Comparison

Private Notes (Nostr) vs Doc Reader

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

Head to head
About

Private Notes (Nostr)

Features
Read full description

Private Notes is an encrypted password manager and secure notes app built on the Nostr protocol โ€” a private alternative to cloud-based managers like 1Password or Bitwarden. Every password, login, and note is encrypted on your device before it ever leaves โ€” no company, no server, no cloud provider can read it. Only you, with your nsec (and optionally a PIN), hold the key. Your password vault: Store logins โ€” username, password, website, and notes โ€” right where you need them. Generate strong passwords two ways: memorable "by words" phrases or fully random characters, with strength shown as you type. Copy any field in one tap, and keep everything organized with folders and labels. Your notes, still yours: Markdown notes, folders, and labels live in the same encrypted vault as your logins. Recovery codes, travel plans, reading lists โ€” anything you'd trust to a notes app, without trusting a company with the plaintext. Built on real cryptography, not a promise: Your identity is a cryptographic key pair (nsec/npub), not an email and password. Everything is encrypted and signed locally before it's published. A PIN adds a second layer of encryption on top of your keychain-protected key โ€” even someone with your nsec can't read your vault without it. The PIN is never written to disk. There's no "forgot password" flow, because there's no password to reset โ€” and no backdoor. Back up your nsec somewhere safe; without it, nothing can be recovered. Sync without a company in the middle: Private Notes syncs through Nostr relays โ€” servers that store your encrypted vault โ€” and you choose which ones to use. Pick public relays, run your own, or use several at once for redundancy: if one goes offline, your vault is still there on the others. No single company holds your data or controls your access. Available now on iOS and macOS. Private Notes is built for: Anyone switching from a cloud password manager who wants a vault that's properly end-to-end encrypted Privacy-conscious users who want full control over their passwords and notes Nostr enthusiasts who want one secure identity across Nostr apps Anyone tired of apps that mine or sell their data Download Private Notes today โ€” your passwords and notes: encrypted, decentralized, and always yours.

About

Doc Reader

Read full description

Turn your PDFs and websites into a listening experience โ€” in 41 languages. DocReader converts any PDF, website, or document into natural-sounding speech so you can absorb textbooks, research papers, lecture notes, and articles while commuting, exercising, or doing chores. Why students and academics love it: - Listen to any PDF from Safari, Mail, Files, or Google Drive - Natural-sounding voices in English, Spanish, French, German, Portuguese, Russian, Japanese, Chinese, Korean, Hindi, and Arabic - Adjustable speed from 0.5x to 2.0x โ€” slow down for dense material or speed up for review - Keeps playing in the background โ€” switch apps without losing your place 100% free. No catches: No subscriptions. No token limits. No "premium" tier. DocReader is completely free to use with no restrictions โ€” today and always. Perfect for: - Reviewing lecture slides and course readings on your commute - Listening to research papers while at the gym - Turning long-form articles into audio during your morning routine - Making dense academic material easier to absorb through listening - Reading PDFs in your native language with a natural voice - Accessibility โ€” hear any PDF read aloud with a natural voice Private by design: Everything runs on your device. Your documents never leave your phone. No accounts. No cloud processing. No data collection. How it works: 1. Open a PDF in DocReader from any app 2. Pick a voice โ€” choose from multiple languages 3. Tap play 4. Listen

Screenshots

Private Notes (Nostr)4 screens
Doc Reader4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Doc Reader at none against Private Notes (Nostr)'s shown. Private Notes (Nostr)'s advantage is device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). On price, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

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

CostPrice ยท In-app purchases ยท Ads ยท Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Private Notes (Nostr) ships an update every 2 weeks, Doc Reader weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 13, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences ยท 3 level
Private Notes (Nostr) versus Doc Reader: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPrivate Notes (Nostr)Doc Reader
PriceFreeFree
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksWeekly โ€” better
AdsYesNo โ€” better
In-app purchasesNoNo
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac โ€” betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 โ€” better18.0
Further details โ€” not scored
Size33 MB651 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeralexey popkovETHAN SCOTT TROKIE

In-app purchases

None

Private Notes (Nostr)

No in-app purchases

None

Doc Reader

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Private Notes (Nostr) free?
Private Notes (Nostr) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Doc Reader free?
Doc Reader is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Private Notes (Nostr) or Doc Reader have ads?
Private Notes (Nostr) shows ads; Doc Reader does not.
Which is updated more often, Private Notes (Nostr) or Doc Reader?
Private Notes (Nostr) ships an update every 2 weeks, and Doc Reader weekly. Most recently, Private Notes (Nostr) was updated on September 13, 2026 and Doc Reader on September 18, 2026.

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