The Bebop Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Bebop in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Bebop
The Insider’s Guide
Capture-first plain-text notes app for iPhone
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Bebop’s own pages.
Made by Jack Cheng LLC · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Bebop’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Bebop’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.4
GPA, above 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Bebop is an iPhone notes app built for capture: it opens on a blank note, and each saved note becomes a plain-text or Markdown file in an iCloud Drive or Dropbox folder the user chooses. Review and organization are left to desktop apps that read the same folder, such as Obsidian. The free version allows unlimited notes with no ads, logins or tracking, and a one-time Pro upgrade adds color themes, custom templating and power-user settings.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Bebop, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: open, type, save, with the save button under your thumb.
- 1
Best for catching a thought on your iPhone as a text file
Bebop is an iPhone capture app that opens on a blank note and saves each one as a plain text file in your iCloud Drive or Dropbox folder, for Obsidian or another app to read.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $4.99 one-time Pro upgrade.
- 3
There is a free plan
Unlimited notes with iCloud Drive or Dropbox sync, Flashback, the share extension and widgets, with no ads, logins or tracking.
- 4
It runs on iOS
iOS.
- 5
Capture-first editor
The app opens on a blank note with the save button within thumb reach, so a thought can be typed and saved without passing through a note list.
- 6
Plain-text files in your own folder
Notes are saved as .txt or .md files in a chosen iCloud Drive or Dropbox folder, with custom headers, footers, filename formats and file extensions.
- 7
Flashback
One tap cycles back through recent notes so more can be added to them, and a long press on the button pins a note.
- 8
A 2.4 GPA, above 22 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
Bebop at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $4.99 one-time Pro upgrade
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- iOS
- Made by
- Jack Cheng LLC, since 2024
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for catching a thought on your iPhone as a text file
Bebop is an iPhone capture app that opens on a blank note and saves each one as a plain text file in your iCloud Drive or Dropbox folder, for Obsidian or another app to read. That is all it does: there's no list of old notes to browse, no iPad, Mac or Android version, and the developer's write-up says free caps Flashback at three notes.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | The Pro upgrade is $4.99 once on the US App Store, less than a single month of this category's $6 middle plan. It buys colour themes, custom templating and power-user settings, and you may never want any of them. |
| Free plan and trial | B | Unlimited notes, sync to iCloud Drive or Dropbox, the share extension and widgets, free, with no ads, logins or tracking. One person could live on it. The developer's own write-up does say the free version caps Flashback at three notes. |
| Features | D | Capture and nothing else: a blank note the second you open it, files named and formatted your way, Flashback to add to recent notes, Quick Append to tack text onto an existing file. That's one narrow job. There's no note browser, and the listing leaves reading and organizing to another app at your desk. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: open, type, save, with the save button under your thumb. The only setup is picking the folder, and Dropbox wants its own app installed first. |
| Platforms and integrations | D | One operating system, and not even all of it: the App Store lists iPhone only, no iPad, no Mac, no Android. It gets round that by writing plain files into iCloud Drive or Dropbox, which Obsidian or NVAlt can open. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Bebop is for
- Fits if you use Obsidian on a computer and want a quick way in from your iPhone
- Works for people who keep notes as plain text files in iCloud Drive or Dropbox
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to read and search old notes on your phone, as there's no note browser
- Not for you if you use Android or want it on an iPad or Mac, because it's iPhone only
- Too light for anyone who wants one app for both writing notes and organizing them
- Watch out: Dropbox sync needs the Dropbox iOS app installed, and themes and templating need the $4.99 Pro upgrade
- Tight if you add to recent notes a lot, since the developer's 2024 write-up says free caps Flashback at three notes
Good to know
Good for
- Obsidian or NVAlt users who want a fast capture app on iPhone
- People who keep notes as plain-text files in iCloud Drive or Dropbox
- Jotting down ideas to sort out later on a Mac
Worth knowing
- The App Store lists it for iPhone only; there is no iPad, Mac or Android version.
- It is a capture tool with no note browser: older notes are reached through Flashback or another app that opens the same folder.
- Dropbox sync requires the Dropbox iOS app to be installed.
- Color themes, custom templating and power-user settings need the $4.99 Pro upgrade; the developer's 2024 write-up also says the free version caps Flashback at three notes.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$4.99 one-time
To start. There is a free plan too
Bebop has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 one-time Pro upgrade.
It buys colour themes, custom templating and power-user settings, and you may never want any of them.
Free
$0
Unlimited notes saved as text files to an iCloud Drive or Dropbox folder, with no ads, logins or tracking.
Pro Upgrade
$4.99
one-time in-app purchase (US App Store)
Adds color themes, custom templating and power-user settings, and supports further development of the app.
