Standard Notes — End-to-End Encrypted Note-Taking App

Introduction

Standard Notes is a privacy-focused, open-source note-taking application that encrypts all data end-to-end before it leaves your device. It runs on every major platform (Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android) and offers a clean, minimal interface designed for long-term note keeping without vendor lock-in.

What Standard Notes Does

• Provides a distraction-free writing environment with markdown and rich text support
• Encrypts all notes, tags, and files client-side using XChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2
• Syncs encrypted data across unlimited devices via the official server or a self-hosted instance
• Supports extensible editors including a Super editor with embedded media and task lists
• Offers file attachments, nested tags, smart views, and note history with version tracking

Architecture Overview

The application is a monorepo containing web, desktop (Electron), and mobile (React Native) clients plus a Node.js sync server. The encryption protocol (SNJS) handles all key derivation, item encryption, and conflict resolution on the client side. The server never sees plaintext content — it stores and relays opaque encrypted payloads.

Self-Hosting & Configuration

• Deploy the server stack using Docker Compose with the official docker-compose.yml
• Configure environment variables for database connection, SMTP, and file storage
• Set up a reverse proxy (Nginx, Caddy) with TLS for secure sync over HTTPS
• Point desktop and mobile clients to your custom sync server URL in settings
• Back up the database regularly since encrypted data cannot be recovered without user keys

Key Features

• Zero-knowledge architecture means the server operator cannot read your notes
• 100+ year longevity design: plain text core format ensures future readability
• Listed marketplace for community and official editor extensions
• Two-factor authentication and session management for account security
• Offline-first design with automatic sync when connectivity returns

Comparison with Similar Tools

• Joplin — open-source with E2EE opt-in; Standard Notes encrypts everything by default
• Obsidian — local markdown vault with plugins; Standard Notes adds built-in E2EE sync
• Notesnook — similar E2EE focus; Standard Notes has a longer track record and self-host option
• Apple Notes — convenient but closed ecosystem; Standard Notes is cross-platform and open source
• Logseq — graph-based knowledge management; Standard Notes focuses on simple, linear note-taking

FAQ

Q: Is the free plan usable? A: Yes. The free tier includes unlimited notes, cross-platform sync, and end-to-end encryption.

Q: Can I export my data? A: Yes. Export all notes as a decrypted JSON or plaintext backup at any time from the app settings.

Q: Is the self-hosted server fully featured? A: Yes. The self-hosted server supports all features including file uploads and real-time sync.

Q: How does conflict resolution work? A: When edits conflict, Standard Notes preserves both versions and lets you manually merge or pick the correct one.

Sources

• https://github.com/standardnotes/app
• https://standardnotes.com/help