Is Signal's Note to Self really encrypted at rest?

Yes, tied to your device's storage encryption and Signal's own protections.

Should I keep passwords in Signal notes?

For a scratch one-liner, maybe. For a real list, use Elba (or a password manager).

Guides/Compared with…

Elba vs Signal ‘Note to Self’ — private chat vs sealed folder

Signal's ‘Note to Self’ conversation is a fine encrypted scratchpad. Elba is a proper file vault. They complement each other: quick thoughts to Signal, folders and documents to Elba.

Where Signal wins

Fast entry on your phone, sync between your Signal-linked devices, and no separate password to remember beyond your Signal PIN.

Where Elba wins

Arbitrary file types, folder-scale archives, and independence from any account or vendor.

Questions people actually ask

Is Signal's Note to Self really encrypted at rest?: Yes, tied to your device's storage encryption and Signal's own protections.
Should I keep passwords in Signal notes?: For a scratch one-liner, maybe. For a real list, use Elba (or a password manager).

Take the island

Elba is one HTML file. It runs locally in a Chromium browser, seals a folder with AES-256-GCM, never phones home, and becomes open source on 1 January 2030.

€49MMXXVI· now ·
€39MMXXVII2027
€29MMXXVIII2028
€19MMXXIX2029
FreeMMXXX2030

the price falls each year · free to all 1 jan 2030

Take the island — €49

pay once · no account · nothing leaves

Compare Elba with other tools

All guides

Related guides

Encrypt a password list without a password manager
For people who keep a plain-text password file: Elba seals it with AES-256-GCM so a lost laptop doesn't become a lifetime of breaches.
How to encrypt journal entries so nobody else can read them
A small, offline way to encrypt your journal. Elba seals a folder of daily entries with one password — no cloud, no account.