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Notability Logo
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Notes beyond
handwriting.

Notes that go beyond handwriting. Type, draw, collaborate, and sync across every device with Craft.

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Which one is right for you?

Craft

Type AND draw — Notability is handwriting-only with minimal typed text
Full apps on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web — not just iPad
Real-time collaboration — Notability has no team features
AI assistant included for writing, summarizing, and organizing
Web publishing, tables, and rich media — not just digital paper

Notability

Audio recording synced to handwriting is essential
iPad handwriting with paper simulation is your primary use case
You mainly annotate PDFs and lecture slides
You don't need typed documents or cross-platform access

Notability users love the handwriting experience on iPad, but many outgrow its limitations — no real cross-platform support, no collaboration, and no typed document capabilities. Craft gives you Apple Pencil drawing plus everything else: typed docs, AI, collaboration, and true multi-device sync.

Feature-by-Feature Comparison

See how Craft and Notability compare across key features

Feature
Craft
Notability
Performance
Native apps on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, Web
Native on iPad and Mac — limited elsewhere
Cross-Platform
Full apps on all platforms with instant sync
iPad-first — Mac app is limited, no Windows/Web
Note Types
Rich typed docs + Apple Pencil drawing + media
Handwriting-focused — minimal typed text features
AI Features
Built-in AI for writing, summarizing, organizing
No AI features available
Offline Access
Full offline on every platform
Offline on iPad — limited on other devices
Apple Pencil
Drawing + annotation alongside typed documents
Excellent pen tools with audio sync
Web Publishing
One-click beautiful web pages
Not available
Free Tier
Free plan with sync included
Free with limits — subscription for full access
Organization
Spaces, folders, collections, tags, search
Basic subjects and dividers
Collaboration
Real-time editing, shared spaces, comments
No collaboration features

Why users switch to Craft

A

Anonymous review

“ Your app absolutely blew me away. I've tried everything — hundreds of hours switching between apps. Every single one let me down in some way — too slow, too clunky, too ugly. And then I found Craft. From the very first moment, I felt it: the speed, the elegance, the flow. This is the best app I've used in years.”
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

What matters most

Craft gets it right

Quick idea capture

Capture ideas by typing or drawing — on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web, not just iPad

Fast, beautiful writing

Beautiful typed documents with rich formatting, covers, and media — not just handwritten pages

Offline access

Full offline on every device with cloud sync and backup — your notes are never trapped on one iPad

Easy Organization

Spaces, folders, collections, and full-text search — find anything instantly across all devices

Task management

Built-in tasks with due dates and daily notes — manage work alongside your notes

API, MCP & Automations

Connect with Claude, ChatGPT, Apple Shortcuts, and build custom workflows

Compare the cost

Plan
Craft
Notability
Starter
Free
Free
Plus Personal
$8.0
$20/year
Plus Family and Groups
$15.0 /person
N/A
AI Assistant Feature
Included
In Business plan only
See full pricing

Switch From Notability To Craft

Export Your Notes

In Notability, select notes and share as PDF to preserve your handwritten content and annotations.

Import to Craft

Import your PDFs into Craft as reference documents, then start creating new typed + drawn notes.

Start Creating

Draw with Apple Pencil AND type rich documents — synced to every device. Your notes grow with you.

Ready for notes that go beyond handwriting?

Start for free. No credit card required.

Continue on webDownload on the App Store

Common Questions

For note-taking beyond handwriting, yes. Craft offers Apple Pencil support plus typed notes, rich formatting, collaboration, cross-device sync, and AI. Notability is better only if handwriting with paper simulation is your exclusive use case.

Anyone who wants their notes accessible beyond a single iPad. Students who type and handwrite, professionals who collaborate, and anyone who needs their notes on their phone, laptop, or web browser.

Yes. Craft supports real-time collaboration, shared spaces, comments, and team folders. Notability has no collaboration features at all — every note is personal and device-bound.

Notability switched from a one-time purchase to a $20/year subscription, frustrating many long-time users. Craft has a generous free tier and Plus starts at $7.99/month with AI, publishing, and full sync included.

Cross-device sync (not just iPad), typed rich documents, web publishing, real-time collaboration, AI assistant, full-text search, collections, and API integration. Notability focuses solely on handwriting.

Yes. Craft works fully offline on all platforms — Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web. Notability works offline on iPad only. Craft syncs changes automatically when you reconnect.

Export your Notability notes as PDF files, then import them into Craft. Your handwritten pages appear as PDF attachments within Craft documents, which you can annotate and organize alongside typed notes.

Craft offers rich block-based formatting: headings, callouts, code blocks, tables, covers, media, and beautiful typography. Notability is primarily a digital paper canvas for handwriting with limited text formatting.

Yes. Craft is a native app with instant launch and sub-second sync on iPad. It also works natively on Mac, iPhone, Windows, and Web — something Notability can't offer.

Craft offers Spaces, folders, collections, linked documents, tags, and powerful full-text search. Notability uses subjects and dividers — basic organization that doesn't scale well.

Yes. Craft lets you publish any document as a beautiful web page with one click. Share professional pages with anyone — no account needed. Notability has no publishing feature.

Both support Apple Pencil on iPad. Notability has more advanced pen tools and paper simulation. Craft lets you mix handwriting with typed text, images, and rich formatting in the same document — and access it all from any device.

Yes. Craft includes an AI assistant free in all plans for writing, editing, summarizing, and organizing. Notability has no AI features — it's focused exclusively on handwriting input.

If you need notes beyond handwriting — typed documents, collaboration, cross-device access, or publishing — absolutely. Craft complements or replaces Notability depending on your needs.

Depends on your workflow. Notability is great for handwritten lecture notes on iPad. Craft is better for everything else: typed essays, group projects, research organization, and studying across devices. Many students use both.

Significantly. Craft is a full document tool with rich formatting, AI assistance, and publishing. Notability is a handwriting app — typed text is a secondary feature with basic formatting.

Craft syncs instantly across Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web. Notability syncs via iCloud between Apple devices only (iPad, iPhone, Mac). Craft gives you access from any device, anywhere.

Export Notability notes as PDFs from the share menu. Import them into Craft documents. You can then add typed notes, organize with folders, and access everything across all your devices.