Alternatives · Note-Taking
Notebooks alternatives
Notebooks compared with 7 alternatives: DEVONthink, Keep It, Obsidian, Bear, NotePlan and 2 more.
Notebooks is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac. 3 of the 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 4 more offer a free trial.
7 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| NotebooksThis tool | Free trial · from $17.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| DEVONthink | Free trial · from $99 one-time | Trial only | Web, macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Keep It | Free trial · from $2.99 | Trial only | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| Obsidian | Free plan · from $4/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Bear | Free plan · from $2.99/mo | Yes | macOS, iOS, Browser extension |
| NotePlan | Free trial · from $8.33/mo | Trial only | Web, macOS, iOS |
| EagleFiler | Free trial · from $69.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS |
| SnipNotes | Free plan · from $1.99 | Yes | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from Notebooks
- Free trial · from $99 one-time
DEVONthink
Document and information manager for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- DEVONthink starts at $99 one-time license, with 2 Mac seats and 1 year of updates. Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- Only DEVONthink lists a web app.
- Only DEVONthink lists a browser extension.
- Only Notebooks lists a Windows app.
- DEVONthink also covers web clipper.
Suits: Researchers, lawyers and writers with large document archives on a Mac
- Free trial · from $2.99
Keep It
Notebook and document organizer for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Keep It starts at $2.99 in-app subscription on the Mac App Store (billing period not labelled). Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- Only Keep It lists a browser extension.
- Only Notebooks lists a Windows app.
- Keep It also covers web clipper, templates and bookmarks.
- Notebooks also covers tasks and long-form writing.
Suits: Mac users who want notes and reference documents in one library
- 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). Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- Obsidian has a free plan. Notebooks does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Obsidian lists Linux and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Suits: People who want their notes as plain Markdown files they control
- 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. Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- Bear has a free plan. Notebooks does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Bear lists a browser extension.
- Only Notebooks lists a Windows app.
- Notebooks can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Writers who want a focused Markdown editor on Mac, iPhone and iPad
- Free trial · from $8.33/mo
NotePlan
Markdown notes, tasks and calendar in one daily note
- NotePlan starts at $8.33 per month, billed annually ($99). Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- Only NotePlan lists a web app.
- Only Notebooks lists a Windows app.
- Notebooks can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- NotePlan also covers daily notes, time blocking and calendar.
Suits: Apple users who plan their day in notes next to calendar and reminders
- Free trial · from $69.99 one-time
EagleFiler
Document organizer and mail archiver for Mac
- EagleFiler starts at $69.99 one-time purchase. Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- Only Notebooks lists iOS and Windows apps.
- EagleFiler also covers web clipper and bookmarks.
- Notebooks also covers linked notes, tasks and long-form writing.
Suits: Mac users running a paperless office or a long-term document archive
- 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. Notebooks starts at $17.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $43.99 one-time for Mac.
- SnipNotes has a free plan. Notebooks does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Notebooks lists a Windows app.
- SnipNotes also covers dictation and clipboard manager.
- Notebooks also covers linked notes, tasks and long-form writing.
Suits: Apple Watch owners who want to dictate and read notes on the wrist
Limits worth knowing in Notebooks
- Each platform is a separate purchase: $17.99 for iPhone and iPad, $19 for Windows and $43.99 for Mac.
- The site offers no Android, Linux or web version.
- On iPhone and iPad, Custom Storage Locations is a $2.99 in-app purchase on top of the app price.
- WebDAV sync has no automatic mode and has to be triggered manually.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Notebooks?
The alternatives to Notebooks in this directory are DEVONthink, Keep It, Obsidian, Bear, NotePlan, EagleFiler and SnipNotes. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Notebooks.
Is there a free alternative to Notebooks?
Yes. Obsidian, Bear and SnipNotes have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Notebooks alternatives work on Linux?
The Notebooks listing does not include a Linux app. Obsidian lists one.
Which Notebooks alternatives work on Android?
The Notebooks listing does not include an Android app. Obsidian lists one.
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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