# Standard Notes vs Proton Authenticator

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Proton Authenticator at none against Standard Notes's 1. Proton Authenticator also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 weeks). Standard Notes's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 4.4) and ratings volume (3.7K vs 242). On price, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Standard Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $119.99 per year. Proton Authenticator asks for nothing beyond the download.

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 242, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 63% of Standard Notes's written reviews are positive against 56% of Proton Authenticator's.

Standard Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, Proton Authenticator weekly. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Standard Notes | Proton Authenticator |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (3.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/standard-notes/id1285392450/reviews)** | [4.4 (242 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.7K** | 242 |
| Positive reviews | **63.4% of reviews** | 56.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 92 MB | 119 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Standard Notes Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/586976285) | [Proton AG](https://appshunter.io/developer/979659484) |

## What reviewers say

### Standard Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/standard-notes/id1285392450)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Plan | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**Reported bugs**

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

**Requested features**

- 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


### Proton Authenticator

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/proton-authenticator/id6741758667)

Securely manage your two-factor authentication codes with an open-source, end-to-end encrypted authenticator app. It offers seamless cross-device syncing, effortless import from other apps, and robust backup options, all protected by strict Swiss privacy laws. Take control of your digital security with a trusted and private solution.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encrypted iCloud sync, Effortless import from other authenticators, Secure backup and export, Swiss privacy by design, Open source and transparent, Offline support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Cross-platform support
- 🔒 Secure cloud sync
- 👍 Easy import from other authenticators
- 🚀 Convenient 'next' feature for codes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy UI (scrolling jitters, random sorting)
- 👎 Lack of customization options (pin favorites, change icons)
- 🐛 Sync/login issues on iPad

**Reported bugs**

- Sync/login loop on iPad
- 2FA input broken on non-iPhone devices
- Screen strobing on iPad
- Duplicate entries after import

**Requested features**

- PIN unlock for desktop
- Alphabetical sorting option
- Export function (not just Proton-specific backup)
- Native macOS app
- Option to hide item icons


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Standard Notes free?

Standard Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Proton Authenticator free?

Proton Authenticator is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Standard Notes or Proton Authenticator?

Standard Notes is rated higher. Standard Notes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.7K ratings, while Proton Authenticator averages 4.4 from 242 ratings.

### Do Standard Notes or Proton Authenticator have ads?

Neither Standard Notes nor Proton Authenticator shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Standard Notes or Proton Authenticator?

Standard Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, and Proton Authenticator weekly. Most recently, Standard Notes was updated on September 22, 2026 and Proton Authenticator on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*