Home / Tools / Productivity / Standard Notes
Updated: Dec 5, 2025
Tested: 3 months continuous use
8 min read
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Standard Notes Review

// Productivity Updated: Dec 2025
Best Free Option

Standard Notes takes a radically different approach to note-taking: security first, features second. While other apps collect data and sync through readable servers, Standard Notes encrypts everything client-side with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before it ever leaves your device. Even Standard Notes employees cannot decrypt your data. This makes it the go-to choice for lawyers, healthcare professionals, journalists, and anyone handling sensitive information.

Quick Intel

Our Rating
4.6
Price $7.50/mo
Time Saved ~2.5h/wk
Free Tier Yes
Best For Privacy-first encrypted note-taking
Try Standard Notes

Free tier available. No credit card required.

// Jump To
// TL;DR
Standard Notes is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes app built for users who refuse to compromise on privacy. With zero-knowledge architecture and four independent security audits, it ensures only you can read your notes. The free tier includes unlimited devices and E2E encryption, while paid plans ($7.50-$10/mo) add markdown editing, 100GB storage, and team sharing.
01

Pricing Breakdown

Standard Notes offers a genuinely useful free tier that includes unlimited notes, unlimited devices, end-to-end encryption, and two-factor authentication. Paid plans start at $7.50/month for markdown editing and advanced features, with the Professional plan at $10/month adding 100GB encrypted cloud storage and subscription sharing for up to 5 accounts.

Standard
Free
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Unlimited device sync
  • Plain text notes
  • Offline access
  • Tag organization
  • Password protection for individual notes
  • Full data export
  • Two-factor authentication
  • Daily encrypted email backups
  • Community support
Productivity
$7.50 /month
  • All Standard features
  • Markdown and rich text editing
  • Checklists and code snippets
  • Spreadsheet creation
  • Daily Notebooks
  • 2FA authenticator
  • Folder organization
  • Web Clipper
  • 1-year note revision history
  • Account sign-in email notifications
  • 14-day 100% refund period
  • Dedicated support
Professional
$10 /month
  • All Productivity features
  • 100GB encrypted cloud storage
  • Subscription sharing (up to 5 accounts)
  • No file size limit
  • Offline file access
  • Local file backups
  • Moments daily photo capture
  • Maximum note revision history
  • Hardware security key support
  • 90-day 100% refund period
  • Dedicated support

Standard Notes Privacy & Productivity Calculator

// Calculate Your Secure Note-Taking Value
// Your Usage
Hours saved per week (search, sync) 3h
Your hourly rate $50
Monthly subscription $7.50
Calculation Assumptions:
- 2.5 hours/week saved through centralized encrypted note management (industry research)
- 15% productivity increase from secure cross-device sync and quick search
- Security value: E2E encryption reduces breach risk for legal/healthcare/finance
// Your Savings
Annual ROI
0%
Monthly Savings
$0
Annual Savings
$0
Cost/Use
$0.00
Efficiency Gain
0%
Time reclaimed 0h / month
Try Standard Notes Free
Free tier with unlimited notes and devices
02

Feature Analysis

Standard Notes excels in security and privacy but makes deliberate trade-offs to maintain its encryption integrity. The scores below reflect this security-first philosophy.

Security & Encryption

Excellent

XChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption with zero-knowledge architecture. Four independent security audits verify the implementation. Industry-leading privacy protection.

Note-Taking Features

Good

Solid markdown, rich text, spreadsheets, and checklists on paid plans. Free tier limited to plain text. Web clipper and bi-directional linking add versatility.

Cross-Platform Sync

Excellent

Native apps for iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Web with seamless encrypted sync. Full offline access on all platforms.

Collaboration

Needs Work

Subscription sharing allows team access on Professional plan, but no real-time co-editing due to encryption model. Best for individual use.

Integrations

Average

Limited third-party connections by design. No Zapier or public API. Built-in 2FA authenticator provides core utility without external dependencies.

Value for Money

Excellent

Generous free tier with unlimited devices and E2E encryption. Paid plans reasonably priced at $7.50-$10/month with 100GB storage and team sharing.

