Sync brain dumps without leaking brains Sync brain dumps without leaking brains Your messages? Watched. Your location? Mapped. Your thoughts? ...maybe not yet, but some note apps come close. 👀 Most apps track everything. Notes, ideas, even to-do lists, all easy targets. And let’s be honest, inspiration shows up at the most random times: in bed, mid-commute, or on the toilet. 🚽💡 This list covers apps notes suitable for Linux desktop and Android, which are really good on privacy and sync over devices. No trackers, no creepy sync, just private, cross-platform tools built to protect what matters. Standard Notes Standard Notes 🔍 Go to Website Data export:

encrypted, plain text format


2FA:

supported, for extra account security


Offline Access:

fully offline capable on all devices :>


Unlimited Device Sync:

on official servers or self-hosted sync


Markdown & Writing Forms:

Free: plain text
Paid: markdown, rich text, checklists, code snippets, and more (Super note)


Organizing Style:

Free: basic tags
Paid: folders, tags


Themes & Creativity:

Paid: multiple themes + colors


Support:


active community + priority support for paid users Data export:

encrypted, plain text format Data export: encrypted, plain text format encrypted, plain text format 2FA:

supported, for extra account security 2FA: supported, for extra account security supported, for extra account security Offline Access:

fully offline capable on all devices :> Offline Access: fully offline capable on all devices :> fully offline capable on all devices :> Unlimited Device Sync:

on official servers or self-hosted sync Unlimited Device Sync: on official servers or self-hosted sync on official servers or self-hosted sync Markdown & Writing Forms:

Free: plain text
Paid: markdown, rich text, checklists, code snippets, and more (Super note) Markdown & Writing Forms: Free: plain text
Paid: markdown, rich text, checklists, code snippets, and more (Super note) Free: plain text Paid: markdown, rich text, checklists, code snippets, and more (Super note) Organizing Style:

Free: basic tags
Paid: folders, tags Organizing Style: Free: basic tags
Paid: folders, tags Free: basic tags Paid: folders, tags Themes & Creativity:

Paid: multiple themes + colors Themes & Creativity: Paid: multiple themes + colors Paid: multiple themes + colors Support:


active community + priority support for paid users Support: active community + priority support for paid users active community + priority support for paid users active community + priority support for paid users Notesnook Notesnook 🔍 Go to Website Data export:

Free: plain text format
Paid: Markdown, PDF, HTML


2FA:

supported for extra account security
via email and via auth app
Paid: SMS


Offline Access:

fully offline capable on all devices


Unlimited Device Sync:

yes, with granular sync controls + automatic instant real-time sync


Markdown & Writing Forms:

Free: Markdown, lists, code blocks, tablets, embed videos, task lists
Paid: free + images
reminders


Organizing Style:

Free: 20 NoteBooks, 5 Tags, Pins, Shortcuts
Paid: unlimited NoteBooks, Tags + Pins, Shortcuts


Themes & Creativity:

Free: themes, customizable sidebar
Paid: colors, change homepage


Support:


active community (Discord, email, Twitter, Reddit) Data export:

Free: plain text format
Paid: Markdown, PDF, HTML Data export: Free: plain text format
Paid: Markdown, PDF, HTML Free: plain text format Paid: Markdown, PDF, HTML 2FA:

supported for extra account security
via email and via auth app
Paid: SMS 2FA: supported for extra account security
via email and via auth app
Paid: SMS supported for extra account security via email and via auth app Paid: SMS Offline Access:

fully offline capable on all devices Offline Access: fully offline capable on all devices fully offline capable on all devices Unlimited Device Sync:

yes, with granular sync controls + automatic instant real-time sync Unlimited Device Sync: yes, with granular sync controls + automatic instant real-time sync yes, with granular sync controls + automatic instant real-time sync Markdown & Writing Forms:

Free: Markdown, lists, code blocks, tablets, embed videos, task lists
Paid: free + images
reminders Markdown & Writing Forms: Free: Markdown, lists, code blocks, tablets, embed videos, task lists
Paid: free + images
reminders Free: Markdown, lists, code blocks, tablets, embed videos, task lists Paid: free + images reminders Organizing Style:

Free: 20 NoteBooks, 5 Tags, Pins, Shortcuts
Paid: unlimited NoteBooks, Tags + Pins, Shortcuts Organizing Style: Free: 20 NoteBooks, 5 Tags, Pins, Shortcuts
Paid: unlimited NoteBooks, Tags + Pins, Shortcuts Free: 20 NoteBooks, 5 Tags, Pins, Shortcuts Paid: unlimited NoteBooks, Tags + Pins, Shortcuts Themes & Creativity:

Free: themes, customizable sidebar
Paid: colors, change homepage Themes & Creativity: Free: themes, customizable sidebar
Paid: colors, change homepage Free: themes, customizable sidebar Paid: colors, change homepage Support:


active community (Discord, email, Twitter, Reddit) Support: active community (Discord, email, Twitter, Reddit) active community (Discord, email, Twitter, Reddit) active community (Discord, email, Twitter, Reddit) Joplin Joplin 🔍 Go to website Data export:

into ENEX files (can be imported back)


2FA:

with lists of codes, each of them can only be used once
possibility to generate new code from profile page


Offline Access:

is designed to be "offline-first", ofc!


