For a private plain-text notes app, the first results are laurent22/joplin (Joplin is a cross-platform, open-source note-taking app with end-to-end encryption and a Markdown editor; it supports self-hosted sync, offline access, and tag-based organization, making it a strong alternative to Standard Notes), standardnotes/app (Standard Notes is a leading encrypted note-taking app that provides end-to-end encryption, Markdown editing, self-hostable sync, cross-platform clients, offline mode, and tag organization, directly matching the requested alternative and all required features) and laverna/laverna. fabiospampinato/notable and signalapp/libsignal round out the shortlist. Compare the match explanations and check the project documentation against your requirements.
Self-hosted and privacy-focused note-taking applications that prioritize end-to-end encryption for your plain-text data.
Joplin is an open-source, cross-platform note-taking application designed for secure, private knowledge management. It functions as a local-first productivity platform, maintaining a complete relational database on the user's device to ensure offline availability and high-performance data retrieval. The application prioritizes data sovereignty by implementing an end-to-end encryption layer, which secures all information locally with a master key before any synchronization occurs. The platform distinguishes itself through a delta-based synchronization engine that transmits only specific file c
Joplin is a cross-platform, open-source note-taking app with end-to-end encryption and a Markdown editor; it supports self-hosted sync, offline access, and tag-based organization, making it a strong alternative to Standard Notes.
Standard Notes is a leading encrypted note-taking app that provides end-to-end encryption, Markdown editing, self-hostable sync, cross-platform clients, offline mode, and tag organization, directly matching the requested alternative and all required features.
Laverna is an open-source note-taking application designed as a privacy-focused alternative to Evernote. It operates as a single-page application that runs entirely in the browser, combining Markdown editing with client-side encryption to ensure note content is encrypted on the device before it ever reaches a server or cloud storage. The application distinguishes itself through its offline-first architecture, storing notes locally using browser storage for full offline access and editing capabilities. It synchronizes notes across devices through a unified interface that connects to multiple b
Laverna is a browser-based note-taking app with client-side encryption and Markdown editing, offering offline access and sync via multiple backends, which fits the privacy-focused plain-text note-taking category, though it relies on cloud storage or P2P sync rather than a dedicated self-hostable server.
Notable is a local-first markdown note taking application and document manager. It functions as a personal knowledge base that persists notes as plain text files on the local disk to ensure data portability and user ownership. The application provides a markdown editor featuring a split-pane live preview for real-time rendering of content, including mathematical expressions and diagrams. Information is organized through a hierarchical tagging system that allows for nested labels and multi-dimensional categorization. The software includes tools for bulk note management to apply operations acr
Notable is a local-first Markdown note-taking app that stores notes as plain text files on your device, offering hierarchical tags and a live preview editor, but it lacks end-to-end encryption and a self-hostable sync server, which are key requirements for an alternative to Standard Notes.
libsignal is a cryptographic library that implements the Signal Protocol, providing the core primitives for end-to-end encrypted messaging with forward secrecy and deniable authentication. It includes the Double Ratchet algorithm for iteratively deriving fresh encryption keys per message, and the X3DH key agreement protocol for establishing shared secrets between parties asynchronously. A session state machine maintains cryptographic state across message exchanges, supporting recovery and out-of-order delivery. The library extends beyond basic messaging encryption with capabilities such as ze
libsignal is a low-level cryptographic library implementing the Signal Protocol, not a note-taking application—it provides encryption primitives but lacks the editor, sync server, clients, and offline mode needed for a self-contained encrypted note-taking tool.
CryptPad is a self-hosted, zero-knowledge office suite designed for real-time collaborative editing and content management. It provides a privacy-centric infrastructure where documents, files, and notes are encrypted in the browser before transmission, ensuring that the server administrator cannot access the underlying data. The platform implements zero-knowledge user authentication, utilizing cryptographic keys to verify identities so that plain text passwords are never stored on the server. To further isolate sensitive operations, the system employs a security architecture that separates th
CryptPad is a self-hosted zero-knowledge collaborative office suite that includes encrypted notes, but its focus on real-time collaboration and broader document editing makes it a different category than a dedicated, plain-text-focused note-taking app like Standard Notes.
