Google Keep

Google's free sticky-note style app for quick notes, lists and reminders.

Verified facts: 4 of 4
Alternatives ranked: 6
Approved reviews: 0
Visits sent from here: 0

About Google Keep

Google Keep is a lightweight notes app from Google that shows notes as a grid of coloured cards, a bit like sticky notes on a wall. It handles text notes, checklists, photos, drawings and voice notes, and you can add labels, colours, pins and time or location reminders. Notes sync through your Google account, work offline, and can be shared and edited with other people in real time. It also sits inside Google Workspace, so you can drop notes into Docs or open them from a side panel in Gmail and Calendar. Keep is free for anyone with a Google account and is included in Workspace plans for businesses. It runs on the web, Android and iOS, with a Chrome extension for saving pages. The limits show once notes pile up: formatting is basic, there are no notebooks or nested structure, and it is not built for long documents or linked notes. It suits people who want fast capture and lists rather than a knowledge base.

Best for: Google users who want quick notes, lists and reminders that sync across phone and browser.

What works

Free with any Google account
Very fast capture of notes, lists, photos and voice notes
Real-time sharing for shopping lists and shared notes
Works with Docs, Gmail and Calendar

Why people leave

Basic formatting and no nested notebooks
Not suited to long documents or linked notes
No desktop apps, only the web and mobile

Top Google Keep alternatives

See all 6

1
Microsoft OneNote
Free notebooks with sections and pages if you need more structure than cards.
72.8
2
Apple Notes
The built-in equivalent on Apple devices, with richer formatting and folders.
66.5
3
Simplenote
Equally simple and free, with desktop apps for Windows, Mac and Linux.
59.6
4
Zoho Notebook
Free card-style notebooks with desktop apps and no ads.
57.2
5
Notesnook
Similar quick notes with end-to-end encryption for privacy-minded users.
55.3

Why people left Google Keep

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Google Keep: common questions

Is Google Keep free?

Yes, Google Keep is free to use.

Is Google Keep open source?

No, Google Keep is not open source. Open-source alternatives include Notesnook.

What platforms does Google Keep run on?

Google Keep is available for Web, Android, iOS and Browser extension.

What are the best alternatives to Google Keep?

The highest-ranked Google Keep alternatives right now are Microsoft OneNote, Apple Notes and Simplenote. See the full ranked list for pricing, platforms and verified facts.

See all 6 Google Keep alternatives

Google Keep facts

4 of 4 verified

Note types: Notes, lists, photos, drawings, audio; Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab); “Create and share notes, lists, photos, drawings, and audio to save your thoughts with Keep.”
Offline mode: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab); “Work offline Keep your notes updated even offline. Changes sync as soon as you're connected.”
Reminders: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab); “Set up reminders Add reminders to your notes to stay on top of important deadlines.”
Real-time collaboration: Yes; Checked Oct 25, 2026workspace.google.com(opens source in a new tab); “Share with friends, family, and colleagues You can create and edit notes collaboratively in real-time to get things done together, faster.”