spectacled
Focused apps for Journals, Notes, and Tasks.
Built on CalDAV and iCalendar keeping your data under your control.
Available on Android, iOS, Desktop, and Web.
About spectacled
What is spectacled?
spectacled is a family of focused, cross-platform apps for notes, journals, and tasks – built around open standards like CalDAV and iCalendar. It runs on Android, iOS, Desktop, and in your browser, giving you a consistent experience across all your devices.
Instead of storing your data in proprietary clouds, spectacled connects directly to your existing/preferred CalDAV server. Your information stays where it belongs – under your control – while remaining fully compatible with other tools that support the same standards.
The three apps are intentionally separated. Rather than combining everything into a single, complex application, spectacled keeps each tool lightweight, fast, and focused. This makes it easier to concentrate on what you’re doing, without unnecessary features or hidden complexity. Because everything is based on open protocols, your data is never locked in. It remains accessible, portable, and private – today and in the future.
spectacled Journals
Time-based entries for logging and reflection.
Your personal timeline, stored on your CalDAV server – no lock-in, no tracking.
spectacled Notes
Free-form notes for ideas and knowledge.
Write without structure and keep everything under your control, synced via open standards.
spectacled Tasks
Structured to-dos with priorities and progress.
Plan and track your work while your data stays where it belongs – on your own server.
How your data stays yours
CalDAV is an open standard for storing and synchronizing calendar data. You can think of it like email with IMAP: instead of being tied to a single provider, your apps connect to a server you choose, whether that’s a self-hosted setup or a service you trust. This means your data isn’t trapped in one app – it remains accessible across different tools and platforms.
spectacled builds on top of the iCalendar format, which defines how entries like notes, journal entries, and tasks are structured. Two important building blocks are VJOURNAL and VTODO. VJOURNAL is used for written entries – ranging from dated journal logs to simple notes – while VTODO represents tasks, including properties like due dates, priorities, and completion status.
By relying on these established standards, spectacled keeps your data portable, transparent, and future-proof. You can switch apps, change platforms, or even move to a different server at any time – without losing access to your information or being forced into a specific ecosystem.
Transparent by design. Private by default.
spectacled is built with privacy as a core principle. It connects to your CalDAV server of choice, giving you control over where your data is stored and how it is managed – whether you use a self-hosted setup or a provider you trust.
The project follows an open source approach, making its implementation transparent and verifiable. Anyone can inspect how data is handled, contribute improvements, or adapt the apps to their own needs. There are no hidden mechanisms, and data handling remains clear and predictable.
By combining open standards with open source, spectacled ensures long-term independence. You are free to choose your server, your setup, and your tools – while your data remains accessible, portable, and under your control.
Get started
Your setup, your choice
spectacled works with any CalDAV-compatible server, so you can choose the setup that fits you best.
If you already have a server, you can continue to the setup guide and connect your first app in just a few steps.
If you’re still looking for a provider, take a look at the list of compatible CalDAV services to find options that work well with spectacled – some of them also offer free trials so you can get started without commitment.
From there, you can pick the app you need – spectacled Notes, spectacled Journals, or spectacled Tasks – and begin using your data across all your devices.