Top 6 Privacy Note Apps for Linux and Android That Actually Sync

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Sync brain dumps without leaking brains

Your messages? Watched. Your location? Mapped. Your thoughts? …maybe not yet, but some note apps come close. 👀

Most apps track everything. Notes, ideas, even to-do lists, all easy targets. And let’s be honest, inspiration shows up at the most random times: in bed, mid-commute, or on the toilet. 🚽💡

This list covers apps notes suitable for Linux desktop and Android, which are really good on privacy and sync over devices. No trackers, no creepy sync, just private, cross-platform tools built to protect what matters.

Standard Notes

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Standard Note app

  • Data export:

  • encrypted, plain text format

  • 2FA:

  • supported, for extra account security

  • Offline Access:

  • fully offline capable on all devices :>

  • Unlimited Device Sync:

  • on official servers or self-hosted sync

  • Markdown & Writing Forms:

  • Free: plain text

  • Paid: markdown, rich text, checklists, code snippets, and more (Super note)

  • Organizing Style:

  • Free: basic tags

  • Paid: folders, tags

  • Themes & Creativity:

  • Paid: multiple themes + colors

  • Support:

  • active community + priority support for paid users

Notesnook

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Notesnook app

  • Data export:

  • Free: plain text format

  • Paid: Markdown, PDF, HTML

  • 2FA:

  • supported for extra account security

  • via email and via auth app

  • Paid: SMS

  • Offline Access:

  • fully offline capable on all devices

  • Unlimited Device Sync:

  • yes, with granular sync controls + automatic instant real-time sync

  • Markdown & Writing Forms:

  • Free: Markdown, lists, code blocks, tablets, embed videos, task lists

  • Paid: free + images

  • reminders

  • Organizing Style:

  • Free: 20 NoteBooks, 5 Tags, Pins, Shortcuts

  • Paid: unlimited NoteBooks, Tags + Pins, Shortcuts

  • Themes & Creativity:

  • Free: themes, customizable sidebar

  • Paid: colors, change homepage

  • Support:

  • active community (Discord, email, Twitter, Reddit)

Joplin

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Joplin app

  • Data export:

  • into ENEX files (can be imported back)

  • 2FA:

  • with lists of codes, each of them can only be used once

  • possibility to generate new code from profile page

  • Offline Access:

  • is designed to be “offline-first”, ofc!

  • Unlimited Device Sync:

  • Joplin Cloud is needed to sync notes across devices

  • Markdown & Writing Forms:

  • Markdown, code, plain text to drawing (with plugins!)

  • can be used in terminal as well

  • Organizing Style:

  • NoteBooks, sub-NoteBooks, Tags, To-dos, Search filters

  • Themes & Creativity:

  • CSS, default themes

  • Support:

  • forum, Discord, Bsky

Cryptee

:mag: Go to website

Cryptee app

  • Data export:

  • selecting everything in a folder and Download them locally (encrypted)

  • format as PDF, docx, HTML, Markdown

  • 2FA:

  • via auth apps + recovery codes

  • Offline Access:

  • is PWA (once installed, it’ll work offline)

  • Unlimited Device Sync:

  • possible, uses local data to sync quickly, including large files

  • Markdown & Writing Forms:

  • plain text, Makdown, KaTex, code, links, images, videos (up to 100MB Free)

  • Organizing Style:

  • folders, Tags, pinning, Search filters

  • Themes & Creativity:

  • themes, colors, fonts changeable

  • Support:

  • directly on Cryptee website

Obsidian

:mag: Go to Website

Obsidian app

  • Data export:

  • as plain text, markdown files

  • 2FA:

  • no native 2FA

  • Offline Access:

  • fully offline, all notes stored locally

  • Unlimited Device Sync:

  • Paid: use Obsidian Sync

  • Free: third-party services like Dropbox, Drive

  • Markdown & Writing Forms:

  • Markdown, code, links, LaTex and more with plugins

  • Organizing Style:

  • folders, Tags, graph view, calendar view

  • Themes & Creativity:

  • full UI customization via CSS snippets

  • huge library with themes

  • plugins to transform UI

  • Support:

  • active community, Discord, help center

Turtl

:mag: Go to Website

Turtl app

  • Data export:

  • plain text format with encryption

  • possible to import as well

  • 2FA:

  • not yet 🙁

  • Offline Access:

  • works offline

  • Unlimited Device Sync:

  • possible, using official servers or self-hosted server

  • collaborate with up to 3 friends (Free)

  • Markdown & Writing Forms:

  • plain text, Makdown, Tex, code, links (up to 50MB Free)

  • Organizing Style:

  • spaces (like NoteBooks), Tags, boards, Search full-text

  • Themes & Creativity:

  • no UI customization 🙁

  • Support:

  • community-driven support

  • Paid: dedicated support

What I’d Pick (If You’re Curious)

Honestly, it depends on the day, but if I had to choose:

  • 🧩 For structure + control: Joplin. Folders, tags, markdown, almost everything is free, it just works, you know?
  • 🧘‍♀️ For minimalism + clean sync: Notesnook. Private, cross-device, and super intuitive.
  • 🔐 For sheer privacy & encryption focus: Turtl. Feels like a vault for thoughts + love their logo.
  • 🌌 For power-users & creativity: Obsidian. Themes, plugins, custom workflows, it’s a sandbox!

Everyone thinks and writes differently. The real win is finding the tool that gets out of your way and lets ideas breathe without bleeding privacy.

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