5 Android apps you should use instead of Google Keep

Google Keep is a popular note-taking app, especially among those looking for a simple app for quick note-taking. It’s free, lightweight, and easy to use. Plus, it automatically syncs your notes across all devices at no extra cost and without additional configuration.

Having said that, Google Keep has its own share of limitations. No rich-text editor, lack of proper note-organization options, and missing end-to-end encryption are a few common reasons people ditch Keep. If you’re in the same boat, here are some popular Google Keep alternatives you can check out.

NotallyX

NotallyX is an Android-only note-taking app that closely mimics Google Keep, which makes it ideal for quick note-taking. You can even create checklists, and the app supports attachments, just like Keep. It displays notes as cards, and you can color-code notes for quick visual identification.

Unlike Keep, though, NotallyX is a local-first notes app, meaning it doesn’t sync your notes to a native cloud-based service by default; your notes stay on your device locally. This is nice for those who want complete control over their notes. You can use Syncthing-Fork to set up cloud syncing and sync notes to other Android devices. NotallyX also supports rich-text formatting to help you format your notes better. It even lets you auto-delete items in your trash and configure auto-backup frequency, among other things.

Simplenote

Simplenote is another great Google Keep alternative. While it doesn’t closely mimic the Keep experience like NotallyX, it’s your best option if you’re like me and use a multi-ecosystem device setup, as it has apps for all major platforms and keeps notes synced. The app is completely free, and just like Keep, it’s ideal for jotting down quick notes. Notes appear in a list, and you can use tags (similar to labels in Keep) to keep them organized. Support for rich media is missing, and your notes aren’t end-to-end encrypted.

As for the differences, Simplenote natively supports Markdown, which is excellent for quick note styling — though you miss out on whatever limited text-editing options you get with Keep. Then there’s the ability to access a note’s version history for times when you need it. You can also collaborate on a note with other Simplenote users and publish your notes to the web for anyone with the link to access them.

Standard Notes

Standard Notes is a cross-platform notes app that employs zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption. This means your notes remain encrypted at all times, whether they’re on your phone, on the app’s servers, or in transit. And that’s the biggest reason you’d want to consider it over other apps. Unlike Keep, though, Standard Notes’ interface is quite different — it’s closer to Simplenote’s. That said, it’s quite customizable and packs plenty of options to play around with.

Creating and jotting notes in Standard Notes is straightforward, and there’s support for tags to make organizing and finding similar notes easy. Notes are automatically synced to the app’s servers and available on your other devices. However, coming from Keep, you’ll miss the text-editing options Google’s notes app offered, since the Standard Notes text editor is bare-bones on the free plan.

You can upgrade to a paid plan to get editing options and Markdown support. This will also unlock the ability to add attachments, use an advanced note editor, enable automated cloud backups, access extended version history, and more.

Notesnook

Notesnook is one of the best free note-taking apps I’ve tried, packing features you won’t find in most free apps. And best of all, it provides zero-knowledge end-to-end encryption, so only you can access your notes. The Notesnook app differs from Keep and the alternatives we’ve discussed so far in several respects, be it its interface, note-taking experience, or customizability.

But if you find Keep too limiting and want an app that syncs notes for free without compromising on privacy, it fits the bill just right. I ditched Simplenote for Notesnook a while ago and have been using it to capture fleeting thoughts and ideas across all my devices.

With Notesnook, you get a rich-text editor that lets you structure notes exactly how you want. The editor is highly customizable, too, which is a rare sight. There’s also support for media attachments, as well as the ability to embed items and create tables. As for organizing notes, you can group similar notes using tags. Or you may create notebooks (folders) to keep similar notes in one place. Among other things, the Notesnook app offers a slew of customization options, so you can change its appearance and behavior as needed.

Joplin

Joplin is a popular note-taking app for creating structured notes. If you want to replace Keep with an app that’s suitable for long-form writing, research, or setting up a personal knowledge base, Joplin is your best bet. It’s free to use, open-source, and secures your notes using end-to-end encryption. Most importantly, it’s local-first, meaning your notes stay on your device until you decide to sync them. And when you wish to do that, you can either store them on Joplin Cloud, which requires a paid subscription, or keep them on your preferred cloud storage service or personal cloud.

Talking about features, Joplin has a rich-text editor similar to Notesnook, so you can customize it per your needs. Plus, there’s support for Markdown if you prefer it. Joplin also lets you add attachments, and you can even convert your notes into to-dos. Similarly, it has a built-in document scanner for turning physical documents into Joplin notes.

When it comes to organizing notes, you can use tags and notebooks (sub-notebooks). What truly stands out about the app, though, is its support for plugins, which allow you to customize its appearance and do things it can’t do natively.

All of the above Keep alternatives are either completely free to use or offer a generous free tier. So try them out for yourself to find out which one best serves your note-taking needs.