# Standard Notes Reviews **Vendor:** Standard Notes **Category:** [Note-Taking Software](https://www.g2.com/categories/note-taking-software) **Average Rating:** 4.0/5.0 **Total Reviews:** 13 ## About Standard Notes Cross-platform end-to-end encrypted notes app. Open-source with options to self-host. ## Standard Notes Pros & Cons **What users like:** - Users value the **private and accessible note-taking** experience of Standard Notes, with seamless device synchronization and encryption. (1 reviews) - Users value the **organization features** of Standard Notes, enjoying seamless access and encryption for their notes across devices. (1 reviews) ## Standard Notes Reviews ### 1. Standard Notes is like a notebook without limits and always synchronized. **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Higher Education | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 22, 2025 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** Standard Notes's like having a private and accessible diary it has a sober but functional approach; offers continuity between different devices with a stable synchronization –I write on my laptop in the mornings and during the rest of the day I check my notes from my mobile–, the notes can be encrypted with a password and this reassures me in case I ever lose one of my devices. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** After months of using Standard Notes there's not one feature that comes to mind that I've found disappointing I just wish I had discovered it much sooner, it provides an experience that fits my organizational needs. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** Gives me the confidence of knowing that all my vital notes are backed up and encrypted, Standard Notes's a tool that doesn't complicate, it empowers; I don't have to forward emails to myself or use paper notes anymore I have everything sorted in one place. ### 2. Amazing storage for all personal things **Rating:** 5.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Research | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** November 18, 2021 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I love their business model, their commitment to privacy, minimalistic yet user-friendly interface. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** Many options, especially the key one – text formatting – aren't available in the free plan. Update mechanism also has some troubles on the latest macOS. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** I'm feeling psychologically comfortable sharing my thoughts and personal notes. Neither Apple's Notes nor any other 'specific' tool gave me such confidence ### 3. Awesome multi-device notes, occasional slow sync **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Verified User in Information Technology and Services | Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 21, 2021 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I switched from Simplenote because Standard Notes... - Encrypts your notes!! - Has a team that's committed to updating the app long-term - Has more features: tagging, markdown, themes - Makes it easy to import notes from Simplenote - Is transparent about sync status and progress! When I open Standard Notes on my phone, there's a little bit of text that counts up the notes that have been synced and saved in real time. No more fear or uncertainty about whether my notes actually synced. (Useful if, like me, you have hundreds and hundreds of notes) **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** The only slight drawback to Standard Notes is that syncing+decrypting notes on mobile can sometimes be a little slow—and can sometimes make the app crash if it takes more than a second or two. However, that could just be my very cluttered backlog of notes! **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** Don't be scared to make the switch from another note app! Standard Notes offers support docs and guides to migrating from other popular apps. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** I use Standard Notes primarily for sharing personal notes across devices (computer, phone, etc.). I also find it useful for stripping the formatting from text when copy/pasting across apps that don't always play nicely together (Notion to Gmail, for instance). At the same time, the privacy and encryption features make Standard Notes safe for syncing some work-related notes across devices (for example, sending links to myself to preview web pages on desktop and mobile). Tagging and pinning notes helps me keep my most important to-dos where I'll see them. ### 4. Helpful note-taking tool for content creators **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Princess P. | Consumer Insights Manager, Consumer Electronics, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 25, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I like the past and match style feature of Standard Notes, where you get to copy and paste exactly the same style of the paragraph you copied. It even has a developer tools same as any browser readily installed, so you can see the styling the lies beneath the prase you pasted. I also liked the auto back up, so you don't waste your precious efforts reduced to any especially during unexpected shutdowns. The hashtags for the tagging and categorization, I think, is also clever. Makes the tool more upbeat. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** Though this is more of an opinion than a negative reaction. I think StandardNotes live up to its name that it is indeed standard note taking app. Nothing brilliant though. Just the basic note taking. Therefore, I can not find a ground where I will say I will stick to this app. It does not have a unique value proposition on hand. **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** Yes, I would recommend people using StandardNotes, but when you have specific issues to solve, you better try first their trial and see for yourself if it solves your current problems. It is a nice piece of software, but it needs more polishing before it indeed worthy. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** Content creator, like myself, are exacting when it comes to our notes. And it is imperative that we get exactly the formatting we are referring to. StandardNotes provided me with tools necessary to solve and bridge the gap just that, witch paste and matching style with developer tools on the hood, they got that one right. ### 5. The note-taking tool for developers and highly technical people **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Julie S. | Talent Acquisition Coordinator, Banking, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 11, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I like the fact that they prioritize privacy above everything else with their highly secure encrypted channel of syncing data and notes within a device to device. And I love that they have developer tools. This same developer's tool is found on browsers, and it is present on this software too. Meaning, I can check under the hood for some code discrepancies and styling issues of my notes. More of an OCD me talking. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** The installer file is quite heavy, and it is not ideal for slow processing computer units. They should improve how the app is executed. I could say the same for their mobile application that is taking so much space and speed of the mobile unit. Note taking is supposed to be about speed and not just encryption alone. **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** I think they specifically created this note taking tool for people who are weary with privacy, and people who are more keen to their privacy are highly technical people. I myself is a technical personnel, and I think they made a great job marketing it as a tool not just to take notes but also that will protect the integrity of your files. