Apple Notes vs Logseq
Which is better in 2026? Five scores, side by side.
Apple Notes is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.5. Apple Notes wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Logseq on 2.
iPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a fast, free place for everyday notes
Students, researchers and writers who like outlines and linked daily notes
Score by score
The details
| Feature | Apple Notes | Logseq |
|---|---|---|
| Category | Productivity & Notes | Productivity & Notes |
| Category rank | #5 of 17 | #10 of 17 |
| Developer | Apple | Logseq, Inc. |
| Pricing | Free | Free |
| Usable for free | Yes | Yes |
| iPhone & iPad | ✓ | ✓ |
| Android | — | ✓ |
| Mac | ✓ | ✓ |
| Windows | — | ✓ |
| Linux | — | ✓ |
| Web | ✓ | ✓ |
Common questions
Is Apple Notes better than Logseq?
Apple Notes is the better app overall, scoring 9.0 to 8.5. Apple Notes wins on 3 of the 5 scores, Logseq on 2.
Which is cheaper, Apple Notes or Logseq?
Apple Notes: Free; syncs with 5 GB of free iCloud storage, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month. Logseq: Free and open source; optional Open Collective backing starts at $5 a month. On value for money, Apple Notes scores higher.
Do Apple Notes and Logseq work on the same devices?
Only Logseq runs on Windows, Linux, Android.
Which is more private, Apple Notes or Logseq?
Logseq scores higher on privacy (9.6/10). App Store label: no tracking, and only crash and performance data, not linked to you. Your notes live on your device, and the beta sync is end-to-end encrypted with a password you set.
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
Logseq
- Free and open source
- Your notes stay on your own device
- Linking, searches and plugins for building a big knowledge base
- The new database version is still in beta
- iPhone App Store version last updated in April 2024
- Android app isn't on Google Play
Logseq is a free, open-source outliner for people who think in bullet points. Each day starts with a journal page, and linking ideas with double brackets slowly builds a web of connected notes. Add tasks, saved searches, flashcards and notes on PDFs, and keep it all on your own device. A big change is underway, though: the new database version is still in beta, and the iPhone App Store app dates from 2024.
Full Logseq review
