How we rank: Note-Taking Apps
The Score (0–100) is a weighted sum of the factors below. Each factor is the weighted average of its metrics; each metric is calculated from one published fact. Missing facts score zero, and a service is ranked only when enough of its Score is backed by facts.
A service is ranked only when at least 70% of its Score is backed by verified facts.
Privacy 30%
Whether notes are end-to-end encrypted, so the company cannot read them (it counts when the official sync service offers it; encryption only in transit and on the server does not count), whether the code of the apps is open source (source-available licences do not count), and whether the app's own account can be protected with two-factor sign-in (sign-in only through Google or Apple does not count).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Open source code | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Two-factor sign-in | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Features 30%
How many of six platforms are supported according to the official site: Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS/iPadOS, Android and a web app (logarithmic, full score at 6). Plus whether notes can be read and edited offline, whether there is a web clipper browser extension, and whether other people can edit shared notes with you (view-only links do not count).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Supported platforms (of 6) | Logarithmic, full score at 6 |
| Works offline | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Web clipper | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Collaboration on notes | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
Price 25%
Whether there is a permanent free plan (trials don't count) and the price of the cheapest paid plan for one person with monthly billing, in US dollars, as shown as text on the official pricing page: $0 scores 100, $10 or more scores 0. Fully free apps with no paid plan count as $0. A price shown only in our local currency, only with yearly billing or only by a script stays empty. A European company's single price list in euros is converted at the ECB rate.
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Cheapest paid plan per month | Linear from 0 (100) to 10 (0) — lower is better |
Your data 15%
Whether notes can be exported to Markdown or are stored as Markdown files, so you can move to another app without losing them (double weight), and the age of the company or product (15+ years scores full).
| Metric | Rule |
|---|---|
| Markdown export | Yes = 100, No = 0 |
| Founded | Full score at 15+ years |