Comparison

Notes vs Deckloud

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

Head to head
About

Notes

A privacy-focused note-taking app that offers secure, encrypted storage and synchronization via Nextcloud, iCloud, or WebDAV. Write notes offline and maintain full control over your data with this GDPR-compliant, open-source solution.

Highlights
  • Markdown and rich text editor
  • End-to-end encryption (E2EE)
  • Nextcloud, iCloud, and WebDAV sync
  • Offline note-taking
  • To-do lists and tasks
  • GDPR and BDSG compliant
Features
Read full description

BrewMemo: The Ultimate PRIVACY-FOCUSED Markdown Suite – 100% Made in Germany Stop compromising on your digital sovereignty. With BrewMemo, you manage your notes simply, securely, and privately using the power of your own Nextcloud infrastructure. In an era of data harvesting, BrewMemo stands as a fortress for your ideas. You get full control over your notebook and your Markdown notes—always synced, reliably protected, and available on all your devices without ever touching a third-party server you don't trust. Whether you are a creative professional, a researcher, a student, or a privacy-conscious organization, BrewMemo is the professional choice for secure digital journaling and structured knowledge management. WHY BREWMEMO IS DIFFERENT TOTAL DATA SOVEREIGNTY: Unlike mainstream note apps that lock your data in proprietary silos, BrewMemo uses your own Nextcloud server as the backbone. Your Markdown notes remain your property, stored in your own environment. DEEP NEXTCLOUD INTEGRATION: We don't just "support" Nextcloud; we are built for it. Experience seamless background synchronization that feels invisible but works like a charm. No middleman, no metadata tracking, just your data on your server. GDPR COMPLIANCE BY DESIGN: Developed in Germany, BrewMemo adheres to the world’s strictest privacy regulations. It is the ideal solution for professionals handling sensitive business information, legal notes, or private medical data. ZERO VENDOR LOCK-IN: Your notes are stored as plain Markdown files. This means even if you stop using BrewMemo, your data remains readable by any text editor. We give you the keys to your own digital kingdom. A SUPERIOR WRITING & ORGANIZATIONAL EXPERIENCE BrewMemo isn't just a place to dump text; it’s a precision tool designed for deep work and organized thinking. PRO-GRADE MARKDOWN EDITOR: Enjoy a distraction-free environment with a powerful Markdown engine. Render tables, lists, and headers perfectly while maintaining a clean, aesthetic interface. SMART ORGANIZATION SYSTEM: Moving beyond simple folders—use our advanced Pin & Tag system to create a multi-dimensional organization. Categorize your projects, thoughts, and tasks so they are always exactly where you need them. CUSTOMIZABLE ECOSYSTEM: Your notebook should reflect your style. Choose from a variety of professionally designed themes, including an optimized High-Contrast Dark Mode for late-night focus sessions. OFFLINE-FIRST ARCHITECTURE: Don't let a poor connection stop your creativity. Write, edit, and organize while offline in a plane or a remote cabin. BrewMemo intelligently merges your changes to your Nextcloud or iCloud as soon as you reconnect. YOUR PERSONAL KNOWLEDGE MANAGEMENT (PKM) POWERHOUSE BrewMemo is more than just a notes app—it is the hub for your "Second Brain." By combining the simplicity of Markdown with the security of private synchronization, it supports modern methodologies like Zettelkasten or GTD (Getting Things Done). KEY FEATURES AT A GLANCE Markdown Perfection: Maximum clarity with standard-compliant formatting. Native Nextcloud Sync: Secure, private, and lightning-fast server communication. iCloud Support: Alternative sync options for those deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem. Advanced Export Options: Convert your notes to TXT or share them directly with other apps. Universal Compatibility: Works seamlessly across your mobile devices and tablets. Multi-Account Support: Easily manage personal and professional notebooks in one interface. JOIN THE PRIVACY REVOLUTION Don't let your ideas become someone else's training data. Join thousands of users who have switched to a more ethical, secure, and professional way of writing. Your thoughts. Your Markdown. Your Nextcloud. Your BrewMemo.

