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Free plans

The best free note-taking apps

Note-taking apps are personal, and the free plans differ a lot. Some give you a fully usable app at no cost; others are a demo. This page lists the note-taking apps in our top 5 that offer a free plan, with notes on how far each free tier really goes.

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Our verdict

Craft and Evernote have the most useful free plans for everyday notes. Capacities is the better free pick if you like linking notes to people and projects. Mem and Coda are worth testing if you want AI help or docs that behave like apps, but their best features are on paid plans.

At a glance

Free tools compared: Best Free Note-Taking Apps
ToolBest forStarting price
Rank 1CraftApple users who care about designFree plan available; see website for paid plans
Rank 2EvernoteEveryday notes, web clipping and keeping things in one placeFree plan available; see website for paid plans
Rank 3CapacitiesResearchers and knowledge workersFree plan available; paid from about $10/month (billed yearly)
Rank 4MemBusy professionals who want AI to help find and connect notesFree plan available; paid from about $12/month
Rank 5CodaTeams and power users who want flexible docsFree plan available; see website for paid plans

The free picks, ranked

  1. Rank 1
    Top pick

    Craft

    Beautiful notes and documents, designed with Apple devices in mind.

    Best forApple users who care about design

    What it does

    Craft is a notes and documents app with a polished writing experience and simple sharing.

    Strengths

    • Polished, pleasant writing experience
    • Notes, documents and easy sharing
    • Works across your devices
    • A free plan to start

    Good to know: It feels most at home on Apple devices.

  2. Rank 2

    Evernote

    The classic note app, still going strong.

    Best forEveryday notes, web clipping and keeping things in one place

    What it does

    Evernote lets you capture notes, web clippings and scans in one place and search them later.

    Strengths

    • Familiar, easy-to-use notes
    • Web clipping and document scanning
    • Search across your notes
    • A free plan available

    Good to know: The free plan has limits, and newer apps offer more modern features.

  3. Rank 3

    Capacities

    Notes organized around people, ideas and things, not folders.

    Best forResearchers and knowledge workers

    What it does

    Capacities lets you link notes to people, projects and topics, so your notes grow into a connected knowledge base.

    Strengths

    • Link notes to people, projects and topics
    • Clean, calm design
    • Good for building a personal knowledge base
    • A free plan to start

    Good to know: It works differently from folder-based apps, so expect a short learning curve.

  4. Rank 4

    Mem

    AI-powered notes that help organize themselves.

    Best forBusy professionals who want AI to help find and connect notes

    What it does

    Mem is a notes app that uses AI to help you capture quickly, find things and connect related notes.

    Strengths

    • AI helps organize and search your notes
    • Quick capture
    • Fast, minimal design
    • A free plan to try it

    Good to know: AI features are best on paid plans, and it is a newer app.

  5. Rank 5

    Coda

    Docs that act like apps, with tables and automations.

    Best forTeams and power users who want flexible docs

    What it does

    Coda combines documents, tables and simple automations, so one doc can be a note, a tracker or a team wiki.

    Strengths

    • Combines docs, tables and workflows
    • Templates to get started quickly
    • Good for team wikis and trackers
    • A free plan available

    Good to know: It is more powerful than a simple notes app, so it takes more time to set up.

Frequently asked questions

Which free note-taking app is best for everyday use?
Craft is the most pleasant free option if you are on Apple devices, and Evernote’s free plan is the most familiar. Both let you take real notes daily without paying.
Do free note-taking apps sync across devices?
Most do, but some free tiers limit the number of devices or the amount of storage. Check each tool’s current plan details before you rely on it across devices.
Are free note-taking apps private?
Usually yes, but check the privacy policy of the specific tool, especially if you plan to store sensitive information. Paid plans sometimes add stronger encryption.