Software Alternatives & Startups

NotePlan VS MadNotes

Compare NotePlan VS MadNotes and see what are their differences

NotePlan

Make plans inside an individual markdown note for every day in your calendar. Use it as a journal for your daily tasks and plan todos in advance. For Mac, iPhone and iPad.

Rating
0 reviews
Pricing
Open source
MadNotes

The most convenient markdown notepad, opened in the new tab

Rating
5.0 · 1 review
Pricing
Open source $3 / Monthly

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, NotePlan seems to be more popular. It has been mentioned 36 times since March 2021.

social mentions
36 vs 0
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 15

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

NotePlan
MadNotes
Website noteplan.co madnotes.app
Pricing
Open source
Open source $3 / Monthly Official pricing
Company — 2023
Listed in

About NotePlan and MadNotes

In their own words, as submitted to SaaSHub.

NotePlan
MadNotes

No description of NotePlan yet.

MadNotes PRO isn't just a markdown notepad –consider it to be your digital safe deposit box for ideas. What sets it different is the on-demand view privacy and content encryption options. But with features like on-the-fly editing, multi-device syncing, and advanced note organization, MadNotes PRO...

Read more about MadNotes

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

NotePlan 7 features
MadNotes 6 features
  • Markdown Support
    NotePlan supports Markdown, allowing users to write notes in a clean and easy-to-format manner.
  • Calendar Integration
    It integrates seamlessly with your calendar, providing a consolidated view of notes, tasks, and events.
  • Task Management
    Users can manage tasks and to-do lists directly within the app, making it great for productivity.
  • Cross-Platform Sync
    NotePlan offers cross-platform syncing, enabling access to notes on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
  • Daily Notes
    The concept of daily notes helps in journaling and keeping track of daily activities.
  • Tagging System
    An efficient tagging system helps in organizing and finding notes quickly.
  • Quick Capture
    The quick capture feature enables jotting down thoughts and tasks swiftly.

Possible disadvantages

  • Price
    NotePlan is not free and may be considered expensive for casual note-takers.
  • Learning Curve
    The extensive features might require some time for new users to learn and adapt.
  • Limited Platform Availability
    It’s only available on macOS, iOS, and iPadOS, leaving out Windows and Android users.
  • No Web Access
    There is no web access, which can be a limitation for some users who prefer browser-based tools.
  • No Collaboration Features
    NotePlan lacks robust collaboration features, which makes it less suitable for team projects.
  • Rich text formatting
    Delightful writing experience with intuitive markdown.
  • Synchronization
    Available on every device and every major browser.
  • Unlimited docs
    Limitless space for your creativity. MadNotes holds all your notes.
  • Security by default
    Stored locally or hashed in the cloud with a key only you know.
  • Dark & Light Mode
    Instant eye relief? We have a color scheme just for you.
  • Privacy Settings
    No more sneak peeks. Be confident while sharing your screen as notes boots up blurred.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

NotePlan
MadNotes

Overall verdict

  • Overall, NotePlan is a good choice for those who prefer a minimalist yet powerful tool for managing notes and tasks. It effectively caters to individuals looking for a cohesive system that integrates note-taking with scheduling, making it a viable option for personal and professional productivity needs.

Why this product is good

  • NotePlan is a well-regarded productivity tool because it combines the functionalities of note-taking, to-do lists, and a calendar in a single application. Its strengths include seamless integration with macOS and iOS, Markdown support for note formatting, and an intuitive interface that makes it easy to manage tasks and notes. Users appreciate its focus on personal productivity and the ability to link notes with tasks and calendar events, which aids in organizing projects and daily plans efficiently.

Recommended for

    NotePlan is particularly recommended for users who are deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem and prefer using apps that offer robust integrations with iOS and macOS. It is ideal for people who like using Markdown for note-taking and those who want a lightweight app that can manage tasks and notes simultaneously in a linked manner. Additionally, individuals who value a clean, distraction-free interface for productivity will likely find NotePlan to be a good fit.

Overall verdict

  • MadNotes is a solid, lightweight note-taking tool that turns your browser's new tab into a simple, distraction-free writing space, making it a good choice for users who want quick and accessible notes without installing heavy software.

Why this product is good

  • Transforms your browser new tab page into an instant note-taking area, so notes are always one click away
  • Minimalist and distraction-free interface that focuses on quick capture rather than complex features
  • No account or sign-up required for basic use, making it fast to start
  • Notes are saved locally in the browser, offering privacy and immediate access
  • Free to use with a low barrier to entry, ideal for casual note-takers

Recommended for

  • People who want a quick, always-accessible scratchpad in their browser
  • Users who prefer minimalist, distraction-free note tools
  • Students and professionals jotting down quick ideas, to-dos, or reminders
  • Anyone who lives in their browser and wants notes without extra apps
  • Privacy-conscious users who prefer locally stored notes

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

NotePlan 4 videos + Add
MadNotes 4 videos + Add

NotePlan 3 Review

More videos

  • - Noteplan 3 - Link your Notes with Apple's Reminder and Calendar App
  • - Walkthrough of NotePlan 3 — Notetaker, calendar, digital bullet journal all in one app
  • - The Best Bullet Journal App | NotePlan 3 Review

MadNotes PRO features is out 🔥

More videos

  • - MadNotes Review and Demo: Your Markdown Notepad and Productivity Powerhouse - Lifetime Deal $49
  • - MadNotes Lifetime Deal $49 - Your Markdown Notepad and Productivity Powerhouse 2024
  • - MadNotes Review | MadNotes Lifetime Deal - Your Markdown Notepad and Productivity Powerhouse

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
NotePlan
MadNotes
100% 100%
0% 0%
93% 93%
7% 7%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%

User comments

Share your experience with using NotePlan and MadNotes. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

Log in or Post with

Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

NotePlan no reviews yet
MadNotes 5.0 · 1 review

We have no reviews of NotePlan yet. Be the first one to post

  • Love this minimalist writing experience
    SaaSHub review
    · Jun 2023

    MadNotes is a great alternative for those who spend most of their work in a browser. I love its design and minimalist approach. It's just me and the notes.

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

NotePlan 36 mentions
MadNotes 0 mentions
  • Ask HN: YAML or Markdown for Personal Notes?
    Https://noteplan.co, if you're on a macOS/iOS device. - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: What Process/Applications Do You Use for Todo/Knowledge Management?
    I'm using NotePlan (https://noteplan.co) and loving it. It's a macOS/iOS app (there's a somewhat limited Web version). IMO, the best balance between PKM and task manager/calendar management. I've also tried Amplenote... - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • Ask HN: How do you manage ideas, tasks, notes and other stuff?
    I've been using NotePlan (https://noteplan.co) with the Projects + Reviews plugin. It's been a game changer for me. The (almost) perfect combination of tasks + notes. I also manage my personal stuff with it. It's a paid macOS app but,... - Source: Hacker News / almost 2 years ago

View more

Tracking MadNotes since Jan 2023.

Alternatives to NotePlan and MadNotes

When comparing NotePlan and MadNotes, you can also consider the following products.