About

Deckloud

Manage your Nextcloud Deck boards directly from your iPhone. Create, organize, and update tasks with robust offline support and private data handling. Offers Pro features for enhanced productivity.

Highlights
  • Create and organize boards, stacks, and cards
  • Set due dates, labels, assignees, and reminders
  • Add comments, Markdown descriptions, and attachments
  • Search boards and cards with advanced filters
  • Reliable sync with offline resilience
  • Private by design with local credential storage
Features
Read full description

Deckloud is the native iPhone and iPad app for Nextcloud Deck. Open the boards you already have on your own server, or start a free managed workspace in seconds. A separate Mac companion is available from deckloud.com for desktop board work. Two ways to start • Your own server: sign in with Nextcloud Login Flow v2 and open your existing boards. The connection runs directly between the app and your server, with no relay backend in between. Any compatible Nextcloud account works—no invitation or company affiliation required. • Deckloud Cloud: tap Use Deckloud Cloud for a free private workspace. No email address, no password, and no registration form. Deckloud runs the Nextcloud server for you, and you can link up to three devices. From personal Kanban planning to team projects, your board and card data stays on the server you choose. Everything you need on mobile • Create and organize boards, sections, and cards • Start a new board from a template, or build your own • Set due dates, labels, assignees, and reminders • Add comments, Markdown descriptions, and attachments • Search boards and cards with advanced filters Native on iPhone and iPad iPad layouts support portrait, landscape, resizable multitasking windows, the share extension, and Extra Large Home Screen widgets. Private by design Credentials stay in iOS Keychain. No ad SDKs, no person profiles, and only privacy-limited product diagnostics. On your own server, board and card content stays on your own Nextcloud infrastructure and no relay backend sits in between. Deckloud Cloud content is stored on Deckloud-managed Nextcloud infrastructure. Connections use TLS and backups are encrypted, but content is not end-to-end encrypted. Delete a Cloud account and its content from Settings at any time. Reliable even when offline Changes queue locally if your connection drops and sync when you are back online. Check queue health and retry from Settings. Deckloud Pro (one-time purchase—no subscription) • Quick Capture targets and templates with due offsets, labels, assignees, and context • Due reminders that open the card or Today queue • Repeat templates that create the next card when Deckloud opens • Timed Focus sessions for 10, 25, or 45 minutes, including a Pomodoro-style sprint • Advanced iOS widgets with card titles and deep links Deckloud Cloud is a separate free plan and does not unlock Pro. Requirements • Deckloud Cloud needs no server setup • For your own server: Nextcloud with the Deck app installed • Deck 1.6 or later is required for full write support • Deckloud actively verifies maintained Nextcloud releases with their matching Deck release • Nextcloud 23–31 is legacy best effort; a new Nextcloud major remains preview until verified Deckloud is an independent client and is not affiliated with Nextcloud GmbH.

Screenshots

Notes4 screens
Deckloud4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Notes at 5.0 against Deckloud's 4.3. Deckloud's advantage is review sentiment (80% vs 50%) and update cadence (every 9 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Deckloud sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2 and 7 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Notes's written reviews are positive against 80% of Deckloud's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notes ships an update every 3 weeks, Deckloud every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on August 11, 2026 and September 11, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Notes versus Deckloud: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotesDeckloud
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (2 ratings) — better4.3 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings27 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 9 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size26 MB51 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperBrewcode GmbHHoang Pham

Customer experience

Notes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Deckloud

All ratings7 ratings
Positive85.7%
Neutral14.3%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral20.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

3 purchases

Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Access7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Access7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time1
  • Full Access – Lifetime$89.99
1 purchases

Deckloud

One-time1
  • Deckloud Pro Lifetime$19.00

Questions

Is Notes free?
Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Deckloud free?
Deckloud is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Notes or Deckloud?
Notes is rated higher. Notes averages 5.0 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Deckloud averages 4.3 from 7 ratings.
Do Notes or Deckloud have ads?
Neither Notes nor Deckloud shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Notes or Deckloud?
Notes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Deckloud every 9 days. Most recently, Notes was updated on August 11, 2026 and Deckloud on September 11, 2026.

Other comparisons