Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Apple Notes VS Org mode

Compare Apple Notes VS Org mode and see what are their differences

Apple Notes logo Apple Notes

Apple Notes functions as a service for making short text notes.

Org mode logo Org mode

Org: an Emacs Mode for Notes, Planning, and Authoring
  • Apple Notes Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-05-12
  • Org mode Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-04-15

Apple Notes features and specs

  • Integration with Apple Ecosystem
    Apple Notes is seamlessly integrated across all Apple devices, allowing users to access and synchronize their notes effortlessly on iPhones, iPads, Macs, and iCloud.com.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is clean and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all experience levels to create, organize, and find notes quickly.
  • Rich Media Insertion
    Users can embed photos, videos, sketches, scans, web links, and documents into their notes, enabling a multi-faceted approach to note-taking.
  • Collaboration Features
    Users can easily share notes and collaborate with others, allowing for real-time edits and updates, making it ideal for group projects or shared lists.
  • Security Options
    Apple Notes offers the option to lock notes with a password or Face/Touch ID, providing enhanced privacy and security for sensitive information.

Possible disadvantages of Apple Notes

  • Limited Cross-Platform Compatibility
    Apple Notes is primarily designed for use within the Apple ecosystem, which can be limiting for users who need cross-platform compatibility with non-Apple devices.
  • Basic Organization Features
    The app offers fundamental organizational tools such as folders and tags, but lacks more advanced features like nested folders or customizable views that other note-taking apps might provide.
  • No Advanced Formatting
    While Apple Notes supports basic text formatting, it does not support more advanced formatting options or styles that some power users may require.
  • Limited Export Options
    Exporting notes to other formats is quite limited, which can be a drawback for users who need to frequently share their notes with non-Apple users or in specific formats.
  • Storage Limitations with Free iCloud Account
    Users relying on the free tier of iCloud storage may find the space insufficient if they store a large number of rich-media notes, as it shares space with other iCloud data.

Org mode features and specs

  • Seamless Integration with Emacs
    Org mode is tightly integrated with Emacs, allowing users to take full advantage of Emacs' powerful text-editing capabilities and extensive customization options.
  • Outline-Based Workflow
    Org mode supports hierarchical organization of information, which makes it easy to structure content in a clear, logical manner and manage complex documents or projects.
  • Task Management
    Built-in TODO lists, scheduling, and deadline management features make it a powerful tool for personal productivity and project management.
  • Export Capabilities
    Org mode can export documents to a variety of formats including HTML, LaTeX, PDF, and Markdown, making it versatile for different publishing needs.
  • Customizability
    Highly customizable through Emacs Lisp, allowing users to tailor Org mode to their specific workflow requirements.
  • Community and Extensions
    A robust community and numerous extensions are available, providing additional functionality and support.

Possible disadvantages of Org mode

  • Steep Learning Curve
    Requires significant time and effort to learn, especially for users who are not already familiar with Emacs.
  • Emacs Dependency
    Org mode is dependent on Emacs, which might not appeal to users who prefer different text editors or Integrated Development Environments (IDEs).
  • Complexity
    While it's powerful, the extensive features and customization options can become overwhelming and lead to a complex setup.
  • Lack of Standalone Version
    There is no standalone version of Org mode; it requires Emacs, which can be a barrier for those who do not want to use Emacs.
  • User Interface
    The text-based interface might not be as intuitive or visually appealing as modern, graphical task management or note-taking applications.

Analysis of Apple Notes

Overall verdict

  • Apple Notes is a solid choice for users who are deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem, offering a well-rounded, reliable solution for casual note-taking and organization needs. Its features are continually being enhanced, ensuring that it remains competitive with other note-taking apps.

Why this product is good

  • Apple Notes is often praised for its seamless integration across Apple devices, ease of use, and secure cloud synchronization through iCloud. It offers a clean and straightforward interface, making it easy for users to jot down quick notes, organize lists, and add attachments such as photos and documents. Its ability to share and collaborate on notes in real-time adds to its utility, especially for users within the Apple ecosystem.

Recommended for

    Apple Notes is recommended for Apple users who prioritize seamless device integration, simplicity, and security. It's particularly suited for individuals who frequently switch between Apple devices and need their notes to synchronize effortlessly. Additionally, itโ€™s ideal for users who appreciate basic note-taking features without the need for extensive customization or third-party app integration.

