European alternatives > Note-taking apps

European note-taking apps

Apps like Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote make syncing easy, but at a cost. Your notes become part of Big Tech ecosystems that track your activity, profile you, connect data across services, and lock you into proprietary platforms.

European note-taking apps offer stronger privacy, less tracking, and more control over your data, while reducing Big Tech dependence and supporting the European tech ecosystem.

Joplin

Based: France

An open-source and offline-first note-taking app with encrypted syncing

Supports end-to-end encryption when synchronizing notes, but it’s off by default
Notes are stored locally and remain available offline
Open-source code and open data formats
Lets you choose where your notes are synced and stored
Minimal data collection (can be disabled)
No ads
Aligns with GDPR

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Anytype

Based: Zug, Switzerland

A private note-taking app that keeps your notes on your device

Uses end-to-end encryption for data sent to its network
Encryption keys are generated and controlled on your device
Works in local-only mode or with a self-hosted network
Supports notes, documents, databases, tasks, and shared spaces
Minimal ads and no data collection
Open source
Aligns with GDPR

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐⭐

Bear

Based: Dublin, Ireland

A simple and polished note-taking app designed for Apple devices

Stores Markdown notes locally on your device by default
Uses Apple’s Advanced Data Protection (ADP) for end-to-end encryption
Minimal data collection and no ads
Doesn’t sell your personal information
Uses portable file formats so you can move your notes elsewhere
Not open source
Locked in the Apple ecosystem
Aligns with GDPR

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Craft

Based: Budapest, Hungary (UK jurisdiction)

A visual notes and documents app built for writing, organization, and collaboration

Encrypts data in transit and at rest
Does not sell user data or use it for advertising
Works offline so documents remain available without a connection
Aligns with GDPR and maintains SOC 2 Type II compliance
No end-to-end encryption
Not open source

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Why choose a European note-taking app?

Keep your thoughts private

Some US note-taking apps offer encryption, but many of them (such as Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote, and Notion) retain the technical ability to access note contents.

A European privacy-first app that uses end-to-end encryption provides stronger protection because the provider does not hold the keys needed to decrypt your notes.

Limit tracking and profiling

US note-taking apps are often part of larger ecosystems like Google and Microsoft, where data can be combined across services for profiling, advertising, AI training, or sharing with other companies.

European alternatives are generally expected to collect only necessary data and explain how it is used. Tracking may still occur, but you benefit from stronger privacy protections and legal safeguards.

Take control of your data

Local-first storage, open formats, self-hosting, and reliable exports give you more control over your notes and make it easier to switch services if a provider changes its product, pricing, or policies.

These features are not unique to European software, but privacy-focused and open-source providers in Europe often focus on them.

Verify how your data is protected

Many European note-taking apps publish their source code or encryption designs for independent inspection.

Open-source encryption and software make it easier for security researchers and the wider community to examine how an app handles your information instead of relying entirely on company promises.

Which European note-taking app is best for you?

Different note-taking apps are designed for different ways of working. The right choice depends on whether you prioritize privacy, simplicity, local storage, or advanced organization.

Maximum privacy: Standard Notes, Joplin, and Anytype offer strong encryption that prevents the provider from reading your notes.
Stored on your device: Standard Notes, Anytype, and Joplin keep your notes available locally, so you can access them without relying on a constant internet connection.
Apple users: Bear offers a simple, polished experience across Apple devices with optional encryption for individual notes.
Advanced organization: Anytype and Craft combine notes with databases, tasks, documents, and other productivity features.
Open technology: Standard Notes, Joplin, and Anytype provide source code or open technology that can be independently inspected.
Familiar experience: Standard Notes and Bear offer straightforward note-taking that feels closer to traditional note apps, without requiring you to learn a complex new system.

Tips for switching to a European note-taking app

Moving years of notes can feel daunting, particularly if they include images, attachments, tags, and custom formatting. These steps can make the switch easier:

Export your existing notes

Download a full copy of your existing notes. Where possible, use portable formats such as Markdown, HTML, or plaintext instead of proprietary formats.

