The NotePlan Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about NotePlan 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.
NotePlan
The Insider’s Guide
Markdown notes, tasks and calendar in one daily note
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from NotePlan’s own pages.
Made by NotePlan LLC · checked Oct 5, 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 NotePlan’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on NotePlan’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 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
NotePlan combines notes, tasks and a calendar for Mac, iPhone, iPad and the web. Each day, week, month and year gets its own note, Apple Calendar events and Reminders appear beside it, and tasks can be dragged onto a timeline as time blocks. Notes are stored as plain Markdown files on the device and sync through the user's own iCloud account.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about NotePlan, taken from its own pages and our grades.
Today's note is already there when you open it, with your meetings next to it.
- 1
Best for planning your day inside your notes on Apple devices
NotePlan gives every day its own note with your calendar and reminders beside it, and lets you drag a task onto the timeline next to your meetings, all as Markdown files on your device.
- 2
Paid plans start at $8.33 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $8.33 per month, billed annually ($99).
- 3
You can try it first
7-day free trial on the annual plan, 3-day free trial on the monthly plan
- 4
It runs on 3 platforms
macOS, iOS and Web.
- 5
Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly notes
Every day gets its own note for tasks and meeting notes, and each week, month and year has one too, for targets, reviews and goals.
- 6
Apple Calendar and Reminders
Calendar events and reminders appear beside the daily note. Checking off a reminder in NotePlan also checks it off in Apple Reminders.
- 7
Time blocking
Drag a task onto the timeline to turn it into a time block next to your meetings, so you can see what fits in the day.
- 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
Keep it
The plain part of NotePlan you could make: notes, tasks, calendar, time blocking, Markdown and daily notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
NotePlan at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $8.33 per month, billed annually ($99)
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on the annual plan, 3-day free trial on the monthly plan
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, iOS
- Made by
- NotePlan LLC
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.4 GPA, fair
- Store rating
- 4.8 on the App Store, 1,509 ratings
The report card
Best for planning your day inside your notes on Apple devices
NotePlan gives every day its own note with your calendar and reminders beside it, and lets you drag a task onto the timeline next to your meetings, all as Markdown files on your device. But there's no free plan, the trials last 7 days or 3, notes go read-only when a subscription ends, it costs $99 a year or $12 monthly, and there's no Android or Windows app, with sync tied to an Apple ID.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | D | $8.33 a month billed annually ($99), or $12 month by month, where notes apps here sit at $6 in the middle and $8.25 in the dearer quarter, and there's nothing free underneath. It is a notes app, a task list and a day planner in one bill, on Mac, iPad, iPhone and web. |
| Free plan and trial | D | No free plan, and the trials are short: 7 days on the annual plan and only 3 on the monthly, with your payment method charged automatically unless you cancel. After that your notes go read-only. |
| Features | B | Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly notes with Apple Calendar and Reminders beside them, time blocking by dragging a task onto the timeline, project notes with a kanban view, shared Spaces, plugins, themes and templates. Nothing's missing, though its own rivals Agenda and Amplenote do the same notes-plus-calendar trick. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.8 from about 1,500 App Store ratings, the top mark on our scale. Today's note is already there when you open it, with your meetings next to it. Notes are plain Markdown, so there's a little syntax to pick up. |
| Platforms and integrations | B | Native apps on Mac, iPhone and iPad, with Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Reminders and Shortcuts hooked in. Windows and everything else get the web version, which also signs in with an Apple ID, and there's no Android app at all. |
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 NotePlan is for
- Fits if you use Apple Calendar and Reminders and want your notes beside them
- Works for planning the day by fitting tasks around meetings, in Markdown files you can take out as one folder
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want something free, because there's no free plan and notes go read-only when you stop paying
- Not for you if you're on Android or have no Apple ID, since sync is tied to one
- Pricey if you pay monthly, at $12 against $8.33 on the annual plan
- Watch out: the monthly trial lasts 3 days and the annual one 7, and both charge you unless you cancel
- Tight if you're on Windows, where there's no native app, only the web version
Good to know
Good for
- Apple users who plan their day in notes next to calendar and reminders
- People who time-block tasks around their meetings
- Markdown fans who want plain-text files they control
Worth knowing
- There is no free plan: once a trial or subscription ends, notes become read-only.
- Native apps exist only for Mac, iPhone and iPad; Windows and other systems use the web version.
- Sync runs mainly through Apple's CloudKit and is tied to an Apple ID, which the web version also signs in with.
- The monthly plan's free trial lasts 3 days, compared with 7 days on the annual plan.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$8.33
A month to start
NotePlan is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $8.33 per month, billed annually ($99).
It is a notes app, a task list and a day planner in one bill, on Mac, iPad, iPhone and web.
Individual
$8.33
per month, billed annually ($99); $12 billed monthly
Full access on Mac, iPad, iPhone and the web, with calendar and reminders, iCloud sync, Spaces, plugins, themes and templates.
Small Team
$19.99
per month, for up to 5 members
One shared subscription and a single invoice for up to 5 members. Guests invited to a Space are not billed.
Business Team
$69.99
per month, for up to 25 members
The same shared subscription and single invoice for up to 25 members.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on the annual plan, 3-day free trial on the monthly plan
Read from noteplan.co on Oct 5, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 31% with annual billing
The annual plan is $99 a year, which works out to $8.33 a month against $12 on the monthly plan. NotePlan labels this a 31% saving.
Stated on noteplan.coOther savings
Team subscriptions for 5 or 25 members
A shared subscription covers up to 5 members for $19.99 a month or up to 25 for $69.99, which NotePlan says is cheaper than separate individual subscriptions.
