Standard Notes
Note-taking software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$90 per year
Free Trial unavailable
Free version
Small
Medium
Large
- Information technology and software
- Healthcare and life sciences
- Media and communications
What is Standard Notes
Standard Notes is a cross-platform note-taking application focused on private, encrypted note storage and syncing across devices. It targets individuals and teams that need a simple editor for text notes with an emphasis on security and long-term access. The product supports end-to-end encryption by default and offers optional extensions (such as additional editors and productivity features) through paid plans. It is available on web, desktop, and mobile clients.
End-to-end encryption by default
Standard Notes encrypts note content end-to-end so the service cannot read user notes without the user’s keys. This design fits use cases where sensitive personal or work information must be stored in a note app. It provides a clearer security posture than many general productivity suites where encryption is not end-to-end for typical note content.
Cross-platform apps and sync
The product provides web, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android clients with syncing across devices. This supports users who switch between desktop and mobile frequently and want consistent access to the same notes. Offline access is supported in the installed clients, which helps when connectivity is limited.
Plain-text friendly longevity
Standard Notes centers on straightforward text notes and emphasizes data portability and long-term readability. This reduces dependence on proprietary formatting for core note content compared with tools that prioritize rich documents or workspace objects. It can be a practical choice for users who want a durable personal knowledge base with minimal formatting complexity.
Limited advanced collaboration
Standard Notes is primarily designed for individual note capture and secure storage rather than real-time, multi-user document collaboration. Teams that need shared workspaces, granular task/project structures, or meeting-centric workflows may find it less comprehensive. Collaboration capabilities are typically narrower than products built around team work management or meeting transcription and sharing.
Rich editing often paid
Many enhanced editors and extensions (for example, richer formatting options) are commonly tied to paid tiers. Users expecting robust rich-text features out of the box may view the default experience as basic. This can increase total cost for users who need more than plain text and simple organization.
Not meeting-notes automation
The product does not focus on automated meeting capture such as recording, transcription, speaker identification, or auto-generated summaries. Organizations looking to turn calls into searchable notes and action items typically need a separate meeting intelligence tool. As a result, Standard Notes fits better for manual note-taking than for automated meeting documentation.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Standard | Free ($0/year) | End-to-end encryption; unlimited device sync (web, desktop, mobile); plain text notes; offline access; organize notes into tags; password-protect individual notes; full data export (encrypted or plaintext); two-factor authentication; daily encrypted email backups; community support. |
| Productivity | $90 per year | Everything in Standard plus: Super note editor (markdown, rich text, checklists, code snippets), spreadsheets (advanced formulas & formatting), Daily Notebooks (journaling), use Standard Notes as a 2FA authenticator, folders, Web Clipper, 1-year note revision history, account sign-in email notifications, 14-day 100% refund period, dedicated support. |
| Professional | $120 per year | Everything in Productivity plus: 100 GB encrypted cloud storage for files; subscription sharing (up to 5 accounts); no limit on file size (tested up to 2 GB); offline file access for files; ability to back up account files to your computer; Moments (daily photo capture); maximum/unlimited note revision history; hardware security key support; 90-day 100% refund period; dedicated support. |
Notes: Student discount (30%) is offered per the vendor FAQ; payment options include major cards, Apple Pay, Google Pay, and PayPal. The vendor explicitly states they do not offer a trial system but do provide 14-day (Productivity) or 90-day (Professional) 100% refund windows.
