Notchkin
Local notes panel that drops down from the MacBook notch
What is Notchkin?
Notchkin is a Mac notes app that lives in the MacBook notch: hovering over the notch, or pressing a shortcut, drops down a panel for writing and searching notes. It handles rich text, checklists, hashtags and pinned notes, and comes with a deliberately sarcastic mascot. Notes are stored only on the Mac, with no sync and no account, and the app is a one-time purchase on the Mac App Store or through Setapp.
Notchkin is a paid product, starting at $4.99 one-time. See every plan
Good for
- MacBook users who want a scratchpad without another window
- Short notes, checklists and clipboard snippets kept on one Mac
- People who want notes that never leave their machine
Worth knowing
- It runs on the Mac only and requires macOS 14 or later.
- There is no sync: the FAQ says notes cannot be shared with an iPhone or iPad, only backed up by copying the notes folder yourself.
- The Mac App Store listing shows a paid download with no free version or trial; refunds go through Apple or Setapp.
- The built-in backups live on the same Mac as the notes, so the vendor advises keeping a separate backup.
Key features
- Panel in the notch
- Hovering over the notch slides a notes panel down. Macs without a notch get a notch-shaped panel at the top of the screen, and every connected monitor has its own.
- Quick Capture and paste as note
- A global shortcut starts a new note from any app, and a second shortcut turns whatever is on the clipboard into a note.
- Rich text and lists
- Notes support bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, highlights and links, along with checklists and bulleted and numbered lists.
- Hashtags, search and pins
- Hashtags and tag filters take the place of folders. Search runs across all notes or inside a single one, and important notes can be pinned to the top.
- Local storage with daily backups
- Notes are saved in a sandboxed folder on the Mac and the app makes no network requests. It snapshots the notes once a day and keeps the last 7 backups.
- Export
- A single note exports as .rtf or .md, and the whole library can be backed up as JSON or as a folder of Markdown files.
Notchkin pricing
- Starts at
- $4.99 one-time
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- None listed
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| Notchkin | $4.99one-time purchase (US Mac App Store) | The full app, with no subscription or account. Family Sharing covers up to six people, and the terms say it is also sold once-off through Setapp. |
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with Notchkin before you buy.
Works with
Notchkin alternatives
- Notchkin vs Quick Note
Free trial · from $12.99 one-time
- Notchkin vs SideNotes
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
- Notchkin vs Tot
Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
- Notchkin vs Antinote
Free trial · from $5 one-time
Common questions
Is Notchkin free?
No. Notchkin is a paid product, starting at $4.99 one-time.
How much does Notchkin cost?
Notchkin lists one plan. Notchkin: $4.99 one-time purchase (US Mac App Store). Prices were read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does Notchkin work on?
Notchkin is available on macOS.
Does Notchkin have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Notchkin is listed for macOS.
Does Notchkin have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Notchkin is listed for macOS.
Is Notchkin open source?
Notchkin is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Notchkin work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Notchkin integrate with?
Notchkin's listing names Setapp. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Who makes Notchkin?
Notchkin is made by Danny Stankowski. It dates from 2026.
What are the alternatives to Notchkin?
The closest alternatives to Notchkin in our directory are Quick Note, SideNotes, Tot, Antinote and Heynote. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Notchkin.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.