Stated on help.noteplan.co
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Personal Monthly”, against $11.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺199,99 | $4.07 | 66% less |
| India | ₹ 499 | $5.16 | 57% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 99ribu | $5.54 | 54% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 399.00 | $6.35 | 47% less |
| Canada | $14.99 | $10.54 | 12% less |
| Australia | $17.99 | $12.56 | about the same |
| United Kingdom | £9.99 | $13.21 | 10% more |
| Germany | 11,99 € | $13.44 | 12% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
3
Places it runs: Web, macOS and iOS
Markdown notes, tasks and calendar in one daily note. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, notes, Markdown, daily notes, tasks, time blocking, calendar.
Nothing's missing, though its own rivals Agenda and Amplenote do the same notes-plus-calendar trick.
- Daily, weekly, monthly and yearly notes
- Every day gets its own note for tasks and meeting notes, and each week, month and year has one too, for targets, reviews and goals.
- Apple Calendar and Reminders
- Calendar events and reminders appear beside the daily note. Checking off a reminder in NotePlan also checks it off in Apple Reminders.
- Time blocking
- Drag a task onto the timeline to turn it into a time block next to your meetings, so you can see what fits in the day.
- Project notes and kanban
- Project notes hold briefs, decisions and next steps, link to daily work in both directions, and can be grouped into columns as a kanban board.
- Plain Markdown files
- Notes are plain Markdown files on your device that work offline and can be taken out as one folder. Sync uses your own iCloud account.
- Spaces
- Shared workspaces for teams or families with shared daily and weekly notes, folders and kanban boards, usable in the apps or in a browser.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- Apple Calendar
- Apple Reminders
- Google Calendar
- Outlook
- Apple Shortcuts
- iCloud
NotePlan is made by NotePlan LLC.
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
NotePlan'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 ease of use (A, above 133 of 147) and worst on value for money (D, above 0).
Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 54 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.3 out of 4. 6 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. NotePlan’s own letter is outlined.
- DValue for moneyAbove 0 of 147
- DFree plan and trialAbove 3 of 147
- BFeaturesAbove 100 of 147
- AEase of useAbove 133 of 147
- BPlatforms and integrationsAbove 86 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. NotePlan is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
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.
Keep it
The plain part of NotePlan you could make: notes, tasks, calendar, time blocking, Markdown and daily notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 98 of the 147 other note-taking apps grade higher. It costs $99.96 a year.
What you could make
- Notes, tasks, calendar, time blocking, Markdown and daily notes: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Apple Calendar, Apple Reminders and Google Calendar among them.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. NotePlan’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
Agenda, Amplenote, Obsidian, Craft and Logseq
The 5 tools NotePlan is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.8GPA
Agenda
Free plan · from $39.99/yr
Date-focused notes on a timeline, linked to your calendar.
- Agenda has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NotePlan lists a web app.
- NotePlan also covers Markdown, daily notes and time blocking.
- 2.8GPA
Amplenote
Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Notes, to-do lists and a task calendar in one app.
- Amplenote has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Amplenote lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Only Amplenote lists a browser extension.
- 3.6GPA
Obsidian
Free plan · from $4/mo
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device.
- Obsidian has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only NotePlan lists a web app.
- Only Obsidian lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- 3.0GPA
Craft
Free plan · from $96/yr
Notes and documents app with tasks, daily notes and whiteboards.
- Craft has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Craft lists Windows and Android apps.
- Only Craft lists a browser extension.
- 3.0GPA
Logseq
Free plan · from $5/mo
Open-source outliner for linked notes stored as local files.
- Logseq has a free plan. NotePlan does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Logseq lists Windows, Linux and Android apps.
- Logseq is open source, according to its own site.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
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 NotePlan free?
No, NotePlan is a paid product, but you can try it first. 7-day free trial on the annual plan, 3-day free trial on the monthly plan.
How much does NotePlan cost?
NotePlan lists 3 plans. Individual: $8.33 per month, billed annually ($99); $12 billed monthly.
What platforms does NotePlan work on?
NotePlan is available on macOS, iOS and Web.
Does NotePlan offer any discounts?
NotePlan publicly lists the following: Save 31% with annual billing; Team subscriptions for 5 or 25 members.
How is NotePlan rated?
NotePlan's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 out of 5 from 1,509 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does NotePlan have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. NotePlan is listed for macOS, iOS and Web.
Does NotePlan have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. NotePlan is listed for macOS, iOS and Web.
Is NotePlan open source?
NotePlan is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Does NotePlan 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 NotePlan integrate with?
NotePlan's listing names Apple Calendar, Apple Reminders, Google Calendar, Outlook, Apple Shortcuts and iCloud.
Who makes NotePlan?
NotePlan is made by NotePlan LLC.
What are the alternatives to NotePlan?
The closest alternatives to NotePlan in our directory are Agenda, Amplenote, Obsidian, Craft and Logseq.
How does NotePlan compare with other note-taking apps?
NotePlan's GPA of 2.4 is higher than 22 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 27.
Is NotePlan good value for money?
ToolGPA grades NotePlan D for value for money. Its paid plans start at $8.33 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 54 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of NotePlan?
The plain part of NotePlan you could make: notes, tasks, calendar, time blocking, Markdown and daily notes.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from NotePlan’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from NotePlan's own pages on 5 October 2026, and its App Store rating. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-08-04.
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 NotePlan LLC. Prices change, so check noteplan.co 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
- NotePlan, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/noteplan
- 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, "NotePlan: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/noteplan
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/noteplan/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after NotePlan, 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 NotePlan’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. NotePlan is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by NotePlan LLC. Prices and plans change: check noteplan.co before you buy.