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Standard Notes
Standard Notes keeps your notes, files, and tags encrypted on your device before anything touches the network, meaning the server stores only ciphertext it cannot read. Cross-platform sync across desktop, mobile, and web delivers fast, conflict-free updates on unlimited devices with the same zero-knowledge guarantee that only your password can decrypt your content. The V2 server architecture condenses everything into four Docker containers consuming roughly 570MB RAM total (down from 13 containers and 1.7GB in the legacy setup), with startup under one minute. Revision history automatically preserves every version of every note, so recovering deleted text or reverting to a previous state never depends on manual backups. A nested tag system organizes thousands of notes with hierarchical categorization that goes well beyond flat folder structures, while search operates entirely on client-side decrypted content. File attachments of any type encrypt and sync alongside notes with identical end-to-end protection. Multiple editor options span plain text, Markdown with preview, and rich formatting to fit different writing workflows. Two-factor authentication via TOTP with email backup codes adds a second barrier beyond your password. An optional separate container serves the web frontend, providing browser access to your encrypted vault without depending on standardnotes.com infrastructure. With 5,500+ GitHub stars and active development, the project continues expanding editor plugins and sync improvements.
Benefits
- Zero-Knowledge End-to-End Encryption
- Notes encrypt on your device before syncing. The server stores only ciphertext, ensuring neither hosting providers nor attackers can read your content even with database access.
- Unlimited Cross-Platform Sync
- Fast encrypted synchronization across desktop, mobile, and web clients on unlimited devices with automatic conflict resolution, offline-first operation, and seamless background updates.
- Lightweight Server Architecture
- V2 server condenses into four containers using under 600MB RAM total with sub-minute startup, making private encrypted sync feasible on minimal VPS instances.
- Automatic Revision History
- Every note version preserved automatically with full history timeline, enabling recovery of deleted content and reversion to any previous state without manual backup discipline.
Features
- Nested Tag Organization
- Hierarchical tag system with infinite nesting organizes thousands of notes beyond flat folders, supporting multiple simultaneous categorization taxonomies per note.
- Encrypted File Attachments
- Documents, images, and files sync with the same end-to-end encryption as notes, keeping all attached content private and accessible across devices.
- Two-Factor Authentication
- TOTP-based 2FA with email backup codes protects account access, ensuring that a compromised password alone cannot expose your encrypted note vault.
- Markdown and Rich Editing
- Multiple editor options including plain text, markdown with preview, and rich formatting support different writing workflows from quick notes to long-form content.
- Web App Frontend
- Optional separate Docker container serves the web application frontend, providing browser access to your encrypted notes without depending on standardnotes.com infrastructure.