Notelet vs Google Keep
Google Keep is free, quick and already on many Android phones, and it shares lists well. It has no desktop app, labels instead of folders, and simple formatting. Notelet is a fuller notes and reminders app with an app on every computer and phone.
Checked 20 October 2026.
Choose Notelet if…
- you want an installed app on your Mac, Windows PC or Linux computer
- you organise with folders, subfolders and smart folders
- you want tables, headings, locked notes and a full reminders app
- you’d like your notes encrypted on your devices before they sync
Choose Google Keep if…
- you share shopping lists or notes with other people
- you live in Gmail, Google Docs and Google Calendar
- short notes and lists are all you need, in a browser on your computer
Feature by feature
| Feature | Notelet | Google Keep |
|---|---|---|
| iPhone and Android | Apps (in beta) | Apps |
| Mac, Windows, Linux | Apps | In a browser (no desktop app from Google) |
| Organising | Folders, subfolders, smart folders, #tags | Labels, colours, pins, archive |
| Formatting | Headings, tables, checklists, highlights, links | Basic formatting and checklists |
| Locked notes | Password, Touch ID, Face ID, Windows Hello, fingerprint | No |
| Reminders | Lists, smart lists, repeats, subtasks, sections | Reminders on notes |
| Share a note with someone | Not yet | Yes |
| Google apps side panel | No | Gmail, Docs, Drive and more |
| Sync | Notelet Cloud, or your own S3, WebDAV or folder | Your Google account |
| Encrypted on your device before it syncs | Yes | Not stated |
| Price | Free | Free (15 GB of Google storage, shared) |
Google Keep’s details from its own pages and the sources below, checked 20 October 2026. Notelet 0.10.12.
What Keep does better
Keep is quick to open, free, and part of your Google account, so your notes sit in a side panel in Gmail and Docs, and reminders show in Google Calendar. Sharing a list with someone is a tap. If your notes live in Gmail and shared lists, stay with Keep.
Where Notelet is different
Google doesn’t make a desktop app for Keep, so on a computer it’s a browser tab. Notelet is an installed app on Mac, Windows and Linux, as well as on phones, and it works offline. It has folders and smart folders, tables and headings, locked notes that open with your face or fingerprint, and a reminders app with lists, repeats, subtasks and sections.
Moving from Google Keep to Notelet
- At Google Takeout, choose only Keep and download the archive.
- In Notelet, choose File › Import to Notes… and pick the downloaded
.zipor itsKeepfolder. - Titles, text, checklists, pictures, labels (as #tags) and pins come across; archived notes go in an Archive folder, and notes in Keep’s Bin are left out.
Very large archives are best imported a part at a time. More on the import page.
Common questions
Is there a Google Keep app for Windows or Mac?
Google doesn’t make one: on a computer Keep runs in a browser, which you can install as a web app. Notelet has installed apps for Mac, Windows and Linux.
Can Notelet share a list with someone, like Keep?
Not yet. Notelet syncs your own notes between your own devices; sharing with other people isn’t available.
Is Notelet free?
Yes. Every feature, on every system, is free. Syncing through storage you already have (your own S3 or WebDAV server, or a folder Dropbox, iCloud Drive or OneDrive keeps in step on a computer) is free for good. Notelet Cloud gives the first 1,000 accounts 5 GB free for life; bigger plans (50 GB for £10 a year, 200 GB for £25 a year) open soon.
Sources
- Zapier: The best note-taking apps (Google Keep)
- Google Workspace: Google Keep
- Notelet: how the encryption works, pricing, downloads
Spot a mistake? Write to hello@noteletapp.com.