Company Overview
Standard Notes was founded in 2016 by Matthew K. and Bryan T., headquartered in the United States (remote-first). It is a secure note-taking application built around privacy protection and end-to-end encryption. Standard Notes focuses on providing a minimalist yet fully functional note-taking experience, with all content encrypted on the client side, ensuring only the user can read their data.
As a privacy-first note-taking tool, Standard Notes supports cross-platform sync, extension editors, and theme customization, making it a preferred choice for users who prioritize data security and privacy.
Related providers: Standard Notes
Core Products
| Product | Description |
|---|---|
| Standard Notes | End-to-end encrypted secure note-taking app supporting plain text and rich text editing |
| Standard Notes Sync | Encrypted cloud sync service ensuring secure data transfer across devices |
| Standard Notes Extensions | Theme and editor extension system supporting code editor, Markdown, and other advanced features |
| Standard Notes Files | Encrypted file storage feature for attaching and managing file attachments in notes |
Core Strengths
- End-to-End Encryption: All note content is encrypted on the client side, the server cannot read user data, ensuring true privacy
- Open Source & Transparent: Client code is fully open source, allowing users to audit and verify security independently
- Cross-Platform Support: Covers Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android across all platforms
- Extension Ecosystem: Rich theme and editor extensions to meet diverse note-taking needs
Key Milestones
- 2016: Matthew K. and Bryan T. founded Standard Notes, launching encrypted note-taking service
- 2017: Standard Notes 3.0 released, rebuilding editor system and sync architecture
- 2019: Extension system and paid subscription plans launched, supporting theme and editor customization
- 2021: Standard Notes Files feature released, supporting encrypted file attachments
- 2026: Continues to optimize encrypted note-taking platform for privacy-conscious users worldwide
Market Position
Standard Notes competes with the following providers in the secure note-taking and privacy market:
| Competitor | Description |
|---|---|
| Obsidian | Local Markdown file-based note-taking app, focusing on privacy and knowledge graph |
| Joplin | Open-source note-taking app with end-to-end encryption and multi-platform sync |
| Bear | Beautiful Markdown note-taking app for the Apple ecosystem |
| Notesnook | Open-source end-to-end encrypted note-taking app focused on privacy |
| Turtl | Secure note-taking and bookmark management app with end-to-end encryption |
| Cryptee | Encrypted document editing and file storage platform |
