The Quick Note Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Quick Note 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.
Quick Note
The Insider’s Guide
Menu bar sticky notes that float above other Mac windows
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Quick Note’s own pages.
Made by Kaunteya Suryawanshi · 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 Quick Note’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Quick Note’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
2.6
GPA, above 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Quick Note is a sticky-note app that lives in the Mac menu bar. A click or a global keyboard shortcut opens a new rich-text note that floats above other windows, and notes can be colored, collapsed, grouped in folders and marked as favorites. The App Store listing also covers an iPhone and iPad app that syncs with the Mac over iCloud. It is free to try with limits, and a one-time Pro purchase removes them.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Quick Note, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: click the menu bar icon, or press the shortcut, and you're typing.
- 1
Best for floating sticky notes from the Mac menu bar
Quick Note is a floating sticky note for the Mac menu bar, also on iPhone and iPad: press a shortcut and a note sits on top of your other windows.
- 2
What it costs
Paid plans start at $12.99 one-time.
- 3
You can try it first
Free to use for 30 days with up to 6 notes
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
macOS and iOS.
- 5
New note from the menu bar
A click on the menu bar icon or a global keyboard shortcut opens a new note straight away, with nothing to name or save.
- 6
Floating notes
Notes stay on top of other apps' windows. A note can be made translucent when it is in the way, or collapsed to save space and expanded again.
- 7
Rich text on keyboard shortcuts
Headings, bold, italics, strikethrough, highlight, named links and bulleted, numbered and checklist lists are all applied with keyboard shortcuts.
- 8
A 2.6 GPA, above 50 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 Quick Note you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
Quick Note at a glance
- Pricing
- Free trial, from $12.99 one-time
- Free plan
- No
- Free trial
- Free to use for 30 days with up to 6 notes
- Runs on
- macOS, iOS
- Made by
- Kaunteya Suryawanshi
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.6 GPA, good
The report card
Best for floating sticky notes from the Mac menu bar
Quick Note is a floating sticky note for the Mac menu bar, also on iPhone and iPad: press a shortcut and a note sits on top of your other windows. The free version stops at 6 notes and 30 days, then it's $12.99 once, and iCloud sync is in Pro only. It needs macOS 15 or iOS 18, there's no Windows, Android or web version, and it's built for short-lived notes, not as your main notes app.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Pro is $12.99 once on the US App Store, and that one purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac. A year of the middle note app here is $72, at $6 a month, so this is about two months of someone else's subscription and then you're done. |
| Free plan and trial | C | There's no free plan to settle on. You get 30 days with up to 6 notes, which is enough to see whether a floating note suits you, and it's a straight App Store download with no card. After that it's the Pro purchase, and iCloud sync is Pro only. |
| Features | C | It does the floating-sticky job completely: notes above other windows, translucent or collapsed when they're in the way, headings, checklists and links from keyboard shortcuts, colours, folders and favourites. But that's a much smaller job than note-taking, and it doesn't pretend otherwise. |
| Ease of use | B | No store rating on record, so we go by the listing: click the menu bar icon, or press the shortcut, and you're typing. Nothing to name, nothing to save, nothing to set up. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One family of devices: Mac, iPhone and iPad, synced over iCloud with Pro, plus Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript, a widget and Spotlight. It needs macOS 15 or iOS 18 or later, and there's no Windows, Android or web version. |
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 Quick Note is for
- Fits if you want a note sitting on top of the window you're working in
- Works for things you'll only need for an hour, like a phone number or a short checklist
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as it's Apple devices only and there's no web version
- Tight if you're not paying, because the free version stops at 6 notes and 30 days
- Watch out: iCloud sync between Mac, iPhone and iPad is part of the $12.99 Pro purchase only
- Watch out: it needs macOS 15 or iOS 18 or later, and the docs FAQ still calls it Mac only while the App Store lists an iPhone version
- Too light for a main notes app, since it's built for short-lived stickies
Good to know
Good for
- Mac users who want a note visible on top of the window they work in
- Short-lived reminders, phone numbers and checklists
- People who format text from the keyboard
Worth knowing
- The free version stops at 6 notes and 30 days of use; going further needs the one-time Pro purchase.
- iCloud sync is part of Pro only.
- There is no Windows or Android version. The docs FAQ still calls the app Mac only, while the App Store lists an iPhone and iPad version.
- The App Store listing requires macOS 15 or later on the Mac and iOS 18 or later on iPhone and iPad.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$12.99 one-time
To start
Quick Note is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $12.99 one-time.
After that it's the Pro purchase, and iCloud sync is Pro only.
