Apple Notes vs Google Keep
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Apple Notes is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.3. Apple Notes wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Google Keep on 0.
iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a fast, free place for everyday notes
Android users and families who want quick shared lists and simple notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Apple Notes | Google Keep |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #5 of 17 | #15 of 17 |
| Developer | Apple | |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | — |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Apple Notes better than Google Keep?
Apple Notes is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.3. Apple Notes wins on 5 of the 5 scores, Google Keep on 0.
Which is cheaper, Apple Notes or Google Keep?
Apple Notes: Free; syncs with 5 GB of free iCloud storage, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month. Google Keep: Free; uses your Google account's 15 GB of free storage. On value for money, Apple Notes scores higher.
Do Apple Notes and Google Keep work on the same devices?
Only Apple Notes runs on Mac. Only Google Keep runs on Android.
Which is more private, Apple Notes or Google Keep?
Apple Notes scores higher on 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.
Strengths and weaknesses
Apple Notes
- 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
- 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
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.
Full Apple Notes review
Google Keep
- Free, with no ads
- Works on Android, iPhone and any web browser
- Shared shopping lists update in real time
- No folders or tables, and only basic formatting
- Notes aren't end-to-end encrypted
- Keep Live is Android-only and needs a paid Google AI plan
Google Keep is the sticky-note wall of notes apps. Jot a thought, tick off a shopping list, snap a photo or record a voice memo, and it syncs to Android, iPhone and the web in seconds. Shared lists update live for everyone, and reminders pop up at the right time or place. It's free with no ads. Formatting is basic, there are no folders, and your notes aren't end-to-end encrypted.
Full Google Keep review
