Free Google Keep alternatives

All Google Keep alternatives

1. 

   

   Apple Notes

   Like

   Apple Notes is the free notes app included with iPhone, iPad and Mac, synced through iCloud and also reachable on the web at iCloud.com. It handles checklists, tables, Apple Pencil sketches, document scanning and searchable text in images, plus shared notes and folders, tags, smart folders and locked notes.

   9 Apple Notes alternatives

   Pros

   • Free and built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac
   • Document scanning, Pencil sketches and text search inside images
   • Shared notes and folders with real-time collaboration

   Cons

   • No native apps for Windows or Android, only iCloud.com
   • Fewer organization options than dedicated knowledge tools

   Cost / License

   FreeProprietary

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebMaciPhone

   Features

   Cross-device syncOCROffline modeReal-time collaboration

   Visit websiteMore about Apple Notes
2. 

   

   Simplenote

   4.7(4.3K) · App StoreLike

   Simplenote is a free note app from Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com, that sticks to plain text with optional Markdown, tags and quick search. Notes sync instantly across web, desktop and mobile apps, every change is kept in version history, and notes can be shared with collaborators or published as a web page. The apps are open source.

   8 Simplenote alternatives

   Pros

   • Free, ad-free and fast plain-text notes
   • Instant sync across web, desktop and mobile
   • Version history keeps every change to a note

   Cons

   • No images, attachments or rich formatting
   • Organization is limited to tags and search

   Cost / License

   FreeOpen source

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid

   Features

   Ad-freeCross-device syncMarkdown supportOffline mode

   Visit websiteMore about Simplenote
3. 

   

   Evernote

   4.9(417.9K) · App StoreLike

   Evernote is a long-standing note-taking app, owned by Bending Spoons since 2023, that stores notes, web clips, PDFs, scans and audio in notebooks with tags and full-text search, including text inside images. Recent versions add tasks, calendar integration and AI features, while the free plan has become very limited compared with the paid tiers.

   12 Evernote alternatives

   Pros

   • Mature web clipper and full-text search, even inside images
   • Stores notes, PDFs, scans and audio in one place
   • Tasks and calendar integration alongside notes

   Cons

   • The free plan is very limited compared with paid tiers
   • Paid plans are expensive compared with many note apps
   • Apps can feel heavier and slower than lighter note tools

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension

   Features

   AI assistantCross-device syncOCROffline modeTemplatesWeb clipper

   Visit websiteMore about Evernote
4. 

   

   Microsoft OneNote

   4.7(1.1M) · App StoreLike

   Microsoft OneNote is a free digital notebook that organizes notes into notebooks, sections and pages, where text, images, drawings and handwriting can be placed anywhere on the page. It syncs through OneDrive, supports shared notebooks for classes and teams, and works closely with Outlook, Teams and the rest of Microsoft 365.

   9 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

   Pros

   • Freeform pages for text, drawings and handwriting anywhere
   • Free, with OneDrive sync on all major platforms
   • Works closely with Outlook, Teams and Microsoft 365

   Cons

   • The freeform layout gets messy and is hard to export
   • Sync can lag or conflict with large notebooks
   • No native app for Linux desktops

   Cost / License

   FreeProprietary

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMaciPhoneAndroidBrowser extension

   Features

   Cross-device syncOCROffline modeReal-time collaborationWeb clipper

   Visit websiteMore about Microsoft OneNote
5. 

   

   Google Tasks

   4.8(107.1K) · App StoreLike

   Google Tasks is a free, minimal task manager tied to your Google account. Tasks can be created from Gmail messages, appear on their dates in Google Calendar and sync to the mobile apps, with support for subtasks, due dates and repeating tasks. It suits people who want basic lists inside Google Workspace rather than a full productivity system.

   8 Google Tasks alternatives

   Pros

   • Free and built into Gmail and Google Calendar
   • Turns an email into a task in a couple of clicks
   • Minimal interface with practically no learning curve

   Cons

   • No labels, priority levels or advanced filters
   • Very limited sharing and collaboration options
   • No dedicated desktop app

   Cost / License

   FreeProprietary

   Categories

   To-do Lists & Task Managers

   Platforms

   WebiPhoneAndroid

   Features

   Calendar viewCross-device syncIntegrationsRecurring tasks

   Visit websiteMore about Google Tasks
6. 

   

   UpNote

   4.7(1.1K) · App StoreLike

   UpNote is a note-taking app with a clean editor, notebooks, tags and links between notes, available on the web, Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS and Android. Notes are stored locally for offline use and synced across devices, with a web clipper and Markdown shortcuts. The free version is capped at a small number of notes, and Premium can be bought once or as a subscription.

   11 UpNote alternatives

   Pros

   • Clean editor with notebooks, tags and links between notes
   • Apps on every platform, including Linux and the web
   • Premium is available as a one-time purchase

   Cons

   • The free version is capped at a small number of notes
   • No shared notebooks or real-time collaboration

   Cost / License

   FreemiumProprietary

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroid

   Features

   Cross-device syncDark modeMarkdown supportOffline modeWeb clipper

   Visit websiteMore about UpNote
7. 

   

   Notesnook

   4.7(676) · App StoreLike

   Notesnook is an open source note-taking app that encrypts every note end to end on your device before syncing it. It offers notebooks, tags, rich text with Markdown shortcuts, an app lock, a private vault and a web clipper, on the web, desktop and mobile. A free plan is available, and the sync server can also be self-hosted.

   9 Notesnook alternatives

   Pros

   • Every note is end-to-end encrypted on your device before syncing
   • Open source apps on web, desktop and mobile
   • The sync server can be self-hosted

   Cons

   • Fewer integrations and plugins than mainstream note apps
   • Some features are limited on the free plan

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted

   Features

   Cross-device syncEnd-to-end encryptionMarkdown supportOffline modeWeb clipper

   Visit websiteMore about Notesnook
8. 

   

   Standard Notes

   4.7(3.8K) · App StoreLike

   Standard Notes is an open source note-taking app focused on privacy, with end-to-end encryption for every note and file and apps on all major platforms. Notes work offline and sync across devices, and paid plans add rich editors, file storage and longer revision history. The company became part of Proton in 2024, and the sync server can be self-hosted.

   9 Standard Notes alternatives

   Pros

   • End-to-end encryption for every note and file
   • Open source apps on all major platforms
   • The sync server can be self-hosted

   Cons

   • Rich editors, file storage and longer history need a paid plan
   • Collaboration features are minimal compared with mainstream apps

   Cost / License

   FreemiumOpen source

   Categories

   Note-taking & Knowledge Bases

   Platforms

   WebWindowsMacLinuxiPhoneAndroidSelf-hosted

   Features

   Cross-device syncEnd-to-end encryptionMarkdown supportOffline mode

   Visit websiteMore about Standard Notes