PrivateNotes Alternatives

PrivateNotes is described as '(formerly Exocortex) is an encrypted note-taking app designed for networked thought. It allows you to link ideas together, creating a web of interconnected notes that mimic how your mind works' and is a Note-taking tool in the office & productivity category. There are more than 50 alternatives to PrivateNotes for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, Android and iPhone apps. The best PrivateNotes alternative is Obsidian. It's not free, so if you're looking for a free alternative, you could try Joplin or Notion. Other great apps like PrivateNotes are Logseq, Anytype, Standard Notes and Microsoft OneNote.

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PrivateNotes alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Todo List Managers or Task Management Tools.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of PrivateNotes.
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PrivateNotes (formerly Exocortex) is an encrypted note-taking app designed for networked thought. It allows you to link ideas together, creating a web of interconnected notes that mimic how your mind works.

More about PrivateNotes
PrivateNotes alternatives page was last updated Jan 29, 2025
  1. Simplenote icon
     589 likes

    Made by the company behind WordPress, Simplenote enables users to take notes, lists, and ideas. These notes are stored on the cloud and are accessible across multiple devices.

    65 Simplenote alternatives
    Simplenote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Clean design
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Cross-device syncing
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Search by tags
    4.  Simple text editor
    5.  Protected by Password
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Text Based Format
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  No Tracking
    12.  Ad-free
    Simplenote iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Simplenote VS PrivateNotes

    Is Simplenote a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  2. Zim icon
     493 likes

    Zim brings the concept of a wiki to your desktop. Store information, link pages and edit with WYSISYG markup or directly typing some lightweight markup syntax and see it previewed as-you-type. Creating a new page is easy by either clicking on the "Create new note"...

    291 Zim alternatives
    Zim screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • BSD
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Plain text file
    3.  Wiki-like interface
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Cross-Platform
    6.  Note organization
    7.  WYSIWYG Support
    8.  Outliner
    9.  Text formatting
    10.  Portable
    11.  Ad-free
    12.  Notebook
    Zim iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Zim VS PrivateNotes

    Is Zim a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  3. CherryTree icon
     309 likes

    A hierarchical note taking application, featuring rich text and syntax highlighting, storing data in a single xml or sqlite file.

    64 CherryTree alternatives
    CherryTree screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • PortableApps.com

    Top CherryTree Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  Tree structure
    3.  Infinite hierarchical depth
    4.  Includes images in notes
    5.  Outliner
    6.  Tree view
    7.  Tree Style Tabs
    8.  Syntax Highlighting
    9.  Portable
    10.  Works Offline
    11.  Support for MarkDown
    12.  Code Formatting
    CherryTree iconPrivateNotes Icon

    CherryTree VS PrivateNotes

    Is CherryTree a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  4. Typora icon
     319 likes

    A minimalist Markdown editor offering cross-platform synchronization, live preview, and seamless export/import in various formats like PDF, DOCX, and LaTeX. Features include distraction-free Focus and Typewriter modes, file management with tree and articles panels, and content organization through an outline...

    163 Typora alternatives
    Typora screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Electron

    Properties

    1.  Distraction-free
    2.  Support for Themes
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Live Preview
    3.  Write files in markdown
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Save as Markdown
    6. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    7.  Syntax Highlighting
    8.  Simple text editor
    9.  Multiplatform
    10.  Export to PDF
    11.  Spell Checking
    12.  No registration required
    Typora iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Typora VS PrivateNotes

    Is Typora a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
    • Typora is the most popular commercial alternative to PrivateNotes.

    • Typora is Paid and ProprietaryPrivateNotes is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Typora is LightweightPrivateNotes is not according to our users
  5. AFFiNE icon
     81 likes

    There can be more than Notion / and Miro. Affine is a next-gen knowledge base that brings planning, sorting and creating all together.

    102 AFFiNE alternatives
    AFFiNE screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  Goal Tracking
    4.  Kanban Board
    5.  Interactive Whiteboard
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Pomodoro Timer
    9.  Handwritten Notes
    10.  Subtasks
    11.  Hierarchical Structure
    12.  Works Offline
    AFFiNE iconPrivateNotes Icon

    AFFiNE VS PrivateNotes

    Is AFFiNE a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  6. Beaver Notes icon
     40 likes

    Your personal note-taking haven for privacy and efficiency.

