Craft vs Apple Notes
Craft is native document editor for Mac and iOS with beautiful formatting and real-time collaboration, while Apple Notes is built-in note-taking app for Apple devices with iCloud sync, folders, and basic formatting. Craft is built for apple users who want beautiful native docs, whereas Apple Notes targets apple users who want simple, synced notes.
At a glance
|
Craft
|
Apple Notes
|
|
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Apple users who want beautiful native docs | Apple users who want simple, synced notes |
| Starting price | Free | Free |
| Free tier | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | — |
| AI Assist | ✓ | — |
| Folders | — | ✓ |
| Markdown | ✓ | — |
| Native App | ✓ | — |
| Quick Notes | — | ✓ |
| Scan Documents | — | ✓ |
| Sharing | ✓ | — |
| iCloud Sync | — | ✓ |
Craft
Strengths
- Includes Native App as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
- Full Markdown support with live preview for clean, structured notes
- Free for 1000 blocks — generous enough for most small teams to get real work done
- Includes ai assist alongside the core feature set — fewer separate tools needed
Weaknesses
- Free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary
- Limited team/admin features if your organization eventually scales up
Apple Notes
Strengths
- Includes iCloud Sync as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
- Includes Folders as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
- The core product is free with no paywalled essentials
- Established product with 14+ years on the market and a mature ecosystem
Weaknesses
- May lack some advanced features
- Some advanced features require upgrading to a paid plan
- Fewer built-in features means you may need additional tools to cover gaps
- Moving notes out to another platform can be difficult — export options vary
The bottom line
Pricing: Both Craft and Apple Notes are free. You can try both without spending a dollar.
Feature gaps: Craft offers AI Assist, Markdown and Native App that Apple Notes lacks. Apple Notes brings Folders, Quick Notes and Scan Documents that Craft does not have.
Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Where each tool shines: Craft's biggest strengths are: includes native app as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows. full markdown support with live preview for clean, structured notes. Apple Notes's biggest strengths are: includes icloud sync as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows. includes folders as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows.
Watch out for: With Craft, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Apple Notes, the main complaint is that may lack some advanced features.
Choose Craft if...
- You need a tool built for apple users who want beautiful native docs
- You specifically need AI Assist and Markdown
- You care about full markdown support with live preview for clean, structured notes
- The free tier works for you: free for 1000 blocks
Choose Apple Notes if...
- You need a tool built for apple users who want simple, synced notes
- You specifically need Folders and Quick Notes
- You care about includes folders as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows
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