Is SimplyBoard really free?
Yes! SimplyBoard is free for personal use. We believe everyone deserves access to a private, secure knowledge base.
How does client-side encryption work?
Your password (or passphrase for Google sign-in) is used to derive an encryption key using PBKDF2 with 100,000 iterations. All your entries are encrypted with AES-GCM before leaving your device. We never see your decrypted data—not even our servers can read it.
How does encryption work with Google sign-in?
After signing in with Google, you create a separate encryption passphrase. This passphrase works exactly like a password for encryption—it derives the key that protects your data. Your Google account only handles authentication, not encryption. We cannot recover your passphrase or open your vault without it.
Can I switch between email and Google sign-in?
No. Once you register with a specific method (email/password OR Google), you must continue using that same method. Each method uses a different encryption key derivation, so they cannot be interchanged.
What happens if I forget my password or passphrase?
Because of our zero-knowledge architecture, we cannot recover your password or passphrase, or decrypt your data. This is by design—it ensures that only you can access your information. We recommend storing your password or passphrase in a secure password manager. Your account will be deleted after 90 consecutive days of inactivity.
What is the 90-day inactivity policy?
Accounts that are not accessed for 90 consecutive calendar days will be permanently deleted without notice. This helps us manage storage costs and keeps the platform lean.
Can I use SimplyBoard offline?
Yes! SimplyBoard works fully offline. Your entries are cached locally and sync automatically when you reconnect to the internet.
Is my data backed up?
Your encrypted data is stored securely in the cloud and synced across all your devices. The encryption ensures that even if someone accessed the server, they couldn't read your content.
What makes SimplyBoard different from Trello, Miro, or Notion?
SimplyBoard is built for speed and simplicity. No feature bloat, no expensive subscriptions, no learning curve. Just fast search, secure storage, and instant retrieval.
Can I self-host SimplyBoard?
Not currently. SimplyBoard is a cloud-hosted service to enable cross-device sync without you managing infrastructure. While your content is encrypted client-side, you are trusting us with metadata like your email and when entries are saved.
