Jotter vs Apple Notes
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
It's close: Jotter edges it 9.1 to 9.0, so the right pick depends on what you need. Jotter wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Apple Notes on 2.
iPhone and iPad users who want a quick, private notepad with handwriting
iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a fast, free place for everyday notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Jotter | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #3 of 17 | #5 of 17 |
| Developer | The Big Head | Apple |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Mac | — | ✓ |
| Web | — | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Jotter better than Apple Notes?
It's close: Jotter edges it 9.1 to 9.0, so the right pick depends on what you need. Jotter wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Apple Notes on 2.
Which is cheaper, Jotter or Apple Notes?
Jotter: Free, no subscription or ads; an optional tip unlocks nothing. Apple Notes: Free; syncs with 5 GB of free iCloud storage, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month. On value for money, Apple Notes scores higher.
Do Jotter and Apple Notes work on the same devices?
Only Apple Notes runs on Mac, Web.
Which is more private, Jotter or Apple Notes?
Jotter scores higher on privacy (9.5/10). No account and no Jotter server: notes sync only through your own iCloud. Handwriting, photo text and voice notes are read on the device. No ads, analytics or tracking; App Store label: Data Not Collected.
Strengths and weaknesses
Jotter
- No titles, folders or save buttons to slow you down
- Handwriting and photo text are searchable, read on the device
- Free, no account, synced through your own iCloud
- iPhone and iPad only, with no Mac, Android or web app
- No backlinks, plugins or collaboration
Jotter is built around one idea: open it and start typing. The first line names the note and it saves as you go. Checklists, Apple Pencil handwriting, scans and voice notes live in the same note, and search reads the text inside pictures and handwriting on the device. Notes sync through your own iCloud with no account, and every note exports as Markdown. It lacks the backlinks and plugins of Obsidian, but as a free, private everyday notepad it is quick and pleasant.
Full Jotter review
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
