Build amazing documents
Native note-taking app for Apple (and Windows/Android). No Trustpilot profile. App Store: 4.8/5. G2: 4.6/5. Known for beautiful design, but criticized for 1500 block limit, expensive Pro tier, and cross-platform gaps. Won Apple's Best Mac App 2021.
Patterns extracted from real user feedback — not raw reviews.
The free tier is limited to 1500 blocks, and users don't always know how often they create blocks or how much time it takes to reach the limit. This contrasts with Notion which offers unlimited blocks for free. Many users hit this wall unexpectedly.
Users report the UI cramps many features together, resulting in endless different views, confusing navigation and animations, and hidden elements behind multi-slide navs. Simple actions like changing text to a heading require multiple clicks through sidebars.
Formatting can be cumbersome with unintuitive workflows. Adding a code block requires double click > ellipsis icon > Language > search for language. To change text to heading: Select text > Click sidebar > Format > Click heading. Simple actions take too many steps.
Craft lacks built-in task management features and database functionality that Notion offers. For users needing project management alongside notes, Craft falls short. You can't create relational databases, kanban boards, or complex task systems.
The app occasionally feels incomplete with users encountering minor issues. Collections (late 2024) is still in early stages with rough edges. Craft Styles are incomplete and frustrating to use in real-world scenarios. Features ship before they're fully polished.
Export options are mainly limited to PDF and Markdown. For users needing to move content to other systems or archive in specific formats, the export capabilities may not meet needs. Less flexible than competitors.
The iPad version lacks the desktop-class layout found with the Mac app, with only a single view on-screen most of the time. For users expecting full feature parity on iPad, the mobile experience is limiting compared to Mac.
Some users want a choice of syncing options and would prefer iCloud sync instead of company-managed servers. Data is stored on Craft's servers rather than user-controlled storage. For privacy-conscious users, this is a concern.
Some users reported that the Craft desktop app kept periodically telling them they were not a Pro user, despite having subscribed for a Business membership. This creates friction and anxiety about access to paid features.
Beautiful, native Apple design
Craft won Apple's Best Mac App of 2021 for good reason. The interface is visually stunning with native Apple design language. Documents look polished and professional. The aesthetic quality surpasses most competitors.
Fast performance with offline-first architecture
Craft is considerably faster than Notion, better optimized to be used offline. The native app architecture means instant response times. No waiting for cloud sync on every action. Works seamlessly without internet.
Excellent for visual document creation
Craft focuses on helping users create visually appealing documents. Great for meeting notes, project briefs, and shareable documents. The output quality is higher than typical note-taking apps.
Now cross-platform including Windows and Android
Craft launched Android in November 2025 and has Windows support. Cross-platform sync ensures changes made on one device are instantly updated on others. No longer Apple-only.
Simple and streamlined compared to Notion
Craft has a simpler and more streamlined interface than Notion. Less overwhelming for users who don't need databases and complex workflows. Better for focused writing and document creation.
Users: 1 user
Storage: 1GB
Limitations: 1500 blocks total, Limited sharing, No priority support
Users: 1 user
Storage: 50GB
Limitations: Individual use only, No team features
Users: 1 user
Storage: 50GB
Limitations: Individual use only, No team features
Users: Per user
Storage: 250GB per space
Limitations: Need multiple users to justify cost
Users: 1 user
Storage: 50GB per space
Limitations: Must maintain student/educator status
Marketing teams (Apple-only)
Beautiful documents for presentations and briefs. Marketing teams on Apple devices love the visual polish and easy sharing.
Creative professionals
Stunning design, great for portfolios and creative briefs. Designers and writers appreciate the aesthetic and native Apple experience.
Apple users wanting beautiful native documents
Craft excels at creating visually appealing documents with native Apple design. For meeting notes, project briefs, and shareable docs, the aesthetic quality is unmatched.
Writers who value speed and offline use
Craft's offline-first architecture means fast performance without internet dependency. For focused writing without Notion's lag, Craft delivers a superior experience.
Students and educators
The free Education plan with Pro features makes Craft accessible for academic use. Good for lecture notes, study materials, and research documents.
Engineering teams
Apple-only limits team adoption. No code blocks, no Git integration. Engineers on mixed OS teams cannot use Craft.
Users needing databases and project management
Craft lacks built-in databases, kanban boards, and complex task management. For these needs, Notion is far superior. Craft is designed for documents, not project management.
Heavy free tier users
The 1500 block limit on the free tier is restrictive. If you need unlimited notes without paying, Notion, Apple Notes, or Obsidian offer more generous free tiers.
Users who prioritize local data ownership
Craft stores data on company servers with no iCloud option. For true local-first storage, Obsidian keeps notes as local Markdown files you control completely.
Common buyer's remorse scenarios reported by users.
Users don't realize how quickly they create blocks until they hit the 1500 limit in the middle of important work. The sudden restriction forces an upgrade decision at an inconvenient time.
Users switch from Notion expecting similar functionality but find Craft lacks databases, kanban boards, and project management features. They realize Craft is a document tool, not an all-in-one workspace.
Users built extensive document libraries before needing Windows or Android access. While Craft now supports these platforms, the experience historically left users feeling locked in.
Scenarios where this product tends to fail users.
Craft has no built-in databases, tables with relations, or Notion-style views. When projects require structured data management, users must switch to Notion or Airtable.
The 1500 block limit gets hit faster than expected. Users creating meeting notes, project docs, and personal notes daily run out within weeks. Must upgrade or switch tools.
While Craft has team features on Business plan, it's primarily designed for individual document creation. Teams needing Notion-style databases and workspaces find Craft limiting.
Apple Notes
Apple ecosystem users switch for simpler, free notes with iCloud sync. Less powerful but zero friction. Better for quick capture without subscription.
Ulysses
Writers switch to Ulysses for long-form writing with better manuscript management. Superior for book/article writing with publishing features. Similar subscription model.
Notion
Users needing cross-platform switch to Notion. Gain: works everywhere, more features, databases. Trade-off: less beautiful, slower.
Obsidian
Users wanting local files switch to Obsidian. Gain: own your data, cross-platform, powerful plugins. Trade-off: less visual, learning curve.
Bear
Users wanting simpler Apple-native switch to Bear. Gain: cleaner interface, better tags, lower price. Trade-off: fewer features, no databases.
