Obsidian alternatives that are actually encrypted
The Scrinium team · September 15, 2026 · 6 min read
The notes market splits into two camps: editors you’ll love that aren’t private, and private apps that feel like a downgrade. Scrinium is built to close that gap — a real Markdown WYSIWYG editor with true zero-knowledge, end-to-end encryption and free, unlimited sync. Here’s how it compares.
At a glance
| Feature | Scrinium | Obsidian | Notion | Standard Notes | Notesnook |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| End-to-end encryptedObsidian only via a third-party plugin. | |||||
| Zero-knowledge (server can’t read) | |||||
| Markdown WYSIWYG editing | |||||
| Free unlimited syncScrinium is unlimited on free — no note cap. | |||||
| Open source / open threat model |
Details change; check each provider for current plans and code. The Scrinium column is based on our own published threat model.
What to look for in a private notes app
True zero-knowledge, not just encryption
“Encrypted at rest” isn’t enough. A genuinely private notes app means the server only ever sees ciphertext — it can’t read your notes even if it wanted to. Some apps encrypt on disk but keep decryption keys on the server or in your browser storage, which defeats the point.
An editor you actually enjoy using
Privacy tools often ask you to accept a worse experience. Real Markdown WYSIWYG — where headings, lists, tables, and code render inline as you type — makes a private editor feel like a modern one, not a compromise.
Free, unlimited sync
Your notes should follow you to every device without a paywall on the number of notes. Cloud sync that still keeps plaintext off the server is the whole trick.
An open, verifiable threat model
For a product whose entire value is trust, the claims should be checkable. Publishing exactly what the server stores — and how keys are derived — is what turns a privacy promise into a verifiable one.
The alternatives, honestly
Obsidian
· Great editor, encryption is a bolt-onObsidian is the gold standard for Markdown editing and local-first notes. But end-to-end encryption requires a third-party plugin, the server-side sync is paid, and the design isn’t zero-knowledge by default.
Notion
· Powerful and popular, not privateNotion is excellent for connected, database-style notes. But content lives in plaintext on its servers, and the Markdown experience is a weaker compromise rather than true WYSIWYG.
Standard Notes
· Serious crypto, basic editorStandard Notes was built on privacy and does it well. The trade-off is the editing experience, which is far from the inline Markdown WYSIWYG most writers and developers want.
Notesnook
· Private, but not a true WYSIWYGNotesnook is end-to-end encrypted and open source, a genuine privacy candidate. The editor is more of a mixed Markdown experience than a fully inline WYSIWYG, and advanced sync features sit behind a paid tier.
The Scrinium difference
Most notes apps give you a great editor or true privacy — never both. Scrinium is private by default and built to be the editor you actually enjoy: a real-time Markdown writer with a 1Password-style key hierarchy, XChaCha20-Poly1305 encryption, and a server that stores ciphertext and an SRP verifier and nothing else. Log in on any device; your notes are private everywhere.