Best Note-Taking Apps for Mac (2026)

We tested 7 leading note-taking apps on macOS. Here's how they stack up on features, pricing, sync reliability, and overall experience.

App	Best For	Price	Offline?	Rating
Notion	All-in-one workspace	Free / $10/mo	Limited	★★★★☆
Obsidian	Knowledge graphs & linking	Free / $4.17/mo	Yes (local-first)	★★★★★
Apple Notes	Quick, built-in simplicity	Free	Yes	★★★★☆
Bear	Beautiful Markdown writing	Free / $2.99/mo	Yes	★★★★☆
OneNote	Freeform canvas & Office users	Free / $6.99/mo	Yes	★★★★☆
Craft	Native design & sharing	Free / $7.99/mo	Yes	★★★★☆
Ulysses	Long-form writing & publishing	$5.99/mo	Yes	★★★★☆

1. Notion

The all-in-one workspace that replaces your notes, docs, and project tools.

Block-based editor with databases, kanban boards, calendars, and wikis
Real-time collaboration with unlimited team members on paid plans
Rich integrations: Slack, Google Drive, Figma, GitHub, Jira, and more
Notion AI add-on for writing assistance, summarization, and brainstorming
Cross-platform: Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, and web

Pros

Incredibly flexible — adapts to almost any workflow
Database views (table, board, timeline, gallery) are unmatched
Generous free plan for individuals
Thriving template ecosystem

Cons

Offline support is limited and unreliable
Can feel slow with large databases
Learning curve for advanced features
Data lives on Notion's servers — no true local storage

Pricing: Free (1 person, limited blocks) · Plus $10/mo · Business $18/mo · AI add-on $10/mo

Try Notion Free →

2. Obsidian

Local-first knowledge management with powerful linking and plugin ecosystem.

Plain-text Markdown files stored locally on your Mac
Bi-directional linking and interactive knowledge graph view
1,500+ community plugins and 200+ themes
Obsidian Sync (paid) for end-to-end encrypted cloud sync
Obsidian Publish for turning notes into a website

Pros

Your data is yours — plain Markdown files, no lock-in
Blazing fast even with thousands of notes
Plugin ecosystem adds almost any feature imaginable
Works completely offline with no internet required

Cons

Not a traditional WYSIWYG editor — requires Markdown comfort
Sync and Publish are separate paid add-ons
Collaboration features are minimal
Setup can be overwhelming for new users

Pricing: Free (personal use) · Sync $4.17/mo (annual) · Publish $6.67/mo (annual)

Download Obsidian Free →

3. Apple Notes

The built-in option that's surprisingly capable — and completely free.

Pre-installed on every Mac, iPhone, and iPad — zero setup
Rich text, checklists, tables, file attachments, and scanned documents
iCloud sync across all Apple devices instantly
Locked notes with Face ID / Touch ID / password
Collaboration via shared notes and folders

Pros

Zero cost — included with macOS
Seamless Apple ecosystem integration
Fast, lightweight, and reliable offline
Strong encryption and privacy via iCloud

Cons

Apple-only — no native Windows or Android app
Limited organizational hierarchy (folders only)
No Markdown support or plugin system
Weak export and migration options

Pricing: Free (included with macOS and iOS)

4. Bear

A gorgeous Markdown notes app designed exclusively for Apple platforms.

Elegant, distraction-free writing interface with typography presets
Hashtag-based organization instead of rigid folder structures
Advanced Markdown editor with live preview and inline images
Note encryption and Bear Pro sync across Apple devices
Export to HTML, PDF, DOCX, JPG, and Markdown

Pros

Best-in-class visual design for a notes app
Hashtag system is flexible and intuitive
Excellent prose and long-form writing experience
Strong privacy with per-note encryption

Cons

Apple-only — no Android, Windows, or web app
No database, table, or kanban features
Pro required for sync between devices
Not ideal for team collaboration

Pricing: Free (single device, no sync) · Bear Pro $2.99/mo or $29.99/yr

Get Bear →

5. Microsoft OneNote

A freeform digital notebook deeply integrated with Microsoft 365.