Linsa.io is an end-to-end encrypted cloud storage service and zero-knowledge data vault. It functions as a private content sharing platform that encrypts files and data on the client side, ensuring only the owner can access the stored content. The project employs a local-first approach, processing data updates and encryption on the local device before syncing encrypted blobs to a remote persistence layer. It uses a zero-knowledge architecture where the service provider cannot access decryption keys or view the plaintext content of stored files. The platform provides capabilities for private
Linsa.io is an end-to-end encrypted cloud storage and file-sharing platform, not a note-taking app itself—it provides the encryption and sync layer you could combine with a note editor but lacks the plain‑text editor, Markdown support, and tag-based organization you need.
OpenKeychain is a mobile OpenPGP key manager and identity provider used for storing, importing, and organizing encryption keys and digital certificates. It serves as an end-to-end encryption client and digital signature tool for encrypting and decrypting text and files. The application functions as a central vault that provides encryption and decryption services to third-party apps, such as email clients and password managers. It enables secure public key exchange through online directory retrieval and QR code scanning. The project covers cryptographic identity verification, including the ab
OpenKeychain is a mobile OpenPGP key manager that provides encryption services to other apps, not a note-taking application itself—it lacks a plain-text editor, note storage, and self-hosted sync, so it's a privacy building block rather than the full note-taking tool you're looking for.
Seafile is a self-hosted file synchronization and sharing platform that provides a central server for maintaining file consistency across multiple devices. It functions as a cloud storage management system and a collaborative document suite, integrating tools for real-time teamwork and shared file management. The platform distinguishes itself through a metadata-driven file organizer that uses extensible properties and hierarchical tags instead of traditional folder structures. It includes client-side encrypted storage to protect private data using user-defined passwords before files leave the
Seafile is a self-hosted file sync and collaboration platform with client-side encryption and Markdown support, but it is a cloud storage system, not a dedicated note-taking app with a plain-text editor and end-to-end encryption for notes — it's a different category of tool, more akin to a secure Dropbox with document collaboration.
Upspin is a decentralized naming and storage system that provides an end-to-end encrypted file system. It assigns every user a unique identity and organizes files within a global, permissioned namespace where data is encrypted on the client before transmission. The system separates identity resolution from data storage using a public-key identity provider and a key-server architecture. This allows for decentralized identity management and the resolution of usernames to specific directory and storage server addresses. The project includes a hierarchical access control system that manages read
Upspin is a decentralized, end-to-end encrypted file storage system rather than a note-taking application—it provides secure sync infrastructure but lacks a note editor, Markdown support, tag organization, or offline note management, so it is not the alternative to Standard Notes you are looking for.
Signal-Desktop is a cross-platform messaging application that provides end-to-end encrypted communication. It implements the Signal Protocol to secure messages and voice calls, ensuring that only intended recipients can access content. The application manages asynchronous key exchange and session initialization to maintain secure communication channels between parties who are not online simultaneously. The project distinguishes itself through advanced cryptographic protections, including hybrid post-quantum security that combines classical elliptic curve cryptography with lattice-based algori
Signal is a secure messaging client, not a note-taking app—it lacks the plain-text editor and organizational features that define a note-taking tool focused on privacy and simplicity.
anytype-ts is a TypeScript client library and offline-first knowledge base client designed for managing structured layouts and modular blocks within a private distributed database. It functions as a zero-knowledge data synchronizer and schema-driven API wrapper that enables the secure replication of encrypted data across devices. The library utilizes peer-to-peer connectivity and zero-knowledge encryption to ensure data remains private and unreadable to hosting infrastructure. It employs a schema-driven approach to compile data definitions into typed language bindings, ensuring consistent com
This repository is the TypeScript client library and SDK for Anytype, not the full note-taking application—while it provides zero-knowledge encryption and offline-first sync, it's a building block rather than the self-contained, plain-text-focused app with a self-hostable server and Markdown editor that you're looking for as an alternative to Standard Notes.
| Repository | Stars | Language | License | Last push |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| laurent22/joplin | 55.2K | TypeScript | NOASSERTION | |
| standardnotes/app | 6.5K | TypeScript | AGPL-3.0 | |
| laverna/laverna |
| 9.2K |
| JavaScript |
| MPL-2.0 |
| fabiospampinato/notable | 23.5K | — | — |
| signalapp/libsignal | 5.8K | Rust | AGPL-3.0 |
| cryptpad/cryptpad | 7.7K | JavaScript | AGPL-3.0 |
| linsa-io/linsa.io | 16.9K | TypeScript | — |
| open-keychain/open-keychain | 2.5K | Java | gpl-3.0 |
| haiwen/seafile | 14.8K | C | NOASSERTION |
| upspin/upspin | 6.4K | Go | Apache-2.0 |