Best Secure Notepad Apps for Private Note-Taking in 2025Privacy-focused note-taking is no longer a niche concern — it’s essential. Whether you store passwords, medical information, business ideas, or personal journals, choosing a secure notepad app that protects your data from prying eyes is critical. This article compares top secure notepad apps for 2025, explains key security features to look for, and gives practical tips for keeping your notes truly private.
What “secure” really means for a notepad app
Not all apps that claim to be “secure” are equal. The most important aspects are:
- End-to-end encryption (E2EE): only you (and those you explicitly authorize) can read the content. Not even the provider can decrypt it.
- Zero-knowledge architecture: the service never has access to your plaintext or encryption keys.
- Open-source client or audited code: transparency reduces the risk of hidden backdoors or poor implementations.
- Strong authentication options: multi-factor authentication (MFA), hardware-backed keys (FIDO2/WebAuthn), and strong password-based key derivation (e.g., Argon2).
- Secure syncing: if notes sync between devices, the sync mechanism must preserve E2EE and not leak metadata unnecessarily.
- Local-first options: apps that store data primarily on the device and offer optional encrypted sync reduce attack surface.
- Recovery & key management: secure, user-friendly ways to recover access without weakening security (e.g., encrypted recovery codes, social recovery with caution).
- Privacy-respecting metadata policies: fewer identifiers logged about your usage or devices.
How I evaluated these apps
I looked for apps that combine E2EE, modern cryptography, transparent engineering (open-source or audited), strong authentication choices, cross-platform support, and good UX. I prioritized apps that maintain privacy even when syncing, and that minimize metadata leakage.
Top picks for 2025
Below are notable secure notepad apps, each with strengths depending on your priorities.
- Standard Notes — Best overall for long-term privacy and simplicity
- E2EE by default with client-side encryption.
- Open-source clients and extensions; paid Extended plan adds rich editors while keeping E2EE.
- Cross-platform: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android.
- Strong key derivation and support for passphrase-based access plus optional 2FA for account actions.
- Emphasis on minimal metadata collection.
- Joplin (with E2EE) — Best for power users who want control and offline-first behavior
- Open-source note app with optional E2EE using authenticated encryption.
- Local-first with optional encrypted sync via WebDAV, Nextcloud, Dropbox, etc.
- Highly customizable (plugins, themes, Markdown-centric).
- Good for users who prefer self-hosting.
- Standard Alternatives: Turtl — Good privacy-first, but check maintenance status
- Previously popular for secure notes with E2EE and an encrypted database.
- Open-source; consider checking the current project activity before committing.
- Proton Drive / Proton Notes — Best integrated suite for privacy-conscious users
- From Proton AG, known for privacy (Proton Mail, Proton Drive).
- E2EE for notes and files within Proton ecosystem.
- Strong privacy policy and EU-based data protections.
- Good balance of usability and security within a wider privacy suite.
- Cryptee — Best for journalers and multimedia notes
- E2EE for documents, photos, and more; privacy-focused and based in Estonia.
- Clean interface for writing, journaling, and storing images.
- Open-source client code; paid plans support sustainable development.
- Standard Notes Competitors: Notable Mention – Apple Notes (with iCloud Private Relay considerations)
- Apple Notes supports device-level encryption and iCloud syncing with strong protections when using iCloud Keychain and device passcode; however, it’s not zero-knowledge with respect to iCloud unless you use Advanced Data Protection. Best for Apple ecosystem users seeking convenience with solid platform-level security.
- Obsidian with Encrypted Vault plugins — Best for knowledge workers and local-first vaults
- Core app is local-first, Markdown-based, and stores files locally.
- Community plugins (and the official Obsidian Sync with E2EE) enable encrypted sync.
- Great for linking notes and building a personal knowledge base while keeping control of data.
Comparison table
| App | E2EE by Default | Open-source | Cross-platform | Sync Options | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Standard Notes | Yes | Yes | Yes | Built-in E2EE sync | Simplicity + privacy |
| Joplin | Optional | Yes | Yes | WebDAV/Nextcloud/Dropbox (encrypted) | Power users, self-hosters |
| Proton Notes | Yes | No (some components open) | Yes | Proton ecosystem (E2EE) | Integrated privacy suite |
| Cryptee | Yes | Partially | Yes | Cryptee sync (E2EE) | Journaling + media |
| Obsidian (Sync) | Optional (with Sync) | Yes | Yes | Obsidian Sync (E2EE) or local only | Knowledge base, local control |
Practical tips for truly private notes
- Use a strong, unique passphrase for encryption keys; combine length (12+ words) and entropy.
- Prefer apps with client-side key derivation like Argon2 or scrypt.
- Enable hardware-backed MFA (FIDO2/WebAuthn) where available.
- Avoid storing secrets in plaintext inside non-encrypted notes or attachments.
- Regularly export and back up encrypted archives to a secure offline location.
- If you self-host sync, keep server software and TLS up to date.
- Review an app’s privacy policy and audit reports if available.
Recovery and sharing: trade-offs to understand
- Recovery mechanisms (password reset, recovery keys, social recovery) add convenience but can weaken security if poorly designed. Prefer recovery flows that keep keys encrypted and require multiple factors.
- Sharing encrypted notes requires careful key exchange. Use apps that support secure sharing mechanisms (shared encrypted folders or public-key-based sharing) rather than sending decrypted content over email.
When to self-host vs. use a managed service
- Self-host if you require full control of metadata and server infrastructure, and you have the expertise to secure the server. Good with Joplin (WebDAV/Nextcloud) or self-hosted Turtl alternatives.
- Use a vetted managed service (Standard Notes, Proton, Cryptee) if you want easy cross-device syncing with high assurance of E2EE and maintenance.
Final recommendation
For most users in 2025 who want a balance of privacy, ease-of-use, and cross-device syncing, Standard Notes is the strongest all-around choice. Power users who want local-first control and self-hosting should consider Joplin. Journalers and multimedia note-takers will appreciate Cryptee, while those invested in a broader privacy ecosystem may prefer Proton’s offerings.
If you want, I can:
- recommend the best option based on your platform and threat model, or
- create a step-by-step setup guide (including secure passphrase creation and backup) for any app above.
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