Synctrain vs PrivacyNotes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Synctrain
Securely synchronize files and folders between your devices. Stream audio and video directly from other devices. Manage file sharing permissions to control access to your data.
- Secure file synchronization
- Full folder synchronization
- Specific file selection
- Audio and video streaming
- Cross-device file mirroring
- Customizable sharing permissions
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With Synctrain you can securely synchronize files with other devices that have Syncthing installed. You can choose to synchronize full folders, or choose specific files. With Synctrain you can also stream audio and video files from other devices. When you synchronize files, all changes, including deleting files, also happen on your other devices. Do not use Synctrain for back-up purposes, and always keep a back-up of your data. You decide with which devices you share which files. This also means the app makers cannot help you access or recover any lost files. This app is powered by Syncthing. This app is however not associated with or endorsed by Syncthing nor its developers. Please do not expect support from the Syncthing developers. Instead, contact the maker of this app if you have questions.
PrivacyNotes
Securely manage your notes, tasks, and journal with end-to-end encryption. This app ensures your data is private by design, with no trackers or ads. It works offline and syncs encrypted across your devices without requiring an account.
- Zero-knowledge encryption
- Markdown-native notes
- Task management
- Private journaling
- Offline functionality
- Cross-device sync
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PrivacyNotes is an end-to-end encrypted workspace for your notes, tasks, and journal. A 12-word recovery phrase, generated on your device, is the only key. Everything is encrypted before it leaves your phone, so no one, not even us, can read it. Three pillars, one private home: - Notes: fast and markdown-native, fully searchable, with note-links between them. - Tasks: capture and organize what you need to get done. - Journal: a quiet, private space for daily entries. Private by design: - Zero-knowledge encryption (XChaCha20-Poly1305). We store only ciphertext. - No trackers, no ads, no telemetry, ever. - Works offline; syncs encrypted across your devices. - No email or account required to start. Pro is a one-time purchase that unlocks unlimited devices, more encrypted storage, full note history, locked and PIN-protected notes, the mood and wellness suite, every color theme, and Zen mode. Your privacy is never the product. Privacy Policy: https://lifetimelabs.dev/privacy/ Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Synctrain at none against PrivacyNotes's 4. Synctrain also leads on ratings volume (123 vs 1). PrivacyNotes's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs every 6 weeks) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ads and device support 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
Both are free to download. PrivacyNotes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per year. Synctrain asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.9 for Synctrain against 5.0 for PrivacyNotes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Synctrain has 123 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
Synctrain ships an update every 6 weeks, PrivacyNotes every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Synctrain | PrivacyNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.9 (123 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 89.5% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 123 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 3 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 15.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 33 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | T-Shaped | Lifetime Labs LLC |
Customer experience
Synctrain
PrivacyNotes
Bugs and requests
Synctrain
Reported bugs
2 issues- Occasional app crashes
- Sync delays on some devices
Requested features
2 requests- Direct photo/video sync to remote devices
- Faster initial connection to server
PrivacyNotes
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Synctrain
No in-app purchases
PrivacyNotes
- 1 GB Encrypted Storage$4.991 Year
- 2 GB Encrypted Storage$8.991 Year
- 5 GB Encrypted Storage$17.991 Year
- PrivacyNotes Pro$49.99