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** It uses hashtag as tags and that made my life easier when searching for my synced tools over the other device. Privacy is an issue that they tool seriously, and I think that is one problem that they solved for me. I don't have to worry with my notes being publicly open and sensitive information being subject to prying eyes. ### 6. Standard Notes For Writers Who Desire Privacy **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bruce D. | Dog Trainer, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** March 29, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** Standard Notes is for writers who desire or demand privacy. Their privacy and encryption are first-class. I use the free, plain-text version, but you can upgrade if you want to add RTF or Markdown or themes and the like. I'm fine with plain text, I use WriteApp for formatting & longer projects. I use Standard Notes for an idea incubator and daily journal. Most of my social media posts originate there, as do my blog posts. It's cross-platform and the sync between browser, desktop, and mobile versions is lightning-fast. You can choose whichever level of privacy you're comfortable with. And they have a very active Slack community going on. If you're a writer and you value your privacy you should check it out. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** Their free version is stripped to the bone with regard to features. Even Simplenote offers Markdown, checklists, and light / dark themes. This isn't really a huge issue for me, but I believe the creators could snag a larger share of the market were they to equal Simplenote's basic features. They also offer premium add-ons but I don't see anyone paying for features you can get in Simplenote for free. On the other hand, some of the add-ons are quite impressive. The paid version just doesn't add value for my needs. **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** If you're a creative or article writer, it's an essential tool **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** The encryption and security are huge bonuses for me. In addition to authoring blog posts, I keep client information and even some (low-security) passwords on board, and feel comfortable knowing this info is for my eyes only. ### 7. a writing expereince unlike any other **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** shawn l. | administrator , Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 16, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I like that it is free and has great privacy. You are able to upgrade if you are interested in themes, backups, and editors. You are the only one able to decrypt your notes. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** The formatting is enabled only as an extension for money. **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** It has a lot of pros and very few cons in my opinion. It is simple to use and has great features. It makes privacy easy for everyone. The app is optimizes a very long survivability. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** It is great for personal notes, tasks, to-dos, passwords, private journal, meeting notes, scratchpad, technical procedures & code procedures. They have an app which is great and very handy for this generation. It makes privacy easy for everyone. It works with both mac and PC users. It works with both IOS and Android users. ### 8. standard notes **Rating:** 4.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Steve K. | manager, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 19, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I really liked standard notes as a way to stay organized in the college and monitor all transactions in one place for tution and grants from all stucents **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** I didnt like the customer service. i thought the customer service was awful and hard to get a hold of **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** organize all loose notes in one place that all employees can access ### 9. Everything I need **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Marcie M. | Technology Project Manager and Trainer , Legal Services, Enterprise (> 1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** April 10, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** That I can sync notes across multiple devices. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** No issues. I like this software as much as any others **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** It is simple to use and encyrpted end to end **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** Note taking, remembering to do lists ### 10. standard notes **Rating:** 4.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Elliot T. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 08, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I really liked standard notes because it had a great interface and kept all notes for the office organized electronically. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** I didn't really like the fact that he didn't have a lot of uses besides basic note taking and organizing files. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** to copy quick notes in one place ### 11. Easy to Use **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Madeline D. | Marketing Specialist, Small-Business (50 or fewer emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 16, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** It's very easy to use. It's also great for privacy. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** There can be glitches when using certain fonts and backgrounds. **Recommendations to others considering Standard Notes:** Be more clear with customers because software is good and there's no need for marketing tricks. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** It provides me with general security and privacy. ### 12. standard notes **Rating:** 3.5/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Robert S. | Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 08, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I really like the interface and how easy it is to use this software to compile quick notes. **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** I didn't like the price of the software as its too expensive for the function it serves. **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** compile quick notes in one place ### 13. note **Rating:** 3.0/5.0 stars **Reviewed by:** Bob K. | account executive, Mid-Market (51-1000 emp.) **Reviewed Date:** May 08, 2018 **What do you like best about Standard Notes?** I really liked the interface of this software and how easily focused note taking was **What do you dislike about Standard Notes?** I didnt like the fact that it lagged or glitched on a regular basis during trial **What problems is Standard Notes solving and how is that benefiting you?** to organize notes ## Standard Notes Discussions - [Are Standard Notes open-source?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/are-standard-notes-open-source) - [How do Standard Notes work?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/how-do-standard-notes-work) - [Is Standard Notes any good?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/is-standard-notes-any-good) - [What is standard note?](https://www.g2.com/discussions/what-is-standard-note) - [View Standard Notes pricing details and edition comparison](https://www.g2.com/products/standard-notes/reviews?section=pricing&secure%5Bexpires_at%5D=2026-05-23+08%3A49%3A17+-0500&secure%5Bsession_id%5D=34677411-f6a1-4e4b-ac60-f2aedda571ef&secure%5Btoken%5D=f5bfd9ffd89442b63a60a18c84773821eb384cfb19f98512653b50a714275c1f&format=llm_user) ## Standard Notes Features **Agentic AI - Note-Taking Software** - Autonomous Task Execution ## Top Standard Notes Alternatives - [Notion](https://www.g2.com/products/notion/reviews) - 4.6/5.0 (10,821 reviews) - [Microsoft OneNote](https://www.g2.com/products/microsoft-onenote/reviews) - 4.5/5.0 (1,816 reviews) - [Evernote](https://www.g2.com/products/evernote/reviews) - 4.3/5.0 (2,008 reviews)