Privnote Alternative: End-to-End Encrypted One-Time Notes
Privnote is the pioneering, well-respected tool that popularized self-destructing notes. Secret Note (saklama.com) solves the same problem with an equally serious security model: your note is encrypted with AES-GCM-256 before it ever leaves your browser, and the decryption key travels in the # (fragment) part of the link, which browsers never send to the server. No account is required; basic use is free.
Quick facts
- Secret Note is a free Privnote alternative that encrypts notes in the browser with AES-GCM-256.
- The decryption key travels in the URL fragment (after #); browsers never send this part to the server.
- The server only ever stores ciphertext; note contents cannot be read server-side.
- Notes can be one-time (burn on read) or expire automatically after 1 hour to 30 days.
- Premium (99.90 TRY/year) adds up to 5-year retention, 4x note size, and Time Capsules.
- A Time Capsule locks a note until a date you choose; the date lock is a server policy, not a cryptographic timelock. The content stays end-to-end encrypted either way.
- No third-party tracking runs without consent.
Comparison with Privnote
Both tools share the same core approach: one-time, encrypted notes shared via a link. The differences show up in the details:
| Feature | Secret Note (saklama.com) | Privnote |
|---|---|---|
| In-browser encryption, key in the URL fragment | ✓ (AES-GCM-256) | ✓ |
| One-time notes (burn on read) | ✓ | ✓ |
| Free basic use, no account | ✓ | ✓ |
| Turkish interface and Turkish support (plus English) | ✓ | ✗ |
| Verification guidance (network tab, unminified JS) | ✓ | — |
| Time Capsules (date-locked notes) | ✓ (Premium) | ✗ |
| Retention up to 5 years | ✓ (Premium) | ✗ |
— : not offered or not documented at the time of writing.
What makes Secret Note different?
Turkish-first, English included. The interface, error messages, and support are fully available in Turkish, with a complete English version at saklama.com/en.
Verifiable transparency. The encryption code is served unminified. Open your browser's devtools network tab and confirm for yourself that only ciphertext is sent to the server and the key stays in the fragment. Trust should be a checkable claim, not a promise.
Time Capsules. With Premium, you can lock a note until a future date; the server refuses to release the ciphertext before then. To be honest about the model: the date lock is enforced by server policy, not by a cryptographic timelock. The content itself remains end-to-end encrypted, so the server can never read the note at any stage.
Minimal infrastructure. The service runs on dependency-free vanilla Node.js. A small attack surface makes for a system that is easy to audit.
Frequently asked questions
Is Privnote a bad tool?
No. Privnote pioneered this category and does its job well. Secret Note is an alternative for users who want a Turkish and English interface, Time Capsules, up to 5-year retention, and verifiable transparency.
Can saklama.com read my notes?
No. Encryption happens in your browser, and the key travels in the # part of the link, which is never sent to the server. Our servers hold only meaningless ciphertext; we could not decrypt it even if we wanted to.
Is the Time Capsule a cryptographic lock?
It is not. The opening date is enforced by the server: the ciphertext is not released to anyone before the date arrives. No cryptographic timelock is used, and we state that plainly. The confidentiality of the content is protected by end-to-end encryption regardless of the date.
What are the limits of the free tier?
The free tier lets you create, without an account, one-time notes or notes that expire after 1 hour to 30 days. Premium (99.90 TRY/year) adds up to 5-year retention, roughly 4x the note size, and the Time Capsule feature.