What's the difference between Standard Notes and Proton Docs?

Privacy and Security Get Advice
1

I would like advice, please, on best Notes System fit for my needs.

A) :atom_symbol: Proton Docs with existing upgraded Proton subscription or

B) :large_blue_diamond: free Standard Notes or

C) :ledger: :memo: self-stewarded handwritten spiral notebook

D) :crystal_ball: Other option:

I have experimented with both free Standard Notes and the Proton Docs included with subscription. I don’t grasp what the difference or integration is between the two. I don’t see Standard Notes in my Proton suite of apps. Both apps seem fine for my needs, so how do I choose?

Needs: free or low-cost or included in Proton upgrade, E2EE, 2FA, password protected, basic organization, syncing btw two devices, keeping notes accessible when devices are routinely discarded, easy-secure to delete or download selected notes E2EE to storage device, copy/paste content from online, and cash/monero payment options. Just a place to keep text, nothing fancy. Currently Standard Notes has limited payment options, unlike Proton, even though they are somehow integrated.

Not needed: rich text, files, nested organization, or having to learn self-hosting.

I have read on Techlore and Standard Notes website about the Proton Notes & Standard Notes collaboration and news, as well as alternatives like Joplin and Notesnook.

:memo: The main asset to a notebook is offline access and resistance to device spyware. The main downsides to a physical notebook are volume, weight, speed & legibility of typing vs handwriting, unencrypted for travel, and securing /disposing of physical objects.

privacy threat model is whistleblower, targeted :sad_but_relieved_face: My current non-system is a mess. Cleaning up my digital life, including notes organized in one place, will be good for safety, peace of mind, and privacy.

2

While I don’t have that threat model, for what your notes system requires, you will need a local-first note-taking application with an E2EE, 2FA and password-protected sync option.

For a local option, Obsidian with plugins that don’t betray you will be a must. To sync it properly, you first need to encrypt using Picocrypt, with this guide, and then syncing to a service that allows for E2EE encryption as a redundancy, just in case Picocrypt is messed up (you can use Reed-Solomon error correction to mitigate it). You can do the same with VeraCrypt, which isn’t such an issue all things considered (Not highly recommended though).

Two of the guides are from GHOST, and this blog will help you understand privacy from a practical point of view.

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Hey @neigdoig thanks for the detailed solution, and the guides are a cool new resource, too. I look forward to trying it out. Cheers.

4

I don’t think Standard Notes’ free offering will meet your needs, and you may quickly feel limited in how you organize your notes with this free plan, mainly due to the inability to create folders to organize your files.

Your best bet is certainly to follow @Neigdoig ‘s advices.

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5

Have a look at Anytype.io.

Not in the proton family but it is local first, offline available and encrypted sync. There is a generous free tier that will suit most people.

It is object based note taking meaning there is a lot of automatic organisation done which you can further tailor. It’s a good service

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