Alternatives to Notesnook
An end-to-end encrypted note app where the company cannot read your notes, with clients on every platform and full source published. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Notesnook
An end-to-end encrypted note app where the company cannot read your notes, with clients on every platform and full source published.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Notesnook.
Standard Notes
Encrypted notes built for the long term, where sync is free on unlimited devices and you can host the server.
Standard Notes is also end-to-end encrypted and open source, adds documented self-hosting and free sync on unlimited devices, but its free tier is plain text only.
Joplin
An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.
Joplin is free and open source with end-to-end encrypted sync through storage you already have, such as Nextcloud or Dropbox, and no mandatory account.
Anytype
An encrypted, offline-first workspace for notes, tasks and databases that syncs peer to peer.
Anytype keeps data on your device with end-to-end encrypted peer-to-peer sync and adds databases and custom object types, but it is source-available and still labelled beta.
Simplenote
Minimal note app that syncs plain-text and Markdown notes across devices.
Simplenote gives free, unlimited plain-text sync with version history, but notes are not encrypted on Automattic's servers and there are no attachments or folders.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian works on local Markdown files with no account needed, but it is not open source and syncing requires paying for Obsidian Sync or your own tool.
Bear
Apple-exclusive markdown notes app with tag-based organization and a polished editor.
Bear offers a polished tag-based Markdown editor, but it runs only on Apple platforms and advanced features such as export options require a subscription.
UpNote
A cross-platform notes app with rich text, Markdown support, nested notebooks and automatic sync.
UpNote offers native apps on every major desktop and phone with a rich editor and web clipper, but it is closed source and does not advertise end-to-end encryption.
Reflect
An end-to-end encrypted note app with backlinked notes, calendar integration and an AI assistant.
Reflect is also end-to-end encrypted and adds backlinks, calendar integration and AI help, but it is paid after the trial, closed source and runs only on iOS and web.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Notesnook as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Apple Notes
Apple's built-in notes app with sync, sketches, and text recognition.
Notesnook is an open source, end-to-end encrypted note app with clients for many platforms, but it requires an account and some features need the Pro subscription.
Evernote
A long-running note-taking app with notebooks, tasks, calendar links, search and web clipping.
Notesnook is GPL-3.0 open source with end-to-end encryption so the provider cannot read notes, adding desktop clients, though encryption removes server-side search.
Inkdrop
A Markdown note-taking app for developers with notebooks, tags, encrypted sync and AI features.
Notesnook is GPL-3.0 open source with end-to-end encryption and a free tier, but encryption prevents server-side search and self-hosting the sync server is not straightforward.
Zoho Notebook
A note-taking app from Zoho with card-style notes, checklists, audio, sketches and cross-device sync.
Notesnook is GPL-3.0 open source with end-to-end encrypted notes, so the provider cannot read them, and clients across desktop and web.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
QOwnNotes
A plain-text Markdown notepad and todo manager that syncs through Nextcloud or ownCloud, or any file sync you already use.
TriliumNext Notes
A hierarchical note app where one note can live in several places at once, with a server you can host.
CherryTree
A hierarchical notebook with rich text and syntax highlighting, storing everything in one file or a folder you control.
nb
A command-line and local web tool for plain text notes, bookmarks and a Git-backed knowledge base.
Google Keep
A note service from Google for quick notes, checklists and reminders that sync across devices.
