End-to-end encrypted sync
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes Yes
Standard Notes alternative
The encrypted Standard Notes alternative with your notes as plain files.
memrynote is an end-to-end encrypted alternative to Standard Notes that keeps every note as a plain Markdown file in a folder you own. Sync is zero-knowledge: notes are encrypted on your device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 and the server only stores ciphertext. Beyond notes, memrynote ships tasks with projects and Kanban views, a calendar, a daily journal, and a capture inbox in the same encrypted vault, so your whole day lives in one private place. It runs on macOS, Windows, and Linux, works fully offline without an account, is open source under AGPL-3.0, and is free for local use, with hosted sync from $5/mo.
memrynote vs Standard Notes
Open source
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes Yes
Notes as plain Markdown files on disk
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes No
Wiki-links & backlinks
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes Partial
Task projects with Kanban & calendar views
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes No
Built-in calendar
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes No
Daily journal
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes Partial
Works offline
memrynote Yes
Standard Notes Yes
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.
Files, not a vault format
Every note is a .md file in a folder you choose, readable in any editor with no export step.
Encryption you can verify
Zero-knowledge sync built on libsodium, with the full source published under AGPL-3.0.
Your whole day, encrypted
Tasks, a calendar, a journal, and an inbox sit in the same encrypted vault as your notes.
Free locally
Use every feature on one machine for free. Add encrypted sync only when you need it.
Is memrynote a good Standard Notes alternative?
Yes, if you want end-to-end encryption and your notes as plain files. Like Standard Notes, memrynote encrypts everything before it syncs, so the server never reads your content. Unlike Standard Notes, memrynote keeps the working copy of each note as a Markdown file in your own folder, and it adds tasks, a calendar, and a daily journal as native features. It runs offline on macOS, Windows, and Linux with no account required.
Plain Markdown files instead of an app vault
Standard Notes keeps notes inside its own encrypted storage and offers exports. memrynote stores every note as a portable .md file with YAML frontmatter, so your notes are already readable by any editor, searchable with any tool, and easy to back up or version with git. Encryption applies to what leaves your device; the copy on your disk stays yours to use however you like.
Zero-knowledge sync, open source
memrynote derives keys on your device with Argon2id, encrypts each item with XChaCha20-Poly1305, and signs changes with a per-device Ed25519 key. The sync server stores only ciphertext and routing metadata, and the code is public under AGPL-3.0, so you can check exactly what the app does with your data.
Tasks, calendar, and journal in one encrypted vault
memrynote goes beyond notes. Tasks live in projects with custom statuses, subtasks, and Kanban, list, and calendar views. A daily journal shows the schedule and tasks for each day beside the entry, and an inbox catches quick captures and web clips. All of it syncs with the same end-to-end encryption as your notes.
Pricing: memrynote vs Standard Notes
memrynote
Free, local-first forever. Encrypted sync from $5/mo.
Standard Notes
Free plan; paid Productivity and Professional plans add features and storage.
Switch from Standard Notes
- 1
In Standard Notes, export your notes in plaintext or Markdown.
- 2
Open memrynote → Settings → Import, choose the Markdown importer, and select the exported files.
- 3
Your notes land as Markdown files in your vault; turn on encrypted sync to reach your other devices.
memrynote includes a built-in Markdown importer in Settings → Import.
Standard Notes alternative FAQ
Is memrynote end-to-end encrypted like Standard Notes?
Yes. memrynote encrypts every note, task, and journal entry on your device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before sync, using keys the server never receives. The server stores only ciphertext.
Can I move my notes from Standard Notes to memrynote?
Yes. Export your notes from Standard Notes in plaintext or Markdown, then use the Markdown importer in memrynote → Settings → Import.
Does memrynote have a mobile app?
memrynote is a desktop app for macOS, Windows, and Linux today, with mobile apps planned. Because your vault is plain Markdown, your notes stay readable in any app on any device.
Is memrynote free?
Yes. Local use is free and open source. Hosted end-to-end encrypted sync starts at $5/mo.
Make the switch.
Notes, tasks, calendar, and journal in one local-first app — private by design, open at heart.