Nothing should stand between a thought and the page.
Most note apps ask for your email before they ask what you think. Minimalist Notes inverts the order: the cursor is already waiting. This page records the rules we build by.
The inclusion rule
A feature is allowed only when it shortens the distance between intention and expression, protects your ownership of what you wrote, or helps you retrieve it later. That admits offline storage, fast search, export, dictation, and reading aloud. It excludes workspaces, databases, plugins, and collaboration machinery. Every feature must also earn its invisibility — present when asked for, absent when not.
Instant by default
There is no sign-up screen. The first click puts your cursor on the page, and saving is automatic. The subway can lose signal; your page won’t — after the first load, everything works offline.
Private by construction
Regular notes are stored in your browser’s local storage, on your device. We have nothing to inspect, mine, or sell — we cannot read your notes, because they never reach us.
A note leaves your device only when you explicitly create a share link. Shared copies are stored temporarily and deleted automatically after 30 days, and you can remove them anytime. Optional encrypted sync uses end-to-end encryption with a key derived on your device.
Honest about the trade-offs
Local storage means no account — and also means clearing your browser data can erase your notes. For anything irreplaceable, export regularly (Markdown or PDF) or set up encrypted sync. We would rather tell you this plainly than hide it behind a shield icon.
Free for local writing
The local editor is free, with no account, no ads, and no sale of your writing. That promise stays believable because the product stays small.