Unlimited Device Sync:

Joplin Cloud is needed to sync notes across devices


Markdown & Writing Forms:

Markdown, code, plain text to drawing (with plugins!)
can be used in terminal as well


Organizing Style:

NoteBooks, sub-NoteBooks, Tags, To-dos, Search filters


Themes & Creativity:

CSS, default themes


Support:


forum, Discord, Bsky Data export:

into ENEX files (can be imported back) Data export: into ENEX files (can be imported back) into ENEX files (can be imported back) 2FA:

with lists of codes, each of them can only be used once
possibility to generate new code from profile page 2FA: with lists of codes, each of them can only be used once
possibility to generate new code from profile page with lists of codes, each of them can only be used once possibility to generate new code from profile page Offline Access:

is designed to be "offline-first", ofc! Offline Access: is designed to be "offline-first", ofc! is designed to be "offline-first", ofc! Unlimited Device Sync:

Joplin Cloud is needed to sync notes across devices Unlimited Device Sync: Joplin Cloud is needed to sync notes across devices Joplin Cloud is needed to sync notes across devices Markdown & Writing Forms:

Markdown, code, plain text to drawing (with plugins!)
can be used in terminal as well Markdown & Writing Forms: Markdown, code, plain text to drawing (with plugins!)
can be used in terminal as well Markdown, code, plain text to drawing (with plugins!) can be used in terminal as well Organizing Style:

NoteBooks, sub-NoteBooks, Tags, To-dos, Search filters Organizing Style: NoteBooks, sub-NoteBooks, Tags, To-dos, Search filters NoteBooks, sub-NoteBooks, Tags, To-dos, Search filters Themes & Creativity:

CSS, default themes Themes & Creativity: CSS, default themes CSS, default themes Support:


forum, Discord, Bsky Support: forum, Discord, Bsky forum, Discord, Bsky forum, Discord, Bsky Cryptee Cryptee 🔍 Go to website Data export:

selecting everything in a folder and Download them locally (encrypted)
format as PDF, docx, HTML, Markdown


2FA:

via auth apps + recovery codes


Offline Access:

is PWA (once installed, it’ll work offline)


Unlimited Device Sync:

possible, uses local data to sync quickly, including large files


Markdown & Writing Forms:

plain text, Makdown, KaTex, code, links, images, videos (up to 100MB Free)


Organizing Style:

folders, Tags, pinning, Search filters


Themes & Creativity:

themes, colors, fonts changeable


Support:


directly on Cryptee website Data export:

selecting everything in a folder and Download them locally (encrypted)
format as PDF, docx, HTML, Markdown Data export: selecting everything in a folder and Download them locally (encrypted)
format as PDF, docx, HTML, Markdown selecting everything in a folder and Download them locally (encrypted) format as PDF, docx, HTML, Markdown 2FA:

via auth apps + recovery codes 2FA: via auth apps + recovery codes via auth apps + recovery codes Offline Access:

is PWA (once installed, it’ll work offline) Offline Access: is PWA (once installed, it’ll work offline) is PWA (once installed, it’ll work offline) Unlimited Device Sync:

possible, uses local data to sync quickly, including large files Unlimited Device Sync: possible, uses local data to sync quickly, including large files possible, uses local data to sync quickly, including large files Markdown & Writing Forms:

plain text, Makdown, KaTex, code, links, images, videos (up to 100MB Free) Markdown & Writing Forms: plain text, Makdown, KaTex, code, links, images, videos (up to 100MB Free) plain text, Makdown, KaTex, code, links, images, videos (up to 100MB Free) Organizing Style:

folders, Tags, pinning, Search filters Organizing Style: folders, Tags, pinning, Search filters folders, Tags, pinning, Search filters Themes & Creativity:

themes, colors, fonts changeable Themes & Creativity: themes, colors, fonts changeable themes, colors, fonts changeable Support:


directly on Cryptee website Support: directly on Cryptee website directly on Cryptee website directly on Cryptee website Obsidian Obsidian 🔍 Go to Website Data export:

as plain text, markdown files


2FA:

no native 2FA


Offline Access:

fully offline, all notes stored locally


Unlimited Device Sync:

Paid: use Obsidian Sync
Free: third-party services like Dropbox, Drive


Markdown & Writing Forms:

Markdown, code, links, LaTex and more with plugins


Organizing Style:

folders, Tags, graph view, calendar view


Themes & Creativity:

full UI customization via CSS snippets
huge library with themes
plugins to transform UI


Support:


active community, Discord, help center Data export:

as plain text, markdown files Data export: as plain text, markdown files as plain text, markdown files 2FA:

no native 2FA 2FA: no native 2FA no native 2FA Offline Access:

fully offline, all notes stored locally Offline Access: fully offline, all notes stored locally fully offline, all notes stored locally Unlimited Device Sync:

