Sustainable Substitutes for Google Keep

A Note-Taking app by Google with inherent privacy issues.

Reasons to avoid Google Keep

Google Keep is designed to feed data into Google’s advertising empire. As part of a company facing monopolistic lawsuits, removing goals for carbon neutrality and collaborations with authoritarian governments, it cannot be trusted with sensitive information.

Ethical and Sustainable Google Keep Alternatives

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  • Feasibility: How easily can the average user switch to this substitute? Higher feasibility results in a higher ranking.
  • Editor's Rating: How sustainable is the substitute? The more sustainability attributes it fulfils, the higher it is ranked.
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HedgeDoc

A free and open-source collaborative markdown editor ideal for self-hosting.

HedgeDoc is completely free of advertisements.
HedgeDoc is fully open-source, allowing anyone to contribute to or modify the codebase.
HedgeDoc does not track users, and data control rests with the instance administrator, making it privacy-friendly.
HedgeDoc can be used without creating an account, especially on public instances.
HedgeDoc is free to use, though hosting costs may apply if self-hosting.
HedgeDoc is designed to be self-hosted, giving users full control over their instance and data.
Website

Nextcloud Notes

Nextcloud is a German self-hostable, open-source cloud storage and collaboration platform.

Nextcloud’s core software is fully open-source, allowing for independent audits and community-driven development.
Some third party providers offer free plans with up to 5GB of storage. The self-hostable community edition is free and without licensing costs.
Nextcloud does not track users or sell personal data, ensuring a private and secure experience with optional end-to-end encryption.
Nextcloud is ad free and does not monetise user-data.
Nextcloud is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and OpenDocument formats.
Nextcloud syncs files to your device. You can edit files offline and changes will sync automatically once you reconnect to the internet.
Nextcloud allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
Nextcloud became the first cloud software platform to earn the Blauer Engel ecolabel, emphasizing environmental responsibility.
Nextcloud is designed to be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Nextcloud is based in Germany, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Website

Standard Notes

An open-source note-taking app with a focus on privacy and security via end-to-end encryption.

Standard Notes is designed with privacy as a core principle, using end-to-end encryption for all user data.
Standard Notes is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free note-taking experience.
Standard Notes is fully open-source, allowing for community review and contributions, ensuring transparency and trust.
Since its acquisition by Proton, Standard Notes is based in Switzerland, ensuring compliance with strong European privacy laws.
Standard Notes works offline, allowing users to access and edit notes without an internet connection.
Standard Notes can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Standard Notes offers a free tier, with optional paid plans for additional features and to support the project.
Website

Cryptpad Code

CryptPad is a French secure, collaborative Google Docs alternative.

Cryptpad is fully open-source, allowing for community review and contributions, ensuring transparency and trust.
Cryptpad supports open data standards and is fully compatible with Microsoft Office and open document formats.
Cryptpad is based in France, ensuring compliance with GDPR and strong European privacy laws.
Cryptpad is designed with privacy as a core principle, using end-to-end encryption for all user data.
Cryptpad can be self-hosted, giving users full control over their data and infrastructure.
Cryptpad offers a free tier, with optional paid plans for additional features and to support the project.
CryptPad allows for real-time same-document collaboration.
CryptPad is ad-free, providing a clean and distraction-free collaborative experience.
Website

Joplin

Joplin is an extensible, open-source note-taking app, working offline and anonymously.

Joplin supports self-hosting, giving users the option to host their own sync server.
Joplin is fully functional offline, syncing changes when an internet connection is available.
Joplin supports plugins, allowing users to add custom functionality.
Joplin is free to use, with optional paid cloud sync services.
Joplin does not require an account for local use, making it accessible without registration.
Joplin offers end-to-end encryption for syncing, ensuring that user data remains private.
Joplin is fully open-source, allowing users to audit, modify, or contribute to the code.
Joplin is free of advertisements.
Website
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Obsidian

A flexible and open app for storing and publishing notes on any device.

Obsidian works fully offline, as it relies on local files that sync when a connection is available.
Obsidian supports a robust plugin ecosystem, enabling users to extend its functionality.
Obsidian does not require an account for local use, allowing users to work entirely offline if desired.
Obsidian is free for local use, with optional paid features for syncing and publishing.
Obsidian prioritises local-first storage, and any syncing is opt-in and encrypted, ensuring user privacy.
Obsidian does not display any advertisements.
Website

The 7 main issues with Google Keep

Privacy Concerns - User data is likely to be stored and used against users' best interest.

Google's business model is built on data collection and targeted advertising, raising significant privacy concerns. Google Keep, as part of this ecosystem, inherits these concerns, with user data being collected, analysed and used for various purposes, often with limited transparency.Source: Wikipedia: Criticism of Google

AI Bloat - Service has unnecessary or harmful AI features.

Google integrates AI features throughout its products, including Google Keep, contributing to AI bloat. The company's push to embed AI in every service can lead to unnecessary complexity and resource use.ZDNET: Don't tell your AI anything personal, Google warns in new Gemini privacy notice (2024)Ars Technica: The hidden cost of Google’s AI defaults and the illusion of choice (2026)

Support of Authoritarian Regimes - Companies actively supporting, financing and legitimising regimes and unethical policies.

Google has kissed Trump's ring by donating $1 million to his inauguration. Google is adapting its products to satisfy the administration.Time: How Google Appears to Be Adapting Its Products to the Trump Presidency (2025)

Big Tech - Big Tech companies do not nourish people and planet. This is especially true in times of political tension.

Google is one of the largest tech companies, contributing to market monopolisation and exploitative data practices. Source: EFF: Google Search Monopoly and Privacy Concerns (2025)

Lack of Transparency - Opacity in operations, data handling, or supply chains, making it difficult for users to understand practices.

Google lacks transparency in its data collection and usage practices. Source: FTC: Google Antitrust Violations (2025)

Tax Avoidance - Aggressive strategies are being deployed to avoid paying taxes.

Google is known for aggressively avoiding paying taxes, so much that taxing it got its own term: "Google tax". Source: Wikipedia: Google Tax

No Carbon Neutrality Goals - No goals for carbon neutrality is a bad sign as it shows lack of commitment to holding crucial thresholds for global climate warming.

Google recently erased its Carbon Neutrality Goals in favour of massively increasing its use of AI in its various products. Source: Toms Hardware: Google quietly removes net-zero carbon goal from website amid rapid power-hungry AI data center buildout (2025)

Suggestions and Feedback

If you have suggestions for more alternatives or general feedback, please contact me via email or create an issue over on Codeberg. Suggest Substitute on Codeberg Write an Email