Alternatives to Apple Notes
Apple's built-in notes app with sync, sketches, and text recognition. The listings below can replace it for an important use case. Each note says what changes if you switch.
The original
Apple Notes
Apple's built-in notes app with sync, sketches, and text recognition.
Replacements
Listings that take over the same core job as Apple Notes.
Bear
Apple-exclusive markdown notes app with tag-based organization and a polished editor.
Bear stays on Apple platforms but switches to Markdown notes with tag-based organization, and advanced features such as export options require a subscription.
Simplenote
Minimal note app that syncs plain-text and Markdown notes across devices.
Simplenote adds Windows, Linux and Android with free unlimited sync of plain-text notes, but drops attachments, folders, sketches and rich formatting, and notes are not encrypted.
Obsidian
A notes app that works on a folder of plain Markdown files on your own disk, with links between them.
Obsidian works on plain Markdown files across all major platforms with links and backlinks, but syncing between devices means paying for Obsidian Sync or your own tool.
Joplin
An open source note and to-do app that syncs end-to-end encrypted through storage you already have.
Joplin is open source with apps on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS and end-to-end encrypted sync through storage you already use, though its interface is less polished.
Standard Notes
Encrypted notes built for the long term, where sync is free on unlimited devices and you can host the server.
Standard Notes adds end-to-end encryption and free sync on unlimited devices across every platform, but the free tier is plain text only and an account is required.
Notesnook
An end-to-end encrypted note app where the company cannot read your notes, with clients on every platform and full source published.
Notesnook is an open source, end-to-end encrypted note app with clients for many platforms, but it requires an account and some features need the Pro subscription.
Craft
Native docs app with real-time collaboration and deep integration into Apple's ecosystem.
Craft stays within Apple's ecosystem and adds real-time collaboration with nested pages, while its premium features require a paid subscription.
Google Keep
A note service from Google for quick notes, checklists and reminders that sync across devices.
Google Keep syncs quick notes, checklists and reminders through a Google account on the web, so notes move to Google's servers and it suits short notes.
Also worth comparing
These listings name Apple Notes as their own alternative, so the relationship runs both ways.
Drafts
An Apple-platform app for capturing text quickly and sending it elsewhere with actions.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices with sync and text recognition, but it does not open to a new page or send text through actions.
Evernote
A long-running note-taking app with notebooks, tasks, calendar links, search and web clipping.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices with sync and text recognition, but it is limited to the Apple ecosystem and lacks tasks and web clipping.
GoodNotes
Handwriting-first notes app for iPad with Apple Pencil support and OCR search.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices, supports sketches and searches text in images, but it is not built around handwriting or PDF annotation.
Keep It
A notebook and document organizer for Mac, iPhone and iPad that integrates with the Finder.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices with sync and OCR search, but it does not show files and tags in the Finder or handle web archives.
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft's freeform digital notebook with sections, pages, web clipping and cloud sync.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices with sketches and text recognition, but is tied to the Apple ecosystem with no Windows or Android app.
Napkin
An iPhone app for collecting quotes and ideas and resurfacing them for reflection.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices with sync and OCR search of scanned images, but offers no resurfacing or AI suggestions.
SideNotes
A Mac note-taking app that slides in from the side of the screen for quick notes.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled on Apple devices with sync, sketches and text recognition, but opens as a regular app rather than an edge panel.
Tot
A small text scratchpad for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch that syncs through iCloud.
Apple Notes is preinstalled and free on Apple devices, adding sketches and text recognition, and it holds a full note library instead of a few scratch pages.
Zoho Notebook
A note-taking app from Zoho with card-style notes, checklists, audio, sketches and cross-device sync.
Apple Notes is free and preinstalled with sketches and text recognition, but works only on Apple devices with no Android or web app.
Similar software
Related functionality, not a direct replacement.
Notion
All-in-one workspace combining notes, databases, wikis, and task boards.
MindNode
A mind mapping and outlining app for Apple devices that turns loose ideas into structured plans.
Notability
A note app combining handwriting, audio recording and transcription with AI summaries, quizzes and flashcards.
