We built a note app because the free ones kept lying to us. A banner ad would slide in between two notes we were trying to compare side by side. One app promised "no ads, ever," then blocked the third launch behind a forced sign-in screen. So before writing another word about our own app, here's the comparison we wish had existed before we started building it: which Android note apps that call themselves ad-free hold up under scrutiny, and what "free" quietly still costs.
What "no ads" needs to mean
Plenty of apps that call themselves ad-free still push you toward an account. Plenty still make cloud sync the default. Plenty cap the free tier so hard it functions as a two-week trial with a permanent expiry date. None of that is unusual, and none of it is illegal. It's just not what most people picture when they read "no ads." So we checked four things per app: does it show ads, does it require an account at all, is cloud sync the default (or the only option), and does the free tier support daily note-taking rather than a demo you'll outgrow in a week.
The apps
Google Keep
Free. Ad-free. Tied to your Google account by design: every note lives in Google's cloud the moment you write it. Fine if you already trust Google with your calendar and your photos. A dealbreaker if the entire point is keeping notes off someone else's server.
Samsung Notes
Solid handwriting and stylus support if you own a Galaxy device with an S Pen. Like Keep, it's built around a Samsung account and cloud backup by default. Local-only use is technically possible. It's just not how the app wants to work out of the box.
Notion
The most powerful tool on this list, and the least suited to "just take a note." Notion is a full workspace: databases, wikis, team docs, and yes, notes too. The free tier is generous. The catch is that Notion has no offline-only mode. It's a cloud product with a local cache, not a local app with optional sync.
Obsidian
The closest thing to a philosophical opposite of Notion. Notes are plain Markdown files sitting in a folder on your device. No account is required to use it, full stop. Sync and publishing are paid add-ons, but the app itself has always been free and local-first. The tradeoff is a steeper learning curve. Obsidian rewards people willing to build their own system.
Standard Notes
Built specifically around end-to-end encryption, which is rare in this category. The free tier is real but limited: no folders, no rich formatting. The paid tier unlocks what makes daily use comfortable.
Kaiyo Notes
This is the one we built, so weigh the framing accordingly. No account, ever. Not even an email address. Notes live on your device; nothing transmits unless you turn on Google Drive backup yourself. The free tier caps at 100 notes and 3 folders, which covers most people. PIN locking and custom backgrounds sit behind a premium unlock. Never a paywall on the note editor itself.
Which one to pick
If you already live inside Google's world and don't mind the tradeoff, Keep is hard to beat for simplicity. If you want full control and don't mind a short learning curve, Obsidian is the strongest local-first option. If encryption matters more than anything else, Standard Notes was built specifically for that. And if you just want to open an app, write something, and never see a sign-in screen again, that's the gap we built Kaiyo Notes to fill.
Common questions
Does Google Keep sell my data or show ads?
Keep itself doesn't show ads or sell note content. But it's part of your broader Google account, which uses your activity across other products for ad personalization unless you've opted out.
Can I use Obsidian without an account?
Yes. The app runs entirely from local files on your device, no account needed. You're only asked to sign up if you choose the paid Obsidian Sync service.
Is there a note app that never asks for an account, not even for backup?
Kaiyo Notes is one. Even its optional backup feature authenticates through your own Google account rather than a Kaiyo Zero account, because there isn't one.