    47 Beaver Notes alternatives
    Beaver Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  File Tagging
    3.  Tag based
    4.  Focus Mode
    5.  Note organization
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  No registration required
    11.  Support for @mentions
    12.  WYSIWYG Support
    Beaver Notes iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Beaver Notes VS PrivateNotes

    Is Beaver Notes a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  7. Trilium Notes icon
     90 likes

    Trilium Notes is a hierarchical note taking application.

    343 Trilium Notes alternatives
    Trilium Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted
    • Google Chrome
    • Cloudron
    • Mozilla Firefox

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Knowledge base
    2.  Tree of notes
    3.  Note organization
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Encrypted Notes
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  End-to-End Encryption
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Support for scripting
    Discontinued

    Trilium transitions into maintenance mode and don't plan adding any new major functionality. You can take a look at this community fork: https://github.com/TriliumNext

    Trilium Notes iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Trilium Notes VS PrivateNotes

    Is Trilium Notes a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  8. Fossify Notes icon
     21 likes

    Introducing Fossify Notes – your ultimate tool for effortless note-taking, organization, and planning. Simplify your life with this intuitive organizer designed to streamline your tasks and ideas effortlessly.

    101 Fossify Notes alternatives
    Fossify Notes screenshot 1
    Fossify Notes screenshot 2
    +3
    Fossify Notes screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • Android Tablet
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Reminders
    7.  Auto-saving
    8.  Note organization
    Fossify Notes iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Fossify Notes VS PrivateNotes

    Is Fossify Notes a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  9. DeepNotes icon
     32 likes

    DeepNotes is an open source, end-to-end encrypted visual note-taking app with deep page navigation and live collaboration. Create mind maps, diagrams, kanban boards, among others. Infinite nesting of infinite canvases.

    48 DeepNotes alternatives
    Family tree

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Scrum Boards
    3.  Two-factor Authentication
    4. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    5.  Visual Pinboard
    6.  Syntax Highlighting
    7.  Encrypted Backup
    8.  WYSIWYG Support
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  End-to-End Encryption
    11.  Unlimited storage
    12.  No Tracking
    DeepNotes iconPrivateNotes Icon

    DeepNotes VS PrivateNotes

    Is DeepNotes a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  10. SiYuan icon
     59 likes

    SiYuan is a desktop Markdown Block-Reference and Bidirectional-Link note-taking application. Support fine-grained block-level reference and Markdown WYSIWYG.

    48 SiYuan alternatives
    SiYuan screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Self-Hosted
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Docker
    • Docker Hub

    Top SiYuan Features

    1.  Local Storage
    2.  Bidirectional links
    3.  Block reference
    4.  WYSIWYG Support
    5.  Graph view
    6.  Web Clipper
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Works Offline
    10.  Support for MarkDown
    11.  Cloud Sync
    12.  No registration required
    SiYuan iconPrivateNotes Icon

    SiYuan VS PrivateNotes

    Is SiYuan a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  11. Reor icon
     25 likes

    Reor is an AI-powered desktop note-taking app: it automatically links related ideas, answers questions on your notes and provides semantic search. Everything is stored locally and you can edit your notes with an Obsidian-like markdown editor.

    72 Reor alternatives
    Reor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Mac
    • Linux

    Reor Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  No registration required
    5.  AI-Powered
    6.  Note organization
    7.  Semantic Search
    Reor iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Reor VS PrivateNotes

    Is Reor a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  12. RemNote icon
     75 likes

    RemNote is the note-taking tool that gives you memory superpowers. It automatically generates flashcards from your notes and figures out the optimal time to practice each flashcard so you don't forget what you've learned.

    245 RemNote alternatives
    RemNote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • Google Chrome

    Top RemNote Features

    1.  Learn with Flashcards
    2.  Outliner
    3.  Bidirectional links
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Rich Text Editor
    6.  Knowledge Management
    7.  Srs
    8.  Convert notes to cards
    9.  References
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  LaTeX Math
    12.  Search by tags
    RemNote iconPrivateNotes Icon

    RemNote VS PrivateNotes

    Is RemNote a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
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