Standard Notes is an end-to-end encrypted note-taking application that prioritizes privacy and security across multiple devices and platforms.
The tool addresses the need for secure note storage by implementing end-to-end encryption that ensures only the user can read their notes, even on the server. It synchronizes encrypted data across unlimited devices without requiring trust in a central service. The application is built with public source code and supports self-hosting, allowing users to run their own sync server. Beyond note-taking, it includes a publishing feature called Listed that enables users to create online publications and automated email newsletters directly from their notes.
Standard Notes suits users who prioritize privacy and data ownership, including digitalists, professionals, and anyone concerned about note security. It works across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, and Android with synchronized encryption on all platforms. The project supports developer extensibility through a plugin system where developers can create and publish custom extensions. Self-hosting is straightforward, requiring only a git clone, dependency installation, a build step, and serving static files through a web server. The web application compiles to static HTML, JavaScript, and CSS files that can be deployed behind any web server.
The project maintains active community engagement through Discord, Twitter, and a dedicated forum where users can ask questions and report issues. Development follows a structured approach with clear documentation for both end users and extension developers, including a help hub and self-hosting guides. The codebase is written in TypeScript and uses a monorepo structure with separate packages for different components, as evidenced by the web package organization. The team demonstrates commitment to long-term sustainability and longevity as core principles guiding the project's direction.
