Comparison

Strongbox vs Standard Notes

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

Head to head
About

Strongbox

Securely store and manage all your passwords with one master password. Supports open-source formats and offers advanced security features like biometric unlock and YubiKey protection. Includes password auditing and cloud syncing for easy access.

Highlights
  • Biometric unlock (Face ID/Touch ID)
  • Passkey support
  • YubiKey protection
  • Password auditing (Have I Been Pwned?)
  • Cloud syncing (iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive)
  • Secure password generation
  • TOTP Two Factor Authentication codes
Features
Read full description

Strongbox is an application for keeping all your passwords safely stored and protected by one master password. Supporting the open source Password Safe and KeePass formats. *** Features *** - Face ID/Touch ID Unlock for the ultimate in convenience, security and speed. - Passkey support - The latest, most convenient and most secure authentication method (passkeys). - PIN Code Unlock with a Duress PIN option for those tricky situations. - YubiKey protection - secure your databases with a hardware token. - Secure - protected by time tested military grade cryptography. - Private - Isolated In-App attachments viewer for your sensitive documents, photos & videos. - Audit your passwords - Automatically check your database for weak password including a 'Have I Been Pwned?' check. - Cloud Support, so you can access your cloud safes using iCloud, Dropbox, OneDrive, Google Drive, WebDAV or SFTP even when offline. Use the built in Files app for many other storage options or store them securely only on your local device. You choose your storage. - Search your entire set of passwords and secrets instantly and powerfully, with deep search. Autocomplete new entries, and auto generate secure passwords. - Compatible - Import/Export by Files app, Email, CSV, iTunes File Sharing or use cloud storage. - Standards compliant - using the time tested Password Safe and KeePass formats so you can import any existing password safe you have. - Features galore - Incredibly configurable password generation including Diceware (XKCD) & regular passwords. - Timed Auto Clear Clipboard. - Entry History. - KeePass Field References, Tags, Custom Icon & FavIcons (including automatic search & download). - Two Factor Authentication codes (TOTP) - QR Code, Steam & Manual. *** Strongbox is Freemium *** This means that Strongbox is free with a basic feature set, but if you like there are enhanced Pro features too. You can opt-in to a 90 day Free Trial of all the Pro features if you like, no obligations, but most find the Free version perfectly adequate. --------------------------------------------------------------------- • Strongbox provides In-App Purchases (both auto renewable subscriptions and one-off non-consumable) for Pro versions of the App • An outright/upfront (i.e. non In-App Purchase) option exists also, please see the Strongbox website for details. • Subscriptions are auto renewable with recurring billing. Cancel anytime. • The time period of the subscriptions are monthly, 3-monthly or yearly at users discretion • The user can also choose to purchase a 'Lifetime' one-off Pro version of the App • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable • Strongbox Privacy Policy may be found here: https://strongboxsafe.com/privacy-policy/ • Strongbox Terms of Use may be found here: https://strongboxsafe.com/terms/

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/

Screenshots

Strongbox4 screens
Standard Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

Strongbox and Standard Notes both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 84% of Strongbox's written reviews are positive against 64% of Standard Notes's. Strongbox also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks) and device support (5 vs 3). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Strongbox sells 14 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Standard Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $119.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Strongbox against 4.7 for Standard Notes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4.1K and 3.8K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Strongbox's written reviews are positive against 64% of Standard Notes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Strongbox ships an update fortnightly, Standard Notes every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on October 17, 2026.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Strongbox versus Standard Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterStrongboxStandard Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (4.1K ratings)4.7 (3.8K ratings)
Positive reviews83.7% of reviews — better64.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4.1K — better3.8K
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 5 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS15.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size145 MB92 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPhoebe Code LimitedStandard Notes Ltd.

Customer experience

Strongbox

All ratings4,065 ratings
Positive94.1%
Neutral1.8%
Negative4.1%
Written reviews565 reviews
Positive83.7%
Neutral4.2%
Negative12.0%

Standard Notes

All ratings3,751 ratings
Positive92.5%
Neutral2.2%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews595 reviews
Positive64.0%
Neutral10.4%
Negative25.5%

User reviews

Strongbox

From 4.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Seamless integration with iOS
  • 🔒 Highly secure with end-to-end encryption
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🔒 Open-source and transparent
  • 🚀 Reliable and stable performance

Room to improve

  • 💰 Paid features can be expensive for some users
  • 🐛 Occasional syncing and compatibility issues
  • 💰 Lifetime license cost may be prohibitive
  • 🐛 Bugs and crashes reported by some users

Standard Notes

From 3.8K 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

Bugs and requests

Strongbox

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Crashes when using certain iOS versions
  • Issues with database syncing and corruption

Requested features

4 requests
  • Ability to create custom templates and fields
  • Improved organization and search functionality
  • Tighter integration with Apple Keychain
  • Support for more cloud storage providers

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

In-app purchases

14 purchases

Strongbox

Subscriptions8
  • Strongbox Pro (Monthly)2 variants$2.991 Month
  • Monthly Tip$2.991 Month
  • Strongbox Pro (Yearly)3 Months trial$19.991 Year
Show 5 more
  • Strongbox Pro (Yearly)1 Month trial$19.991 Year
  • Yearly Tip$19.991 Year
  • Strongbox Pro (Yearly)1 Year trial$24.991 Year
  • Strongbox Pro (Yearly)3 Months trial$24.991 Year
  • Strongbox Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$24.991 Year
One-time6
  • Little Tip$4.99
  • Small Tip$9.99
  • Medium Tip$19.99
Show 3 more
  • Large Tip$99.99
  • Strongbox Pro (Lifetime)$99.99
  • Huge Tip$199.99
1 purchases

Standard Notes

Subscriptions1
  • Professional Plan7 Days trial$119.991 Year

Questions

Is Strongbox free?
Strongbox is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Standard Notes free?
Standard Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Strongbox or Standard Notes?
Strongbox and Standard Notes are both rated 4.7 out of 5 on the App Store, from 4.1K and 3.8K ratings respectively.
Do Strongbox or Standard Notes have ads?
Neither Strongbox nor Standard Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Strongbox or Standard Notes?
Strongbox ships an update fortnightly, and Standard Notes every 5 weeks. Most recently, Strongbox was updated on October 17, 2026 and Standard Notes on October 17, 2026.

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