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 Logseq. Other great apps like PrivateNotes are Notion, 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. Heptabase icon
     9 likes

    Heptabase is a visual note-taking tool that helps you make sense of your learning, research, and projects. It helps you get into the flow of thinking and brings together everything you need to do better research.

    69 Heptabase alternatives
    Heptabase screenshot 1

    License model

    Platforms

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

    Top Heptabase Features

    1.  Cloud Sync
    2.  Real-time sync
    3.  PKM
    4.  Tagging
    5.  PDF annotation
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  WYSIWYG Support
    8. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    9.  Full-Text Search
    10.  Kanban Board
    11.  Works Offline
    12.  Attachments
    Heptabase iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Heptabase VS PrivateNotes

    Is Heptabase a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  2. Tangent Notes icon
     14 likes

    Tangent is designed to let you write the way you think. Your thoughts are connected; Tangent lets you link to existing notes and make new ones with ease.

    16 Tangent Notes alternatives
    Tangent Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  PKM
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Ad-free
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Works Offline
    6.  Full-Text Search
    7.  Hierarchical Structure
    8.  File Tagging
    9.  Dark Mode
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  Subtasks
    12.  Support for @mentions
    Tangent Notes iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Tangent Notes VS PrivateNotes

    Is Tangent Notes a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  3. Iotas icon
     5 likes

    Iotas is a simple but elegant solution for notes especially but not only for GNOME users. Through Nextcloud integration, all notes can be kept in sync and accessed on different devices.

    30 Iotas alternatives
    Notes overview desktop

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Flathub

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  No registration required
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Dark Mode
    4.  Spell Checking
    5.  WYSIWYG Support
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Built-in viewer
    9.  Tagging
    10.  Real-time sync
    11.  Flatpak
    12. Nextcloud icon  Nextcloud integration
    Iotas iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Iotas VS PrivateNotes

    Is Iotas a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  4. Silverbullet icon
     10 likes

    Silver Bullet is an extensible, open source, personal knowledge management system. Indeed, that’s fancy talk for “a note-taking app with links.” However, Silver Bullet goes a bit beyond just that.

    36 Silverbullet alternatives
    Main page, showing normal text. This is all Markdown, and selecting any text will expose the Markdown syntax.

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Self-Hosted

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Works Offline
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  Knowledge Management
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Full-Text Search
    9.  Portable
    10.  Live Preview
    Silverbullet iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Silverbullet VS PrivateNotes

    Is Silverbullet a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  5. Zotero Better Notes icon
     7 likes

    Everything about note management. All in Zotero.

    51 Zotero Better Notes alternatives
    Zotero Better Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Zotero

    Zotero Better Notes Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Knowledge Management
    Zotero Better Notes iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Zotero Better Notes VS PrivateNotes

    Is Zotero Better Notes a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  6. Outline icon
     18 likes

    Your team’s knowledge base Team wiki, documentation, meeting notes, playbooks, onboarding, work logs, brainstorming, & more….

    68 Outline alternatives
    Outline screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online
    • Self-Hosted
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)

    Outline Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Self-hosted
    3.  Wiki
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Real time collaboration
    6.  Onboarding
    7.  Brainstorming
    8.  Collaborative writing
    9.  Meeting notes
    Outline iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Outline VS PrivateNotes

    Is Outline a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  7. acreom icon
     20 likes

    acreom is an actionable personal knowledge base for developers. It helps developers ship faster by centralizing personal and team context in one place.

    60 acreom alternatives
    acreom screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

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

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Support for Keyboard Shortcuts
    4.  Support for MarkDown
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Full-Text Search
    7.  WYSIWYG Support
    8.  Reminders
    9.  Calendar View
    10. LaTeX icon  Support for LaTeX
    11.  Calendar Integration
    12.  No registration required
    acreom iconPrivateNotes Icon

    acreom VS PrivateNotes

    Is acreom a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  8. Frontdoor icon
     8 likes

    Frontdoor is an AI bookmarking assistant that helps you save knowledge from anywhere on the internet, automatically tags and takes notes it for you, and intelligently resurfaces it based on what your currently reading on the web

    22 Frontdoor alternatives
    Frontdoor screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Online

    Frontdoor Features

    1.  AI-Powered
    2.  Content curation
    3.  Knowledge Management
    4.  Neural network
    Frontdoor iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Frontdoor VS PrivateNotes

    Is Frontdoor a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  9. Quillpad icon
     14 likes

    Quillpad is a fork of an original app called Quillnote. The development stopped on the original app and PR backlogs were not cleared up. The community showed much interest in the app for continued development and so this fork was created.

    66 Quillpad alternatives
    Quillpad screenshot 1
    Quillpad screenshot 2
    +1
    Quillpad screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Android
    • F-Droid

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Ad-free
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3.  No Tracking
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8. Nextcloud icon  Nextcloud integration
    9. Nextcloud icon  Sync with Nextcloud
    Quillpad iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Quillpad VS PrivateNotes

    Is Quillpad a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  10. Cogent icon
     3 likes

    Cogent is a personal tutor with AI-driven tools for studying. From speedy flashcard generation to chatting with your own files, Cogent makes learning collaborative and organized. We transform how you learn, one subject at a time.

    52 Cogent alternatives
    Tagline

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Online

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Full-Text Search
    2.  Ad-free
    3.  No Coding Required
    4.  AI-Powered
    5.  Quizzes
    6.  Quiz
    Cogent iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Cogent VS PrivateNotes

    Is Cogent a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  11. Notepad App icon
     3 likes

    A markdown-based notes app for macOS, with simplicity and moderation.

    68 Notepad App alternatives
    Notepad App screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac

    Notepad App Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Dark Mode
    Notepad App iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Notepad App VS PrivateNotes

    Is Notepad App a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
  12. Focal - Notes & Tasks icon
     1 like

    Effortlessly organize notes and tasks using Focal's intuitive tree structure. Create diverse note types, use powerful search, efficient tagging, and customizable settings to enhance productivity and maintain focus.

    51 Focal - Notes & Tasks alternatives
    Focal - Notes & Tasks screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Linux
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Top Focal - Notes & Tasks Features

    1.  Hierarchical Structure
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Full-Text Search
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Tagging
    9.  Tree structure
    10.  Built-in search engine
    11.  Tree view
    Focal - Notes & Tasks iconPrivateNotes Icon

    Focal - Notes & Tasks VS PrivateNotes

    Is this a good alternative to PrivateNotes?
     
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