Quick Note Pro
$12.99
one-time purchase (US App Store)
Removes the 6-note and 30-day limits of the free version and adds iCloud sync. One purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Trying it first
Free to use for 30 days with up to 6 notes
Read from apps.apple.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Quick Note Pro”, against $12.99 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 | ₺149,99 | $3.05 | 77% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 59ribu | $3.30 | 75% less |
| India | ₹ 399 | $4.12 | 68% less |
| South Africa | R99.99 | $6.05 | 53% less |
| Canada | $17.99 | $12.65 | about the same |
| Australia | $19.99 | $13.96 | 7% more |
| Germany | 14,99 € | $16.80 | 29% more |
| United Kingdom | £12.99 | $17.17 | 32% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: macOS and iOS
Menu bar sticky notes that float above other Mac windows. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, keyboard-first, notes, menu bar app.
But that's a much smaller job than note-taking, and it doesn't pretend otherwise.
- New note from the menu bar
- A click on the menu bar icon or a global keyboard shortcut opens a new note straight away, with nothing to name or save.
- Floating notes
- Notes stay on top of other apps' windows. A note can be made translucent when it is in the way, or collapsed to save space and expanded again.
- Rich text on keyboard shortcuts
- Headings, bold, italics, strikethrough, highlight, named links and bulleted, numbered and checklist lists are all applied with keyboard shortcuts.
- Colors, folders and favorites
- Each note can have its own color, related notes can be grouped in folders, and favorite notes are pinned to the top of the menu.
- iCloud sync
- With Pro, notes and folders are backed up to the user's iCloud account and kept in sync across Macs and with the iPhone and iPad app.
- macOS automation
- Notes can be created from a desktop widget, the Services menu, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript or Terminal, and found through Spotlight search.
Where it runs
- macOS
- iOS
What it works with
- iCloud
- Apple Shortcuts
- AppleScript
- Spotlight
Quick Note is made by Kaunteya Suryawanshi.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
50/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Quick Note's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
It stands best on value for money (A, above 62 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Quick Note’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 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.
Keep it
The plain part of Quick Note you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not. The 3 things listed below take a company, not a weekend.
It costs $12.99, paid once.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A native app living in the menu bar.
- Apps for macOS and iOS that stay in step with each other.
- Hooks into the device itself: widgets and Shortcuts.
What this rests on. Quick Note’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
SideNotes, Tot, Stickier, Antinote and Apple Notes
The 5 tools Quick Note is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
SideNotes
Free trial · from $9.99 one-time
Screen-edge notes panel for Mac, with a separate iPhone app.
- SideNotes also covers Markdown and tasks.
- 2.6GPA
Tot
Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
Seven-note text scratchpad for Mac, iPhone, iPad and Apple Watch.
- Tot has a free plan. Quick Note does not, though it has a free trial.
- Tot also covers Markdown.
- 2.8GPA
Stickier
Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
Sticky notes for Mac with iCloud sync and an iPhone companion app.
- Stickier has a free plan. Quick Note does not, though it has a free trial.
- 2.4GPA
Antinote
Free trial · from $5 one-time
Mac scratchpad for temporary notes, quick math and checklists.
- Only Quick Note lists an iOS app.
- Antinote also covers Pomodoro timer and calculator.
- 3.4GPA
Apple Notes
Free
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web.
- Apple Notes has a free plan. Quick Note does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Quick Note 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 Quick Note free?
No, Quick Note is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free to use for 30 days with up to 6 notes.
How much does Quick Note cost?
Quick Note lists one plan. Quick Note Pro: $12.99 one-time purchase (US App Store).
What platforms does Quick Note work on?
Quick Note is available on macOS and iOS.
Does Quick Note have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Quick Note is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does Quick Note have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Quick Note is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is Quick Note open source?
Quick Note is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does Quick Note integrate with?
Quick Note's listing names iCloud, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript and Spotlight.
Who makes Quick Note?
Quick Note is made by Kaunteya Suryawanshi.
What are the alternatives to Quick Note?
The closest alternatives to Quick Note in our directory are SideNotes, Tot, Stickier, Antinote and Apple Notes.
How does Quick Note compare with other note-taking apps?
Quick Note's GPA of 2.6 is higher than 50 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 21.
Could I make my own version of Quick Note?
The plain part of Quick Note you could make: notes. What surrounds it you could not.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Quick Note’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 Quick Note's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-23.
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 Kaunteya Suryawanshi. Prices change, so check quicknoteapp.com before you buy.
- apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-note-sticky-notes-menu/id1472935217
- apps.apple.com/us/app/quick-note-sticky-notes-menu/id1472935217?platform=mac
- quicknoteapp.com/
- quicknoteapp.com/docs/
- quicknoteapp.com/docs/pro/upgradingToPro/
- quicknoteapp.com/docs/pro/proExpired/
- quicknoteapp.com/docs/iCloud/iCloudSync/
- quicknoteapp.com/docs/shortcuts/
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
- Quick Note, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/quick-note
- 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, "Quick Note: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/quick-note
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/quick-note/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Quick Note, 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 Quick Note’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. Quick Note is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Kaunteya Suryawanshi. Prices and plans change: check quicknoteapp.com before you buy.