Freeform canvas — place text, images, and drawings anywhere on the page
Notebook → Section → Page hierarchy mirrors physical notebooks
Deep integration with Outlook, Teams, and the Microsoft 365 suite
Real-time co-authoring with colleagues
Robust handwriting and ink support on iPad

Pros

Completely free with 5 GB OneDrive storage
Excellent for freeform note layouts and drawing
Cross-platform: Mac, iOS, Windows, Android, web
Strong OCR for searching text within images

Cons

Mac version lacks some features from the Windows version
Interface feels dated compared to newer apps
No Markdown support
Organization can get unwieldy with many notebooks

Pricing: Free · Microsoft 365 Personal $6.99/mo (1 TB OneDrive + Office apps)

Get OneNote Free →

6. Craft

A stunningly designed native Mac app for documents, notes, and daily planning.

Beautiful native macOS and iOS experience with fluid animations
Block-based editor with toggle blocks, code blocks, and tables
Craft AI for writing assistance and document generation
Share pages as polished web links with custom branding
Daily Note feature for journaling and quick capture

Pros

Possibly the best-looking notes app on Mac
Native performance — fast and fluid
Shared documents look professional without design work
Good balance of simplicity and power features

Cons

Apple ecosystem only for native apps
Free plan has limited storage and AI features
Less flexible than Notion for complex databases
Smaller plugin/integration ecosystem

Pricing: Free (limited) · Craft Plus $7.99/mo or $49.99/yr · Business $12/mo

Try Craft Free →

7. Ulysses

The premium writing environment for authors, bloggers, and serious content creators.

Distraction-free Markdown editor with streamlined markup bar
Unified library for notes, blog posts, and long-form manuscripts
Built-in publishing to WordPress, Ghost, Medium, and Micro.blog
Powerful goal tracking: word count, character count, deadlines
Seamless sync via iCloud across Mac, iPad, and iPhone

Pros

Best-in-class writing experience for long-form content
Direct publishing to major blogging platforms
Excellent goal and deadline management
Consistent experience across Apple devices

Cons

Subscription-only — no free tier or one-time purchase
Apple-only ecosystem
Not designed for databases, tasks, or project management
Overkill if you only need simple notes

Pricing: $5.99/mo or $39.99/yr · Student discount $10.99/6 months

Start Ulysses Trial →

How We Tested

We spent 30+ hours evaluating each note-taking app on macOS Sequoia (15.x) across the following criteria:

Editor experience: Speed, responsiveness, formatting options, and overall writing comfort during sustained sessions.

Organization & search: How well each app handles hundreds or thousands of notes — folders, tags, linking, and search accuracy.

Sync & reliability: Cross-device sync speed, offline capability, and data integrity after disconnects.

Value: What you get for free versus paid, and whether premium features justify the cost.

Ecosystem fit: Integration with other tools, export options, and platform availability.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the best free note-taking app for Mac?

Apple Notes is the best completely free option — it's built into macOS, syncs via iCloud, and supports rich text, checklists, tables, and scanned documents. Notion's free tier is also excellent if you need databases and cross-platform access.

Is Obsidian better than Notion?

It depends on your needs. Obsidian is better for personal knowledge management with local-first storage and bidirectional linking. Notion is better for team collaboration, databases, and all-in-one workspace needs. Many users run both side by side.

Can I use these apps offline?

Obsidian, Apple Notes, Bear, OneNote, Craft, and Ulysses all work fully offline. Notion has limited offline support — cached pages may be accessible but editing is unreliable without internet.

Which note app is best for students?

Notion is popular with students for its database-driven organization and free educational plans. OneNote is great for handwritten lecture notes and freeform diagrams. Apple Notes is perfect for quick class notes if you're already in the Apple ecosystem.

What is the best note app for writers?

Ulysses is purpose-built for writers with its distraction-free Markdown editor, built-in publishing to major blogging platforms, and powerful goal tracking. Bear is a close second for Apple-only writers who value beautiful typography.

Do any of these apps support Markdown?

Obsidian, Bear, Ulysses, and Craft all have first-class Markdown support with live preview. Notion supports Markdown but treats it as one of many block types rather than a primary format.