Cipher Notes
Cipher Notes is a free, open-source Android app for encrypted notes and checklists.
What Cipher Notes is
Cipher Notes is a free, open-source Android app for encrypted notes and checklists. It encrypts notes with AES-256-GCM through Android Keystore and stores them locally on the device. There are no accounts, cloud sync, internet permission, or telemetry hooks, and offline access is supported. A lost password prevents decryption of the associated note. Users can share text from browsers and other apps into Cipher Notes. The app offers customizable dynamic themes plus dark and light modes. For local file synchronization, the project suggests using Syncthing or Nextcloud rather than providing its own cloud service. Cipher Notes is MIT licensed, and its source code is publicly auditable. The Free plan costs nothing and is described as always free and open-source. Support is directed to GitHub issues, with [email protected] listed as a contact. Android is the listed platform, so the app is designed for users who want encrypted, device-held notes without accounts or online telemetry.
Good
- AES-256-GCM encryption via Android Keystore
- No accounts or cloud sync
- Offline operation with no internet permission
- MIT-licensed, publicly auditable source
- Customizable themes and dark mode
Watch out
- Lost passwords prevent note decryption
- Android platform only
- No built-in cloud sync
Who it suits
Cipher Notes suits Android users who want encrypted notes stored locally and usable offline. It is especially appropriate for people comfortable managing passwords and optional local synchronization themselves.
Verdict
Cipher Notes focuses on local encrypted notes, offline use, and an open-source codebase. Its password-loss consequence and lack of built-in cloud sync are important trade-offs.
Plans and prices
From Cipher Notes's own pricing page, checked 8 Oct 2026.
| Plan | Price | What it gives you |
|---|---|---|
| Free | Free | No accounts · No cloud sync · Cipher Notes is and will always be free and open-source. |
The facts
Each one read from Cipher Notes's own pages, with the date it was checked.
What it does
- Encryption
- Notes are encrypted with AES-256-GCM via Android Keystore.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Local storage
- Notes stay on the device, with no cloud sync or accounts.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Lost password
- A note cannot be decrypted if its password is lost.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Offline access
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
- Offline operation
- The app has no internet permission and no telemetry hooks.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Open source
- Cipher Notes is MIT licensed, and its source code is publicly auditable.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Purpose
- CipherNotes is an app for encrypted notes and checklists.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sharing
- The app supports sharing text from browsers and other apps into it.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Support
- The maker points users to GitHub issues and lists [email protected] as a contact.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Sync options
- The project suggests using Syncthing or Nextcloud locally to sync files.checked 8 Oct 2026
- Themes
- The app supports customizable dynamic themes and dark and light modes.checked 8 Oct 2026
Money
- Free plan
- Yeschecked 21 Sep 2026
Where it runs
- Supported platforms
- androidchecked 21 Sep 2026
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