Is there a free alternative to Apple Notes?

Yes. Obsidian offers a genuine free tier, which makes it the easiest Apple Notes alternative to try before you pay.

Why switch away from Apple Notes?

Apple Notes is a strong tool, but our full hands-on testing is still in progress. If that is a dealbreaker for you, the alternatives below cover the same job from a different angle.

How do you choose these alternatives?

Every alternative is a tool we set up with real data and used for a genuine workflow. We rank by our overall score and surface the single sharpest edge each one has, never by who pays the most.

Notes & Productivity

Best Apple Notes alternatives

Q: What is the best alternative to Apple Notes?

Superhuman is our top Apple Notes alternative. Superhuman edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.7 to 4.2 overall. It scores 4.7 in our testing.

We put Apple Notes head to head with the 6 closest rivals we have tested, so you can switch on evidence, not a hunch.

Read our Apple Notes review

Why people look elsewhere

Where Apple Notes can fall short

Our full hands-on testing is still in progress

Pricing can climb on higher tiers

Ranked by our testing

6 alternatives worth your time

Superhuman

4.7

The fastest email experience ever made for power users.

Higher ratedFrom $30/moPaid only

Superhuman edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.7 to 4.2 overall.

Blazing speed with instant keyboard shortcuts
Superhuman AI for draft generation and triaging

4.7

Our score

Try Superhuman Read review

Obsidian

4.7

A local-first knowledge base you fully control.

Higher ratedFrom FreeFree tier

Obsidian edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.7 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.7

Our score

Try Obsidian Read review

Raycast

4.7

A blazing-fast launcher that replaces a dozen apps.

Higher ratedFrom FreeFree tier

Raycast edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.7 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.7

Our score

Try Raycast Read review

Craft

4.4

Beautiful documents and notes for Apple users.

Higher ratedFrom $10/moFree tier

Craft edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Craft Read review

Bear

4.4

An elegant Markdown note app for Apple.

Higher ratedFrom $2.99/moFree tier

Bear edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.4 to 4.2 overall.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.4

Our score

Try Bear Read review

Reflect

4.2

Networked notes with AI, built for thinking.

Ease of useFrom $10/moPaid only

Reflect is the pick when you want networked notes with ai, built for thinking., and it leads on ease of use.

Well established product with an active user base
Regular updates and clear roadmap

4.2

Our score

Try Reflect Read review

Side by side

Apple Notes vs the alternatives

Tool	Our score	From	Free tier	Best for
Apple NotesYou have	4.2	Free	Yes	The capable notes app built into Apple devices.
Superhuman	4.7	$30/mo	No	Founders, executives, and high volume email professionals
Obsidian	4.7	Free	Yes	A local-first knowledge base you fully control.
Raycast	4.7	Free	Yes	A blazing-fast launcher that replaces a dozen apps.
Craft	4.4	$10/mo	Yes	Beautiful documents and notes for Apple users.
Bear	4.4	$2.99/mo	Yes	An elegant Markdown note app for Apple.
Reflect	4.2	$10/mo	No	Networked notes with AI, built for thinking.

Our pick

Switch to Superhuman

Superhuman edges out Apple Notes in our testing, scoring 4.7 to 4.2 overall. It is the Apple Notes alternative we recommend first for most people.

Try Superhuman Compare them side by side

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Affiliate disclosure: We may earn a commission if you buy through the links on this page, at no extra cost to you. We only recommend tools we have tested, and commissions never change our scores or rankings. We currently track 218+ tools, including 10 across Notes & Productivity.