Proton expands its pro-privacy portfolio by acquiring Standard Notes
Proton, the privacy-focused firm known for its end-to-end encrypted webmail ProtonMail, has acquired Standard Notes, a note-taking app that also prioritizes robust privacy with end-to-end encryption (E2EE). With over 300,000 users, Standard Notes aligns with Proton’s commitment to privacy and open-source technology, as both companies have eschewed venture capital funding to drive growth.
End-to-end encryption ensures that service providers cannot access users’ encrypted data, offering a “zero knowledge” architecture that enhances security. By integrating Standard Notes into its ecosystem, Proton expands its reach among privacy-conscious users and gains cross-selling opportunities. The addition of the note-taking app addresses a gap in Proton’s product lineup, complementing its existing suite of E2EE products, including email, calendar, cloud storage, and VPN services.
Proton’s community-focused approach includes a freemium model, where premium users subsidize free users to support wider product access. While there is some overlap in user base between Proton and Standard Notes, Proton plans to leverage cross-selling opportunities and further build its community. This acquisition strengthens Proton’s position in the privacy-focused app market and underscores its commitment to providing users with secure and private digital solutions.
Proton has affirmed that the Standard Notes app will continue to be open source, freely available, and fully supported across both mobile and desktop platforms. Additionally, there are no plans to change Standard Notes’ pricing structure, and existing subscriptions, including five-year plans, will be honored.
Emphasizing the independence of Standard Notes as a product, Proton stated that both companies intend to eventually open access to their respective products to each other’s users. Mo Bitar, the founder and CEO of Standard Notes, highlighted the shared mission of both companies in safeguarding users’ freedom to think and write without the fear of surveillance. He expressed a commitment to preserving this rare sense of freedom on the internet, a mission that aligns closely with Proton’s values.