Apple Notes videos

Top 10 Reasons Why Apple Notes is My Favorite Note App

More videos:

  • Review - Complete review of Apple Notes in iPadOS 14 (public beta)
  • Review - Unbelievably Useful Apple Notes Tips (iOS + Mac)

Org mode videos

org mode is awesome

More videos:

  • Review - 2018-11-14: Building a Second Brain in Org Mode - Tasshin Michael Fogleman

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Apple Notes and Org mode)
Note Taking
38 38%
62% 62
Task Management
16 16%
84% 84
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Notes
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Apple Notes and Org mode

Apple Notes Reviews

20 Obsidian Alternatives: Top Note-Taking Tools to Consider
Apple Notes is available for free on macOS/iOS devices. This app lets you type or take notes by hand or with the Apple Pencil. You can also add photos and videos or attach links to our notes.
Source: clickup.com
The 6 best note-taking apps in 2024
There are actually lots of incredible note-taking apps available on Macs, iPads, and iPhones. I could legitimately have filled this spot with picks like Bear and Craft (both of which I love), but Apple Notes takes it because it is free and built in. Plus, it's as convenient, easy to use, and as useful for most people as any of the premium picks. And it keeps getting better....
Source: zapier.com
The best note-taking apps for collecting your thoughts and data
Notes is Appleโ€™s version of Google Keep (or Keep is Googleโ€™s version of Apple Notes). Itโ€™s a free, built-in, simple way to take notes, save photos, scan documents, and make sketches, provided you are using an Apple device.
The best encrypted note taking apps
Apple Notes: Apple notes is native to every Apple device, including iPhones, iPads, Mac, and more. Notes also synchronize to usersโ€™ iCloud accounts, enabling simple backup for quick notes and writing. As a result, it is a popular default choice for consumers. By default, notes are not end-to-end encrypted, but consumers can create โ€œsecure notesโ€ that are end-to-end encrypted...
Source: www.skiff.com
15 Best Notability Alternatives 2022
Like Notability, Apple Notes supports smart data recognition and making handwritten or typed notes so you can input text with your fingers, Apple Pencil, Apple keyboard, or on-screen keyboard. You can also add drawings to your notes and shade them to achieve the effect you want.

Org mode Reviews

Ask HN: Favorite note-taking software?
Before going full Org Mode, I used MS OneNote, and liked it very much. My notes from that period has tons of images and annotated screenshots dumped into them. I miss that in my Emacs workflow nowadays. My dream software would be pieces of Org Mode on a OneNote-like canvas, with support for easily pasting images and drawing on them (especially using a graphics tablet, or at...

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Org mode seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 186 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Apple Notes mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Apple Notes yet. Tracking of Apple Notes recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Org mode mentions (186)

  • Knowledge Should Not Be Gated
    I've been using org[0] for the past 10 years to store knowledge, project write-ups, notes, etc and love it. As I get deeper into AI I'm keeping that, like recently I created an org-edit tool to manage especially issues in the project write-ups. 1 file with all my several hundred projects accumulated over the years, and the value has only grown although it's becoming harder for me to personally consume; I'll likely... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 month ago
  • strace-ui, Bonsai_term, and the TUI renaissance
    > But I think we will swing back to using GUIs when we find a performant way of making them I like this new TUI renaissance as well, but if you wanna see what a symbiotic relationship between GUIs x TUIs could look like you need to see what Emacs does with Orgmode and the whole Org ecosystem of org-agenda, org-roam, etc. Lot's of these TUIs from the awesome are somewhat already inside Emacs. https://orgmode.org/. - Source: Hacker News / 2 months ago
  • Org Mode Syntax Is One of the Most Reasonable Markup Languages to Use for Text
    Question: why is `https://orgmode.org/` in html and not in ... Org mode? - Source: Hacker News / 7 months ago
  • Kaomel: a snappy kaomoji picker for Emacs
    Each code block could be evaluated in place, with results appearing inline. Want to test JSON parsing? Write a block, execute it, see the output. Need to try different data structures? Compare approaches side-by-side with immediate feedback. This resembles the classic Lisp REPL workflow but with all the organizational benefits of org-mode. The development document became a living laboratory. - Source: dev.to / about 1 year ago
  • I tried every todo app and ended up with a .txt file
    I'm a fan of Org Mode with Emacs [0] and using the app BeOrg [1] on my iPhone. I have 3 main task files: - todo.org for things I need to do - backlog.org for things that I don't have to do now but should do in the future - inbox.org for any random ideas or notes The concept of an Inbox was taken straight from Getting Things Done [2]. I have different searches set up in BeOrg so that it is easy to view tasks from... - Source: Hacker News / about 1 year ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing Apple Notes and Org mode, you can also consider the following products

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

Todoist - Todoist is a to-do list that helps you get organized, at work and in life.

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

Workflowy - A better way to organize your mind.

TickTick - TickTickis a cross-platform to-do list app & task manager helps you to get all things done and make life well organized.

Simplenote - The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.