The Lockbook Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Lockbook in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Lockbook
The Insider’s Guide
Open-source encrypted notes app with Markdown and drawing
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Lockbook’s own pages.
Made by Lockbook LLC · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Lockbook’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Lockbook’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.6
GPA, above 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Lockbook is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted notes app for writing in Markdown, sketching on an SVG canvas and storing files. An account is a username and a generated secret key, with no email or password, and files or folders can be shared with other users. It has native apps for iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux and Android plus a command-line client, and the server can be self-hosted. The free plan includes 25 MB of storage.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Lockbook, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Pick a username and you're in, with no email or password to set up.
- 1
Best for encrypted Markdown notes and sketches
Lockbook is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted place to write Markdown, sketch and keep files, with native apps for iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux and Android.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.99 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $2.99 per month.
- 3
There is a free plan
25 MB of storage with sharing and collaboration, Markdown and drawing support, and offline mode.
- 4
It runs on 5 platforms
macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
- 5
End-to-end encryption
Content, including file names, is encrypted on the device. The vendor's staff can see only what the server needs, such as file counts, document sizes and the shape of the file tree.
- 6
Key-based accounts
Signing up takes a username and creates a secret key, shown as a 24-word phrase or a QR code. No email, phone number or password is collected.
- 7
Markdown editor and SVG canvas
Notes are written in Markdown and drawings are saved as SVG, both open formats that other tools can read. PDFs and images can be previewed.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 50 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
The plain part of Lockbook you could make: notes and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Lockbook at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.99 per month
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
- Made by
- Lockbook LLC, since 2020
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for encrypted Markdown notes and sketches
Lockbook is an open-source, end-to-end encrypted place to write Markdown, sketch and keep files, with native apps for iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux and Android. You sign up with a username only, and the one paid plan is $2.99 a month for 30 GB. But the free plan holds 25 MB, there's no web app, a lost secret key can't be recovered, and the site itself says the product is in its infancy.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Premium is $2.99 a month for 30 GB, right at the lowest-priced quarter for notes apps here, and it's the only paid plan. The features are the same as the free ones, so you're paying purely for space. You buy it inside the app. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Every feature is in the free plan, but the storage is 25 MB. Plain Markdown fits in that; drawings and files soon don't, and there's nothing bigger short of paying. |
| Features | C | Encryption that covers file names too, a Markdown editor, an SVG canvas, sharing with read or write access, offline apps and a command-line client. The listing names the gaps itself: the site calls the product young, and document history, comments and a browser clipper are all still to come. |
| Ease of use | B | Pick a username and you're in, with no email or password to set up. Do look after the 24-word secret key, because it's the only way in and can't be recovered. No App Store rating is on record to go by. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Native apps for iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux and Android, plus a command-line client and a server you can host yourself. There's no web app and no integrations on the listing, which is what keeps it off the top mark. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Lockbook is for
- Fits if you want notes and files your provider can't read, without giving an email address
- Works for developers who write in Markdown and want a command-line client
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you lose passwords, because a lost secret key can't be recovered
- Tight if you're staying free and keep files, since the free plan holds 25 MB
- Not for you if you need document history, comments or a browser clipper today, as they're still listed as coming soon
- Too light for working in a browser, as there's no web app and no integrations listed
- Watch out: the site itself says the product is in its infancy
Good to know
Good for
- People who want notes and files the provider cannot read
- Markdown writers who also sketch or keep files beside their notes
- Developers who want a command-line client and open formats
Worth knowing
- The free plan holds 25 MB. The only paid plan is 30 GB for $2.99 a month, bought inside the app.
- The secret key is the only way into an account and cannot be recovered if it is lost.
- There is no web app: the site lists native apps for iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux and Android, and a CLI.
- The site says the product is in its infancy; document history, comments and a browser clipper are listed as coming soon.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.99
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Lockbook has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.99 per month.
The features are the same as the free ones, so you're paying purely for space.
Free
$0
25 MB of storage with sharing and collaboration, Markdown and drawing support, and offline mode.
Premium
$2.99
per month
30 GB of storage with the same features as Free. It is bought inside the app; the US App Store lists it as a $2.99 in-app purchase.
