After thoroughly testing Standard Notes, I can say it stands out as a privacy-first, cross-platform note-taking app that delivers on its promise of security and simplicity. The platform’s end-to-end encryption is robust and always active, giving me confidence that my notes remain private and accessible only to me. This is especially important for users who want to store sensitive information, as even Standard Notes’ own team cannot access your data. The user interface is minimalistic and functional, focusing on a distraction-free writing environment. While some may find the design a bit plain or dated, I appreciated its clarity and ease of use. Syncing across devices worked seamlessly in my experience—I could jot down ideas on my laptop in the morning and review them later on my phone without any issues. The search function is powerful and makes finding notes quick, even when my library grew large. Tagging and pinning notes for better organization was also straightforward. For basic note-taking, the free version is more than adequate, offering unlimited notes and device sync. However, if you need rich text formatting, attachments, or advanced features like spreadsheets, you’ll need to upgrade to a paid plan. This paywall for advanced features might be a downside for some, but the core offering remains strong for those who value privacy and simplicity. I also found the password protection for individual notes and the spell check feature to be useful additions. One area where Standard Notes could improve is the user interface on the web app, which felt outdated compared to competitors. I also encountered minor bugs and occasional slowdowns when syncing a large number of notes, especially on mobile. There are no real-time collaboration features, which is a trade-off for the app’s strict encryption model. If you need to work with others on notes, this will be a limitation. In summary, Standard Notes is a reliable and trustworthy solution for anyone who values privacy and a no-nonsense approach to note-taking. It isn’t the flashiest or most feature-rich app, but it excels at keeping your thoughts secure and accessible. If you want peace of mind and don’t need advanced collaboration tools, Standard Notes is a solid choice that gets the fundamentals right.