- Pick it if you are:
- Apple-only users; Quick capture and lists
- Top complaint:
- Apple Notes not syncing between iPhone and Mac
- Price:
- Free plan
- Pick it if you are:
- Medium-to-large teams with complex wikis; Individual power users willing to learn
- Top complaint:
- Why is Notion AI only on the Business plan?
- Price:
- Free plan, paid from $10/mo
Score Comparison
Signals Comparison
Apple Notes
- Apple Notes not syncing between iPhone and Mac(8/10)
- Apple Notes disappeared or missing after update(9/10)
- Apple Notes shared note not updating or collaboration unavailable(7/10)
- Apple Notes not syncing when iCloud storage is full(7/10)
- Apple Notes crashing after iOS or macOS update(6/10)
Notion
- Notion offline mode limited: 50 database rows, no browser support(7/10)
- Is Notion down? Repeated outages and slow loading in 2026(7/10)
- Notion 'Cannot save changes' and sync errors(7/10)
Apple Notes
- Forgot Apple Notes password for locked notes(8/10)
- Locked notes do not sync edits with collaborators(4/10)
Notion
- No end-to-end encryption - Notion can read your notes(6/10)
Apple Notes
- Apple Notes slow, lagging or freezing with large notes(6/10)
Notion
- Database performance degrades at 5,000+ records(8/10)
Apple Notes
- Apple Notes has no Android or Windows app(7/10)
- Gmail or Google notes not syncing in Apple Notes(5/10)
Notion
No signals
Apple Notes
- Apple Notes export and import limits(6/10)
- Apple Notes lacks features of dedicated note apps(5/10)
Notion
- Steep learning curve leads to productivity loss(6/10)
- Jack of all trades, master of none(5/10)
Apple Notes
No signals
Notion
- Why is Notion AI only on the Business plan?(9/10)
- Frequent pricing changes erode user trust(7/10)
- Notion Plus plan only gets a limited AI trial(8/10)
- Account lockouts when trying to downgrade(9/10)
- Notion Custom Agents cost extra credits on top of seat price(7/10)
Apple Notes
No signals
Notion
- Notion customer support slow with billing disputes and refunds(9/10)
Apple Notes
No signals
Notion
- Mobile app slow and unreliable for quick notes(7/10)
Pricing Comparison
Apple Notes
Users: One Apple Account
Storage: Counts against iCloud storage (5 GB free)
Limits: Apple devices only (iCloud.com on the web), no Android or Windows app, no in-app Markdown writing, limited linking
Notion
Users: Individuals; up to 10 guests
Storage: 5 MB per file upload
Limits: 5 MB uploads, 7-day history, no AI beyond trial, cannot buy Notion credits
Users: Per member
Storage: Unlimited uploads (about 5 GB max per file)
Limits: No full Notion AI, no SAML SSO, no private teamspaces, PDF export with subpages requires Business
Users: Per member
Storage: Unlimited uploads (about 5 GB max per file)
Limits: No SCIM, audit log or advanced security controls
Users: Custom
Storage: Unlimited
Limits: Must contact sales
Feature Comparison
| Feature | Apple Notes | Notion |
|---|---|---|
| Security | ||
| Locked notes A forgotten separate password cannot be recovered | ||
| End-to-end encryption Notion can access your content | ||
| Page password protection Cannot password-protect individual pages | ||
| Collaboration | ||
| Real-time collaboration Multiple users can edit simultaneously | ||
| Sharing | ||
| Shared editing iCloud notes only | ||
| Reliability | ||
| Offline mode Desktop and mobile apps only; first 50 rows of a database's first view; subpages not included | ||
| Data | ||
| Markdown export Needs iOS 26 or macOS Tahoe | ||
| Relational databases Available but performance degrades at 5000+ records | ||
| Charts and graphs Basic only, requires external tools for advanced visualization | ||
| AI | ||
| AI assistant Full AI on Business ($20/seat) and Enterprise only; Free and Plus get a limited trial | ||
| Custom Agents Business/Enterprise; billed in Notion credits ($10 per 1,000) since May 4, 2026 | ||
| Core | ||
| Document scanning | ||
| Accessibility | ||
| Mobile app Available but slow, frequent reloads needed | ||
| Platforms | ||
| Android app | ||
| Windows app iCloud.com web only | ||
| Power | ||
| Backlinks and plugins | ||
| Integrations | ||
| API access Available on all plans | ||
| Productivity | ||
| Templates library Extensive official and community templates | ||
| Enterprise | ||
| SAML SSO Business plan and above only | ||
| Audit logs Enterprise plan only | ||
| Custom domains Paid add-on for Notion Sites | ||
| Project Management | ||
| Native Gantt charts Timeline view exists but not full Gantt functionality | ||
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