VaultNote review
A free, local-first secure notes app for Markdown users who want GitHub sync.
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
VaultNote is an open-source secure notes application for individuals who want local note storage with optional encrypted synchronization through GitHub. It combines Markdown editing with live preview and a rich WYSIWYG editor, while folders, tags, favorites, pinning, search, sorting, and filtering support larger note collections. Offline, local-only use makes it suitable for users who want their notes available without connecting to GitHub. Desktop builds support Windows and Linux, with an Android app and browser extensions for Chrome, Firefox, and Edge.
Pricing is straightforward: VaultNote is completely free and open source. There are no paid tiers to compare, and the published offering centers on the full feature set rather than limiting core capabilities by plan. That makes it a practical option for individuals who want encrypted notes without a subscription. Its security model encrypts notes with AES-256-CBC before synchronization, while biometric unlocking and master-password validation add local access controls. Users should still understand that synchronization is an optional workflow built around their own GitHub repositories.
GitHub is the defining ecosystem fit. VaultNote can synchronize with private repositories and work with public, secret, and password-protected GitHub Gists. The browser extension adds bookmark capture, and notes can remain local when synchronization is not needed. This combination suits Markdown-oriented users who already organize files through GitHub and want editing across Windows, Linux, Android, and supported browsers. It is less suitable for teams seeking a broader collaboration suite, or for buyers who prefer a conventional hosted notes service with multiple paid support or storage tiers.
VaultNote pros and cons
- Where it wins
- AES-256-CBC encryption before synchronization
- Offline local use with Markdown and rich editing
- GitHub repositories, Gists, and browser bookmark capture
- Where it doesn't
- Synchronization is centered on GitHub repositories
- Markdown is the listed export format
- The free open-source model has no paid support tier
VaultNote fact sheet, pricing and score →
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