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HomeNote-taking & PKM › Apple Notes

Apple Notes

Free · ranked #4 of 30
Reviewed by Rick Castro, Founder & lead analyst · Last updated July 2026
Built-in system app, no standalone store listing, so no separate community rating. Ranked on the SoftwareScore only.
ValueEaseFeaturesSyncOwnershipCollabAI
69
SoftwareScore · ranked #4

Apple's free built-in notes app, instantly usable and reliable across Apple devices, limited beyond the ecosystem.

Value (price vs features) 10
Ease of use 9
Feature depth 5
Cross-platform & sync 6
Data ownership / privacy 4
Collaboration 6
AI capability 5

How this score is calculated →

Apple Notes pros and cons

Pros
  • Free, instant, and reliable across Apple devices
  • Great quick capture, scanning, and handwriting
  • Zero setup
Cons
  • Apple-only: no Windows, Android, or Linux
  • Limited structure and export options
  • No database or linking features
Best for Apple users who want effortless, free notes.

On the SoftwareScore, Apple Notes is strongest on Value (price vs features) (10/10) and weakest on Data ownership / privacy (4/10). That's what drives its 69/100.

Compare Apple Notes head-to-head

Apple Notes vs Google Keep 65
Google's free sticky-note app, dead simple and synced everywhere, but light on structure and depth.
Apple Notes vs Notion 73
An all-in-one workspace where notes, databases, and wikis live as flexible blocks, powerful and collaborative, with a learning curve and cloud lock-in.
Apple Notes vs Coda 69
A docs-meets-databases platform with powerful tables and automations, excellent for teams, lighter on data portability.
Apple Notes vs OneNote 68
Microsoft's free-form digital notebook, generous, flexible, and free, especially inside the Microsoft 365 world.
Apple Notes vs Craft 67
A beautifully designed docs-and-notes app, polished and easy, with clean export and solid cross-platform sync.
Apple Notes vs Anytype 66
A local-first, encrypted, open-source 'everything app', strong ownership and structure without going full plaintext.