Apple Notes
Apple's built-in note-taking app for iPhone, iPad and Mac, synced through iCloud.
HN commenters like Apple Notes for its simplicity123, free iCloud sync between iPhone and Mac45, and quick capture of thoughts and checklists.678 The most common complaints are proprietary storage that keeps notes out of the file system91011 and limited formatting control, including lost line breaks and no line-spacing setting.1213
Why people recommend it
Quick capture · 3
Commenters use it to jot down thoughts, ideas, checklists and copy-pasted info.
“I use Apple Notes for quick, ephemeral notes and for Shared Family Notes.”
“I still use Apple Notes, but more as a place to store copy/paste info I want to save or checklists.”
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“I use iPhone notes to write down all my thoughts and things I want to track.”
Simplicity · 3
Commenters describe it as dead simple and easy to use.
“satisfies the same requirements as Apple notes(dead simple, iCloud sync, free)”
“like most I gravitated to Apple Notes due to simplicity, but I still missed so many things”
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“I've been using Apple Notes and Google Keep for years. I'm a big fan of the simplicity and ease of use.”
Free sync · 2
It syncs between iPhone and Mac over iCloud at no cost and with no subscription.
“I already use Apple Notes as my daily driver over Obsidian, Bear and the others”
“satisfies the same requirements as Apple notes(dead simple, iCloud sync, free)”
Evernote replacement · 1
One commenter left Evernote for Apple Notes and has been very happy.
“I switched to Apple Notes and have been very happy.”
Shared notes · 1
One commenter uses it for shared family notes.
“I use Apple Notes for quick, ephemeral notes and for Shared Family Notes.”
Markdown import · 1
The macOS app can import Markdown files and render them.
“The Notes app that comes with macOS can import markdown files and render them.”
Caveats and dissent
Data lock-in · 3
Notes live in a proprietary Apple database instead of portable files.
“This is why as a Mac user I don't use those apps.”
“I already use Apple Notes as my daily driver over Obsidian, Bear and the others”
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“a bridge that exposes Apple Notes over HTTP so I can access them from a Linux VM”
Formatting limits · 2
It removes line breaks and offers no way to adjust line spacing.
“There is no way to adjust line spacing, so paragraphs look (according to reddit commentators) super crunched or smooshed.”
Missing features · 3
Commenters want better search and first-class Markdown support.
“satisfies the same requirements as Apple notes(dead simple, iCloud sync, free)”
“like most I gravitated to Apple Notes due to simplicity, but I still missed so many things”
Show 1 more
“I've been using Apple Notes and Google Keep for years. I'm a big fan of the simplicity and ease of use.”
Not for power users · 1
A defender says it is built for the masses, not for power users.
“I gave on both pretty quick and accepted being stuck in Apple Notes for now.”
Often compared with
Who recommends it in their own words
Threads where it came up
- Writing by Hand is Good for your Brain 2 mentions
- Emacs Turns 50 1 mention
- Why Notes will never let us edit Markdown 1 mention
- Apple routed a graphite pipe through the iPhone Duo's hinge to dissipate heat 1 mention
- Make Tmux the OS 1 mention
- LinkedIn Larpmaxxing 1 mention
Data: apple-notes.json. Quotes are verbatim; the verdict and theme labels are written by a model from these comments, and every clause links to its sources.
All comments 26
“I sometimes venture out to other apps (like Joplin, Obsidian, Apple Notes, Apple Reminders, etc)”
“Notes blows away line breaks.”
“I gave on both pretty quick and accepted being stuck in Apple Notes for now.”
“This is why as a Mac user I don't use those apps.”
“my "hey this is a brilliant idea, I gotta write it down" ADHD notes I have in apples notes thing”
“I already use Apple Notes as my daily driver over Obsidian, Bear and the others”
“Apple notes is awesome.”
“like most I gravitated to Apple Notes due to simplicity, but I still missed so many things”
“I use apple notes and voice notes alternatively with no real plan”
“I'll also journal in Google Docs, Apple notes, or text docs in VS Code.”
“I still use Apple Notes, but more as a place to store copy/paste info I want to save or checklists.”
“I switched to Apple Notes and have been very happy.”
“There is no way to adjust line spacing, so paragraphs look (according to reddit commentators) super crunched or smooshed.”
“all of them just sitting in Apple Notes”
“review things I've written in my Apple Notes (journaling of various kinds, mostly)”
“I write in apple notes”
“a bridge that exposes Apple Notes over HTTP so I can access them from a Linux VM”
“I use iPhone notes to write down all my thoughts and things I want to track.”
“The Notes app that comes with macOS can import markdown files and render them.”
“I use Apple Notes for quick, ephemeral notes and for Shared Family Notes.”
“I've been using Apple Notes and Google Keep for years. I'm a big fan of the simplicity and ease of use.”
“satisfies the same requirements as Apple notes(dead simple, iCloud sync, free)”
“The latest "tool" for me is just Apple Notes for me with a todo list of tasks on a page.”
“I do use Project Managers, Calendars, Apple Notes/Obsidian, Phone Apps, etc.”
“What does this do that sai Apple’s Notes doesn’t?”
“I use Apple notes to save interesting stuff to post.”