited notes, all formatting, and full sync across devices. The paid plan at $4.99/month adds publishing, priority support, and a few export options, but doesn't lock core functionality behind a paywall the way Evernote or Standard Notes does.

Compared to Notion, Notesnook trades the flexible database and block editor for strong encryption and zero-knowledge storage — the right tradeoff for anyone storing sensitive journals, research, or private documents. Automatic daily backups export to encrypted zip files. A browser extension clips web pages directly into your notebooks. GPL-3.0 and fully auditable.

Related Tools

  • Joplin — Alternative private notes app with local storage and optional self-hosted sync if you prefer managing your own server
  • Super Productivity — Pair with Notesnook for task management and Pomodoro tracking alongside your notes

FAQ

Is Notesnook free?+
Yes, Notesnook has a free tier that is genuinely usable — unlimited notes, full markdown formatting, and sync across all your devices at no cost. A paid plan at $4.99/month adds publishing and priority support, but core features including end-to-end encryption are free.
How to keep notes private for free?+
Install Notesnook on your device, create an account (required for sync), and all your notes are automatically encrypted with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before they leave your device. The server only stores ciphertext — even Notesnook staff can't read your notes. The app also works fully offline.
Best free alternative to Evernote?+
Notesnook is the best free alternative to Evernote if privacy matters to you. It offers end-to-end encryption, unlimited notes, markdown editor, tags, notebooks, and cross-device sync — all free. Unlike Evernote, which has no encryption and has suffered multiple data breaches, Notesnook is zero-knowledge.
Notesnook vs Standard Notes — which is better?+
Both offer end-to-end encryption, but Notesnook's free tier includes a rich editor with markdown, tables, and code blocks — Standard Notes' free tier is plain text only. Notesnook is also fully open source under GPL-3.0. Standard Notes has a longer track record, but Notesnook is more practical for everyday note-taking without a paid plan.