9 Best Standard Notes Alternatives in 2026

Standard Notes alternatives FAQ

Is Standard Notes free?

Yes. Standard Notes has a free Standard tier that includes end-to-end encryption, unlimited device sync across web, desktop and mobile, plain text notes, two-factor authentication, daily encrypted email backups and community support. Paid tiers add rich text editing, markdown, checklists, code editors and larger encrypted storage.

How much does Standard Notes cost?

Standard is free. Productivity is $90 per year and adds markdown and rich text editing, checklists, code editors, folders and other productivity features. Professional is $120 per year and adds 100 GB of encrypted cloud storage for photos, videos and files on top of everything in Productivity. Both are billed annually.

What is the best Standard Notes alternative?

Notesnook is the closest alternative, with end-to-end encryption, a similar privacy focus and a self-hostable sync server. Obsidian is the strongest option if you want local Markdown files you fully own with a large plugin ecosystem. Joplin is the best open source alternative with web clipping and self-hosted sync. Simplenote is the simplest free option if you only need plain text notes.

Can I self-host a Standard Notes alternative?

Yes. Notesnook and Joplin both offer self-hostable sync servers, and Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files on your own device with optional paid sync. Standard Notes itself also publishes an open source server that can be self-hosted, though the official hosted service is the supported path. Self-hosting removes subscription costs but means you manage backups, syncing and upgrades.

What should I check before switching away from Standard Notes?

Check whether you rely on the editor extensions, since rich text, markdown, checklists and code editing are paid features and some free alternatives include them by default. Export your notes first, because Standard Notes uses its own encrypted format and exports may lose extension-specific formatting. If end-to-end encryption is the reason you chose it, confirm the replacement encrypts at rest and in transit, since not all note apps do. Finally, test sync reliability across devices before committing.