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Standard Notes
Free · $8/mo · ranked #19 of 30
★ 4.6 / 5 · 11k user reviews
· App Store + Google Play, cross-referenced · display-only, not part of the SoftwareScore
60
SoftwareScore · ranked #19
A privacy-first, end-to-end encrypted notes app (now part of Proton), top marks for ownership, minimal AI.
Value (price vs features) 6
Ease of use 7
Feature depth 5
Cross-platform & sync 8
Data ownership / privacy 9
Collaboration 3
AI capability 2
Standard Notes pros and cons
Pros
- End-to-end encrypted and privacy-first (now part of Proton)
- Simple, distraction-free writing
- Cross-platform, including Linux
Cons
- Rich editors and themes require the paid plan
- Minimal AI
- Not built for collaboration
Best for Privacy-first users who want encrypted plain notes.
Skip it if You want AI or team features.
On the SoftwareScore, Standard Notes is strongest on Data ownership / privacy (9/10) and weakest on AI capability (2/10). That's what drives its 60/100.
Compare Standard Notes head-to-head
Standard Notes vs Obsidian 70
A local-first markdown knowledge base with a huge plugin ecosystem, unmatched on data ownership, lighter on real-time collaboration.
Milanote 61
A visual board for organizing ideas, notes, and media, great for creative planning and sharing.
Amplenote 59
Notes, tasks, and calendar in one, with a jots-to-notes workflow and AI plugins, a solid all-rounder.
Tana 58
A supertag-powered AI outliner for structured knowledge work, very powerful, with a steep learning curve.
Nebo 57
A handwriting note app built on best-in-class handwriting-to-text conversion, with structured documents, math, and diagrams across tablet, phone, and Windows.
Bear 57
An elegant Apple-only markdown notes app, a joy to write in, best for people living in the Apple ecosystem.