5 Android apps you should use instead of Google Keep

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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 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 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 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.