Private Notes

Free#177 of 214 in Note-Taking Apps

Private Notes: A focused open-source note app for private, local, offline writing. Ranked #177 of 214 in Note-Taking Apps by our editors (3.0/10); pricing: Free plan; best for private, local browser-based notes.

3.0/10★★☆☆☆Editor score

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At a glance

• Editor score
  3.0 / 10
• Pricing
  Free plan
• Best for
  Private, local browser-based notes
• Free plan
  Yes
• Paid from
  Free
• Offline access
  Yes
• Facts checked
  21 Sep 2026

• Where it wins

  • Local storage with offline-first operation and PWA installation
  • Optional password-based AES-GCM encryption
  • Tags, colors, search, filtering, and JSON backups

• Where it doesn't

  • Web-only, with no cloud synchronization
  • No sharing, collaboration, or integrations
  • Browser-local storage requires personal backup management

Our verdict on Private Notes

Private Notes is an open-source web application for managing personal notes locally in a browser. It suits people who want private, offline access without cloud storage or external servers handling note data. Notes are stored with IndexedDB and use localStorage as a fallback, while tags, colors, full-text search, filtering, sorting, and JSON import and export support everyday organization. The app can also be installed as a Progressive Web App on supported mobile and desktop devices.

Privacy is the product’s central focus. Users can enable password-based AES-GCM encryption, keep notes on the local device, and work offline. JSON export provides a way to create backups, while JSON import supports restoring them. This local approach is useful for personal writing and reference material, but it places backup responsibility with the user. Private Notes is better suited to an individual workflow than to shared workspaces or multi-device note systems.

Its narrow platform and ecosystem scope are clear trade-offs. Private Notes runs through the web and does not include cloud synchronization, sharing, collaboration, or integrations. That keeps the feature set focused, but it also means notes are not designed to move automatically between devices or connect with other services. Choose Private Notes for free, open-source, browser-based notes with local storage and offline access. Choose another tool if synchronized access, teamwork, or an integrated productivity ecosystem is a priority.

Your product? Our editors can test Private Notes in depth and publish a review, labelled as paid · from $149/mo →

Private Notes pricing

Private Notes fact sheet

Alternatives to Private Notes

• Microsoft OneNoteA broad, collaborative note system with strong Microsoft integration and a capable free option.9.3
• NotionA flexible workspace for teams that want notes and knowledge bases alongside databases and collaboration.9.2
• EvernoteA broad note-taking workspace for organizing information, tasks, calendars, and documents.9.0

See all Private Notes alternatives →

Featured on iTechGuides

Private Notes is listed in our Note-Taking Apps directory. Add the badge to your site — it links back to this page.

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Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Last updated 7 Oct 2026 · How we research and update