8 note managers for Android that privacy lovers will love

When we talk about note managers, the first ones that come to mind are giants like OneNote, Evernote, Notion and Google Keep, as well as the simpler and lighter Simplenote. But all more or less popular services have a problem: they store your data in their own proprietary formats.

Therefore, if one fine day some Evernote or Notion decides to raise prices, introduce restrictions for free accounts or close completely, you will have to spend a lot of effort and time to export your records to others platforms. However, you cannot be sure that the migration was successful and that some of the notes were not lost.

In addition, when your data is stored not in your device memory, but somewhere on a third-party server, privacy issues arise. If a service you trust gets hacked, your notes could end up in the wrong hands.

Luckily, there are alternative recording tools that you can use without connecting to third-party services or registering. Here are the best ones.

1. neutriNote

neutriNote stores all your notes in plain text (UTF‑8) format in a folder on your smartphone. And you can do whatever you want with them: create backups, synchronize with a PC through programs like Autosync, Syncthing or Recilio Sync, edit through any other text editor.

neutriNote has a minimalistic interface, but the program has considerable capabilities. For example, it supports writing formulas and tables using LaTeX markup, which will be useful for mathematicians and programmers. In addition, here you can insert snippets of Python code - important for developers.

The editor also allows you to quickly add time and date - this is useful if you keep a diary. There is also export to PDF and HTML, Markdown formatting, and even a built-in tool for drawing pictures in ASCII - this is when the image is represented by a text fragment.

neutriNote is open source and stores notes offline, meaning you don't have to worry about leaks.

2. Obsidian

Obsidian is a true note-taking monster. This application is focused on creating records using the method Nicholas Luhmann — when you cross-reference your pages, turning your notebook into a personal Wiki. But, if you don't want to bother with the Zettelkasten system, it can just as easily serve as an alternative to Evernote - and a free one.

In Obsidian, notes are simply stored in a folder in text files with Markdown markup, but you can also add images, multimedia, PDF and more to it. You can easily synchronize a folder via Dropbox, Google Drive or Recilio Sync with your PC and work with it in the desktop client. In addition, you can edit Obsidian notes using any other text program - even offline.

In addition to a sophisticated text editor and file manager, Obsidian also offers themes and additional features that can be added using third-party plugins. Most of them are available for both desktop and mobile versions.

Plugins allow, for example, to present your entire database of notes in the form of tables, it is convenient to track tasks, automatically tag notes - whatever. Without a doubt, Obsidian is one of the best note-taking software on the market.

3. Zettel Notes

The previous application is good for everyone, except for one thing: it is too sophisticated and heavy. Obsidian flies on modern tablets and smartphones, but on low-power devices it has a habit of taking too long to load.

But this is not a reason to abandon the program altogether, because it has a good alternative. You can use Obsidian on your new smartphones and Zettel Notes on your older devices, and they will edit the same notes just fine.

Zettel Notes has built-in synchronization with GIT, Dropbox, WebDAV and SFTP. In addition, you can “feed” any folder with text files to the application by synchronizing it through some Autosync. The interface here is simpler than in Obsidian, but all the necessary functions like creating to-do lists, basic text formatting, links for linking notes in Zettelkasten, as well as inserting pictures and audio recordings into availability.

In addition, the program allows you to protect information in your notes with a password and create note templates. Since Zettel Notes stores data in a local folder, it will naturally be accessible without the Internet.

4. Notally

Perhaps, after looking at the programs listed, you will decide that they are too complicated. If so, you'll love Notally's minimalist note editor.

In it you can create structured lists and To-Do-lists, format text by making it bold, italic or strikethrough. In addition, the program supports inserting clickable links: phone numbers, email addresses and URLs. You can sort your notes using tags and colors, and pin your favorite notes on top of others.

Notally lacks synchronization. But notes can be exported in formats PDF, JSON and HTML, as well as plain text. In addition, they can be automatically saved to the phone’s memory - and from there copied to a computer using any cloud. The program is completely free and open source.

5. Markor

Markor is another great option for those who like to save notes in Markdown files, but don't want to use the heavy, complex Obsidian. This is a light and fast text editor with a lot of capabilities.

Markor is convenient to use, for example, to keep a diary, because it can insert the date and time into the text on the fly in any format convenient for you. It's also good for creating long lists and capturing ideas on the go. The program is absolutely free and open source, which is important for those who need to be confident in the confidentiality of their notes.

There is no synchronization here, but since Markor works with local documents in the smartphone’s memory, it can be organized using third-party programs like Autosync or Recilio Sync. And then open your records on your PC using Typora or any other program for Markdown. Markor can export finished documents to HTML or PDF.

Finally, the killer feature of the application is the customizable toolbar, where you can place all the functions you frequently use in order to quickly activate them without being distracted from typing.

6. Orgzly

Programmers and geeks love the Emacs text editor - not only because you can write code in it using only the keyboard, but also because it supports the so-called Org-mode. This is a mode for editing and organizing notes and planning tasks.

Org-mode allows you to create tree lists, records, hyperlinks, tables, To-Do lists, project plans, GTD, HTML code, and LaTeX markup for mathematicians. And all this is in ordinary text files, which you can work with without the Internet, registration and SMS. Overall, Org-mode is worth a try for those for whom Markdown notes and Todo.txt to-do lists aren’t geeky enough.

Orgzly lets you work with org files on your smartphone to record and edit tasks on the go. It allows you to assign tags, states (“Do Someday”, “Do Next”, “Done”) to notes, set priorities, plan time and add comments.

If you wish, Orgzly can be turned into a bullet list of ideas like Dynalist or Roam Research - free and with an infinite level of nesting. Or in an organizer for those who like to plan everything. Notebooks can be synced through any application of your choice, or via Dropbox or WebDAV. The program is open source, which will be important for privacy lovers.

7. GitJournal

Another rather “geeky” notes manager. Its feature is synchronizing records in Git. It is a text file version backup system used by programmers to write code. But it is also suitable for synchronizing notes. You can use any Git repository: GitHub, GitLab, Gitea, Gogs. Well, or create your own on your computer or home server.

GitJournal writes notes in Markdown format and stores them in a local folder on your mobile device that can be synced to any cloud.

The editor is compatible with notes from Obsidian, Markor, Typora and any other Markdown editor. The program supports cross-referencing between entries, to-do lists, and creating texts with the date in the title - useful if you are going to keep diary or work journal. The application is open source, lightweight and can run on any device.

8. FiiNote

The listed applications were designed primarily for entering text information, but FiiNote is an exception. This is a program that allows you not only to write anywhere on the page (like OneNote), but also to draw, enter handwritten text, record audio, and attach attachments. According to the developer, FiiNote “turns your device into a piece of paper.” Naturally, the program will work best with tablets that support a stylus.

You can save your text and handwritten notes and sketches in notepads and tags, and you can also attach notes to dates on the calendar and bookmark them. In addition, there is an archive and a recycle bin. The program supports reminders and to-do lists, as well as voice and video recording.

FiiNote can be used offline or synchronized with a Windows client. The note taker has a premium version, which costs $0.5 per month. It is ad-free and has a presentation creation tool and data encryption. But, in principle, the free FiiNote mode is quite enough for daily work.