The short answer
- Free, with reminders: Simple Sticky Notes or Stickies by Zhorn Software.
- Notes on your phone and other PCs: Microsoft Sticky Notes (free) or Notezilla (paid).
- The most features: Notezilla. It has reminders, a password lock, notes attached to windows, and sync.
- Private notes that stay out of the way: stickies.lol (mine). Notes dock to the edge of your screen, stay encrypted on your PC, and can be locked with a PIN.
Side by side
Checked October 16, 2026, from each app's own website. Prices change, so check before you buy.
| Price | Sync between devices | Password lock | Reminders | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Microsoft Sticky Notes | Free | Yes, with a Microsoft account | No | No |
| Simple Sticky Notes | Free | No (backup file) | Has a "Lock Note" option; its help pages don't say if it uses a password | Yes |
| Stickies (Zhorn Software) | Free | Send notes to other PCs over the network or email | Not mentioned on its site | Yes |
| Notezilla | $29.95 once, or $19.95/year with sync | Yes, plus Android, iPhone and web apps | Yes, encrypted | Yes |
| stickies.lol | $4.99 once, 3 PCs | No (backup file) | Yes, PIN, encrypted | No |
Microsoft Sticky Notes
Free. Windows 11 and 10. Since 2024, Sticky Notes is part of OneNote. It can dock to the side of your desktop, keep a note on top of other windows, and grab a screenshot with one click. Your notes sync through your Microsoft account, so they're also in OneNote on your phone.
Pick it if you want free notes everywhere and don't mind them being in your Microsoft account. Look elsewhere if you need to lock a note or set a reminder. It can't do either.
Simple Sticky Notes
Free, for personal and commercial use. Windows 7 to 11. Version 6.9, February 2026. A classic desktop sticky notes app that's still updated regularly. Notes have alarms with snooze and daily repeats, checklists, and a note explorer to find old notes. Backups go to a file you choose.
Pick it if you want classic sticky notes on the desktop, with reminders, at no cost. Keep in mind that restoring a backup deletes the notes you have now, and there's no sync between PCs.
Stickies by Zhorn Software
Free. Its site lists Windows 7, 8 and 10. Version 10.2a, January 2025. No relation to my app, despite the name. It has been around for decades and does a lot: notes can be attached to an app, website, document or folder so they only appear with it, and they can have alarms that repeat daily, weekly or monthly. You can send notes to other PCs over your network or by email, and change the look with skins.
Pick it if you want notes that show up with a specific document or app, for free. Keep in mind that its site doesn't mention Windows 11 or encryption.
Notezilla
$29.95 once (2 PCs and 1 phone, sync for the first year), or $19.95 a year plus $10 the first year (any number of PCs, sync, phone apps). Windows 11 and 10. 30-day free trial and 30-day money-back guarantee. The most complete app here. It has reminders, a master password that encrypts locked notes, notes attached to windows and documents, folders, and apps for Android, iPhone, iPad and the web.
Pick it if you want every feature and notes on your phone. Keep in mind that sync needs the yearly plan after the first year.
stickies.lol (mine)
$4.99 once for up to 3 PCs, 7-day free trial. Windows 11 and 10, 64-bit. Instead of notes scattered over your desktop, they sit in a thin strip at the edge of your screen and fan out when you move your mouse there. Every note is encrypted on your PC, there's no account, and private notes can be locked with a PIN. Press Win+Alt+N anywhere for a new note, and type / for to-dos, headings, templates and quick math.
Pick it if you want notes close by but off your desktop, and private. Look elsewhere if you need reminders, notes on your phone, or sync between PCs. Stickies has none of those.
How I compared them
Prices, versions and features come from each app's own website, checked on October 16, 2026: Microsoft's Sticky Notes announcement, Simple Sticky Notes, Zhorn Software and Notezilla. Where a site didn't say, I wrote that instead of guessing. If something here is wrong or out of date, email me at support@stickies.lol and I'll fix it.
Try stickies.lol free for 7 days
Stickies is $4.99 once for up to 3 PCs. No subscription, no account, and your notes never leave your PC.