Comparison
Locked is not the same as encrypted.
Password-protected notes apps are everywhere, and many protect less than they suggest. Often the password only locks the screen while the notes stay readable in storage. Titles and note counts stay visible. Free tiers pay their way with ads. Private writing deserves better.
Are password-protected notes apps actually private?
Check what the password does. In many apps it only locks the view. The notes stay readable in storage and backups, titles and note lists stay visible, and synced notes may sit readable on a server. A truly private notes app encrypts on your device, keeps no list that shows notes exist, and needs no account. That is what a Sealby vault is.
Where Locked notes apps shines
- Quick to adopt. Often a feature of the notes app you already use
- Fine against casual shoulder-surfing
- Some do encrypt properly. The privacy label and the docs will say so
Where it falls short
- The “lock” often only covers the screen. The data stays readable on disk and in backups
- Titles, note counts and the app itself stay visible, so everyone can see there are secrets
- Account-synced services may hold readable copies server-side unless they state end-to-end encryption
- Free “private notes” apps commonly make money with ads and analytics
The honest verdict
For mildly private notes, the lock in your current app is fine. For writing that must stay yours (journals, codes, drafts, records), use a place where the words are encrypted before they are saved, and where nothing in the app points to them. A vault, not a lock screen.
Common questions
Is a locked note the same as an encrypted note?
No. A locked note may simply hide behind a password prompt while its contents sit readable in the database and its backups. An encrypted note is unreadable without the key, everywhere, including to whoever holds the backup.
What should a truly private notes app have?
Encryption on your device with a named cipher. No account required. Hidden titles and counts. A visible business model instead of ads. Honesty about limits. Bonus: deniability, so there is no stored list that shows the notes exist. Sealby checks the full list.
Related: Notes & documents · Private journaling · vs Apple’s locked notes
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