Test a small import first

Move a handful of notes before importing all. See if headings, lists, tags, links, images, and attachments appear correctly in the new app.

Check what is encrypted

Check whether the provider can access your note content and whether encryption applies to attachments, titles, tags, and other metadata.

Keep your old app temporarily

Hold on to your old app until you’re confident everything has transferred correctly, in case you discover missing notes or formatting problems later.

Create a backup to be safe

Keep a separate copy of important notes somewhere safe so accidental deletions or synchronization problems do not remove every copy.

Review any existing AI features

Check if any available AI features are optional and how they process your notes, especially if your data is sent to an external AI provider.

Not European, but still not Big Tech note-taking apps

If you want to move away from Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, or Notion but don't specifically need a European provider, there are several privacy-friendly options elsewhere in the world.

Standard Notes

Based: Chicago, Illinois, United States

A secure note-taking app that keeps your notes and files private

Uses end-to-end encryption so only you can decrypt your notes and files
Open source and independently audited
Stores notes locally so they remain available offline
Secure cloud sync keeps notes available across unlimited devices
Minimal data collection and no ads
Aligns with GDPR

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Try Standard Notes

Notesnook

Based: Khushab, Pakistan

An open-source note-taking app built around zero-knowledge encryption

End-to-end encrypts notes before they leave your device
Apps and synchronization server are fully open source
Minimal data collection and no ads
Stores encrypted cloud data in Germany
Aligns with GDPR

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Day One

Based: Lehi, Utah, United States

A private journaling app for personal writing and memories

End-to-end encryption enabled by default for new journals
Stores journals entirely on your device
No ads or selling of your data
Supports text, photos, audio, location, and more
Aligns with GDPR
Not open source

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐⭐☆

Obsidian

Based: Lehi, Utah, United States

A local-first knowledge management and note-taking app based on Markdown files

Stores notes locally on your device by default
End-to-end encryption for the cloud sync
No account required for the core app
Doesn’t send usage or diagnostic data back to Obsidian
Independently audited
Aligns with GDPR
Data stored via the cloud sync uses DigitalOcean, a US-based cloud provider
Not open source

Proton privacy score: ⭐⭐⭐☆☆

Frequently asked questions about European note-taking apps

What is a European note-taking app?: A European note-taking app is a notes or writing application operated by a legal entity based in Europe and primarily subject to European jurisdiction. Some European providers offer features such as strong privacy protections, end-to-end encryption, local storage, open-source software, and give you greater control over your data.
However, this doesn't mean that all European note-taking apps are more private and secure than, for example, US alternatives. Be sure to evaluate these practices before choosing a European option.
Are European note-taking apps more private?: European note-taking apps often put greater emphasis on privacy, local storage, open-source software, and giving users more control over their data. This is partly because European companies operate in a market shaped by strong data-protection expectations and regulations, such as the GDPR and the EU AI Act (when a note-taking app has AI features).
Privacy can also be an important selling point for smaller European providers competing with large global platforms. However, being European does not automatically make an app more private. Its actual privacy depends on factors such as whether notes are end-to-end encrypted, where data is stored, what information is collected, whether third-party trackers are used, and which legal entity and jurisdiction govern the service.
Is Standard Notes a European note-taking app?: Standard Notes was founded and remains located in the United States, but it joined Proton, the Swiss organization behind Proton Mail, Proton Drive, and other privacy-focused services, in 2024. It continues to operate as a separate product while being part of the wider Proton family. Regardless of server location, Standard Notes uses end-to-end encryption designed so that neither Standard Notes nor Proton can read the content of your private notes.
Which note-taking apps use end-to-end encryption?: Standard Notes, Joplin, Cryptee, and Anytype all offer end-to-end or zero-knowledge encryption designed to prevent the service provider from reading protected note content. The exact implementation and whether encryption must be enabled varies between apps.
Can I move my notes from Google Keep, OneNote, or Notion?: Usually. Many note-taking apps support common import formats, although the exact process depends on the service. Standard Notes, for example, can import Google Keep exports directly and supports Markdown and plaintext files.

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