

This comes at the cost of features, but it makes for a fast and pleasant note-taking experience.

The clue’s in the name, but Simplenote is about as no-frills as a note-taking app can get. If you crave simplicity but need better native support than Apple Notes, take a look at Simplenote. There’s also a native Apple Silicon version, which performs excellently on Apple’s latest computers. If you use more than a Mac then you’ll be pleased to know that OneNote has native apps for almost every platform, including Android, Windows, and the cloud. You don’t need a subscription to access all of the app’s features, including cloud sync across platforms. Microsoft OneNote is a heavyweight note-taking app that includes a huge number of features, and it doesn’t cost a penny to use. RELATED: How to Quickly Add Links, Photos, and Media to Apple Notes on iPhone and iPad Feature-Rich and Powerful: Microsoft OneNote

You can add other users with an Apple ID to your notes and even use in-line mentions to draw their attention with a notification. Notes also has some powerful collaboration features.

You can even use smart folders to collate notes based on tags. Your data is indexed and easy to find on Apple devices thanks to Spotlight search, which can often fail with third-party solutions. There’s also support for markup with a finger or Apple Pencil on compatible devices (not on Mac for now though).Īpple relies on hashtags and folders for organization, and you can even elect to keep notes out of iCloud and just on your Mac or mobile device. You can even lock notes with a password and use Face ID and Touch ID to unlock them on supported devices. There’s simple text formatting, tables, and the ability to create checklists. The app supports attachments including photos, maps, web links, and documents which you can “scan” using the built-in document scanner on iPhone and iPad. It’s not perfect if you spend a lot of time with those operating systems, but it’s better than nothing. If you need to access your notes from a non-Apple device like an Android smartphone or Windows PC you can use the web-based version by logging in at. Apple Notes syncs with all your devices using iCloud, which means you can access your notes across devices using the built-in Notes app.
