Alternatives · Note-Taking
Drafts alternatives
Drafts compared with 12 alternatives: Apple Notes, Bear, Simplenote, Obsidian, Tot and 7 more.
Drafts has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year. 8 of the 12 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 2 more offer a free trial.
12 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| DraftsThis tool | Free plan · from $1.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Apple Notes | Free | Free | Web, macOS, iOS |
| Bear | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Simplenote | Free | Free | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android |
| Obsidian | Free plan · from $4/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Tot | Free plan · from $19.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Antinote | Free trial · from $5 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| Bebop | Free plan · from $4.99 one-time | Yes | iOS |
| Braintoss | From $2.79 one-time | No | iOS, Android |
| Gravity | From $9.99 one-time | No | macOS, iOS, Android |
| Heynote | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| SideNotes | Free trial · from $9.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
| SnipNotes | Free plan · from $1.99 | Yes | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from Drafts
- Free
Apple Notes
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web
- Apple Notes is free. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Apple Notes also covers linked notes.
- Drafts also covers dictation, Markdown and workflow automation.
Suits: People who use only Apple devices
- Free plan · from $2.99/mo
Bear
Markdown notes app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with tags and links
- Bear starts at $2.99 per month, or $29.99 per year. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- Bear also covers linked notes and web clipper.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
Suits: Writers who want a focused Markdown editor on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free
Simplenote
Free plain-text notes that sync across every major platform
- Simplenote is free. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Simplenote lists a web app.
- Only Simplenote lists Android, Windows and Linux apps.
- Simplenote is open source, according to its own site.
- Simplenote also covers linked notes.
Suits: Plain-text notes synced across phone, desktop and browser at no cost
- Free plan · from $4/mo
Obsidian
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device
- Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on). Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
- Obsidian also covers linked notes and whiteboard.
Suits: People who want their notes as plain Markdown files they control
- Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
Tot
Seven-note text scratchpad for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch
- Tot starts at $19.99 one-time in-app purchase, per platform. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Tot can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Tot also covers menu bar app.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
Suits: Mac and iPhone users who want a scratchpad for short-lived text
- Free trial · from $5 one-time
Antinote
Mac scratchpad for temporary notes, quick math and checklists
- Antinote starts at $5 one-time purchase. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Drafts has a free plan. Antinote does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Drafts lists an iOS app.
- Antinote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Antinote also covers Pomodoro timer, menu bar app and calculator.
Suits: Mac users who want a throwaway pad beside their main notes app
- Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Bebop
Capture-first plain-text notes app for iPhone
- Bebop starts at $4.99 one-time Pro upgrade. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Drafts lists a macOS app.
- Bebop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
Suits: Obsidian or NVAlt users who want a fast capture app on iPhone
- From $2.79 one-time
Braintoss
One-tap capture app that sends notes to your email inbox
- Braintoss starts at $2.79 one-time on Google Play; $2.99 on the App Store. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Drafts has a free plan. Braintoss does not.
- Only Braintoss lists an Android app.
- Only Drafts lists a macOS app.
- Braintoss can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: People who treat their email inbox as the place to process to-dos
- From $9.99 one-time
Gravity
Single-stream notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android
- Gravity starts at $9.99 one-time per platform. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Drafts has a free plan. Gravity does not.
- Only Gravity lists an Android app.
- Gravity can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Gravity also covers menu bar app.
Suits: People who jot quick notes and do not want to file them
- Free
Heynote
Block-based scratchpad for developers on Mac, Windows and Linux
- Heynote is free. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Only Heynote lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Only Drafts lists an iOS app.
- Heynote also covers calculator.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
Suits: Developers who need a holding place for JSON, logs and code snippets
- Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
SideNotes
Screen-edge notes panel for Mac, with a separate iPhone app
- SideNotes starts at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- Drafts has a free plan. SideNotes does not, though it has a free trial.
- SideNotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SideNotes also covers tasks and menu bar app.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
Suits: Mac users who want notes at hand without switching apps
- Free plan · from $1.99
SnipNotes
Notebook and clipboard app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
- SnipNotes starts at $1.99 subscription (period not labelled), or $14.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad. Drafts starts at $1.99 per month, or $19.99 per year.
- SnipNotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- SnipNotes also covers clipboard manager.
- Drafts also covers transcription and workflow automation.
Suits: Apple Watch owners who want to dictate and read notes on the wrist
Limits worth knowing in Drafts
- Apps exist only for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch. The Web Capture page can create drafts in any browser but cannot review or edit them.
- Creating and editing actions, workspaces, themes, Mail Drop and the AI chat console all require the Drafts Pro subscription.
- Sync runs through iCloud and needs the same iCloud account, with iCloud Drive active, on every device.
- A subscription bought on iOS cannot be restored on the Mac App Store or the reverse; it carries over only through a shared iCloud account.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Drafts?
The alternatives to Drafts in this directory are Apple Notes, Bear, Simplenote, Obsidian, Tot, Antinote, Bebop, Braintoss, Gravity, Heynote, SideNotes and SnipNotes. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Drafts.
Is there a free alternative to Drafts?
Yes. Apple Notes, Simplenote and Heynote are free to use. Bear, Obsidian, Tot, Bebop and SnipNotes have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Drafts alternatives work on Windows?
The Drafts listing does not include a Windows app. Simplenote, Obsidian and Heynote list one.
Which Drafts alternatives work on Linux?
The Drafts listing does not include a Linux app. Simplenote, Obsidian and Heynote list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Drafts?
Simplenote is described as open source on its own site.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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