Paid: use Obsidian Sync
Free: third-party services like Dropbox, Drive Unlimited Device Sync: Paid: use Obsidian Sync
Free: third-party services like Dropbox, Drive Paid: use Obsidian Sync Free: third-party services like Dropbox, Drive Markdown & Writing Forms:

Markdown, code, links, LaTex and more with plugins Markdown & Writing Forms: Markdown, code, links, LaTex and more with plugins Markdown, code, links, LaTex and more with plugins Organizing Style:

folders, Tags, graph view, calendar view Organizing Style: folders, Tags, graph view, calendar view folders, Tags, graph view, calendar view Themes & Creativity:

full UI customization via CSS snippets
huge library with themes
plugins to transform UI Themes & Creativity: full UI customization via CSS snippets
huge library with themes
plugins to transform UI full UI customization via CSS snippets huge library with themes plugins to transform UI Support:


active community, Discord, help center Support: active community, Discord, help center active community, Discord, help center active community, Discord, help center Turtl Turtl 🔍 Go to Website Data export:

plain text format with encryption
possible to import as well


2FA:

not yet :(


Offline Access:

works offline


Unlimited Device Sync:

possible, using official servers or self-hosted server
collaborate with up to 3 friends (Free)


Markdown & Writing Forms:

plain text, Makdown, Tex, code, links (up to 50MB Free)


Organizing Style:

spaces (like NoteBooks), Tags, boards, Search full-text


Themes & Creativity:

no UI customization :(


Support:


community-driven support


Paid: dedicated support Data export:

plain text format with encryption
possible to import as well Data export: plain text format with encryption
possible to import as well plain text format with encryption possible to import as well 2FA:

not yet :( 2FA: not yet :( not yet :( Offline Access:

works offline Offline Access: works offline works offline Unlimited Device Sync:

possible, using official servers or self-hosted server
collaborate with up to 3 friends (Free) Unlimited Device Sync: possible, using official servers or self-hosted server
collaborate with up to 3 friends (Free) possible, using official servers or self-hosted server collaborate with up to 3 friends (Free) Markdown & Writing Forms:

plain text, Makdown, Tex, code, links (up to 50MB Free) Markdown & Writing Forms: plain text, Makdown, Tex, code, links (up to 50MB Free) plain text, Makdown, Tex, code, links (up to 50MB Free) Organizing Style:

spaces (like NoteBooks), Tags, boards, Search full-text Organizing Style: spaces (like NoteBooks), Tags, boards, Search full-text spaces (like NoteBooks), Tags, boards, Search full-text Themes & Creativity:

no UI customization :( Themes & Creativity: no UI customization :( no UI customization :( Support:


community-driven support


Paid: dedicated support Support: community-driven support


Paid: dedicated support community-driven support community-driven support Paid: dedicated support Paid: dedicated support What I'd Pick (If You’re Curious) Honestly, it depends on the day, but if I had to choose: 🧩 For structure + control: Joplin. Folders, tags, markdown, almost everything is free, it just works, you know?
🧘‍♀️ For minimalism + clean sync: Notesnook. Private, cross-device, and super intuitive.
🔐 For sheer privacy & encryption focus: Turtl. Feels like a vault for thoughts + love their logo.
🌌 For power-users & creativity: Obsidian. Themes, plugins, custom workflows, it’s a sandbox! 🧩 For structure + control: Joplin. Folders, tags, markdown, almost everything is free, it just works, you know? For structure + control: Joplin 🧘‍♀️ For minimalism + clean sync: Notesnook. Private, cross-device, and super intuitive. For minimalism + clean sync: Notesnook 🔐 For sheer privacy & encryption focus: Turtl. Feels like a vault for thoughts + love their logo. For sheer privacy & encryption focus: Turtl 🌌 For power-users & creativity: Obsidian. Themes, plugins, custom workflows, it’s a sandbox! For power-users & creativity: Obsidian Everyone thinks and writes differently. The real win is finding the tool that gets out of your way and lets ideas breathe without bleeding privacy.

This story will praise and/or roast a product, company, service, game, or anything else people like to review on the Internet.

Walkthroughs, tutorials, guides, and tips. This story will teach you how to do something new or how to do something better.

Top 6 Privacy Note Apps for Linux and Android That Actually Sync

About Author

Comments

TOPICS

THIS ARTICLE WAS FEATURED IN

Related Stories

Untitled Story

Java bits: 0xFF and 0xFFL

10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Google Keep

10 Things to check on Android code reviews

10 Mistakes In Mobile App Development That Make You Look Dumb

10 good rules for bad App

Java bits: 0xFF and 0xFFL

10 Things You Didn't Know You Could Do With Google Keep

10 Things to check on Android code reviews

10 Mistakes In Mobile App Development That Make You Look Dumb

10 good rules for bad App

Light-Mode

Classic

Newspaper

Dark-Mode

Neon Noir

Minty

HN StartUps