Alternatives to Apple Notes
Apple's built-in notes with handwriting support
Apple Notes ranks #8 of 13 in Note-taking, with an Alt Score of 59. It is proprietary, free and available on macOS, iOS and Web. 9 of 12 checklist rows are verified against a public source.
Anyone using an iPhone, iPad, or Mac who wants a simple, no-cost app for everyday note-taking, checklists, and sketches without installing third-party software.
A free note-taking app for typed and handwritten notes, checklists, sketches, scanned documents, and photos, with support for tables, tags, and folders for organization. Notes sync automatically across all signed-in Apple devices via iCloud, can be locked individually with a password or Face ID/Touch ID, and are searchable, including handwritten text and text inside scanned images. Individual notes or folders can be shared and collaboratively edited with other iCloud users.
Create a note from the app, Control Center, or lock screen, then type, write with Apple Pencil, or add photos, scans, and checklists; changes sync automatically across your devices through iCloud.
Where Apple Notes stands out
Verified capabilities most alternatives don't have.
Why people leave Apple Notes
Dashed reasons are sourced facts; the rest are opinions. Vendors can dispute.
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Ranked alternatives
Ordered by Alt Score. Click any score to see the breakdown.
Feature comparison
How Apple Notes compares with its alternatives, feature by feature.
| Note-taking checklist | Apple Notes | Amplenote | Joplin | Evernote | Standard Notes | UpNote |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pricing model | ||||||
| Starts at | ||||||
| License | ||||||
| Platforms | ||||||
| Markdown support | ||||||
| Sync between devices (native) | ||||||
| Local-first storage | ||||||
| End-to-end encryption | ||||||
| Web clipper | ||||||
| Templates | ||||||
| Tags & notebooks | ||||||
| Handwriting & stylus | ||||||
| OCR of images | ||||||
| Version history | ||||||
| Data export formats | ||||||
| Offline access |
Every fact and feature listed for Apple Notes is verified against its own pages. Each alternative is sourced on its own page.
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License Proprietary verified 2026-07-11
Developer Apple
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notes/id1110145109 -
Pricing model Free verified 2026-07-11
Free
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notes/id1110145109 -
Platforms macOS, iOS, Web verified 2026-07-11
iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision, Apple Watch
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/notes/id1110145109 -
Status active verified 2026-07-11
Published Date: May 22, 2026
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102288 -
Markdown support No verified 2026-07-11
then choose a style such as Heading, bold or italic font, highlight, and more. You can also swipe over the format bar options to quickly access commonly used styles.
https://support.apple.com/guide/iphone/create-and-format-notes-iph1ac0b3a2/ios -
Sync between devices (native) Yes verified 2026-07-11
changes you make on one device—like creating a new note, deleting a note, or editing the text—automatically appear on all your devices.
https://support.apple.com/guide/icloud/what-you-can-do-with-icloud-and-notes-mm2d069f7097/icloud -
End-to-end encryption Partial verified 2026-07-11
Both options keep your information secure with end-to-end encryption for iCloud accounts.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102537 -
Web clipper Partial verified 2026-07-11
Share files to Notes with the Files app
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102223 -
Tags & notebooks Yes verified 2026-07-11
Use tags to quickly categorize your notes so you can easily find them later. Just add one or more tags—like #work or #shopping—anywhere in a note. You can also use Smart Folders for even more organiza
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102288 -
Handwriting & stylus Yes verified 2026-07-11
Create drawings in the Notes app with Apple Pencil or just the tip of a finger.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/108919 -
OCR of images Yes verified 2026-07-11
You can also use Live Text in the Camera app or when using Camera in apps like Notes or Reminders — point your camera at a photo or image with text, then tap the Live Text button.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/120004 -
Data export formats Partial verified 2026-07-11
You can export notes as PDF files.
https://support.apple.com/guide/notes/import-export-and-print-notes-not201900c07/mac -
Offline access Yes verified 2026-07-11
Turn on Notes in your iCloud Settings, or make sure that you use notes stored on your device.
https://support.apple.com/en-us/102537
FAQ
Yes. Amplenote, Joplin and Evernote have a free tier or are fully free. Free-tier limits in the comparison table are verified and dated.
Joplin, Standard Notes and Notesnook — every license claim links its source.