Best Secure Notes Apps in 2026
Updated
In short: Joplin is ranked #1 of 28 as of 2 October 2026, ahead of Notesnook and PrivacyNotes. The best-ranked option with a free plan is Notesnook. The lowest first paid tier on this page is Notesnook at $1.99/mo.
Choosing a secure notes app means balancing privacy controls with the ways you capture, carry, and retrieve your writing. Compare the encryption model with offline access, file attachments, and export formats; supported platforms matter if you switch between devices. Open-source status, free-plan availability, and the paid-from point add context for your budget and preferences. The ranking begins with Joplin and Notesnook, with PrivacyNotes and Cryptee close behind; Anytype is also among the early entries. Consider which protections and portability options are essential to your workflow, then weigh them against the note features you use day to day.
28 secure notes apps ranked on what their makers publish — plans and prices, free tiers, platforms and the facts on their own pages.
| # | Platform | Score | Why | From | Free plan | Paid from | Encryption model | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Joplin | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €2.99/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 2 |  Notesnook | 7.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | $1.99/mo | Yes | — | — | View |
| 3 | PrivacyNotes | 7.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 4 | Cryptee | 7.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | €3/mo | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 5 | Anytype | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 6 |  Turtl | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 7 | Dash | 7.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 8 |  Nolio | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 9 |  VaultNote | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 10 |  SilentNotes | 6.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 11 |  ZeroNote | 6.4 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 12 |  Snug | 6.3 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 13 |  Notyra | 6.2 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | Free | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 14 |  Lockpad | 6.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 15 |  NULVEX | 6.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 16 |  Paste | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | end_to_end | View |
| 17 |  Safe Notes | 5.9 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 18 | Binderus | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 19 |  Snoq | 5.8 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 20 |  OpenVLT | 5.7 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | end_to_end | View |
| 21 |  SecNotes | 5.6 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 22 |  MadNotes | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | privacy_focused_sync | View |
| 23 |  Cipher Notes | 5.5 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | — | View |
| 24 | Crypto Notepad | 5.1 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | Yes | — | local | View |
| 25 |  NoteSR | 5.0 | RecognisedAPIDocumented | — | — | — | — | View |
Is your platform on this list?
Numbered spots on this list can be sponsored. They are labelled, and the editorial order and scores never change for payment.
Questions about this list
Which secure notes app is ranked first on Inferse?
Joplin is ranked #1 of 28 with a score of 7.5. Notesnook is second and PrivacyNotes third.
How many of these have a free plan?
6 of the 25 on this page publish a free plan on their own pricing pages.
Which is the cheapest paid option?
On this page, Notesnook has the lowest first paid tier we found: $1.99/mo.
How is this list ranked?
Ranked on what each maker publishes, open and connectable first: a public API, open-source code, the depth of its documentation and a free tier to try it on. Model lists are sorted by the figure in their title, exactly as each provider publishes it. Paid placements never change a rank.