Notesnook
✓ Verified by EU AltsZero-knowledge encrypted note-taking app — an alternative to Evernote.
Overview
Notesnook builds open source, privacy, and productivity software since 2021 and is listed with a Berlin, Germany base. Its EU presence does not change its ownership: EU Alts has verified that Notesnook is owned by Streetwriters (Private) Limited (Pakistan), and hosts customer data with Hetzner (primary encrypted note data); iDrive e2 (attachments, since Aug 2024); Cloudflare (CDN) in Germany (Hetzner) / United States (iDrive Inc. is a California-based company), so it may still fall under the reach of the US CLOUD Act — worth weighing against well-known US incumbents on this specific point.
Why European teams pick Notesnook
Teams in Europe still consider Notesnook for its open source product and Germany presence, operating since 2021, but unlike a fully EU-owned provider, Notesnook is owned by Streetwriters (Private) Limited (Pakistan), and hosts customer data with Hetzner (primary encrypted note data); iDrive e2 (attachments, since Aug 2024); Cloudflare (CDN) in Germany (Hetzner) / United States (iDrive Inc. is a California-based company) — so it does not fully avoid US CLOUD Act exposure the way some other alternatives to well-known US incumbents do.
See more EU open source tools or browse other startups from Germany.
About
Notesnook is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted note-taking app. Notes are encrypted using XChaCha20-Poly1305 before syncing — the Notesnook server cannot read note content. The client apps (iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Linux, Web) are open-source under the GPL licence. Notesnook offers a European data region option and provides a GDPR DPA for business users. It is a strong alternative to Notion and Evernote for individuals and teams who need note-taking with verifiable end-to-end encryption and open-source client code.
Details
- Founded
- 2021
- Headquarters
- Berlin, Germany
- Ownership
- Owned by Streetwriters (Private) Limited (Pakistan)
- Hosting
- Hetzner (primary encrypted note data); iDrive e2 (attachments, since Aug 2024); Cloudflare (CDN), Germany (Hetzner) / United States (iDrive Inc. is a California-based company)
- CLOUD Act
- Exposed
- Verified
- 2026-07-31
- Last checked
- 2026-07-31
- Company size
- 1–10 employees
Categories
Also from Germany
17 other listed companies are based in Germany. In the same categories as Notesnook:
Other EU startups like Notesnook
- Cryptomator ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — Client-side encryption for your cloud files — a German open-source alternative to Boxcryptor.
- Padloc ✓ Verified by EU AltsGermany — Minimalist, open-source password manager — a German alternative to 1Password.
- GoatCounter ✓ Verified by EU AltsNorway — Lightweight open-source web analytics that doesn't track personal data.
- Matomo ✓ Verified by EU AltsNew Zealand — Open-source web analytics platform with full data ownership — a GDPR-compliant alternative to Google Analytics.
- Passbolt ✓ Verified by EU AltsLuxembourg — Open-source team password manager — a Luxembourg alternative to 1Password Teams.
- Standard Notes ✓ Verified by EU AltsFrance — End-to-end encrypted notes app — a European alternative to Evernote and Notion.
Frequently asked questions
What does Notesnook do?
Notesnook is zero-knowledge encrypted note-taking app — an alternative to evernote. It is listed under open source, privacy, and productivity on EU Alts because its core functionality serves teams looking for a European open source tool with EU data residency, typically as a switch away from well-known US incumbents.
Is Notesnook GDPR compliant?
Notesnook is listed with a Berlin, Germany base, but its recorded ownership is based in Pakistan, so EU jurisdiction is not assumed. However, EU Alts has verified that Notesnook is owned by Streetwriters (Private) Limited (Pakistan), and hosts customer data with Hetzner (primary encrypted note data); iDrive e2 (attachments, since Aug 2024); Cloudflare (CDN) in Germany (Hetzner) / United States (iDrive Inc. is a California-based company), which means — unlike a fully EU-owned provider — it may still be reachable under the US CLOUD Act, similar to well-known US incumbents in that respect.
How do teams switch from well-known US incumbents to Notesnook?
Teams evaluating a move from well-known US incumbents to Notesnook should note: Notesnook is owned by Streetwriters (Private) Limited (Pakistan), and hosts customer data with Hetzner (primary encrypted note data); iDrive e2 (attachments, since Aug 2024); Cloudflare (CDN) in Germany (Hetzner) / United States (iDrive Inc. is a California-based company), so this switch narrows but may not fully close the US CLOUD Act gap. Weigh that against the open source workflow fit before treating it as a complete Schrems II fix.
Where is Notesnook based?
Notesnook is headquartered in Berlin, Germany. The company was founded in 2021. Its main website is https://notesnook.com.