Most popular notes apps — Google Keep, Samsung Notes, OneNote — sync everything to the cloud. That's fine if you want cross-device access. But if you want your notes to stay private and on your device, your options are thinner than you'd expect.
I tested the best private, offline-friendly notes apps available on Android in 2026. Here's the honest breakdown — what each does well, where each falls short, and who each one is best for.
Full disclosure: I built Scrib, the first app on this list. But every app here earned its spot. I'm listing real trade-offs for all of them, including mine.
What I Looked For
- Encryption: Does the app encrypt notes at rest on your device?
- Offline-first: Can it work fully without internet?
- No account required: Can you use it without signing up?
- No tracking: Does it collect usage data?
- Free tier: Is it genuinely usable without paying?
1. Scrib
Best for: Encryption + simplicity. Zero setup privacy.
- AES-256 encryption on every note automatically — plus optional per-note encryption as a second layer
- Encryption key stored in the Android Keystore (hardware-backed)
- 100% offline — no server, no networking code in the app
- No account, no email, no sign-up
- PIN lock + Private Vault for sensitive notes
- 16 note colors, dark mode, voice input, 10 languages
- Zero data collected. Free, no ads
Trade-offs: Android only. No cloud sync. No collaboration. No web access. If you lose your phone, your notes are gone — that's the trade-off of true offline-only storage.
2. Standard Notes
Best for: Cross-platform encrypted notes with sync.
- End-to-end encrypted
- Available on Android, iOS, Windows, Mac, Linux, and web
- Free tier with basic plain text editor
- Paid tier ($90/year) unlocks rich text, Markdown, spreadsheets, and more editors
- Open source
- Account required for sync
Trade-offs: Requires an account and email. The free editor is plain text only — advanced editors are behind the paywall. More complex than a simple notepad. But if you need encrypted sync across every platform, Standard Notes is the established option.
3. Joplin
Best for: Markdown power users who want full control.
- Open source
- Optional end-to-end encryption
- Sync via Nextcloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, or self-hosted server
- Rich Markdown editor with plugins and extensions
- Notebook organization, tags, to-do lists
- Free
Trade-offs: Encryption is optional — not enabled by default. You have to set it up yourself. Sync requires configuring a cloud service or hosting your own server. Steeper learning curve than a simple notes app. But if you're technical and want maximum flexibility, Joplin delivers.
4. Notally
Best for: Clean, minimal, open-source notepad.
- Simple and lightweight
- Offline-first — no cloud features
- Open source (available on F-Droid and Play Store)
- Material Design with dark mode
- Labels, pinned notes, lists
- Free, no ads
Trade-offs: No encryption. No PIN lock. No vault. Privacy comes purely from being offline — your notes aren't encrypted on the device. If someone accesses your phone's file system, your notes are readable. But if you just want a clean, fast, no-nonsense notepad without cloud sync, Notally is solid.
Quick Comparison
| Feature | Scrib | Standard Notes | Joplin | Notally |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Encryption at rest | AES-256 (auto) | End-to-end | Optional | No |
| Offline-first | Yes (no server) | Needs account | Optional sync | Yes |
| Account required | No | Yes | No | No |
| Data collected | Zero | Minimal | None | None |
| Free | Yes | Freemium | Yes | Yes |
| Platforms | Android | All | All | Android |
| Open source | No | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| PIN lock | Yes | Yes | No | No |
Bottom Line
If you want the simplest encrypted notes app with zero setup — Scrib encrypts everything automatically and never touches the internet.
If you need cross-platform sync with end-to-end encryption — Standard Notes is the established choice.
If you're a Markdown power user who wants full control — Joplin gives you maximum flexibility.
If you want a clean, minimal open-source notepad — Notally is fast and simple.
All four are better options than storing sensitive notes in an unencrypted cloud app. Pick the one that fits how you work.
Try Scrib Free
AES-256 encrypted. No ads. No tracking. No account.