Best Google Keep alternatives for transition

Not all logging programs are created equal when it comes to privacy. Google Keepfor example, it’s not as hidden as you might think. Sure, things like 2FA minimize the chance of someone hacking your account, but people forget that Google has full access to the contents of their account.

I guess one could argue that this isn’t a big deal, especially if your Keep account isn’t storing anything sensitive like medical or financial records. Also, Google has strict privacy policies, so its employees aren’t reading your notes during their lunch break – I hope. Still, the company can access your data if it wants to, so you better believe it won’t do it randomly on a slow Tuesday. However, it will hand over your information if it receives a subpoena, as required by law.

I’ve been putting privacy at the forefront lately, so I’m saying goodbye to Keep and most Google apps. If you’re in the same boat as me, I want to check out five of the best Google Keep alternatives that you can go for, whether you want a simple note-taking app or something with a little more functionality.

That’s what I’m using right now, so I’m putting it at number one. However, I will start by saying that this is definitely not everyone’s cup of tea.

obsidian Very different from Keep. It’s primarily local, meaning all your data is stored on your device (phone, laptop, tablet) by default, making sure Obsidian can’t see it. You don’t even need to create an account to use it, and it’s free. Sounds great, right? The thing is, you won’t be able to access your notes from multiple devices, and if that’s a priority—which it is for me—you’ll need to sign up for Obsidian’s Sync plan.

This is where the free part ends. Syncing costs money, so you’ll need a subscription that starts at $4 a month. The good news is that Obsidian offers end-to-end encryption, which Keep lacks, so even though your data is stored on the company’s servers, Obsidian employees can’t see it even if they want to. The app offers complete privacy, but you will have to pay for it.

In terms of features, the two apps couldn’t be more different. Sure, you can use Obsidian as a simple note-taking app similar to Keep, but it’s packed with more features that offer things like an endless Canvas you can use to link your notes and photos together, and more.

What you need to know is that while anyone can figure out how Keep works in minutes, Obsidian has a steeper learning curve. So if you want to play around with it a bit, it’s a great Google Keep alternative. But if you want simplicity, some of the other options on this list will suit you better.

Compared to Obsidian, Notesnook is very simple – closer to Keep in terms of functionality. It’s cloud-based, not local, and while there’s a free plan available, you’ll need a subscription to take full advantage of it.

End-to-end encryption is the software’s default state, making sure that no one but you can see your data. You can organize your notes, set reminders, pin important notes for easy access, and more. you can create notebooks for There’s even a special Focus mode that removes all menus and tabs so you can focus on writing. So basically all the basic functionality plus a few extras are at your disposal.

The app is open source, and thanks to zero-knowledge encryption, you can be sure that no one will sell your data to the highest bidder.

I tested it extensively, and while the UI felt a little less modern and polished than something like Keep, I still enjoyed the overall experience. The pricing isn’t bad either if you opt for the Essential plan, as it will set you back $1.67 per month or $19.99 per year. If you want the believer plan, it will cost $7.50 per month, and it goes up from there. It’s more expensive than Obsidian, although it’s less polished and feature-packed, but it may still be a better choice for you due to its simplicity.

If you know, trust and maybe use it Proton suite of programsStandard Notes are for you. It was not built by Proton, but the Swiss company acquired the program in 2024.

There’s good news and bad news, and I’ll start with the bad first. Unfortunately, it is not part of it Proton’s Unlimited plan this gives you access Proton Mail, Drive, VPN, passesand several other programs. You must subscribe to this separately. Another issue is that it is far from cheap. Although there is a limited free plan available, an annual subscription costs $90 for the cheapest plan and $120 for the most expensive plan.

If the free plan is good enough for you or you’re okay with the app’s price tag, Standard Notes is something I really recommend. I tested it, and while it lacks the polish you’ll find in Keep, the old-school vibe gives it a special character that’s not seen and behaved the same in today’s apps.

Folders and tags make it easy to manage notes within the app. There’s also a special Files tab that shows all your downloaded files in one place. Security is at its highest with end-to-end encryption, 2FA, app lock and the ability to password lock even your most sensitive records.

This is the least featured app on this list. Very simple, similar to Keep. It is not something we can resist because there is a strong demand for it. And because it’s relatively simple and not made by a big corporation, it’s incredibly affordable.

First, let’s talk about security. All data is encrypted, making sure that you are the only one who sees it. Your account cannot be banned or deleted by the company or person behind the program, which is a big plus.

Google automatically scans your Google account, and if there’s anything remotely objectionable—something against the company’s policies—the system can block your account, making it difficult to get it back. You won’t have this problem with Justnote. Google’s automated scanning system can make mistakes, so as several Reddit posts I’ve come across recently show, it can flag an account unnecessarily in some cases.

I gave the app a spin and it’s incredible for what it is. I’ve considered using it full-time, but I need a little more from my note-taking software, so Obsidian is my software of choice because it’s better for long-form writing. However, for those looking for something that lets you quickly jot down notes without any extra features, Justnote is a great option. And the best part: an annual subscription will only set you back $5. Some of the others on this list charge more per month, so this is a really great deal.

I used to a Understanding I’ve been a user for years, but gave up on the app because it was a bit too complicated for me, and the lack of end-to-end encryption – just like Keep – didn’t make me happy. So I switched to Obsidian.

Any kind is an interesting program because it is a kind of hybrid of insight and obsidian. It looks and feels more like Notion, but has an offline-first approach like Obsidian with a zero-knowledge cloud sync option.

Although it can be used as a simple note-taking app, it is much more powerful than that. It’s better to describe it as your second brain – the place where all your thoughts, documents, tasks, ideas and everything else you keep track of are stored. As you can imagine, this information is for your eyes only, so not even Anytype employees can see it. However, the app has a bit of a learning curve, so you’ll need to spend some time getting familiar with it.

Pricing is similar to Obsidian, starting at $5/month. You can use it for free, but it has several limitations that will ultimately push you to a subscription.

Whether you want a simple or a feature-packed note taking app that puts privacy first, this list has you covered. I’m sticking with Obsidian for now, but I’d love to hear from you – which one are you thinking of switching to and why? Let me know in the comments.