Kaiyo Notes.
A note-taking app that does one thing well. No account, no cloud, biometric lock, dark mode.
Kaiyo Notes
Android · Productivity & Notes
Kaiyo Notes is a note-taking app for writers, thinkers, and anyone who needs a place to put things. Everything you need to capture, organise, and keep safe. Nothing else.
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A complete walkthrough
Watch how every part of Kaiyo Notes works. The editor, the organisation tools, the aesthetic options. All of it.
| Feature | Free | ★ PremiumUnlock more |
|---|---|---|
| Notes | Up to 100 | Unlimited |
| Folders | Up to 3 | Unlimited |
| Export to .txt | ✗ | ✓ |
| Note locking (PIN) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Custom backgrounds | ✗ | ✓ |
| Glassify (glassmorphism) | ✗ | ✓ |
| Auto-save | ✓ | ✓ |
| Dark mode | ✓ | ✓ |
| Smart search | ✓ | ✓ |
| Tags & folders | ✓ | ✓ |
| Archive & 30-day recovery | ✓ | ✓ |
| Rich text & checklists | ✓ | ✓ |
| Note colours | ✓ | ✓ |
Where Kaiyo Notes stands apart
| Criteria | Kaiyo Notes | Google Keep | Samsung Notes | Notion | Obsidian | Standard Notes |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| No account required at all | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Genuinely on-device (no cloud) | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| No ads | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free tier isn't a bait-and-switch | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✓ | ✗ |
| Built for one thing (not an all-in-one workspace) | ✓ | ✓ | ✓ | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
Comparison based on each product's publicly stated features as of this writing. Some apps quietly push you toward an account or cloud sync after install — always check current settings for yourself.
The Intelligent Editor
Designed for deep work. The writing process should be fluid, and your data should never disappear.
- Auto-Save: saves every few seconds. No button needed.
- Checklist Mode: flip any note into a task list. Ticked items get struck through.
- Rich Text Toolbar: Bold, Italic, Bulleted List. Lives above your keyboard.
- Live Word Count: updates in real time, at the bottom of the editor.
Advanced Organisation & Navigation
As your library grows, so does the app. Multiple ways to find anything, fast.
- Hierarchical Folders: group notes into notebooks for a clear structural view.
- Multi-Tagging: apply tags to any note, then filter your whole library by tapping one.
- Smart Search: scans titles and body text simultaneously, in real time.
- Customisable Views: toggle between list and grid.
- Smart Sorting: by date, alphabetical order, or note colour.
Safety, Security & Workflow
Multiple layers between your notes and loss. The kind of safety you stop thinking about because it just works.
- Note Locking (Premium): PIN protected. Your private notes stay private.
- Archive: a left-swipe sends a note to Archive rather than deleting it outright.
- 30-Day Recovery: deleted notes sit in a holding area for a full month before they're gone permanently.
- Priority Pinning: important notes stay at the top, regardless of sort order.
- Sharing and Export: share as plain text to any app; export as .txt with Premium.
Personalised Aesthetics
A workspace that feels like your own.
- Dark Mode: system-wide toggle, preference saved on-device.
- Note Colours: assign colours to cards for visual organisation.
- Custom Backgrounds (Premium): set any image from your gallery as the app backdrop.
- Glassify (Premium): semi-transparent frosted-glass card effect. Purely cosmetic.
- Global Font Size: Small, Medium, or Large, applied across the whole app.
