Alternatives · Note-Taking
Napkin alternatives
As of Nov 13, 2026, the highest-graded Napkin alternative is Apple Notes (3.4 GPA). It's also the best free one.
Napkin compared with 4 alternatives: mymind, Reflect, Capacities and Apple Notes.
Napkin is a paid product, starting at $5 per month, or $40 per year. All 4 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
Listings checked up to Nov 13, 2026 · Where the facts come from
Black Friday: is there a Napkin sale?
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| NapkinThis tool | From $5/mo | No | iOS |
| mymind | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Reflect | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Capacities | Free plan · from $9.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Apple Notes | Free | Free | Web, macOS, iOS |
Price against what you get
Napkin starts at $3.33 a month when paid by the year and scores 2.3 out of 4 on features, ease of use and platforms. 1 of the 4 alternatives on this chart scores higher and starts lower: Apple Notes.
Capacities scores higher without starting lower.
Features, ease of use and platforms, averaged
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
- The best score at each price
- Has a free plan
- No free plan
How each one differs from Napkin
mymind
Private AI-tagged store for bookmarks, notes and images
- mymind starts at $4.99 per month (The Bookmarker).
- mymind has a free plan, which Napkin lacks.
- mymind also lists a web app, macOS and Android apps and a browser extension.
- mymind also covers linked notes, web clipper, read later, bookmarks and highlights.
- mymind does not cover dictation, which Napkin does.
Suits: Designers and writers collecting images, references and quotes
Reflect
Open-source daily notes app with backlinks and local Markdown
- Reflect starts at $9.99 per month, or $99 per year, for the iPhone and iPad app.
- Reflect has a free plan, which Napkin lacks.
- Reflect also lists a macOS app and a browser extension.
- Reflect is open source, according to its own site.
- Reflect also covers Markdown, linked notes and daily notes.
Suits: Mac users who want free, open-source notes kept as plain Markdown files
Capacities
Object-based note-taking app with daily notes and backlinks
- Capacities starts at $9.99 per month, billed yearly.
- Capacities has a free plan, which Napkin lacks.
- Capacities also lists a web app, macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps and a browser extension.
- Capacities also covers linked notes, web clipper and daily notes.
- Capacities does not cover dictation, which Napkin does.
Suits: People who organize notes around people, books and projects rather than folders
Apple Notes
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web
- Apple Notes is free.
- Apple Notes has a free plan, which Napkin lacks.
- Apple Notes also lists a web app and a macOS app.
- Apple Notes also covers transcription and linked notes.
- Apple Notes does not cover dictation, which Napkin does.
Suits: People who use only Apple devices
Limits worth knowing in Napkin
- Runs on iPhone only; the desktop prototype was shut down on June 30, 2026, and no replacement is promised.
- The App Store listing says a subscription is needed to use Napkin, and it shows no free plan or trial.
- The listing also shows a second pair of subscription prices, $3 monthly and $30 yearly, without saying what differs.
- It requires iOS 26.0 or later.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Napkin?
The alternatives to Napkin in this directory are mymind, Reflect, Capacities and Apple Notes. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Napkin.
Is there a free alternative to Napkin?
Yes. Apple Notes is free to use. mymind, Reflect and Capacities have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Napkin alternatives work on Windows?
The Napkin listing does not include a Windows app. Capacities lists one.
Which Napkin alternatives work on macOS?
The Napkin listing does not include a macOS app. mymind, Reflect, Capacities and Apple Notes list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Napkin?
Reflect 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 Nov 13, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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