Secure Notes App for iPhone: Locked, Private, No Account

Quick answer: Secure Notes is a private notes app for iPhone and iPad by PixelPort LLC. It locks the whole app, single notes and folders with a passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, keeps notes on your device, and needs no account. It is free on iOS 16.6 and later, with an optional Pro upgrade, and also available as Secure Notes for Android.

What makes Secure Notes different from Apple Notes?

Apple Notes locks single notes with one shared password. Secure Notes locks the entire app, plus individual notes and folders with their own PINs, and adds a decoy PIN that opens a harmless notebook, app switcher hiding and password-encrypted backups (Pro, version 3.8.1 and later). Apple Notes, in turn, offers iCloud end-to-end encryption with Advanced Data Protection.

The full side-by-side is in Secure Notes vs Apple Notes.

What features ship in the app?

• App lock with a passcode, Face ID or Touch ID, auto-locking when you leave.
• Locked notes and folders with their own PIN, on top of the app lock.
• Decoy PIN (Pro): a second passcode that opens a separate, harmless notebook.
• App switcher hiding (Pro), so your notes do not show in recent apps.
• Private iCloud sync (Pro) between iPhone and iPad through your own iCloud database. We run no server that stores your notes.
• Encrypted backups (Pro, from version 3.8.1): AES-256-GCM backup files that only your password opens.
• 12 recovery words to get back in if you forget your passcode.
• Voice notes, photos, folders and themes.
• No account and no sign-up.

Does Secure Notes encrypt my notes on iPhone?

Not with its own encryption layer. Notes are protected by iOS Data Protection, which encrypts the iPhone's storage when you set a device passcode, and by the app's passcode and Face ID lock. From version 3.8.1, the Pro encrypted backup file is AES-256-GCM encrypted with your password. The Android app encrypts the whole vault.

We spell out what each layer protects, and what it does not, on our security page.

Is Secure Notes free?

Yes. The download is free and includes the passcode and Face ID lock and locked notes. Pro, as a subscription or a one-time lifetime purchase, adds private iCloud sync, the decoy vault, encrypted backups (from version 3.8.1), unlimited folders, app switcher hiding and extra themes.

Who is Secure Notes for?

People keeping notes that would hurt to lose or leak: recovery codes, medical notes, journal entries, business plans, legal drafts. If you are comparing options, read our encrypted note apps comparison or start with the step-by-step lock guide.