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Drafts alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Drafts: apple devices only, and most customisation needs a Pro subscription. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Drafts, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Obsidian currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Obsidian logoObsidianFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +22 of 373.3
2Apple Notes logoApple NotesFreeNomacOS, iOS, Web4 of 466.5
3Bear logoBearFree plan + paidNomacOS, iOS2 of 361.3
4NotePlan logoNotePlanPaidNomacOS, iOS, Web5 of 557.2
5Simplenote logoSimplenoteFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 455.3
  1. Obsidian logo

    1. ObsidianTop pick

    Best for: People who want to own their notes as local Markdown files

    Free plan + paidWindows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    73.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Drafts

    A cross-platform home for notes you capture elsewhere.

    Pros

    • Notes are plain Markdown files you own
    • Works fully offline
    • Huge plugin ecosystem

    Cons

    • Official sync is a paid add-on
    • Real-time collaboration is limited
    Visit Obsidian Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Obsidian a good Drafts alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free, no sign-up required
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Storage
    Local Markdown files
    Checked Oct 24, 2026obsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Paid add-on
    Not checked yetobsidian.md(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Apple Notes logo

    2. Apple Notes

    Best for: Apple users who want quick, reliable notes that sync with no setup or extra cost

    FreemacOS, iOS, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Drafts

    Free and built in if you just need somewhere to jot things down.

    Pros

    • Free and preinstalled on Apple devices
    • Scanning, sketching, audio transcripts and inline maths
    • Shared notes and folders for family or small groups
    • Fast, reliable iCloud sync

    Cons

    • No Windows or Android apps, only iCloud.com in a browser
    • Weak export and no Markdown files
    • No backlinks, templates or plugins
    Visit Apple Notes Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Apple Notes a good Drafts alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Audio transcription
    Yes, live transcripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Inline maths
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Locked notes
    Yes, password protected
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free iCloud storage
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Bear logo

    3. Bear

    Best for: Apple users who want a fast, beautiful Markdown writing app

    Free plan + paidmacOS, iOS

    61.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Drafts

    A better place to keep and organise Markdown notes long term.

    Pros

    • Polished, distraction-free editor
    • Nested hashtags for organizing
    • Many export formats

    Cons

    • Apple devices only
    • Sync requires Bear Pro
    Visit Bear Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Bear a good Drafts alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Platforms
    macOS, iOS, iPadOS
    Checked Oct 24, 2026bear.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Bear Pro subscription
    Not checked yetbear.app(opens source in a new tab)
    Editor
    Markdown
    Checked Oct 24, 2026bear.app(opens source in a new tab)
  4. NotePlan logo

    4. NotePlan

    Best for: Apple users who want daily notes, tasks and calendar planning in Markdown

    PaidmacOS, iOS, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Drafts

    Markdown daily notes with tasks and calendar on Apple devices.

    Pros

    • Daily notes, tasks and calendar together
    • Plain Markdown files
    • Works offline
    • Plugins, themes and templates

    Cons

    • No Windows or Android apps
    • Subscription only, no free plan
    • Task syntax takes time to learn
    Visit NotePlan Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is NotePlan a good Drafts alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Annual price
    $99 per year
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly price
    $12 per month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Mac, iPad, iPhone, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
    File format
    Markdown
    Checked Oct 25, 2026noteplan.co(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Simplenote logo

    5. Simplenote

    Best for: People who want fast, free plain-text notes on every device

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    55.3

    score / 100

    Why switch from Drafts

    Free plain-text notes on every platform, including Windows and Android.

    Pros

    • Completely free, with no paid tier or ads
    • Apps for every major platform plus the web
    • Fast and distraction-free
    • Markdown preview and version history

    Cons

    • No images, attachments or rich text
    • No folders or backlinks, only tags
    • Slow pace of new features
    • No end-to-end encryption
    Visit Simplenote Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Simplenote a good Drafts alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Price
    Free
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Automattic
    Checked Oct 25, 2026simplenote.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Drafts alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Obsidian logo

Best Drafts alternative for most people

Obsidian

A cross-platform home for notes you capture elsewhere.

Apple Notes logo

Best Drafts alternative for a free option

Apple Notes

Free and built in if you just need somewhere to jot things down.

Bear logo

Best Drafts alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Bear

A better place to keep and organise Markdown notes long term.

NotePlan logo

Best Drafts alternative for Mac

NotePlan

Markdown daily notes with tasks and calendar on Apple devices.

Simplenote logo

Best Drafts alternative for Windows

Simplenote

Free plain-text notes on every platform, including Windows and Android.

Obsidian logo

Best Drafts alternative for Linux

Obsidian

A cross-platform home for notes you capture elsewhere.

Obsidian logo

Best Drafts alternative for iPhone and Android

Obsidian

A cross-platform home for notes you capture elsewhere.

Apple Notes logo

Best Drafts alternative for working in the browser

Apple Notes

Free and built in if you just need somewhere to jot things down.

Drafts alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Drafts?

Obsidian ranks first right now. A cross-platform home for notes you capture elsewhere. Apple Notes and Bear follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Drafts?

Yes. Obsidian (free plan + paid), Apple Notes (free), Bear (free plan + paid) and Simplenote (free) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Drafts?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Drafts alternatives work on Linux?

Obsidian and Simplenote run on Linux.

Why do people switch from Drafts?

The complaints we hear most: apple devices only; most customisation needs a Pro subscription; not designed for organising a knowledge base.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Drafts, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.