Standard Notes focuses on encryption but requires an account. NotepadOne is simpler, cheaper, and works instantly with no signup. Here's an honest comparison.
See exactly how NotepadOne and Standard Notes differ
| Feature | NotepadOne | Standard Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free Plan | 30 notes, full features Rich text, folders, offline | Unlimited plain text notes No rich text, no extensions |
| Premium Price | $2.99/mo or $24/year | $7.50/mo $90/year (annual only) |
| No Login Required | ||
| End-to-End Encryption | Local-first (no server) | |
| Open Source | ||
| Rich Text Editing (Free) | Professional only | |
| Works Completely Offline | ||
| Native Desktop & Mobile Apps | Web app (PWA) | |
| Folders & Organization | ||
| Cloud Sync | Premium only | |
| Self-Hosting Option | ||
| Extensions & Plugins | Professional only | |
| Note Sharing Options | 1 free, unlimited Premium Public links, passwords, permissions | |
| Real-Time Collaboration | Premium only Live cursors & instant sync | |
| Learning Curve | Very Low | Low |
It depends on your priorities. NotepadOne is better if you want instant, no-signup note-taking with rich text editing included for free. Standard Notes is better if end-to-end encryption is your top requirement. For most personal note-taking, NotepadOne is simpler and 60% cheaper.
Yes! Export your Standard Notes as plain text or markdown files, then paste them into NotepadOne. Since NotepadOne supports full markdown formatting, your notes will retain their structure. The biggest difference is you won't need an account anymore.
Local-first storage. Instead of encrypting data on a server, NotepadOne stores everything locally in your browser by default. Your notes never leave your device unless you opt into cloud sync. This means there's no server to breach, no account to hack, and no data to intercept. It's a fundamentally different approach to privacy.
NotepadOne is cheaper because it uses a local-first architecture. Since your notes live in your browser by default, we don't need to maintain encrypted servers for every user. This dramatically reduces infrastructure costs, allowing us to charge $2.99 vs $7.50/month.
No. Standard Notes' free tier only includes a plain text editor. Rich text editing, markdown editors, code editors, and other extensions require the Professional plan at $90/year. NotepadOne includes full rich text editing with markdown, images, and code blocks in the free tier.
NotepadOne has more collaboration features. Standard Notes doesn't offer real-time collaboration or note sharing. NotepadOne Premium ($2.99/month) includes real-time collaboration with live cursors, instant sync, and unlimited shared notes. Free users get 1 fully-featured shared note with password protection, public links, and permission controls.
Start with 30 free notes. No login, no credit card, no account creation.
Save $4.51/month compared to Standard Notes Professional
30 notes free forever • Premium $2.99/month • No credit card required