Apple Notes
Apple Notes is a note-taking app that stores and syncs text, sketches, checklists, images and voice notes across Apple devices. It is mainly used for quick capture, personal organization and simple handwritten notes on iPhone, iPad and Mac.
#1 in Productivity ToolsNote-Taking AppsFree plan
Who it's for
Best for
Apple device owners who want simple notes synced across iPhone, iPad and Mac
Students who capture lecture notes, scans and voice memos on iPhone or iPad
Not for
- Windows and Android owners who need notes that work across all their devices
Writers who need reliable version history and one-click export to other platforms
Features
Cross-device iCloud sync
Notes created on iPhone, iPad or Mac stay in step through the same Apple account, with edits appearing across devices.
Voice notes and transcription
Record audio inside a note and keep a text transcription beside it for later review.
Document scanning
Scan paper documents with the camera and attach the scan to a note for markup or sharing.
Tags and Smart Folders
Tag notes and create Smart Folders that gather matching notes automatically without moving files.
Apple Pencil handwriting
Write or sketch by hand with Apple Pencil, using drawing tools and annotation options on iPad.
What users say
Pros
- Free to use with no subscription and no basic features locked behind a paywall.
- Notes sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac and open instantly, keeping quick notes at hand.
- Simple and lightweight, covering daily notes without extra menus or feature clutter.
- Notes stay on the device and sync through iCloud, keeping data away from third-party servers.
- Voice recording, transcription and a quick-open shortcut make short notes easy to capture on iPhone.
- Tags and smart folders file notes automatically, so the same note can appear in several places.
Cons
- Long notes start to lag and become buggy, forcing notes to be split into smaller pieces.
- Heavy scribbling or handwriting causes the device to heat up quickly.
- An accidental overwrite cannot be undone in the moment, and note history cannot be restored.
- Notes are stored in a proprietary database, and exporting them to another platform is difficult.
- Search only matches from the start of words, so large note collections become hard to search.
- Pencil note-taking feels limited, with few grid choices and a toolbox that forgets recent colors.
A selection of the review sources we used:
Summarized from public user reviews and community discussions. View details
Global Traffic Rank
Top 1k
Alternatives
Rank#1 in category#9 in category#16 in category#19 in category
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