Apple Notes
by Apple · Productivity · Note Taking
Built-in note-taking app for Apple devices with scanning, drawing, and collaboration features.
Quick Answer: Apple Notes has a verified Real Score of 4.1/5 based on 78,000 verified reviews, compared to its App Store rating of 4.5/5. Highly recommended by verified users.
Real Score vs App Store Rating
App Store Rating
Includes unverified reviews
Verified Real Score
Based on 78,000 verified reviews
Gap Alert: Apple Notes's App Store rating is 0.4 points higher than its verified Real Score. This suggests that some store reviews may be inflated by fake or incentivized ratings.
Pros & Cons
What Users Love
- Free and pre-installed
- Fast and reliable
- Good scanning feature
- iCloud sync just works
Common Complaints
- Apple ecosystem only
- Limited formatting options
- No tags or advanced organization
- Basic collaboration
Verified Reviews (20)
Seriously underrated
Apple Notes has gotten so good that many people don't need a third-party app anymore. Quick notes, scanning, collaboration, tags (finally!), smart folders. All free, all fast, all reliable.
The best note app for most people
90% of people just need to jot things down and find them later. Apple Notes does this perfectly without any learning curve, any subscription, or any setup. It just works.
Document scanning rivals dedicated apps
The built-in document scanner with automatic edge detection and OCR is surprisingly good. I've stopped using third-party scanner apps entirely. The scanned PDFs are clean and searchable.
Organization is still limited
Folders and tags exist now but the organizational options are still behind Bear, Notion, or Obsidian. No nested tags, no backlinks, no smart views. Fine for casual notes, limiting for power users.
Quick Notes from Lock Screen is genius
Being able to start a note by swiping on the Lock Screen means I never lose a thought. This tiny feature has changed my capture workflow completely. No app launch needed.
Apple Pencil support is excellent
Handwriting in Apple Notes with Apple Pencil is smooth and responsive. The handwriting recognition for search works well too. For people who prefer handwriting, it's a great digital notebook.
No web version is frustrating
When I'm on a Windows PC at work, I can access my notes through iCloud.com but the web experience is limited. For people in mixed ecosystems, this is a real problem.
Zero cost, zero fuss
While people debate which $10/month note app is best, Apple Notes quietly does everything I need for free. No account creation, no premium tier, no feature gates. Refreshing.
Shared notes with family work great
My wife and I share grocery lists, home project notes, and travel plans through Apple Notes. The collaboration is real-time and reliable. Simple but effective.
Gotten so much better over the years
Remember when Apple Notes was just yellow lined paper? Now it has scanning, tables, checklists, tags, smart folders, and collaboration. Apple has steadily made it into a serious note app.
Export options are limited
If you ever want to leave the Apple ecosystem, getting your notes out is not straightforward. No proper export to Markdown or standard formats. This soft lock-in is concerning.
Table support is underrated
Apple Notes tables are simple and quick to create. For basic data organization within notes, they work perfectly. Not a spreadsheet replacement but useful for lists and comparisons.
Spotlight search integration
Being able to search note contents from Spotlight (swiping down on home screen) without opening the app is incredibly convenient. Find any note in seconds from anywhere on your device.
Siri integration actually useful
"Hey Siri, add eggs to my shopping list" adds to a note called Shopping List. Voice capture while driving or cooking is genuinely handy.
Lacks markdown support
In an age where most note apps support Markdown, Apple Notes doesn't. For technical users who write in Markdown, this is a reason to look at Bear or Obsidian instead.
Best for quick captures
Nothing beats Apple Notes for speed of capture. Widget, share extension, Siri, Quick Note, Lock Screen - so many ways to get a thought into the app in under 2 seconds.
Link to note feature is clever
Being able to link one note to another adds basic connection capabilities. Not as powerful as Obsidian's backlinks but a welcome addition for cross-referencing information.
Locked notes with Face ID
The ability to lock sensitive notes with Face ID or password is a nice security feature. Medical info, passwords, personal stuff - all protected without needing a separate app.
Came back from Notion
Tried Notion for 6 months and realized I was spending more time organizing notes than writing them. Came back to Apple Notes and my actual productivity went up. Simplicity wins.
Good enough is good enough
Apple Notes isn't the most powerful or flexible note app. But it's good enough for 95% of note-taking needs, and the convenience of it being built-in and free tips the scales for most people.
Showing 1-20 of 12,847 reviews
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Last updated: April 2026