The free plan
25 MB of storage with sharing and collaboration, Markdown and drawing support, and offline mode.
Read from lockbook.net on Oct 9, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “30GB”, against $2.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺35,99 | $0.73 | 76% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 149.00 | $2.37 | 21% less |
| Canada | $3.49 | $2.45 | 18% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 49ribu | $2.74 | 8% less |
| United Kingdom | £2.49 | $3.29 | 10% more |
| Germany | 2,99 € | $3.35 | 12% more |
| Brazil | R$ 16,90 | $3.38 | 13% more |
| Mexico | $69.00 | $3.79 | 27% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
5
Places it runs: macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
Open-source encrypted notes app with Markdown and drawing. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: open source, self-hostable, works offline, end-to-end encrypted, real-time collaboration, notes, Markdown.
Native apps for iPhone, Mac, Windows, Linux and Android, plus a command-line client and a server you can host yourself.
- End-to-end encryption
- Content, including file names, is encrypted on the device. The vendor's staff can see only what the server needs, such as file counts, document sizes and the shape of the file tree.
- Key-based accounts
- Signing up takes a username and creates a secret key, shown as a 24-word phrase or a QR code. No email, phone number or password is collected.
- Markdown editor and SVG canvas
- Notes are written in Markdown and drawings are saved as SVG, both open formats that other tools can read. PDFs and images can be previewed.
- Sharing and collaboration
- A file or folder can be shared with read or write access, and the recipient can place it anywhere in their own file tree. Only the owner is billed for the space it takes.
- Native apps, offline support and a CLI
- Each platform has its own native client that works offline and syncs later. A command-line client keeps an encrypted local store and syncs on request.
- Self-hosting
- The server can run on your own infrastructure. Accounts on a self-hosted server cannot collaborate with users on the main Lockbook server.
Where it runs
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Lockbook is made by Lockbook LLC, and has been around since 2020.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
50/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Lockbook's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on platforms and integrations (B, above 86 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $2.99 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 18 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. 9 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Lockbook’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 48 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Lockbook is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
The plain part of Lockbook you could make: notes and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $35.88 a year. Lockbook is open source, so there is a third way: take its code and run it yourself.
What you could make
- Notes and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- End-to-end encryption done properly.
What this rests on. Lockbook’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Standard Notes, Notesnook, Cryptee, Joplin and Obsidian
The 5 tools Lockbook is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Standard Notes
Free plan · from $90/yr
End-to-end encrypted notes app with open source clients.
- Only Standard Notes lists a web app.
- Only Standard Notes lists a browser extension.
- Standard Notes also covers web clipper.
- 3.2GPA
Notesnook
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Open source, end-to-end encrypted notes on every platform.
- Only Notesnook lists a web app.
- Only Notesnook lists a browser extension.
- Notesnook also covers linked notes and web clipper.
- 2.4GPA
Cryptee
Free plan · from €3/mo
Encrypted documents, notes and photo storage from Estonia.
- Only Lockbook lists macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android apps.
- Only Cryptee lists a web app.
- Lockbook is self-hostable, according to its own site.
- 3.6GPA
Joplin
Free plan · from €2.40/mo
Open source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose.
- Only Joplin lists a web app.
- Only Joplin lists a browser extension.
- Joplin also covers web clipper.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Lockbook is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Obsidian also covers linked notes and whiteboard.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Lockbook free?
Lockbook has a free plan. 25 MB of storage with sharing and collaboration, Markdown and drawing support, and offline mode.
How much does Lockbook cost?
Lockbook lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Lockbook work on?
Lockbook is available on macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android.
Is Lockbook open source?
Yes. Lockbook is open source, according to its own site.
Is Lockbook end-to-end encrypted?
Lockbook describes itself as end-to-end encrypted on its own site. Nobody here has audited that.
Does Lockbook work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
Who makes Lockbook?
Lockbook is made by Lockbook LLC. It dates from 2020.
What are the alternatives to Lockbook?
The closest alternatives to Lockbook in our directory are Standard Notes, Notesnook, Cryptee, Joplin and Obsidian.
How does Lockbook compare with other note-taking apps?
Lockbook's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Is Lockbook good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Lockbook B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.99 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 18 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Lockbook?
The plain part of Lockbook you could make: notes and Markdown. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Lockbook’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Lockbook's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-10-01.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Lockbook LLC. Prices change, so check lockbook.net before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Lockbook, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/lockbook
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Lockbook: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/lockbook
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/lockbook/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Lockbook, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Lockbook’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Lockbook is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Lockbook LLC. Prices and plans change: check lockbook.net before you buy.