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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. Bear currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Obsidian logoObsidianFree plan + paidNoWindows, macOS, Linux +22 of 373.3
2Simplenote 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. Simplenote logo

    2. 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.

Bear logo

Best Drafts alternative for most people

Bear

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

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.

Obsidian logo

Best Drafts alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Obsidian

A cross-platform home for notes you capture elsewhere.

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?

Bear ranks first right now. A better place to keep and organise Markdown notes long term. Obsidian and Apple Notes follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Drafts?

Yes. Bear (free plan + paid), Obsidian (free plan + paid), Apple Notes (free) 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.