Best Encrypted and Secure Notes Apps for iPhone (2026 Comparison)

Quick answer: For end-to-end encrypted notes on iPhone in 2026, pick Standard Notes or Notesnook: both are open source and encrypt every note before it syncs. Apple Notes locked notes are end-to-end encrypted too. Bear Pro can encrypt single notes. Secure Notes is not end-to-end encrypted on iPhone; choose it for a simple locked vault with Face ID, folder locks and a decoy PIN.

Encrypted note apps compared

Competitor details checked against each vendor's own site in October 2026. Prices change, so check before you buy.

Which encrypted note app should I pick?

1. Standard Notes: best for audited, cross-platform encryption

Standard Notes encrypts every note on your device with XChaCha20-Poly1305 before it reaches the sync server. The code is open source, it has been audited several times, and it runs on iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux and the web, with a self-hosting option. It has been part of Proton since 2024.

Tradeoffs: you need an account, the company cannot reset a forgotten password, and the richer editors and file storage are on paid plans ($90 a year for Productivity, $120 for Professional). Read Secure Notes vs Standard Notes for a direct comparison, or Standard Notes alternatives if you are looking to switch.

2. Notesnook: best encrypted option on a budget

Notesnook is open source and end-to-end encrypts everything with XChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2, on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Linux and the web. It adds an app lock, a password-protected vault for individual notes, screenshot blocking and self-hosting. Paid plans start at $19.99 a year. Its vault password cannot be recovered if you forget it. See Secure Notes vs Notesnook, or Notesnook alternatives for other picks.

3. Apple Notes: best free option already on your iPhone

Apple Notes locked notes are end-to-end encrypted with a key from your notes password or device passcode, and turning on Advanced Data Protection makes all of your iCloud notes end-to-end encrypted. Limits: one shared password for all locked notes, no folder locks, and no lock for the app itself beyond the iOS 18 app lock. Details in is Apple Notes end-to-end encrypted, and the options are ranked in Apple Notes alternatives for privacy.

4. Bear: best for writers who need a few encrypted notes

Bear is the best-looking markdown writer on Apple devices. Bear Pro (about $29.99 a year) adds iCloud sync, an app lock and encrypted notes protected by a note password, which Bear cannot recover if you forget it. Unencrypted notes rely on iCloud's standard protection. See Secure Notes vs Bear or Bear alternatives.

5. Secure Notes: best simple locked vault with a decoy PIN

Secure Notes is not an end-to-end encrypted notes app on iPhone, and we would rather say so here than have you find out later. Notes stay on your iPhone or iPad, protected by iOS Data Protection and the app's own passcode, Face ID or Touch ID lock. The app does not add a separate encryption layer to notes. Optional iCloud sync (Pro) runs in your own private iCloud database, and PixelPort has no server that stores notes.

What it does well is control who can open what. Lock the whole app, any folder or a single note. Use a decoy PIN (Pro) that opens a separate, harmless notebook. Hide the app from the app switcher (Pro), and export a password-encrypted AES-256-GCM backup file (Pro, version 3.8.1 and later). There is no account to create. The Android app goes further (see Secure Notes for Android): its whole vault is AES-256 encrypted on the phone, the key is protected by your PIN through Argon2id, and screenshots are blocked by default. Full details are on our security page.

How should I evaluate an encrypted note app?

Check where the keys live, whether the code or design can be verified, and what happens if you forget your password. The points below separate real encryption from marketing.

• End-to-end or not: end-to-end means notes are encrypted on your device with keys the company never sees. Ask whether that covers every note or only locked ones.
• Named cipher and design:AES-256-GCM or XChaCha20-Poly1305 with a documented key derivation. Vague “bank-grade” or “military-grade encryption” is a red flag.
• Encryption vs locking: a passcode screen is access control, not encryption. Both matter, for different threats.
• Recovery: know what happens if you forget the password before you store anything important.
• Transparency: a named publisher, a public privacy policy, and ideally open source code or a third-party audit.

What is the most secure notes app for iPhone?

For encryption, Standard Notes and Notesnook lead: both are open source and end-to-end encrypt every note on every platform. Apple Notes locked notes are also end-to-end encrypted. Secure Notes is the pick for a simple locked vault with a decoy PIN rather than for end-to-end encryption.

New to the topic? Start with what AES-256 encryption is, or go straight to how to lock notes on iPhone.