Craft and Noteplan seem comparable at first glance: both are tools for notes with calendar integration and AI support. Yet they are fundamentally different. Craft is a visual editor for beautiful documents and collaboration. Noteplan is a Markdown-based productivity tool that merges tasks, calendar and notes according to the Bullet Journal method.
Craft in brief
Craft is a note-taking app that revolves around visually attractive documents. The block-based editor makes it easy to combine text, images, tables and even whiteboards. The app feels native on Apple devices, but also works on Windows and Android. Thanks to real-time collaboration and share-to-web functionality, Craft is popular with teams that want to share their work externally. The AI Assistant helps with writing and summarizing. Recent updates brought better task management and database features (Objects).
Noteplan in brief
Noteplan combines three things in one interface: daily notes, a task list, and your calendar. The tool works entirely with Markdown and stores everything locally on your device. The power lies in timeblocking: you see your calendar appointments and tasks in one overview, and drag items to time slots. Bi-directional links connect notes like in Obsidian. An active community builds plugins that add extra features. Noteplan focuses on Apple users, although there is a web version for other platforms.
Craft vs Noteplan: the differences
The biggest difference lies in the philosophy. Craft uses a proprietary file format and cloud storage. Everything is in their system, which makes the app fast and polished. Noteplan, on the other hand, stores everything as plain Markdown files on your device. You can open these files in any text editor or even Obsidian. For users who want to avoid data lock-in, this is a deciding factor.
The interface differs enormously. Craft has a WYSIWYG editor where you directly see what your document looks like. Perfect for visual documents with images, quote blocks, and color accents. You can share documents as web pages that look professional. Noteplan, on the other hand, shows Markdown syntax in the editor. It looks utilitarian, but you have full control over formatting via plain text. The new Liquid Glass UI makes it a bit prettier, but it remains functional rather than visual.
Task management works fundamentally differently. Craft has had an inbox and deadlines since version 3.0, but it remains a note-taking app with tasks as an extra feature. Noteplan is built around tasks. You see today’s tasks next to your calendar, drag them to time slots, and recurring tasks work extensively with filters and review options. Do you work with GTD or Bullet Journaling? Then Noteplan feels more natural. Do you mainly want to write beautiful documents with an occasional task list? Choose Craft.
Platform support also differs. Craft works on MacOS, Windows, iOS, Android, and web. Noteplan focuses on the Apple ecosystem with native apps for Mac and iOS. There is a web version, but it lacks functionality and feels like an emergency solution. Do you use Windows or Android as your main device? Then Noteplan is out.
Collaboration is another breaking point. Craft has real-time collaboration where multiple people can edit a document simultaneously. You see others’ cursors and can leave comments. Spaces make it possible to share workspaces with teams. Noteplan has nothing for this. It’s a solo tool. You can share files via iCloud or Dropbox, but that’s not real collaboration.
The prices compared
Craft has a free Starter plan with a limit of 10 documents plus 2 new ones per week. For light users, this may be sufficient, but the limitation feels tight. The Plus plan costs € 8 per month with annual payment or € 10 per month. With that, you get unlimited documents, 10 GB storage, and more AI requests. For teams, there’s a Team plan for € 50 per month.
Noteplan has no free plan, only a 7-day trial. After that, you pay € 8,33 per month with annual payment, which comes down to approximately € 100 per year. The monthly subscription costs € 9,99. There’s also access via Setapp, a Mac app subscription. Many users find Noteplan pricey for what is essentially a text editor with task management.
For budget-conscious users, Craft wins with its usable free plan and lower entry price. Noteplan requires a financial commitment without the possibility to test extensively first. On the other hand: once you pay for Noteplan, you have all features. Craft’s free version quickly feels too limited for serious use.
Conclusion
Craft and Noteplan serve different users. Craft is the better choice for people who want to create visually appealing documents, work in teams, or are active on multiple platforms (including Windows). The lower entry price and free plan make it more accessible. Noteplan wins for solo users who want complete control over their data, need serious task management, and are deep in the Apple ecosystem. The combination of calendar and tasks in one view is unique and powerful. For most people, Craft is the safer choice: more pleasant to use, more broadly applicable, and easier to learn. Noteplan is for the productivity nerd who doesn’t want to compromise on task management and data ownership.
