No matter cellular you utilize there’ll be a notes app of some type that comes along with your system. Google provides the Google maintain service, the place is Apple has the aptly named Notes app.
Each of those will sync with the cloud and your different gadgets which can be linked to the identical account, however there are some limitations. The Google Preserve app is obtainable cross platform and thru an online interface, however Apple Notes typically can solely be accessed on Apple gadgets; if you wish to entry it by means of net interface, you need to use the iCloud web site, but it surely’s simply not that user-friendly.
If you wish to entry your Apple notes on Android, nonetheless, you’re just about out of luck.
Third social gathering choices
Historically, when individuals have been on the lookout for a third-party notetaking service, they’d use one thing like Microsoft OneNote, or Evernote, or providers of that sort. Sadly, the providers are affected by the identical sorts of points, they aren’t essentially all the time free, there are premium plans on provide, and generally they simply don’t work very properly throughout platforms.
There’s additionally the difficulty that some providers don’t play properly on cellular gadgets, aren’t simply encrypted to maintain your data protected, or could merely not be very user-friendly.
There’s additionally a serious concern that the service you select to make use of could develop into much less pleasant in future, could hike their costs such that it’s now not efficient, or could disappear completely, leaving you with out a method to entry your notes.
It’s these issues, and some others, that led me to check out Normal Notes.
What’s it?
Normal Notes is a word taking app that’s obtainable through an online interface, Home windows, Mac, Android, iOS and extra. The service behind it’s supplied in a free and premium tier, but it surely additionally provides you the choice to host your personal infrastructure completely separate from their cloud service. Because of this if the service was to cease at any level in future, you’ll nonetheless have your notes saved by yourself server accessible through your personal account, which nobody can take away from you.
I’m additionally an enormous fan of providers which you could host your self, there’s something that I actually like about having the ability to have issues operating by yourself servers the place you’re not reliant on someone else paying their server internet hosting invoice. There are password managers which you could self host, e-mail providers, in addition to word taking providers like Normal Notes. I actually like the thought of having the ability to maintain data encrypted and saved alone {hardware} in my very own home, and with the fashionable comfort of expertise, I can after all entry all of this data anyplace around the globe with an Web connection.
The fantastic thing about the self-hosted possibility is which you could successfully have a premium tier net expertise without charge, although if you wish to use premium options within the cellular apps, you do need to pay for that as a result of it does price the builders to provide them.
Total, although, I’m actually having fun with the Normal Notes service. It provides the simplicity of notetaking, with extra options like tags, folders, wealthy textual content, import, and export choices, a useful net system which you could entry from anyplace, and cellular apps that make use on Apple and Android gadgets a breeze.
Organising the again finish was easy; if you happen to’ve bought a Linux machine just some instructions bought the stack put in with Docker, and I used to be capable of hyperlink it to my Cloueflare tunnel so I can securely entry my occasion from anyplace around the globe. You could find the directions right here.
In all probability the most effective bit is which you could really feel pretty comfy storing encrypted notes within the service, with the promise of Finish to Finish Encryption. That is supported throughout all apps, that means that your knowledge is saved encrypted in your server (whether or not you utilize your personal or Normal Notes’ cloud service), when in transmission and inside your native app too.
I’m actually digging it, and if you happen to’re on the lookout for a safe cross platform word taking app, give Normal Notes a strive. I don’t assume you’ll be dissatisfied.