Online notepad: how to pick one that won't lose your notes
Opening a website and typing is easy. Finding that note tomorrow, on another computer, is the hard part. Here's what to check and which options you have.
You search for "online notepad" because you want something simple: open the browser, type, done. No software to install and nothing to pay. Plenty of websites do exactly that, but they don't all save your notes the same way, and some don't save them at all.
In this guide you'll see what to check before writing anything important, which kinds of online notepads exist, and how to have one inside your own browser with NexoPad, one keyboard shortcut away from any page.
What to look for in an online notepad
It saves on its own. At the very least, you shouldn't have to remember to press a button. If you close the tab by accident, the note should still be there.
You can see it on other computers. If you write something at work and want it at home, the note has to live in an account, not just in that browser.
It doesn't distract you. A notepad should be a blank page, with no ads covering your text and no pop-ups.
You can find things later. With five notes it doesn't matter. With fifty, you need search, folders or tags.
Your three options
1. Notepad websites with no account. You open them and type. They're handy for something quick, but check how they save. On many, the note stays only in that browser: clear your history or switch computers and it's gone. On others, the note is saved at a web address, and anyone with that link can read it. Use them for throwaway stuff.
2. Google Keep or Google Docs. You need a Google account, but in return your notes save on their own and you can see them on other computers and on your phone. Keep is for short notes; Docs is for longer text. The downside is that they live in their own tab: to jot something down, you have to leave what you were doing. If you use Keep, there are tricks to open it faster in how to take quick notes in Chrome.
3. A notepad inside your browser. This is an extension that adds notes to the browser itself. You don't open any website: you press a shortcut and your notes appear over the page you're on. That's what NexoPad does.
A notepad in your browser with NexoPad
Open your notes with Alt+S
Whatever website you're on, press Alt+S and NexoPad opens with your notes, over the page. When you close it, you're right where you left off.
Create a note
Click the new note button. Give it a title, pick a folder and add tags if you like. You can use bold, lists and links. When you save it, it's stored in your NexoPad account.
Find it when you need it
The Notes tab in the side panel has a search box: type a word and you'll see the notes that contain it. And from any website, Ctrl+K (Cmd+K on Mac) opens a search for notes, links and snippets; press Enter on a note to copy it.
Write with more room, or keep it in view
For longer text, press Alt+Q to open the Notebook, a full page with all your notes. If you want to see a note while you work, open it and click Open as floating Post-it.
Your notes on other computers
Because your notes are saved to your account, you'll see them in any browser where you sign in to NexoPad: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera or Brave. On the free plan you can be signed in on one browser at a time.
And if a note is for later, set a reminder with the bell and NexoPad will alert you at the time you choose. If you want a complete system for organizing your notes, see the guide to taking and organizing notes in your browser.
What NexoPad doesn't do
So you can choose well: NexoPad needs an account, has no mobile app (it works in your computer's browser), doesn't export your notes to files and has no checkboxes for tasks. If you need your notes on your phone, Google Keep is a better fit; see the comparison in NexoPad vs Google Keep.
It's not a place to store passwords either. Use a password manager for that.
Which option to choose?
| Needs an account? | Does it save? | On other devices? | Opens over the page? | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| No-account notepad website | No | Depends: sometimes only in that browser | Usually not, or only via the link | No, it's another tab |
| Google Keep | Yes, Google | Yes, in your account | Yes, on your phone too | No, it's another tab |
| NexoPad | Yes, NexoPad | Yes, in your account | Yes, in browsers where you sign in | Yes, with Alt+S |
FAQ
Is there a free online notepad that saves my notes?
Yes. Google Keep and NexoPad save your notes to your account for free. Many no-account websites only keep them in that browser.
Can I use an online notepad without signing up?
Yes, some websites don't ask for an account. Use them for quick things: if you clear your browser data or switch computers, you may lose the note.
Is it safe to write passwords in an online notepad?
It's not a good idea. Keep passwords in a password manager, not in notes.
How many notes can I save for free in NexoPad?
The free plan includes 15 notes. The Pro plan goes up to 1,000.
Does NexoPad have a mobile app?
No. NexoPad works in your computer's browser: Chrome, Edge, Firefox, Opera and Brave.
Published on October 20, 20266 min read
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