Apple Notes
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Your Notes Deserve
to Go Places

Try Craft free and discover what Apple Notes could be –publish to web, share with anyone, collaborate in real-time.

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The Bottom Line: Craft vs Apple Notes in 2026

Apple Notes is free and deeply integrated with Apple devices, but it's limited - no Windows or Android support, no web publishing, and no templates. Craft adds cross-platform sharing, one-click web publishing, 100+ professional templates, AI assistant, and collaboration features - starting with a free plan.

Choose if you:

  • Share with anyone - Craft works on Windows, Android, and web browsers
  • One-click publishing creates professional web pages from any note
  • 100+ templates for documents, meeting notes, project plans, and more
  • Version history and document recovery built-in
  • AI writing assistant included free in all plans

Choose Apple Notes if you:

  • You only use Apple devices and never share outside the ecosystem
  • Free matters most - Apple Notes costs nothing extra
  • You want the simplest possible experience with zero learning curve
  • Basic notes are all you need - no templates or publishing required

Craft vs Apple Notes: Feature Comparison 2026

See how Craft and Apple Notes compare across key features

Feature
Apple Notes
Web Publishing
One-click to beautiful pages
Not available
Cross-Platform
Mac, iOS, Android, Windows, Web
Apple devices only
Real-time Collaboration
Edit together, comments, sharing
Basic shared notes only
Templates
Dozens of professional templates
None
AI Assistant
Built-in, works everywhere
Apple Intelligence (iPhone 15 Pro+ only)
Document Styling
Covers, cards, layouts, typography
Basic formatting only
Nested Documents
Unlimited nesting and linking
Flat folder structure
Export Options
PDF, Word, Markdown, TextBundle
PDF only
Price
Free / $7.99/mo Plus
Free (built into Apple devices)
Learning Curve
Minimal - familiar interface
None - extremely simple

Why users switch to Craft

“ Craft helps me find the truth and organize my world. I run on knowledge, and Craft significantly increases my reach.”
Dan Corcoran avatar

Dan Corcoran

App Store Award
App Store Award
Mac App of the Year
Apple Design Awards
Apple Design Awards
Finalist
Webby
Webby
Awarded three times in various categories
German Design Award
German Design Award
Excellent Communications Design Interactive UX
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What matters most

Craft gets it right

Simple to Start

Just as simple as Apple Notes. No learning curve – start writing in seconds.

Native Experience

True native apps for Mac, iPad, iPhone and Android – not Electron. Feels like it belongs on your device.

Share Beyond Apple

Collaborate with Windows and Android users. Your notes work everywhere – not just within Apple's walled garden.

Publish to Web

Turn any note into a beautiful website with one click. Share with anyone – no Apple ID required.

100+ Templates

Professionally designed templates for meeting notes, project briefs, travel plans, and more. Stop starting from scratch.

AI Assistant

Built-in AI for writing and editing. Works everywhere, not just newest iPhones.

Why users switch to Craft

“ Craft is way more functional than Apple or Google Notes while being much easier to use than Notion.”
Leo avatar

Leo

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In 3 simple steps

Switch From Applenotes To Craft

Export with Exporter App

Download the free "Exporter" app from the Mac App Store. Open it, grant access to Notes, and export all your notes as Markdown files.

Import to Craft

Open Craft, go to "All Documents" view, and use the Import option from the ⋯ menu. Select your exported Markdown folder.

Start Crafting

Craft automatically imports your notes, images, and folder structure. Now add links, covers, and more.

Learn more about importing to Craft →
Import from Apple Notes to Craft
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Write your next doc in Craft

Download Craft for free. No credit card required.

Download on the App StoreContinue on web

Common Questions

Apple Notes is great for quick notes. But when you need to publish to the web, share with non-Apple users, or create professional documents with templates and covers – you hit the wall. Craft removes that wall while staying just as simple to use.

Yes. Craft is a native Apple app that opens instantly, syncs automatically, and feels right at home on your iPhone, iPad, and Mac. You can start writing immediately – no setup, no learning curve.

Yes – and this is a big one. With Apple Notes, sharing outside the Apple ecosystem is painful. Craft lets you share any document via a simple link. Anyone can view it in their browser, no account needed.

Not exactly the same, but Craft has widgets, Shortcuts support, and a Share Extension that let you capture ideas quickly from anywhere. Many users find Craft just as fast for quick capture.

Yes. Unlike Apple Notes, which users report becomes slow and laggy with large libraries, Craft is built to handle large collections smoothly.

Yes. Craft provides full offline access on all devices – create, edit, organize, and search documents without internet. Changes sync automatically when you reconnect, just like Apple Notes but with more powerful features.

Yes. Craft has a built-in Apple Notes import tool. Your notes, folders, formatting, and images transfer cleanly. It's one of the easiest migrations you'll ever do.

Craft offers more powerful organization: Spaces for separate contexts (work, personal), nested folders, tags, and Collections for structured data. Apple Notes only has basic folders and smart folders.

Yes. Craft offers rich block-based formatting: headers, callouts, toggles, code blocks, tables, embeds, and beautiful typography. Apple Notes has basic formatting that hasn't evolved much in years.

Yes. Craft offers real-time collaborative editing, comments, and team spaces. Apple Notes sharing is limited to iCloud users and has fewer collaboration features.

Yes. Craft lets you publish any document as a beautiful website with one click. Share professional-looking pages with anyone – no account needed to view. This is impossible in Apple Notes.

Both support Apple Pencil, but Craft integrates handwriting more seamlessly with typed content. You can sketch, annotate, and write alongside formatted text in the same document.

Yes, and more. Craft's AI assistant helps you write, edit, summarize, and organize content. It's included in all plans. Apple Notes has basic Apple Intelligence features, but Craft's AI is more integrated with your workflow.

If you need to publish, share outside Apple ecosystem, create professional documents, or collaborate with others, yes. Craft removes the limitations that make Apple Notes frustrating for serious work.

Yes. Craft offers a free Education plan for students with full Plus features. Better organization, publishing for portfolios, and collaboration with classmates make Craft superior for academic work.

Craft is better for writers who want to publish or share their work. Beautiful typography, one-click publishing, and export options make Craft a writing tool, not just a note-taking app.

Both sync quickly across Apple devices. But Craft also has a web app for non-Apple access, and your shared links work for anyone. Apple Notes is locked to the Apple ecosystem.

Use Craft's built-in Apple Notes import (Settings → Import → Apple Notes). Select the notes you want to import and Craft handles the rest. Your formatting, folders, and images transfer automatically.
Organising feature screenshot

Details that Bring Joy

Small touches that transform work into delight

Instant
Setup

Dozens of
Templates

Automatic
Backlinks

Eye-catching
Covers

Why users switch to Craft

“ Craft is the first thing I open to plan my day and the last thing I use to jot down my final thoughts. It’s my dashboard and diary in one.”
Ray avatar

Ray