LINE Keep Memo vs Simple Memo
Differences & How to Switch
Keep Memo — your private chat room — still works. What ended on August 28, 2024 was LINE Keep, the storage feature. This page compares the still-active Keep Memo with Simple Memo: email-based permanent storage, no LINE dependency, offline support, AES-GCM encryption. For the full shutdown story and alternatives, see our LINE Keep alternatives guide.
Keep Memo — your private chat room — still works inside the LINE app. However, data stored in LINE Keep was deleted and cannot be recovered, Keep Memo has no export feature, and its backup depends entirely on your LINE account.
What Is LINE Keep Memo? (Still Available)
LINE Keep Memo is a feature that lets you jot notes into a private chat room with yourself inside the LINE app. It's quick — like messaging yourself text or images — and widely used in Japan where LINE is a daily habit. It still works today. What ended on August 28, 2024 was LINE Keep, the storage feature that handled long-term saving; data stored there was deleted. Keep Memo itself also has real constraints: no export feature, weak search, and backups that depend entirely on your LINE account.
Comparison Table: Simple Memo vs LINE Keep Memo
| Feature | Simple Memo | LINE Keep Memo |
|---|---|---|
| Service Status | Active | Active (LINE Keep ended Aug 2024) |
| LINE Account | Not required | Mandatory |
| Launch Speed | 0.4s | ~1.8s (via LINE) |
| Data Storage | Your email inbox | Private LINE chat room |
| Email Send | One-tap | None |
| Offline Support | Outbox auto-resend | None |
| Encryption | AES-GCM | Device-level only |
| Platform Dependency | None (email only) | LINE-dependent |
| Free Plan | 3 sends/day | Free (built into LINE) |
| Export / Backup | Auto-saved to email | No export; tied to LINE account |
6 Differences from LINE Keep Memo
-
1
LINE-Dependent vs Independent App
LINE Keep Memo is a feature inside the LINE app, requiring a LINE account. Simple Memo is a fully independent app that works with just an email address. No LINE account changes or policy shifts can affect it. -
2
Beyond-Text Support
Keep Memo handles text and images. But LINE Keep — the storage feature that handled long-term saving — ended in August 2024, and data stored there was deleted. Simple Memo focuses on text but delivers every memo to your email inbox permanently, with zero risk of data loss. -
3
Searchability
LINE Keep Memo's search is limited to within the LINE app. Memos sent via Simple Memo are searchable through Gmail, Outlook, or any email client's powerful search engine — even memos from years ago surface instantly. -
4
Backup Reliability
Keep Memo has no export feature, and its backup depends entirely on your LINE account. When LINE Keep shut down, many users lost data before they could download it. Simple Memo auto-backs up every memo to your email inbox on each send — no conscious backup action required. -
5
What the LINE Keep Shutdown Showed
LINE Keep's shutdown and data deletion highlighted the risks of platform dependency. Keep Memo continues, but it shares the same LINE-dependent structure. Simple Memo uses email — a universal protocol — so no single service shutdown can affect your stored memos. -
6
Launch Steps
LINE Keep Memo requires opening the LINE app and navigating to the Keep Memo chat room (2+ steps). Simple Memo launches in 0.4 seconds with a single tap on the app icon (1 step).
Switching from LINE Keep Memo (3 Minutes)
- Download from App Store — Search "Simple Memo" or use the button below.
- Set your email address — Enter any email address as your destination. Works with Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, or any provider.
- Start capturing immediately — No need to open LINE. Launch Simple Memo and start typing in 0.4 seconds. One tap to send.
Why Email Storage Beats Chat App Storage
Data Preservation Strategy After LINE Keep's Shutdown
On August 28, 2024, LINE Keep (the storage feature) shut down as announced, deleting all stored data. Many users lost important memos and photos without time to create backups. This event demonstrated how fragile platform-dependent data storage truly is. Even on a massive platform like LINE, a feature shutdown erases data permanently. Keep Memo continues, but the same structural risk remains — as it does for memo features embedded within other apps.
Simple Memo's email-based approach is a fundamental solution to this problem. Memos are sent as emails and stored in your own inbox. Whether you use Gmail, iCloud Mail, or Outlook, your memos persist permanently in your email account. Even if Simple Memo as an app were to shut down, your sent memos remain completely unaffected. The design where data ownership lies entirely with the user is the safest approach, informed by the LINE Keep lesson.
Our advice for those seeking a LINE Keep Memo replacement: choose a data destination that does not depend on any single app. Services that lock data inside their own ecosystem always carry shutdown risk. Simple Memo sends memos using an open standard (email), so your memos remain safe through email provider changes, device upgrades, or app switches. It is the simplest insurance against ever repeating the LINE Keep tragedy.
FAQ
Can Simple Memo save images and videos like LINE Keep Memo did?
Simple Memo specializes in instant text capture. It does not support image or video storage, but every text memo is permanently saved in your email inbox — eliminating the risk of data loss from a service shutdown like LINE Keep experienced.
Does Simple Memo feel the same as LINE Keep Memo?
The experience differs. LINE Keep Memo used a chat-style interface, while Simple Memo uses a simple input-and-send flow. The goal of "quickly jotting down a note" is the same, but the storage destination shifts from LINE's servers to your own email inbox.
Is there any way to recover data stored in LINE Keep?
Unfortunately, recovery is impossible. Data stored in LINE Keep was permanently deleted when the storage feature ended on August 28, 2024. Your Keep Memo chat content is still viewable in LINE. Going forward, using an email-based tool like Simple Memo ensures your notes are never at risk of platform-dependent data loss.
Can I use Simple Memo alongside LINE?
Yes. Simple Memo is fully independent from LINE, so you can use both simultaneously. Use LINE for communication and Simple Memo for instant personal memo capture — they complement each other naturally.
Can I set my LINE email address as Simple Memo's destination?
Yes. Any email address works, including the one registered with LINE. Gmail, iCloud, Outlook, work email — all supported as destinations.
