Privnote popularized self-destructing notes, but its security model has significant gaps. Here's how Secure Share compares for teams that care about real encryption.
| Feature | Secure Share | Privnote | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Self-Destructing Messages | Both destroy after first read | ||
| AES-256-GCM Encryption | — | Privnote's encryption method is not publicly documented | |
| Zero-Knowledge Architecture | — | Secure Share encrypts in-browser; Privnote encrypts server-side | |
| Passphrase Protection | — | Privnote has no passphrase option | |
| Configurable TTL | — | Privnote does not offer TTL configuration | |
| Bot / Link Preview Protection | — | Privnote links can be burned by Slack/Teams preview bots | |
| No Account Required | Both work without sign-up | ||
| Generous Free Tier | Both offer free usage; Secure Share has a generous free tier | ||
| No Third-Party Ad Networks | — | Privnote serves third-party ad network scripts; Secure Share does not | |
| Read Confirmation | — | Privnote can email you when a note is read | |
| Custom Destruction Notice | — | Privnote allows a custom "note destroyed" message |
Your message is encrypted using the Web Crypto API (AES-256-GCM) before it ever leaves your browser. The encryption key lives in the URL fragment (#), which is never transmitted to servers per the HTTP specification.
Result: even Secure Share's operators cannot read your messages.
Privnote's encryption model is not publicly documented. The message is sent to Privnote's servers, where it is processed and stored. There is no documented evidence of client-side encryption, meaning the server has access to your plaintext.
Additionally, Privnote serves third-party ads, which introduces additional tracking and potential security vectors.
When you share a Secure Share link in Slack, Teams, or Discord, those platforms send bots to preview the URL. Secure Share requires a manual clickbefore decrypting, so bots can't accidentally burn your message.
Privnote links can be consumed by link-preview bots. If you paste a Privnote link into Slack, the bot may open it and destroy the note before the intended recipient ever sees it.
This is a well-documented issue with no built-in mitigation.
Don't take our word for it. Our encryption source code, database schema, and threat model are published on GitHub for anyone to audit. You can verify that the key never leaves your browser and that our server stores only ciphertext it cannot decrypt.
Real encryption. No third-party ad trackers. No sign-up. Just security.
Try Secure Share →