Apple Notes review
The free notes app already on your iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Apple
- Free
- iPhone & iPad, Mac, Web
4.8 from 664.1K App Store ratings
Does it deserve #5?
Is Apple Notes worth it?
Yes. Apple Notes scores 9.0/10 and ranks #5 in Productivity & Notes. It's best for iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a fast, free place for everyday notes. Skip it if you switch between Apple and Android or Windows devices every day. Price: Free; syncs with 5 GB of free iCloud storage, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month.
The verdict
Apple Notes is free, already on your iPhone, iPad and Mac, and a lot better than most people think. You get checklists, tables, document scanning, handwriting, Math Notes and audio recordings with written transcripts. Share notes with family, lock private ones and export to Markdown. Everything syncs through iCloud. The catch is that it lives in Apple's world, with only a web version for Windows and Android.
- Checklists, tables and document scanning
- Math Notes
- Audio recordings with transcripts
- Shared notes and folders
- Locked notes
- Markdown import and export
Score breakdown
Overall = features 30% · design 20% · speed 20% · value 15% · privacy 15%. Why these weights?
What's new
- Sep 2026IOS 27 adds Copy as Markdown, Markdown paste, section links and divider lines
- Sep 2026Siri can now create a new note or add to one you already have
- Sep 2025IOS 26 added Markdown import and export, plus a Notes app for Apple Watch
Privacy 9.0/10
App Store label: no tracking. Your note content and an ID are linked to you; usage data is not. Turn on Advanced Data Protection and your iCloud notes are end-to-end encrypted.
What we like
- Free and built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Handwriting, scans, tables and transcripts in one app
- No tracking, according to the App Store label
What could be better
- No Android or Windows app, only iCloud.com in a browser
- Free iCloud storage is just 5 GB
- Not end-to-end encrypted unless you turn on Advanced Data Protection
iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a fast, free place for everyday notes
you switch between Apple and Android or Windows devices every day
Questions about Apple Notes
Is Apple Notes worth it in 2026?
Yes. Apple Notes scores 9.0/10 and ranks #5 in Productivity & Notes. It's best for iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a fast, free place for everyday notes. Skip it if you switch between Apple and Android or Windows devices every day. Price: Free; syncs with 5 GB of free iCloud storage, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month.
Is Apple Notes free?
Yes. Notes is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac. It syncs using your iCloud storage, which is 5 GB free, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month for 50 GB.
Can I use Apple Notes on Windows or Android?
There's no app for them, but you can open and edit your notes in any web browser at iCloud.com.
Apple Notes vs Google Keep: which is better?
Apple Notes has more tools, like tables, scanning and Math Notes. Google Keep is simpler, but it has apps for both Android and iPhone.
What are the best alternatives to Apple Notes?
The closest alternatives are Jotter, Bear and Google Keep. See all of them ranked on our Apple Notes alternatives page.
Where does Apple Notes rank?
Apple Notes ranks #5 of 17 in our Productivity & Notes ranking, with an overall score of 9.0 out of 10.