SideNotes
Screen-edge notes panel for Mac, with a separate iPhone app
SideNotes report card
Very good · out of 4.0 · graded Oct 9, 2026
Best for notes that slide out from the edge of your Mac screen
SideNotes is a notes panel that hides at the edge of your Mac's screen and slides out over whatever you're doing, full-screen apps included. It's $19.99 once, with no subscription. Two things to know: it's Apple only, and the iPhone and iPad app is a separate $9.99.
Who SideNotes is for
- Great if you want notes at hand on a Mac without switching apps
- Handy when you keep snippets, links and screenshots beside the thing you're working on
- A treat if you script your Mac, since Shortcuts and AppleScript can create and find notes
Who SideNotes is not for
- Skip it if you use Windows or Android, as it's Apple only
- Pricey if you want it on your phone too, since SideNotes Mobile is a separate $9.99 and has no file shortcuts or backups
- Not for you if you hate paying twice, because the price covers version 1.x and SideNotes 2 will be a paid upgrade
Why SideNotes gets a 3.0
Five grades, each with its reason. The GPA is their average: an A is 4 points, an F is none.
- AValue for money$19.99 once for the Mac app, for 1 user on up to 5 Macs. That's about what three or four months of a typical note subscription costs. The iPhone and iPad app is another $9.99, and SideNotes 2 will be a paid upgrade, discounted for owners.
- CFree plan and trialNo free version. There's a free trial download of the Mac app, but the site doesn't say how long it lasts. Once you've bought, there's a 14-day money-back guarantee.
- AFeaturesIt does one thing, notes at the screen edge, and does it fully. Markdown with the markup hidden, checklists, images, snippets and shortcuts to files, all in colour-coded folders. Then iCloud sync, automatic backups, Shortcuts actions and an AppleScript API on top.
- BEase of useNo rating on record, so a B is as high as we go. You open it with a click, a keyboard shortcut or by moving the cursor to the edge. A formatting toolbar appears when you select text.
- CPlatforms and integrationsMac, iPhone and iPad, synced through iCloud, with hooks into Alfred, Raycast, PopClip, Hookmark and Dropzone. All Apple, though. The Mac app needs macOS 13 or later, and the mobile one needs iOS or iPadOS 17.
What these grades rest on. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Apptorium's own pages on 9 October 2026. Not based on using the product, and shorter than our full reviews. How we review and grade.
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<a href="https://toolgpa.com/tools/sidenotes#review"><img src="https://toolgpa.com/badge/sidenotes.svg" alt="SideNotes: 3.0 GPA on ToolGPA" width="196" height="56"></a>What is SideNotes?
SideNotes is a Mac notes app from Apptorium that sits at the edge of the screen and opens over whatever app is in use. Notes can hold Markdown text, tasks, images, snippets and shortcuts to files, are organized in color-coded folders, and sync through iCloud. It is a one-time purchase per major version with a free trial, and SideNotes Mobile for iPhone and iPad is sold separately.
SideNotes is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac. See every plan
Good for
- Mac users who want notes at hand without switching apps
- Keeping snippets, links and screenshots beside the work in progress
- People who prefer a one-time purchase to a subscription
Worth knowing
- Apple platforms only: the Mac app needs macOS 13 or later, and SideNotes Mobile needs iOS or iPadOS 17.
- SideNotes Mobile is a separate $9.99 purchase and lacks the Mac app's file shortcuts and backups.
- The payment covers version 1.x. The vendor says SideNotes 2 will be a paid upgrade, discounted for owners and free for those who bought in the prior 6 months.
- A free trial is offered, but the site does not say how long it lasts.
Key features
- Screen-edge panel
- The panel sits on the left or right edge of the screen and shows above other apps, including full-screen ones. It opens with a click, a keyboard shortcut or by moving the cursor to the edge.
- Folders, colors and pinning
- Notes are grouped into folders, can be given colors, reordered by drag and drop, pinned to the top of the list and folded to save space.
- Markdown with hidden markup
- Notes are formatted with Markdown, and the markup can stay out of sight while writing. A formatting toolbar appears when text is selected.
- Tasks, images and file shortcuts
- A note can hold checklists, pictures, text snippets, or a shortcut to a file or folder. Color codes typed as #rrggbb get a preview.
- iCloud sync and backups
- Notes sync through iCloud across Mac, iPhone and iPad. The Mac app also backs notes up automatically to a local folder, or to iCloud.
- Automation
- Shortcuts actions, an AppleScript API and URL links to notes and folders let other apps create, find and open notes. The site lists Alfred, Raycast, PopClip, Hookmark and Dropzone.
SideNotes pricing
- Starts at
- $9.99 one-time for iPhone and iPad; $19.99 one-time for Mac
- Free plan
- None
- Free trial
- Free trial download of the Mac app; the site does not state its length
| Plan | Price | What you get |
|---|---|---|
| SideNotes Mobile | $9.99one-time purchase (US App Store) | The iPhone and iPad app, sold separately from the Mac app. It syncs through iCloud but has no file shortcuts or backups. |
| SideNotes | $19.99one-time purchase per major version | The Mac app: a license for 1 user on up to 5 Macs, free updates within version 1.x and a 14-day money-back guarantee. |
Read from apptorium.com on Oct 9, 2026. Prices change, so confirm with SideNotes before you buy.
Ways to pay less
- EducationStudent discount through Student App Centre
Apptorium's buy page says a student discount on SideNotes is available through Student App Centre. The page does not give the size of the discount.
Stated on apptorium.com
Works with
- iCloud
- Apple Shortcuts
- AppleScript
- Alfred
- Raycast
- PopClip
- Hookmark
- Dropzone
SideNotes alternatives
- SideNotes vs Tot
Free plan · from $19.99 one-time
- SideNotes vs Antinote
Free trial · from $5 one-time
- SideNotes vs Stickier
Free plan · from $4.99 one-time
- SideNotes vs Drafts
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Common questions
Is SideNotes free?
No, SideNotes is a paid product, but you can try it first. Free trial download of the Mac app; the site does not state its length.
How much does SideNotes cost?
SideNotes lists 2 plans. SideNotes Mobile: $9.99 one-time purchase (US App Store). SideNotes: $19.99 one-time purchase per major version. Prices were read from apptorium.com on Oct 9, 2026.
What platforms does SideNotes work on?
SideNotes is available on macOS and iOS.
Does SideNotes offer any discounts?
SideNotes publicly lists the following: Student discount through Student App Centre.
Does SideNotes have an Android app?
No Android app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. SideNotes is listed for macOS and iOS.
Does SideNotes have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. SideNotes is listed for macOS and iOS.
Is SideNotes open source?
SideNotes is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
What does SideNotes integrate with?
SideNotes's listing names iCloud, Apple Shortcuts, AppleScript, Alfred, Raycast, PopClip, Hookmark and Dropzone. A listing names up to eight integrations, so it may connect to more.
Does SideNotes have a student discount?
Student discount through Student App Centre. Apptorium's buy page says a student discount on SideNotes is available through Student App Centre. The page does not give the size of the discount.
Who makes SideNotes?
SideNotes is made by Apptorium. It dates from 2019.
What are the alternatives to SideNotes?
The closest alternatives to SideNotes in our directory are Tot, Antinote, Stickier, Drafts and Apple Notes. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with SideNotes.
Sources for this page
The prices, plans, platforms and features above were read from these pages on Oct 9, 2026.