The free plan
Unlimited notes with iCloud Drive or Dropbox sync, Flashback, the share extension and widgets, with no ads, logins or tracking.
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Pro Upgrade”, against $4.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 299.00 | $4.76 | about the same |
| Canada | $6.99 | $4.91 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺249,99 | $5.08 | about the same |
| India | ₹ 499 | $5.16 | about the same |
| Brazil | R$ 29,90 | $5.97 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R99.99 | $6.05 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £4.99 | $6.60 | 32% more |
| Germany | 5,99 € | $6.71 | 35% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
1
Place it runs: iOS
Capture-first plain-text notes app for iPhone. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: local-first, one-time purchase, notes, Markdown.
There's no note browser, and the listing leaves reading and organizing to another app at your desk.
- Capture-first editor
- The app opens on a blank note with the save button within thumb reach, so a thought can be typed and saved without passing through a note list.
- Plain-text files in your own folder
- Notes are saved as .txt or .md files in a chosen iCloud Drive or Dropbox folder, with custom headers, footers, filename formats and file extensions.
- Flashback
- One tap cycles back through recent notes so more can be added to them, and a long press on the button pins a note.
- Quick Append
- Starting a note with @ picks an existing file, and the text is appended to that file instead of being saved as a new note.
- Share extension, widgets and shortcut
- Links and text can be saved from other iOS apps through the share sheet, and widgets and a shortcut open Bebop ready for a new note.
- Markdown helpers
- A helper bar inserts Markdown symbols, lists continue automatically on the next line, and the editor applies light Markdown styling.
Where it runs
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud Drive
- Dropbox
- Obsidian
- NVAlt
Bebop is made by Jack Cheng LLC, and has been around since 2024.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
22/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Bebop's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 27.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 62 of 147) and worst on features (D, above 0).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Bebop’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- BFree plan and trialAbove 71 of 147
- DFeaturesAbove 0 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- DPlatforms and integrationsAbove 0 of 147
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Your call
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box.
You could make the core of Bebop for yourself: notes and Markdown. What you would give up is listed below. Whether that is worth the price is your call. At $4.99, paid once, it costs less than the weekend it would take to replace, which is the argument for keeping it.
What you could make
- Notes and Markdown: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A real app for iOS. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets.
What this rests on. Bebop’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Drafts, Strflow, Gravity, Braintoss and Obsidian
The 5 tools Bebop is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.4GPA
Drafts
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Quick-capture notes app for Apple devices with text actions.
- Only Drafts lists a macOS app.
- Bebop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Drafts also covers transcription, dictation and workflow automation.
- 2.8GPA
Strflow
Free plan · from $1.49/mo
Chat-style notes timeline for iPhone, iPad and Mac.
- Only Strflow lists a macOS app.
- Bebop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Bebop also covers Markdown.
- 2.4GPA
Gravity
From $9.99 one-time
Single-stream notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Android.
- Bebop has a free plan. Gravity does not.
- Only Gravity lists macOS and Android apps.
- Gravity also covers menu bar app.
- 2.0GPA
Braintoss
From $2.79 one-time
One-tap capture app that sends notes to your email inbox.
- Bebop has a free plan. Braintoss does not.
- Only Braintoss lists an Android app.
- Bebop also covers Markdown.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Only Obsidian lists macOS, Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Bebop can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
11
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Bebop free?
Bebop has a free plan. Unlimited notes with iCloud Drive or Dropbox sync, Flashback, the share extension and widgets, with no ads, logins or tracking.
How much does Bebop cost?
Bebop lists 2 plans. Free: $0.
What platforms does Bebop work on?
Bebop is available on iOS.
Does Bebop have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Bebop is listed for iOS.
Does Bebop have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Bebop is listed for iOS.
Is Bebop open source?
Bebop is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Bebop integrate with?
Bebop's listing names iCloud Drive, Dropbox, Obsidian and NVAlt. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Bebop?
Bebop is made by Jack Cheng LLC. It dates from 2024.
What are the alternatives to Bebop?
The closest alternatives to Bebop in our directory are Drafts, Strflow, Gravity, Braintoss and Obsidian.
How does Bebop compare with other note-taking apps?
Bebop's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 27.
Could I make my own version of Bebop?
A notes app at its plainest is text in folders with a search box. You could make the core of Bebop for yourself: notes and Markdown.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Bebop’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Jack Cheng's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-01.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by Jack Cheng LLC. Prices change, so check jackcheng.com before you buy.
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Bebop, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/bebop
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Bebop: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/bebop
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/bebop/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Bebop, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Bebop’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Bebop is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Jack Cheng LLC. Prices and plans change: check jackcheng.com before you buy.