📝 Notes Open source Privacy ★★★★★
Notesnook
Encrypted notes that can replace Google Keep
Overview
Notesnook is an end-to-end encrypted notes app. The client and server are GPLv3, and self-hosting is possible.
Official materials advertise unlimited notes for free. Paid plans add storage and features.
It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS, and the web.
Scores
Privacy 5/5
Ease of use 4/5
Features 4/5
Value 5/5
Google Keep — comparison
Google Keep is tied to a Google account and other Google services. Notesnook is E2EE and open source, so you can keep notes outside Google.
Pros
- ✓ Official materials say notes themselves are unlimited on the free plan
- ✓ E2EE, with open-source apps and server
- ✓ Desktop, mobile, and web clients are available
Cons & caveats
- − Free-tier sync storage is limited (the official Japan-yen page lists 50 MB/month)
- − No Keep-style integration with other Google services
Best for
- People replacing Google Keep with encrypted notes
- People who want open source and optional self-hosting
- People who need the same notes on several operating systems
Not ideal for
- People who need notes tightly tied to Google Docs or Calendar
- People who want to store large attachments only on the free tier
Specs
- Pricing
- Free + paid — Official Japan-yen prices, tax included (confirmed by rendering the page on 2026-11-11): free is ¥0 with 50 MB/month and unlimited notes. Essential is ¥291/month (¥3,494/year, 1 GB/month storage). Pro is ¥728/month (¥8,736/year, 29% off label, 10 GB/month storage). Believer is ¥1,311/month (¥15,727/year, 25 GB/month storage). 14-day free trial. Official USD prices (confirmed 2026-11-11 by sha2se on the official page; yearly and 3-year figures are per-month equivalents): Essential is $1.99/month, or $1.67/month billed yearly. Pro is $6.99/month, or $5.83/month billed yearly, or $5.00/month on the 3-year plan. Believer is $8.99/month, or $7.50/month billed yearly, or $6.67/month on the 3-year plan. Source: https://notesnook.com/pricing
- Difficulty
- Easy
- Data location
- Check official materials for hosted data location. Self-hosting is also possible.
- Platforms
- Windows · macOS · Linux · Android · iOS · Web
E2EEGPLv3Unlimited notes on the free planSelf-hosting possible
Migration from Google Keep
- 1 Export Keep via Google Takeout or an equivalent export
- 2 Install Notesnook and set a master password
- 3 Paste or import important notes first
- 4 Stop adding new notes in Keep once the new app looks reliable
Setup steps
- 1 Open the app or web client from https://notesnook.com/
- 2 Create an account, or follow the self-hosting instructions
- 3 Set a master password and 2FA if available
- 4 Create a test note and confirm sync