Privacy Tool Spotlight: Notesnook
Notes are personal. Whether you're scribbling a shopping list, saving a recipe, or outlining a project's steps, your notes capture your life and ideas. For me, I lean toward quick sticky notes to track tasks or recall exact sequences for later use. But no matter how you use them, your notes shouldn't fuel data-hungry apps. Too often, free tools scan your words to profile you, a trade-off many accept for convenience. Yet, privacy-focused alternatives exist, blending strong features with real security.
We explored several options in the end-to-end encrypted, zero-knowledge space, testing apps like Standard Notes, Obsidian, and Joplin. Each had merits, but Notesnook stood out for its balance of usability, robust features, and ironclad privacy commitment.
Uncompromising Privacy
- End-to-End Encryption (E2EE): Notesnook encrypts your notes on your device before they hit the servers. Only you can unlock them, thanks to tough standards like XChaCha20-Poly1305-IETF and Argon2.
- Zero-Knowledge Design: Your encryption key stays local. Notesnook can’t peek at your notes, even if they tried.
- Encrypted Attachments: Add a file, photo, or video, and it’s encrypted on your device first. Even filenames stay hidden from their servers.
User-Friendly Features
- Markdown Made Simple: Type in Markdown, and Notesnook instantly turns it into rich text. It supports CommonMark and GitHub Flavored Markdown for task lists, tables, and more.
- Open Source: Fully transparent, Notesnook’s code is public. Anyone can check it for security, ensuring trust.
- No Tracking or Ads: Your data isn’t for sale. Notesnook skips trackers and ads entirely.
Extra Security Layers
- App Lock and Note Vault: Secure the app or individual notes with passwords for added peace of mind.
- Privacy Mode: On some platforms, block screenshots and previews to shield your notes in public.
Your Data, Your Rules
- Data Portability: Export notes anytime as PDF, HTML, Markdown, or text. You’re never trapped.
- Self-Funded: Subscriptions, not data sales or investors, drive Notesnook. Privacy stays the priority.
Conclusion
In a world where privacy feels optional, Notesnook proves it’s essential. It’s more than a note-taking tool; it’s a promise that your thoughts remain yours alone. For anyone who values security without sacrificing convenience, Notesnook is the clear choice for our needs.
Remember, we may not have anything to hide, but everything to protect.
