Notion
EvernoteAbout Notesnook
Notesnook starts from a promise the big note apps can't make: nobody but you can read your notes. Everything is end-to-end encrypted with a zero-knowledge architecture — not even the Notesnook team can see your content.
Despite the encryption, it feels like a normal, polished note app: rich-text editing, notebooks and tags, cross-device sync, a web clipper and app lock. The sync server is open source too, so you can self-host the entire stack.
GPL-3.0 licensed and independently developed, Notesnook is the strongest choice when privacy is the feature you care about most.
What makes it different
Every note is end-to-end encrypted — only your devices can decrypt them.
Organize with notebooks and tags, and capture pages with the web clipper.
Encrypted sync across desktop, web, iOS and Android.
The sync server is open source — run the whole stack on your own hardware.
TypeScriptReact Native
C# (.NET)
DockerThe honest read
- True zero-knowledge, E2E-encrypted notes
- Polished apps on every platform
- Open-source client and sync server
- Web clipper and app lock included
- Painless import from Evernote and others
- No real-time team collaboration
- Best features need the paid plan (unless self-hosted)
- No databases or project views like Notion
- Search is limited by encryption trade-offs
Quick answers
Yes — the core app is free and open source under GPL-3.0. A paid Pro plan unlocks extras on the hosted service, or you can self-host the sync server for free.
No — it's zero-knowledge: notes are encrypted on your device before syncing, so only you hold the keys.
Notesnook matches the everyday features — notebooks, tags, clipper, sync — while adding end-to-end encryption and open source. Evernote has more integrations but none of the privacy guarantees.
Yes — the sync server is open source and can be run with Docker, keeping the entire stack under your control.
Yes — notes are stored locally and sync when you reconnect.
More open-source picks
Encrypted markdown notes with web clipper and sync.
Encrypted, local-first knowledge base with P2P sync.
Self-hosted private timeline for quick notes.
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