You have notes, documents, and projects scattered across different apps. You’re looking for something that works beautifully, is fast, and helps you work in a structured way. Craft is a note-taking app that combines design and functionality, with AI support and a block-based editor.
Who is behind Craft?
Craft was developed by Luki Labs, a European company that launched the app in 2020. The company focuses on creating a visually appealing note-taking app that works well on Apple devices, but is now also available on Windows, Android, and via the browser. The core functionality is creating structured documents with blocks, with design and user experience at the forefront.
Who is Craft for?
Craft is aimed at freelancers, writers, and small teams who value a beautiful interface and fast performance. Apple users will feel especially at home, as the iOS and Mac apps are excellent. If you take daily notes, write a lot, or share documents with clients, then Craft fits well with your workflow.
The tool is less suitable if you use Linux, as there is no support for it. Also, if you need complex databases like in Notion, you’ll run into limitations. Enterprise teams with advanced database requirements may want to look at alternatives.
What can Craft do?
Craft offers a mix of note-taking features, document management, and collaboration. The app works with a block system that gives you flexibility in how you organize content. Here are the key capabilities:
- