Dropbox Datastore API Alternatives

Yes, the local and remote DBs are the same structure, they just get compared for new/changed/deleted records with each sync. I don't keep a log of transactions, I just compare the databases.

And yes, each sync requires a download and an upload of the database file.

So the downsides:

1. It's "expensive" to sync (download time, database comparison processor power, upload time)

But the upsides are many:

1. I can use SQLite queries to dissect and display the data how I need to.
2. Troubleshooting for customers is easy because they can send me their whole database and I can run queries in it and inspect the data.
3. SQLite is available to both mobile and web platforms
4. All the data is available offline

If you don't need to do any querying against your note records, then I would recommend you take a look at Apple's CloudKit (unless you need to do an Android app). You might also look at Firebase.