42 votes

Secure, open-source alternative to Google Keep

I was looking to maybe cut down on my Googleness and replacing Keep seemed like a good start. I need something that has a simple interface and most (if not all) of the same features as Keep. Any suggestions? Also I'm on Android btw.

28 comments

  1. [9]
    Eva
    Link
    Try Firefox Notes! It's fairly new, but should work just about everywhere. Completely free, too. The newness has a mix of downsides and upsides, though; most notably: Downside: It's not nearly...

    Try Firefox Notes! It's fairly new, but should work just about everywhere. Completely free, too. The newness has a mix of downsides and upsides, though; most notably:

    Downside:

    It's not nearly feature complete yet.

    The upside there:

    It's not feature complete yet, so you can recommend new features.

    23 votes
    1. [2]
      clone1
      Link Parent
      It's still come a long way. Remember when you couldn't have more than one note?

      It's still come a long way. Remember when you couldn't have more than one note?

      5 votes
      1. Eva
        Link Parent
        It's so comfy, too! Honestly prefer very little to it at this point.

        It's so comfy, too! Honestly prefer very little to it at this point.

        2 votes
    2. [2]
      helloworld
      Link Parent
      Is there a way to make a local backup of Firefox notes? I have 1 laptop and 1 phone that I can keep in sync, but I'm not sure that's enough. I have two more(on and off-site) backups of all other...

      Is there a way to make a local backup of Firefox notes? I have 1 laptop and 1 phone that I can keep in sync, but I'm not sure that's enough. I have two more(on and off-site) backups of all other important files, and I'd like my notes to be the same.

      2 votes
      1. Eva
        Link Parent
        You can export them as HTML files, and I believe that if you just backup Firefox itself they should hold, but honestly I'ven't a clue there. Sorry!

        You can export them as HTML files, and I believe that if you just backup Firefox itself they should hold, but honestly I'ven't a clue there. Sorry!

        2 votes
    3. [4]
      what
      (edited )
      Link Parent
      I’d love to use it completely, my main problem is that it’s missing any kind of formatting (lists, checkboxes, etc), and a reminder feature would be useful. Other than that, I quite like it so far.

      I’d love to use it completely, my main problem is that it’s missing any kind of formatting (lists, checkboxes, etc), and a reminder feature would be useful.

      Other than that, I quite like it so far.

      2 votes
      1. [3]
        Eva
        Link Parent
        It has lists! Granted, it doesn't have checkboxes yet.

        It has lists! Granted, it doesn't have checkboxes yet.

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          PopeRigby
          Link Parent
          I didn't see a way to do lists. How is it done?

          I didn't see a way to do lists. How is it done?

          2 votes
          1. Eva
            Link Parent
            Are you on Desktop? There're two buttons for it; one for a bulleted list and another for a numbered one just to the right of the Strikethrough button.

            Are you on Desktop? There're two buttons for it; one for a bulleted list and another for a numbered one just to the right of the Strikethrough button.

            1 vote
  2. [7]
    Comment deleted by author
    Link
    1. [2]
      PopeRigby
      Link Parent
      I just checked that out. It seems like there are no note taking features besides plain text editing. I wanted something with my Keep features.

      I just checked that out. It seems like there are no note taking features besides plain text editing. I wanted something with my Keep features.

      9 votes
      1. [2]
        Comment deleted by author
        Link Parent
        1. PopeRigby
          Link Parent
          I'm basically using all of those except the image/audio upload, and even then that's a nice feature to have.

          I'm basically using all of those except the image/audio upload, and even then that's a nice feature to have.

          4 votes
    2. no-coast-punk
      Link Parent
      Thanks for this. This looks like exactly what I'm after.

      Thanks for this.

      This looks like exactly what I'm after.

      4 votes
    3. Pilgrim
      Link Parent
      I'll be using this. Thank you!

      I'll be using this. Thank you!

      2 votes
    4. helloworld
      Link Parent
      Looks nice. But I don't see any mention of source code. Is this open source, and if yes, where can I find it?

      Looks nice. But I don't see any mention of source code. Is this open source, and if yes, where can I find it?

    5. kaushalmodi
      Link Parent
      I wish it had some API. That way, I could write a package to add/update the notes from Emacs.

      I wish it had some API. That way, I could write a package to add/update the notes from Emacs.

  3. [3]
    Arbybear
    Link
    Is there any note-taking app that has widgets in the android app? That's the one thing Keep has over everything else.

    Is there any note-taking app that has widgets in the android app? That's the one thing Keep has over everything else.

    3 votes
    1. edenist
      Link Parent
      Nextcloud Notes. Though you need to have access to a Nextcloud installation.

      Nextcloud Notes.
      Though you need to have access to a Nextcloud installation.

      4 votes
    2. kaushalmodi
      Link Parent
      If you want to use Org Mode, check out the Orgzly app on Android. That has a widget too.

      If you want to use Org Mode, check out the Orgzly app on Android. That has a widget too.

      1 vote
  4. Avizini
    Link
    Check out crypt.ee! Only web version is available, the content is encrypted.

    Check out crypt.ee! Only web version is available, the content is encrypted.

    1 vote
  5. [3]
    whyarentihigh
    Link
    I use https://paperwork.rocks it has a mobile client too.

    I use https://paperwork.rocks it has a mobile client too.

    1 vote
    1. [2]
      PopeRigby
      Link Parent
      I can't find the mobile client. It also looks like it's not usable yet.

      I can't find the mobile client. It also looks like it's not usable yet.

      1 vote
      1. whyarentihigh
        Link Parent
        There is a mobile client. It's not available on the google store, so you have to sideload it. It's available here: https://github.com/theSoenke/Paperwork-Android/releases/tag/v0.1 In terms of the...

        There is a mobile client. It's not available on the google store, so you have to sideload it. It's available here: https://github.com/theSoenke/Paperwork-Android/releases/tag/v0.1

        In terms of the actual app, sadly it doesn't get much love anymore, but it still functions perfectly well

  6. MyRealName
    Link
    I use Simplenote, which has both Android and PC apps, and it syncs like a charm. It used to be 100% open source, but they changed that recently, just so you know.

    I use Simplenote, which has both Android and PC apps, and it syncs like a charm.

    It used to be 100% open source, but they changed that recently, just so you know.

    1 vote
  7. [5]
    DePingus
    Link
    Someone asked this in another forums and Joplin was really popular. Haven't tried it myself yet, but its open source, has clients for all your devices, and syncs with a variety of services....

    Someone asked this in another forums and Joplin was really popular. Haven't tried it myself yet, but its open source, has clients for all your devices, and syncs with a variety of services. Probably worth a look.

    https://joplin.cozic.net/

    1. [4]
      PopeRigby
      Link Parent
      It doesn't have Google Drive sync which is sort of a bummer.

      It doesn't have Google Drive sync which is sort of a bummer.

      1. [3]
        DePingus
        Link Parent
        Yeah. But in OP's case he's trying to cut down on his Google dependency, so this would fit the bill nicely.

        Yeah. But in OP's case he's trying to cut down on his Google dependency, so this would fit the bill nicely.

        2 votes
        1. [2]
          PopeRigby
          Link Parent
          Wait a second! I'm OP. I'm also a hypocrite.

          Wait a second! I'm OP. I'm also a hypocrite.

          2 votes
          1. DePingus
            Link Parent
            I didn't even notice! LMAO!

            I didn't even notice! LMAO!

            1 vote