Standard Notes
Standard Notes is an open-source, encrypted notes app that focuses on privacy and security. It stores all notes locally by default and syncs encrypted data across devices. Core features include customizable themes, keyboard shortcuts, tagging, and markdown formatting.
Standard Notes: Open-Source, Secure Notes App
Standard Notes is an open-source, encrypted notes app that focuses on privacy and security. It stores all notes locally by default and syncs encrypted data across devices. Core features include customizable themes, keyboard shortcuts, tagging, and markdown formatting.
What is Standard Notes?
Standard Notes is an open-source, encrypted notes application developed by Standard Notes LLC with a focus on privacy and security. It stores all notes locally on your device by default, with options to sync your encrypted data across other devices securely. Some key features and highlights of Standard Notes include:
- End-to-end encryption of all your data to ensure privacy
- Open-source codebase that has been audited by security researchers
- A wide range of themes to customize the look and feel
- Tagging and saved searches to organize your notes
- Multi-device sync via Standard Cloud to access your notes anywhere
- Powerful editor with markdown formatting and keyboard shortcuts
- Extensible with encryptable extensions and themes from a built-in extensions catalog
- Available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android platforms with consistent user experience
- A free version with basic features as well as a paid Standard Notes Extended subscription that unlocks advanced capabilities
- Active development and strong community support behind the product
Overall, Standard Notes offers a secure, flexible, and extensible note taking application focused on safeguarding your privacy without compromising on features. It is an excellent option for individuals, teams, and businesses with confidential data seeking an open-source encrypted notes solution.
Standard Notes Features
Features
- Encrypted notes
- Local-first storage
- Cross-platform sync
- Custom themes
- Markdown support
- Tagging
- Keyboard shortcuts
Pricing
- Freemium
- Subscription-Based
Pros
Strong encryption
Open source
Customizable interface
Available on many platforms
Local-first model improves privacy
Free tier available
Cons
Sync requires paid plan
Limited formatting options
No offline access on web
Mobile apps cost extra
Official Links
Reviews & Ratings
Login to Review3.5
★
★
★
★
★
3 reviews
Rating Breakdown
Ease of Use
★
★
★
★
★
3.0
Features
★
★
★
★
★
3.0
Value for Money
★
★
★
★
★
3.7
Customer Support
★
★
★
★
★
3.7
Overall Experience
★
★
★
★
★
3.3
Recent Reviews
Anna King
Apr 02, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Finally, a secure and trustworthy note-taking app
I've been using Standard Notes for over a year now for journaling and storing sensitive information. The encryption and local-first approach give me real peace of mind, knowing my data is truly private. The interface is clean, sync works reliably …
Liam Lopez
Mar 31, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
Good on paper, frustrating in practice
I appreciate the focus on privacy and open-source philosophy, but the app feels clunky and underdeveloped. The free tier is severely limited, and the subscription feels expensive for what you get—basic features like rich text editing require a paid plan. …
Riley Moore
Mar 06, 2026
★
★
★
★
★
A fortress for notes, but the key is a bit heavy
Standard Notes delivers on its promise of extreme privacy, and I appreciate the peace of mind that comes with end-to-end encryption and open-source code. However, its focus on security comes at a cost to user experience; the interface feels spartan …
Rating Distribution
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