Apple Notes has been a great companion for years, helping users jot down their thoughts and ideas. However, after several updates, Apple Notes still lacks some features that could make the app even better.
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There are a number of reasons why Notes is the best note-taking app for Apple users , the main one being its simplicity. It’s a stock app that anyone can pick up and use with ease. However, its simplistic approach and focus on the most basic note-taking features also means that power users may find the app lacking.
That’s where official support for plugins to extend the app’s functionality would come in handy. Adding official support for extensions would allow anyone to customize Notes to fit their workflow, while still enjoying other benefits like seamless integration with other Apple devices. Meanwhile, popular note-taking apps like Obsidian have advanced features by default and still offer plugin support for extended customization.
While Apple Notes doesn’t officially support plugins, there are a number of third-party add-ons, like NotesCmdr, that you can use to add some of the missing features like slash commands and templates. However, be aware that these add-ons are often created by independent developers and may not undergo the same rigorous security testing as official plugins.
Another limitation of Apple Notes, compared to other note-taking apps, is that it doesn’t support Markdown . Markdown is a lightweight markup language that lets you quickly add formatting to text, such as bold, italics, headings, and lists. While Apple Notes does support some text formatting options, you’ll have to use keyboard shortcuts or the formatting buttons on the toolbar.
Luckily, if you rely heavily on Markdown, you can add this functionality to Apple Notes with an extension like ProNotes . This free Apple Notes extension lets you use Markdown syntax in your notes. Alternatively, if you prefer writing in Markdown, you might consider switching to a third-party note-taking app like Simplenote .
One of the main reasons why many people still use Apple Notes is because it integrates seamlessly with other Apple devices. For example, you can type on your Mac, but still quickly jot down notes on your iPhone, which is always with you, and those notes sync easily across devices. You can also use Siri to jot down quick notes when you can’t type.
However, sometimes users wish Apple Notes could work well with other third-party tools in their daily use. This limitation means that you only use Notes for your personal needs because you cannot connect it with other apps used for work.
One of the biggest drawbacks of Apple Notes is that it’s limited to the Apple ecosystem. While it works seamlessly on Macs and iPhones, it’s essentially locked out of any non-Apple device. This means there’s no easy way to access your notes on your Android phone when you need them.
There is, however, a workaround for non-Apple devices; you can use iCloud on the web without an Apple device to access Notes. This limited access also affects collaboration with non-Apple users.
While it’s possible to collaborate with other Apple users in Notes, it’s limited compared to other tools. Plus, you’re out of luck if you want to work on a note with a colleague or friend using a non-Apple device. On the other hand, apps like Microsoft OneNote offer cross-platform support and more collaboration features.
Templates are a must-have feature for anyone who regularly needs a pre-formatted note structure, as they eliminate the need to format each type of note from scratch each time. Sadly, Apple Notes doesn’t have a built-in template feature.
If you want to create a specific format — like a meeting agenda or a recurring checklist — you have to manually recreate it each time, which isn't ideal because it adds extra steps that can be easily eliminated with the built-in template functionality.
You can also duplicate an existing note whenever you want to reuse a format. You can also use ProNotes to enhance the Notes app on your Mac. This extension adds a number of useful features including a slash command and the ability to insert templates with just a few keystrokes.
The lack of version history is one of the biggest drawbacks of Apple Notes, especially considering that its competitors also have this feature. With version history, you can restore a previous version of your note in case you accidentally make any changes or want to go back to an older version.
There's currently no way to access previous versions of a note in Apple Notes. However, if you accidentally deleted a note in the last 30 days, you can find it in the Recently Deleted folder . You can also use the undo keyboard shortcut ( Command + Z ) to restore any recent changes to a note. However, this won't work if you close the note and reopen it later.
Aside from these alternatives, your best bet is to use other note-taking apps like Google Keep. Keep allows you to track changes using version history and restore previous versions of notes if needed.
The Whiteboard feature in notes apps can be incredibly useful for visually connecting ideas, creating mind maps, or organizing thoughts, especially useful for brainstorming. You can use the Markup button in Notes on your iPhone or iPad to draw.
However, this feature isn't available on the Mac version of Notes, except for using it on images or attached documents. You'll have to rely on Apple's Freeform on the Mac or use another note-taking app that has Whiteboard, like Logseq.
You can use Apple Notes to create links between your notes, which can help connect related information. However, these links are one-way by default, meaning they only point from one note to another without creating a link back and forth. Bidirectional links, on the other hand, create a back and forth connection, allowing you to easily switch between notes.
Two-way linking is extremely useful in note-taking and personal knowledge management apps, helping you see the connections and context between ideas. One way to replicate this feature in Apple Notes is to create a link from one note to the next, and a link back from the second note to the first.
This feature may not be as seamless as the built-in two-way linking feature, but it can still help you connect your notes efficiently. Alternatively, use ProNotes to see all the notes linked to a particular note.
Apple Notes is a great note-taking app due to its ease of use and seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. While it works extremely well for basic note-taking needs, it doesn't have all the advanced features that other apps offer.
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