Local-first & offline
memrynote Yes
Notion No
Private Notion alternative
The private Notion alternative that can’t read your notes.
memrynote is a private, end-to-end encrypted alternative to Notion. Where Notion stores your pages on its servers — where staff can technically access them — memrynote keeps every note as a plain Markdown file on your own device and encrypts sync with XChaCha20-Poly1305, so the server only ever holds ciphertext. It combines notes, tasks, a calendar, and a daily journal in one offline-first workspace, runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, and needs no account to get started. It is open source and free for local use, so your second brain stays yours even if the company disappears.
memrynote vs Notion
End-to-end encryption
memrynote Yes
Notion No
Plain Markdown files
memrynote Yes
Notion No
Works offline
memrynote Yes
Notion Partial
Built-in tasks
memrynote Yes
Notion Yes
Daily journal
memrynote Yes
Notion Partial
No vendor access to your data
memrynote Yes
Notion No
Open source
memrynote Yes
Notion No
Free tier
memrynote Yes
Notion Partial
Comparison reflects each app’s native, out-of-the-box features as of mid-2026. Competitors may cover some rows through paid add-ons or third-party plugins.
Truly private
Your notes are encrypted on your device before sync. The server holds ciphertext and never sees your keys.
Your data, your files
Notes are plain Markdown in a folder you control — not blocks locked inside a proprietary database.
Offline-first
The whole workspace works without internet. Sync is an option, not a requirement.
No lock-in
Open source and Markdown-native, so you can leave any time with everything intact.
Make the switch.
Notes, tasks, calendar, and journal in one local-first app — private by design, open at heart.