Disclosure: Jotter is ours, and it is listed first. It gets the same four fields as every other app, including its drawbacks.
Short answer
For fast capture without learning automations, our pick is Jotter — it opens straight to a blank note, saves as you type, free. For automation power, Drafts is still the one.
Drafts opens to a blank page and lets you send text almost anywhere with actions. It is “always free to use”, per its listing, with Drafts Pro adding more as a subscription.
Its magic is actions and automation. If you never set one up, you are using a very fast notepad — and there are simpler ones.
Switch to Jotter if
- You never set up Drafts actions
- You want checklists and handwriting too
- You want notes to stay organised, not in an inbox
Stay with Drafts if
- You rely on actions and automation
- You capture from Apple Watch by voice
- You script your text workflows
At a glance
| App | Best for | Pricing |
|---|---|---|
| Jotter (ours) | Opening the app and typing — with checklists, handwriting, scans and voice notes in the same note | Free, no subscription — an optional tip unlocks nothing |
| Drafts | Power users who capture text and send it onward with actions | Free; Drafts Pro subscription for more |
| Apple Notes | People who want free, fast notes on Apple devices | Included with Apple devices at no extra cost |
| Bear | Writers who want Markdown and tags | Free on one device; Bear Pro for sync |
| Simplenote | People who want plain notes synced free everywhere | Free |
| Obsidian | People who want captured notes to become a linked vault | Free app; optional paid Sync |
The apps in detail
Jotter
Ours
- Best for
- Opening the app and typing — with checklists, handwriting, scans and voice notes in the same note
- Highlights
- No title, no folder, no save button — the first line names the note
- Checklists, Apple Pencil handwriting, scans and voice notes
- Search reads handwriting and text in photos, on the device
- Syncs through your own iCloud; exports as Markdown
- Pricing
- Free, no subscription — an optional tip unlocks nothing
- Watch out
- iPhone and iPad only, on iOS 18 or later: no Mac app yet, no Android or web version, and no shared notes.
Drafts
- Best for
- Power users who capture text and send it onward with actions
- Highlights
- Opens to a blank draft instantly
- Actions send text almost anywhere
- iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch
- Pricing
- Free; Drafts Pro subscription for more
- Watch out
- Its real power needs setting up.
Apple Notes
- Best for
- People who want free, fast notes on Apple devices
- Highlights
- Quick Note from anywhere
- Checklists and scans
- iCloud sync
- Pricing
- Included with Apple devices at no extra cost
- Watch out
- No automations.
Bear
- Best for
- Writers who want Markdown and tags
- Highlights
- No account to start
- Tags and linked notes
- Beautiful editor
- Pricing
- Free on one device; Bear Pro for sync
- Watch out
- Sync is Pro.
Simplenote
- Best for
- People who want plain notes synced free everywhere
- Highlights
- Free sync on every platform
- Instant search
- Tags
- Pricing
- Free
- Watch out
- Plain text only.
Obsidian
- Best for
- People who want captured notes to become a linked vault
- Highlights
- Markdown files you own
- Plugins
- Graph view
- Pricing
- Free app; optional paid Sync
- Watch out
- Slower to capture into.
Capture, then what?
Drafts treats every note as something to process and send away. Most people just want it to stay put and be findable.
Jotter captures just as fast — the first line names the note, no folder to pick — and then search finds it later, even inside handwriting and photos.
Common questions
Is Drafts free?
Drafts is free to use; Drafts Pro is a monthly or annual subscription.
What is a simpler alternative to Drafts?
Jotter or Apple Notes for fast capture without automation.
Which app opens to a blank note fastest?
Drafts and Jotter both open straight to writing.
App Store listings checked on 27 September 2026. Prices change — each entry describes how an app is paid for rather than a number that goes stale.
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