Dash

Overview

Dash is a notes app for people who want their writing stored locally and protected by an app lock. It is most compelling for Mac and iPhone users who value offline access and local AI more than broad device coverage. The central trade-off is clear: working on one device is free, while syncing across devices costs extra.

Key features

Dash keeps notes on the device and works offline unless sync is enabled. Locked notes use AES-256-GCM encryption, with keys derived using PBKDF2-SHA256 at 600,000 iterations. App locking can use a master password, Touch ID or Face ID, with configurable auto-lock timers. A duress password opens decoy notes while real notes remain encrypted, and notes can be set to delete after one hour, one day, one week or one month. Those controls suit sensitive personal notes, though Dash’s privacy focus does not remove the need to secure the device itself.

The block editor combines folders and tags with wiki-style links, giving users ways to organize and connect notes. Dash’s AI feature is deliberately local: it supports Ollama, LM Studio, LocalAI, Jan and other OpenAI-compatible servers on localhost, and rejects non-local endpoints. That is a useful boundary for anyone who wants AI help without sending note content to a hosted service, but it excludes hosted AI providers.

Pages and folders export to Markdown, DOCX or PDF, while encrypted .dashpack backups offer a protected backup format. Note sharing is supported, but real-time collaboration is not, so Dash is better suited to individual writing than shared, live editing. Dash Sync encrypts notes on the device before sending them to a relay that stores only ciphertext.

Pricing

The Web PWA and iPhone plans provide ongoing free use, work offline and require no account; the PWA runs in any browser without installation. The iPhone plan is also free with no purchase or trial. These are a strong fit for single-device users, but they do not include cross-device sync.

Dash for Mac costs $14.99 a month, billed as lifetime access with no subscription required. It includes the native macOS app, automatic updates, Touch ID support and offline use by default. This suits Mac users who want the native app without an ongoing subscription; the price is distinct from the sync plans.

Dash Sync Monthly costs $4.99 a month after a 7-day free trial and can be canceled anytime. Dash Sync Yearly costs $47.99 a year, also with a 7-day free trial; the page describes it as two months free versus monthly. Both plans add end-to-end encrypted sync across devices. The annual option makes sense for someone committed to syncing for the year, while monthly is the lower-commitment choice.

Platforms

Dash supports web, macOS, iOS and Android, with Android access through the web PWA rather than a shipped native app. Windows and Linux apps are not available. That makes Dash a poor fit for households or workflows that depend on those desktop platforms, and the Android PWA may not suit users seeking a dedicated app.

Who it's for

Dash fits privacy-conscious Mac and iPhone users who want offline notes, detailed locking controls, local AI and exports into common document formats. It is less suitable for people who need Windows or Linux desktop apps, real-time collaboration, or broad platform support without relying on a browser-based PWA.

Pros and cons

• Pro: Notes stay local and work offline by default, giving single-device users a useful private workflow without requiring sync.
• Pro: App locking, duress access and scheduled deletion offer specific controls for protecting sensitive notes.
• Pro: Local-only AI connections keep note data from leaving the machine through the AI feature.
• Con: Cross-device sync requires a separate paid plan, so the free offering is less useful for users who move between devices.
• Con: Windows and Linux apps are not shipped, and Android access is through the web PWA.
• Con: Note sharing does not extend to real-time collaboration, limiting its usefulness for live teamwork.

Alternatives

For broader platform coverage, Notesnook supports Windows and Linux as well as web and mobile; its free plan is capped at 50 MB storage per month and a 10 MB maximum. Cryptee is another freemium option across Windows, Linux, web and mobile, with 100 MB free forever and open-source software and cryptography that can be independently reviewed. PrivacyNotes offers Windows and Linux apps and publishes its apps and encryption code under the AGPL; it has a free plan and no free trial.

Standard Notes is worth considering for unlimited device sync and offline plain-text notes on a free plan. Turtl may suit shared Spaces: its Basic plan supports three collaborators per Space with 50MB storage, while Premium is $3 a month and includes 10GB note storage. Nolio is a free, open-source alternative with encrypted notes and no specific usage limits stated. Notyra is another free option, with no account required to begin and code described as auditable. Joplin is available on a wider range of platforms, including Linux and Windows, and its Basic plan costs €2.99 a month with a 14-day free trial.

For category browsing, see Secure Notes Apps and Note-taking apps.

Verdict

Choose Dash if you mainly use Mac or iPhone and want local, offline notes with unusually specific privacy controls and on-device AI connections. Its main reason to look elsewhere is reach: sync costs extra, and Windows and Linux users lack a native app.