Standard Notes
End-to-end encrypted note-taking app with extensible editors and self-hosting option.
Overview
Standard Notes is a end-to-end encrypted note-taking app with extensible editors and self-hosting option. It handles e2e encryption, self-hosted, editors, and tags, and it's best suited for privacy-focused users wanting encrypted notes. It has been around since 2017, giving it a 9-year head start in building out integrations and refining the product.
The free plan is free with basic editors — enough for most people to evaluate whether it fits. Since it's open-source, you can self-host for free with no user limits. It's aimed at individual users, so it's fast to set up but may lack team-management features if you scale.
Strengths
- Open source and transparent
- End-to-end encryption by default — messages are unreadable even to the server operator
- Fully open-source — you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in
- Free with basic editors — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Self-hosting requires Linux admin skills and ongoing server maintenance
- Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary
- Community support can be slower than the dedicated support teams at commercial alternatives
Quick info
- Category
- Note Taking
- Starting price
- Free
- Free tier
- Yes — Free with basic editors
- Open source
- Yes
- Best for
- Individuals
- Founded
- 2017
Last updated 2026-04-12
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