TaskNote vs Simplenote
In short
Simplenote is one of the few apps that never tried to become something else, and that is exactly why people love it. The question is only whether plain text is still enough for what you keep in there.
What Simplenote does better
Simplenote made one decision and stuck to it for years. That deserves saying out loud.
- It is free with no paid tier at all, so nothing is ever held back from you.
- It opens instantly and stays fast no matter how many notes pile up.
- It runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android and the browser.
- It is backed by Automattic, the company behind WordPress, so it is not about to disappear.
Where TaskNote is different
Everything Simplenote leaves out is deliberate. TaskNote puts some of it back.
- A real editor, so a note can hold headings, lists and formatting rather than only plain text.
- A kanban board in the same app, for the notes that turn into work.
- Reminders, so a note can come back to you on a date.
- End-to-end encryption in the web app, which Simplenote does not offer.
- A Windows build that runs with no account at all.
Two different products, and the difference matters
TaskNote comes in two forms, and they protect your notes in different ways.
Web app
- End-to-end encrypted with AES-256-GCM. Your notes are encrypted on your device before they are sent.
- The server stores ciphertext and holds no key that can read it.
- Syncs across devices. Needs an account.
- Runs in any browser, on any operating system.
Windows app
- A separate application. Everything stays on your computer.
- No account, no sync, no server. It works with the network switched off.
- You can set a password for launching the app. It is optional.
Side by side
| Simplenote | TaskNote | |
|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryption | Not offered | Yes, in the web app |
| Text | Plain text and Markdown | Rich text editor |
| Kanban boards | No | Built in |
| Reminders | No | Built in |
| Works with no account at all | No | Yes, in the Windows app |
| Platforms | Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, web | Web and Windows |
So which one
Stay on Simplenote if:
- Plain text is the point, and formatting would only get in your way.
- You need macOS, Linux, iOS or Android.
- You want something that will never grow features you did not ask for.
Choose TaskNote if:
- Your notes have outgrown plain text.
- Half of what you write turns into tasks anyway.
- You want the notes you keep in the cloud to be unreadable to the company keeping them.