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The best apps, tested by hand

Notes

Somewhere to put thoughts, clips and plans so you can find them again. The best one is the one you open without thinking.

a notes app I will actually stick with

Our three picks

How we pick
1Best overall
ObsidianFree for personal use; Sync and Publish are paid add-ons

Notes as plain files on your own device, with plugins for almost anything.

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2Strong alternative
Apple NotesFree with every Apple device

Built into every iPhone and Mac. Fast, free and surprisingly capable.

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3Also great
Google KeepFree with a Google account

Sticky-note style notes and checklists with reminders.

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Price
Works on
Good for

All 10 notes apps

AnytypeFree plan, iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux
Local-first notes and databases, encrypted by default.
Apple NotesFree, iPhone, Mac, Web
Built into every iPhone and Mac. Fast, free and surprisingly capable.
BearFree plan, Apple
Beautiful Markdown notes for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
CapacitiesFree plan, Everywhere
Notes organised as objects (people, books, ideas) instead of folders.
CraftFree plan, Everywhere
Notes and documents that look designed, with easy sharing.
EvernoteFree plan, Everywhere
The original everything-notebook, with web clipping and search in scans.
Google KeepFree, iPhone, Android, Web
Sticky-note style notes and checklists with reminders.
Microsoft OneNoteFree, Everywhere
Free digital notebooks with sections, pages and pen support.
NotionFree plan, Everywhere
Docs, wikis, tasks and databases in one workspace.
ObsidianFree plan, iPhone, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux
Notes as plain files on your own device, with plugins for almost anything.

Read the full guides

Best of 2026

The best notes apps for most people

Three notes apps cover almost everyone: one that is already on your phone, one that grows with you, and one built for teams.

3 picks every Sunday. Nothing else.

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