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Reviews on SourceForge
14 reviews tracked 6 press mentions

The Bottom Line

Best for
Anyone fully in the Apple ecosystem who wants frictionless capture and system-wide integration. The default for personal and family use. Not appropriate if you use any non-Apple device as your primary machine.
Price
Free, no paid tier. Compare plans

Key facts

  • Cross-device syncing
  • Simple note-taking
  • iCloud integration

Pros

  • Free with Apple devices
  • Good for quick notes
  • Decent scanning
  • Collaboration works
  • Fast sync

Cons

  • Apple only
  • Limited organization
  • No Markdown
  • Basic formatting
  • Export options limited

What is Apple Notes?

Editorial review
Apple Notes is a free note-taking application built into all Apple devices including iPhone, iPad, and Mac. The app syncs seamlessly across devices via iCloud, making it easy to capture and access notes anywhere within the Apple ecosystem. The app supports rich content including text, checklists, images, scanned documents, web links, handwritten notes, and audio recordings with live transcription. Recent updates added Markdown support, tags for organization, collaborative sharing, and powerful search across all notes. Apple Intelligence features enable AI-powered text rewriting and image generation. Notes includes a built-in document scanner, secure note locking with Face ID or password, and Quick Notes for capturing ideas without leaving your current app. The app can even solve math problems written directly in notes.

Ratings Across the Web

4.1 (14 reviews)

Apple Notes holds an aggregate rating of 4.1 out of 5 from 14 reviews across SourceForge, last checked May 29, 2026.

What people say

“I find Android alternatives to be much better than Notes. ColorNote has the ability to password protect notes.” via SourceForge

Ratings aggregated from independent review platforms. Learn more

Key Features

  • Note-taking
  • Folder organization
  • Document scanning
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Collaboration
  • iCloud sync

Pricing Plans

Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026

Apple Notes plans and prices, checked October 2026
PlanPriceDetails
Free

$0

  • Full app functionality
  • iCloud sync (5GB free)
  • Available on all Apple devices
+2 more
  • Web access via iCloud.com
  • No features locked
iCloud+ 50GB

$0.99/monthly

  • 50GB iCloud storage
  • Shared across all iCloud services
iCloud+ 200GB

$2.99/monthly

  • 200GB iCloud storage
  • Family sharing available

Is Apple Notes worth the price?

Great value

Apple Notes itself is entirely free and incredibly generous, offering full functionality without any locked features.

The associated iCloud+ storage tiers, starting at $0.99/month for 50GB, are competitively priced for cloud storage. This pricing model is best for Apple users who need a robust, integrated note-taking solution without extra cost, and scalable storage for all their Apple services.

Hidden Costs & Gotchas

iCloud storage needed for large attachments

Full Apple Notes pricing: every plan, hidden costs and alternatives

How Apple Notes's pricing compares

At $0.99/mo, billing unit not specified, Apple Notes is the most affordable of its 3 comparable direct competitors.

Apple Notes
$0.99
$14.99

Entry paid plan, monthly. Pricing checked Oct 7, 2026.

Reviews

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4.1/5

Across 14 verified user reviews on SourceForge

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Apple Notes FAQ

How does Apple Notes facilitate quick idea capture across devices?

Apple Notes is built into all Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and syncs seamlessly via iCloud. It also features Quick Notes, allowing users to capture ideas without leaving their current application.

Which teams would find Apple Notes most suitable for collaboration?

Apple Notes is best for teams already within the Apple ecosystem, as it offers collaborative sharing features. Its fast sync across Apple devices supports real-time updates among team members.

How does Apple Notes compare to Microsoft OneNote in terms of platform availability?

Apple Notes is exclusively available on Apple devices, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac, and syncs within the Apple ecosystem. In contrast, Microsoft OneNote is known for its cross-platform availability across various operating systems.

What kind of content can be included in an Apple Note?

Apple Notes supports a wide range of content, including text, checklists, images, scanned documents, web links, handwritten notes, and audio recordings with live transcription. It also allows for solving math problems written directly within notes.

Does Apple Notes include any AI-powered features?

Yes, Apple Notes incorporates Apple Intelligence features that enable AI-powered text rewriting and image generation. This enhances the note-taking experience with advanced content creation capabilities.

What are the primary limitations users might encounter with Apple Notes?

The primary limitation of Apple Notes is its exclusivity to the Apple ecosystem, meaning it is not available on other platforms. It also has limited organization features and basic formatting options compared to some alternatives.

How is Apple Notes priced?

Apple Notes is free to use and comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. There is no paid plan required to access its features.

Source: apple.com

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