Apple Notes

Name: Apple Notes
Author: Apple

Already on your phone, and better than it has any right to be.

By Apple · since 2011 · apple.com

8.1

A- · out of 10

Apple Notes quietly turned into a real note app: folders, tags, note links, scanning, handwriting, audio recording with transcription, and Apple Intelligence summaries on newer hardware. It costs nothing, syncs instantly through iCloud, and opens before you finish thinking. The catch is the walled garden.

How it scores

Features25% of score
7.6
Depth and breadth of what the app can do.
Ease of use20% of score
9.2
Speed, polish and how long it takes to feel at home.
AI15% of score
7.0
Quality and usefulness of the built-in AI, not just its presence.
Sync & reliability15% of score
8.8
How dependably notes move between devices.
Value15% of score
9.6
What you get for what you pay.
Platform coverage10% of score
5.4
How many places you can actually use it.

Pricing

No paid plan

Free tier: Free with any Apple device. Notes count against 5 GB of free iCloud storage.

iCloud+ from $0.99/month if your attachments outgrow the free tier.

Platforms

Windows
macOS
iOS
Android
Linux
Web

41 tracked features supported

What it does well

Instant capture from the lock screen, share extension or a widget
Scanning, Live Text and handwriting search all work without setup
End-to-end encrypted with Advanced Data Protection turned on
Free, and it will still be here in ten years

Where it falls short

No Windows, Android or Linux app at all
Getting notes out in bulk is awkward by design
No backlinks, graph or database-style structure
Apple Intelligence features need recent hardware

Our take

For most iPhone owners this is the correct answer until they hit a specific wall. Just do not build a decade of work here if you might switch to Android.

Best for: Anyone fully on Apple devices who wants zero setup and zero cost.

Genuinely free Minimal & fast Handwriting & tablets