03

The Honest Truth

What We Love
  • Military-Grade Encryption - Uses <strong>XChaCha20-Poly1305</strong> with zero-knowledge architecture. Even Standard Notes employees cannot decrypt your notes. Four independent security audits verify the implementation.
  • Truly Free Tier - <strong>Unlimited devices, unlimited notes, and E2E encryption</strong> at no cost. Two-factor authentication was recently moved to the free tier from paid.
  • Open-Source Transparency - Both client and server code are <strong>fully open-source (AGPL-3.0)</strong>, allowing security researchers to verify there are no backdoors or vulnerabilities.
  • Complete Offline Access - All features work <strong>without internet connection</strong>. Your encrypted notes sync automatically when you reconnect, ideal for travel or unreliable networks.
  • Cross-Platform Excellence - Native apps for <strong>iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, Linux, and Web</strong> with seamless sync. All platforms receive feature parity and regular updates.
What Could Be Better
  • No Real-Time Collaboration - End-to-end encryption prevents <strong>simultaneous multi-user editing</strong>. Professional plan allows note sharing but not live co-editing like Google Docs.
  • Basic Interface Design - Web and mobile interfaces prioritize <strong>function over aesthetics</strong>. Users seeking visual polish may find the UI dated compared to Notion or Obsidian.
  • Limited Free Features - Free tier restricted to <strong>plain text only</strong>. No markdown, rich text, or file attachments without the $7.50/month Productivity plan.
  • Fewer Integrations - Encryption model limits <strong>third-party app connections</strong>. No Zapier, IFTTT, or API for custom workflows that mainstream alternatives offer.
04

Who Should Use This

Legal Professionals

Store privileged attorney-client communications and case notes with GDPR-compliant encryption that prevents unauthorized access.

Best Fit

Healthcare Workers

Secure patient notes and medical records with HIPAA-grade encryption that protects sensitive health information across devices.

Best Fit

Journalists & Researchers

Protect source identities and confidential leads with zero-knowledge encryption that prevents even server administrators from accessing notes.

Best Fit

Financial Advisors

Document client portfolios and strategic plans with bank-grade encryption that safeguards financial data and investment strategies.

Good Fit

Privacy-Conscious Users

Anyone who values data ownership and refuses to let corporations read their personal notes. Audited encryption you can trust.

Good Fit

Remote & Traveling Workers

Full offline access means your encrypted notes work without internet. Perfect for flights, travel, and unreliable connections.

Good Fit

Real-Time Collaboration Teams

Teams needing simultaneous multi-user editing will find Standard Notes limiting. Encryption prevents live co-editing like Google Docs.

Not Ideal

Integration-Heavy Workflows

If your workflow relies on Zapier, webhooks, or extensive API connections, mainstream tools like Notion offer far more integrations.

Not Ideal

Visual Content Creators

Users prioritizing rich media embedding, databases, and polished interface design will prefer Notion or Craft over Standard Notes' text-focused approach.

Not Ideal
05

vs. Competition

ToolPriceKey FeatureNoteBest For
Standard Notes
Standard Notes
Free-$10/mo E2E encrypted Open-source Privacy-first note-taking
Joplin
Joplin
Free E2E optional Open-source Feature-rich free tier
Obsidian
Obsidian
Free-$50/mo Local-first Plugin ecosystem Knowledge management
Notion
Notion
Free-$18/mo No E2E All-in-one Team workspaces
06

Frequently Asked Questions

No. Standard Notes uses zero-knowledge encryption, meaning your notes are encrypted on your device before syncing to servers. The encryption key is derived from your password, which never leaves your device. Even if compelled by law enforcement, Standard Notes cannot decrypt your notes because they don't possess your encryption key.
The free Standard plan includes unlimited notes and devices with end-to-end encryption, offline access, tag organization, two-factor authentication, daily encrypted email backups, and full data export. You're limited to plain text editing-markdown and rich text require the $7.50/month Productivity plan.
Both prioritize local-first architecture, but Standard Notes offers built-in end-to-end encryption for cloud sync, while Obsidian requires third-party plugins (Obsidian Sync is encrypted but closed-source). Standard Notes undergoes regular independent security audits and is fully open-source, making it the stronger choice for verified security. Obsidian excels at knowledge management features.
Yes, with the Professional plan ($10/month). You can share your subscription with up to 5 accounts while maintaining end-to-end encryption. However, Standard Notes doesn't support real-time collaborative editing-shared notes must be edited by one person at a time to preserve encryption integrity.
Since Standard Notes uses zero-knowledge encryption, there is no password recovery mechanism. If you forget your password, your encrypted notes cannot be decrypted and are permanently inaccessible. This is a security feature, not a limitation-it proves that only you control your data. Use daily email backups as a safeguard.
Yes. The zero-knowledge architecture means Standard Notes doesn't store or process your unencrypted data, making GDPR compliance straightforward. For HIPAA, the encryption meets technical safeguard requirements, but healthcare organizations should ensure they have a Business Associate Agreement (BAA) in place.
07

Final Verdict

4.6/5
Our Rating

The Gold Standard for Private Note-Taking

Standard Notes is the gold standard for encrypted note-taking. If privacy is your top priority and you need audited, zero-knowledge encryption, no other tool matches its security credentials. The generous free tier makes it accessible, and paid plans deliver solid value. However, if you need real-time collaboration or extensive integrations, you'll need to look elsewhere. Choose Standard Notes when security cannot be compromised.

Try Standard Notes Free

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