Apple Notes vs UpNote
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
UpNote
Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Where they differ
- Apple Notes is free. UpNote starts at $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium).
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Only UpNote lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only UpNote lists a browser extension.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Apple Notes also covers transcription.
- UpNote also covers Markdown, web clipper and templates.
In commonFree planiOSmacOSNotesLinked notes
At a glance
| Apple Notes | UpNote | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free | Free plan |
| Starts at | Free | $1.99 per month, or $39.99 once for lifetime (Premium) |
| Free plan | The app is listed as free on the App Store, with no in-app purchases. Syncing runs through iCloud, which includes 5 GB of free storage with an Apple Account. | Free to use and sync across all your devices, limited to 50 notes with basic features. Attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium. |
| Free trial | None listed | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| Linux | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Browser extension | ||
| Made by | Apple | UpNote Pte. Ltd. |
| Price read from | apps.apple.com | getupnote.com |
| Checked | Oct 5, 2026 | Oct 5, 2026 |
Who each one suits
Apple Notes
- People who use only Apple devices
- Quick capture with Quick Note, Siri or dictation on Apple Watch
- Scanning receipts and documents into searchable notes
- Families and friends sharing notes and folders over iCloud
UpNote
- People who prefer a one-time lifetime purchase to a subscription
- One notes app across Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android
- Moving notes over from Evernote, Apple Notes, Bear or Simplenote
Worth knowing
Apple Notes
- Apps are listed only for Apple devices; on anything else, notes are reached in a web browser at iCloud.com.
- Notes on iCloud.com works only with notes stored in iCloud, not with notes kept in other accounts such as Google or Yahoo.
- Sync relies on iCloud, which includes 5 GB of free storage; iCloud+ plans with more storage start at $0.99 per month for 50 GB.
- Sharing is limited to people who use iCloud, and Apple says certain features are available only in select languages and regions.
UpNote
- The free version is limited to 50 notes; attachments, tables, locks and export need Premium.
- There is no end-to-end encryption: notes sync through Firebase and are encrypted in transit and at rest.
- Premium cannot be bought in the Windows or Linux apps; it is purchased on Mac, iOS or Android and then syncs to your account.
- Attachments are limited to 20 MB, and image resolution is reduced automatically on upload.
Key features
Apple Notes
- Rich notes
- A note can combine text styles, checklists, tables, photos, PDFs, maps and web links. Section headers collapse to hide the text under them.
- Audio recording and transcripts
- Audio sessions are recorded inside a note with a live transcript, and transcripts are searchable to find a particular moment.
- Document scanner and handwriting
- A built-in scanner captures paper documents. Sketches and handwriting are added with a finger, or with Apple Pencil on a compatible iPad, including on inline PDFs.
- Folders, tags and Smart Folders
- Notes sit in folders and subfolders or carry typed or handwritten tags. Smart Folders collect notes by rules such as date created, checklists or attachments.
- Search and links between notes
- Search covers typed text, handwriting and the text inside scanned documents and photos. Notes can link to one another, with >> as a typing shortcut.
- Shared and locked notes
- Notes and folders can be shared with other iCloud users, with changes shown in real time and an Activity view. A note can be locked with the device passcode or a custom password.
UpNote
- Notebooks, hashtags and Quick Access
- Notes are organized with nested notebooks and hashtags, can be pinned to the top of a list or added to Quick Access, and are filtered by matching keywords.
- Rich text and Markdown editor
- The editor offers rich text options, Markdown support, lists, images, links, attachments, quotes, code blocks, text highlighting and collapsible sections.
- Sync and offline use
- Notes sync automatically across devices after you sign in and can be read and written without a connection. Without an account, notes stay on the device.
- Web Clipper
- Browser extensions for Chrome, Safari and Firefox save a web page into UpNote.
- Version history, backup and export
- Version history is saved as you edit, the desktop app keeps automatic local backups, and Premium exports notes to text, PDF, HTML or Markdown.
- Focus mode, locks and sharing
- Focus mode hides the note list and menus, a note can be shared through a secret web link, and Premium adds locks for notes, notebooks and the whole app.
Plans
Apple Notes
Free$0
Every feature of the app on iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch and Apple Vision Pro, plus browser access at iCloud.com.
UpNote
Free$0
Up to 50 notes with basic features, synced across all your devices.
Premium$1.99
per month
Unlimited notes, attachments, tables and code, locks for notes and notebooks, themes and notebook covers, and export to text, PDF, HTML and Markdown.
Premium Lifetime$39.99
one-time purchase
The same Premium features for a single payment. One purchase covers all your devices once you sign in to your UpNote account.
Ways to pay less
Apple Notes
No public discounts listed.
UpNote
- Lifetime license
Lifetime Premium for a one-time $39.99
Premium can be bought once for $39.99 instead of $1.99 a month. UpNote says existing lifetime licenses will still be honored if its pricing model changes.
