Notesnook | Open source & zero knowledge private note taking app
Express yourself with freedom, no spying, no tracking — only private notes. Unlike Evernote and other note apps, your data is private — not open for everyone to see.
Categories:
Notesnook is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app focused on privacy and zero-knowledge principles for users who want secure, distraction-free note organization.
🚀 Overview
Notesnook is a cross-platform note-taking application that prioritizes user privacy above all else. Unlike mainstream apps that track and monetize your data, Notesnook encrypts everything end-to-end on your device using XChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2, ensuring zero-knowledge access—even the developers can't read your notes.
It solves the critical problem of data spying, tracking, and breaches in popular note apps like Evernote by making privacy the default: notes are encrypted at rest, in transit, and in the cloud. No one can sell or access your ideas.
- What problem does this project solve? Lack of true privacy in note-taking apps.
- Who is it built for? Privacy-conscious individuals, students, professionals, and anyone storing sensitive notes.
- Why did you build it? To provide a transparent, open-source alternative where users control their data without compromises.
Keep it human and honest: Notesnook was born from frustration with invasive apps, aiming to make secure notes accessible to everyone, not just tech elites.
✨ Key Features
- End-to-end encryption & sync: Secure syncing across web, desktop, mobile with zero-knowledge; self-hostable server.
- Rich editing tools: Markdown support, tables, code blocks, math, images, files, task lists, outlines—everything for powerful notes.
- Privacy extras: App lock, notes vault (device-encrypted), password-protected sharing, web clipper.
- Organization & reminders: Notebooks, tags, recurring reminders, custom shortcuts.
- Upcoming: Full localization, keyboard shortcuts, multi-window support.
🛠 Tech Stack
- Frontend: React (web/desktop), React Native (mobile), TypeScript
- Backend: Node.js-based self-hostable sync server
- Database: SQLite (core), IndexedDB (client-side)
- Auth: Custom email-based
- Hosting: Official cloud servers or self-host via Docker
👥 Who Is This For?
This project is useful for:
- Privacy enthusiasts who want to ___ take notes without surveillance
- Students and educators looking for ___ affordable secure organization (education discounts)
- Professionals building ___ vaults for ideas and tasks privately
📸 Screenshots / Demo
- Live demo: https://notesnook.com (free signup)
- GitHub: https://github.com/streetwriters/notesnook
🔥 Project Status
- 🟢 Actively building
Last updated: 2026-03-24
❓ FAQ
Is this project free?
Freemium — Free tier with 50MB/mo storage, limited features; Pro plans (Essential/Pro/Believer) unlock unlimited storage, advanced tools, full offline mode (monthly/yearly, student discounts, 14-day refunds).
Is the source code available?
Yes — https://github.com/streetwriters/notesnook (client) & https://github.com/streetwriters/notesnook-sync-server
Can I contribute?
Yes — Review CONTRIBUTING.md, open issues for bugs/ideas, submit PRs. Join Discord for discussions; active community with 48+ contributors.
📬 Contact & Links
- Website: https://notesnook.com
- GitHub: https://github.com/streetwriters/notesnook
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/notesnook
- Email: support@streetwriters.co
Built with ❤️ and kept warm on WarmIndex.
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