Comparison

Standard Notes vs Cryptomator

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Standard Notes

Securely capture and sync your thoughts across all devices with end-to-end encryption. This app offers a simple, lasting place for all your notes, from personal thoughts to sensitive information, with robust privacy features.

Highlights
  • End-to-end encryption
  • Cross-device syncing
  • Offline access
  • Passcode and biometric lock
  • Tagging system
  • Open-source code
  • Optional productivity editors and themes
Features
Read full description

Standard Notes is a private and secure end-to-end encrypted notes app. It allows you to write and sync your notes across all your devices, including your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web browser. Private means your notes are end-to-end encrypted, so only you can read your notes. Even we can't read the contents of your notes. Simple means it does one job and does it well. Standard Notes is a safe and lasting place for your life's work. Our focus is making it easy to write notes wherever you are and syncing them with encryption to all your devices. Our users love us for: • Personal Notes • Tasks & Todos • Passwords & Keys • Code & Technical Procedures • Private Journal • Meeting Notes • Cross-platform Scratchpad • Books, Recipes, & Movies • Health & Fitness Log Standard Notes comes free with: • Seamless sync across all your devices, with easy to use applications on iPhone, iPad, Mac, web browsers, and other platforms. • Offline access, so you can access your downloaded notes even without a connection. • No limit on number of devices. • No limit on number of notes. • Passcode lock protection, along with Touch ID and Face ID protection. • A tagging system to organize your notes (like #work, #ideas, #passwords, #crypto). • The ability to pin, lock, protect, and move notes to trash, which allows you to recover deleted notes until the trash is emptied. Standard Notes is completely open-source, which means when we say your notes are encrypted with industry-leading XChaCha-20 encryption, and that only you can read your notes, you don't have to take our word for it. Our code is open to the world to audit. We made Standard Notes simple because longevity is important to us. We want to make sure we're here, protecting your notes, for the next hundred years. You shouldn't have to find a new notes app every year. To sustain our development, we offer optional paid subscriptions which give you access to powerful tools like: • Productivity editors (like Markdown, Code, Spreadsheets) • Beautiful themes (like Midnight, Focus, Solarized Dark) • Powerful cloud tools including daily backups of your encrypted data delivered to your email inbox every day, or backed up to your cloud provider (like Dropbox and Google Drive). We're always happy to talk, whether it be a question, thought, or issue. Please feel free to email us any time at help@standardnotes.com. When you take the time to send us a message, we'll be sure to do the same. EULA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Cryptomator

Encrypt your sensitive data stored in cloud services with this open-source tool. It allows you to create secure vaults with passwords, accessible only by you, and integrates seamlessly with your device's file system. Protect your privacy and ensure your data remains confidential.

Highlights
  • Cloud data encryption
  • Password-protected vaults
  • Face ID/Touch ID unlock
  • Files app integration
  • Compatible with major cloud services
  • Open-source software
Features
Read full description

With Cryptomator, the key to your data is in your hands. Cryptomator secures and encrypts your sensitive data in your favorite cloud service. So you can rest assured that only you can access your data. EASY-TO-USE Cryptomator is a simple tool for digital self-defense. It allows you to protect your cloud data by yourself and independently. • Simply create a vault and assign a password • No additional account or configuration needed • Unlock vaults with Face ID / Touch ID • Fully integrated into the Files app COMPATIBLE Cryptomator is compatible with the most commonly used cloud storages and available for all major operating systems. • Compatible with iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, SharePoint (incl. Microsoft Teams), pCloud, Box, WebDAV- and S3-based cloud storage services • Create vaults in any location via other File Providers (third-party apps must support this) • Access your vaults on all your mobile devices and computers SECURE You don't have to trust Cryptomator blindly, because it is open source software. For you as a user, this means that everyone can see the code: https://github.com/cryptomator/ios • File content and filename encryption with AES and 256 bit key length • Vault password is secured with scrypt for enhanced brute-force resistance • Crypto implementation is publicly documented AWARD-WINNING Cryptomator received the CeBIT Innovation Award 2016 for Usable Security and Privacy. We're proud to provide security and privacy for hundreds of thousands of Cryptomator users. CRYPTOMATOR COMMUNITY Join the Cryptomator Community and participate in the conversations with other Cryptomator users: https://community.cryptomator.org • Follow us on Mastodon @cryptomator@mastodon.online • Like us on Facebook /Cryptomator --- Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Standard Notes4 screens
Cryptomator4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Standard Notes at 4.7 against Cryptomator's 4.4. Standard Notes also leads on ratings volume (3.7K vs 410) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.0). On price, review sentiment, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Standard Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $119.99 per year and Cryptomator sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Standard Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Standard Notes has 3.7K ratings behind it against 410, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 63% and 63% positive.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Standard Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, Cryptomator every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Standard Notes versus Cryptomator: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStandard NotesCryptomator
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (3.7K ratings) — better4.4 (410 ratings)
Positive reviews63.4% of reviews — better63.0% of reviews
Number of ratings3.7K — better410
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeks — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size92 MB95 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStandard Notes Ltd.Skymatic GmbH

Customer experience

Standard Notes

All ratings3,714 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral2.3%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews580 reviews
Positive63.4%
Neutral10.7%
Negative25.9%

Cryptomator

All ratings410 ratings
Positive83.2%
Neutral3.2%
Negative13.7%
Written reviews284 reviews
Positive63.0%
Neutral9.5%
Negative27.5%

User reviews

Standard Notes

From 3.7K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Fast and reliable sync
  • 🔒 Excellent privacy and security
  • 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
  • 📚 Great for organizing notes
  • 💻 Cross-platform availability

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
  • 🔑 Frustrating login/authentication issues
  • 💰 Expensive premium subscription
  • 📱 Limited features in free version
  • 🖍️ Lack of formatting options

Cryptomator

From 410 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with Files app
  • 🔒 Robust encryption and security
  • 👍 Easy to use and navigate
  • 🚀 Convenient cloud storage access
  • 💡 Useful for privacy-conscious users

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional sync and upload issues
  • 🐛 Compatibility problems with some cloud services
  • 🐛 Unreliable file access and management
  • 🔋 High battery consumption reported

Bugs and requests

Standard Notes

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Notes disappearing or getting deleted unexpectedly
  • Sync issues between devices
  • Keyboard and UI bugs on mobile
  • Compatibility problems with older iOS versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add support for images and attachments
  • Implement a more robust search function
  • Introduce a dark mode option
  • Allow for better note organization (folders, nested tags)
  • Add undo/redo functionality

Cryptomator

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Vault password change issues
  • Files disappearing or becoming inaccessible
  • Freezing and crashes on certain devices
  • Compatibility problems with latest iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Automatic vault locking option
  • Improved search and file management functionality
  • Support for more cloud storage providers
  • Offline file access and editing

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Standard Notes

Subscriptions1
  • Professional Plan7 Days trial$119.991 Year
5 purchases

Cryptomator

Subscriptions1
  • Full Version$9.991 Year
One-time4
  • 30-Day TrialFree
  • Free UpgradeFree
  • Paid Upgrade$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Full Version$29.99

Questions

Is Standard Notes free?
Standard Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cryptomator free?
Cryptomator is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Standard Notes or Cryptomator?
Standard Notes is rated higher. Standard Notes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Cryptomator averages 4.4 from 410 ratings.
Do Standard Notes or Cryptomator have ads?
Neither Standard Notes nor Cryptomator shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Standard Notes or Cryptomator?
Standard Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, and Cryptomator every 3 weeks. Most recently, Standard Notes was updated on September 22, 2026 and Cryptomator on September 22, 2026.

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