Standard Notes
Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, offline access, and powerful organization features for privacy-conscious users.
Technical Profile & Specs
verified 2026-11-07
- Cost
- $0 / forever (Open Source)
- License
- Open Source
- Hosting Model
- Self-host (your server)
- Platforms
- webself-hosteddocker to self-host
- Installation
- Clone https://github.com/standardnotes/app or deploy with Docker Compose
- Operational Setup
- Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
- Where Your Data Lives
- All application data and configuration live on your own server or local database.
- The Catch / Trade-off
- Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Apple Notes.
Replaces 2 paid apps
up to $20/mo ($240/yr) in subscriptions
Standard Notes FAQ
Common questions
Is Standard Notes free and open source?+
Standard Notes is an open-source tool licensed under Open Source that runs on self-host. Cross-platform note-taking app with end-to-end encryption, offline access, and powerful organization features for privacy-conscious users.
What paid software does Standard Notes replace?+
Standard Notes serves as a free replacement for 2 paid SaaS applications: Apple Notes, Obsidian, saving up to $20/month ($240/year) in subscription bills.
How do you install and set up Standard Notes?+
Installation: Clone https://github.com/standardnotes/app or deploy with Docker Compose. Setup notes: Deploy via Docker or binary release from GitHub and configure environment variables.
What is the catch or trade-off with Standard Notes?+
Requires self-hosting setup, updates, and server maintenance compared to managed Apple Notes.