Your privacy is not optional
We built OwnJournal so that even we can't read your entries. That's not a feature — it's the foundation.
And because we are fully open source, you do not have to take our word for it.
How your data stays private
Every entry is encrypted before it ever leaves your device.
Your Device
Entry encrypted here
Encrypted Data
Unreadable in transit
Your Cloud
Stored encrypted
AES-256-GCM Encryption
We use AES-256-GCM, the same encryption standard used by governments and banks. Your encryption key is derived from your password using PBKDF2 with 100,000+ iterations.
Keys Never Leave Your Device
Your encryption key is derived locally using PBKDF2 and stored securely in your device's keystore or local storage — never on our servers. The key never leaves your device. Without your password, your data is mathematically unreadable.
Zero-knowledge architecture
We cannot read your data — by design. Even if we wanted to, even if someone demanded it, your entries are encrypted with keys only you possess.
| Feature | OwnJournal | Typical Journaling Apps |
|---|---|---|
| Open source / auditable code | Rarely | |
| End-to-end encryption | Varies (often server-side only) | |
| Zero-knowledge architecture | Rarely | |
| You control storage location | No — locked to their servers | |
| Self-hosting option | Rarely | |
| Open data format | Often proprietary | |
| Works offline | Sometimes |
Verifiable by design
Our privacy claims are not just promises — they are verifiable. The complete OwnJournal codebase is open source under the AGPL-3.0 license. Anyone can inspect, audit, and verify exactly how your data is handled.
AGPL-3.0 Licensed
The full source code is available under the AGPL-3.0 license. This means the code must remain open, even if someone modifies and deploys it.
Audit our claims yourself
Every encryption routine, every storage integration, every privacy mechanism — it is all in the open. You do not need to trust our marketing. Read the code.
Your storage, your choice
We don't store your data. You choose where it lives.
Google Drive
Connect your existing Google account
Dropbox
Sync with your Dropbox storage
Nextcloud
Self-host for maximum control
iCloud Drive
Sync with your Apple iCloud storage
With Nextcloud, you can self-host your data on your own server for complete control.
Our privacy commitments
You have the right to access, export, and delete your data at any time. We support full data portability.
Found a security issue? Contact support@ownjournal.app before disclosing publicly.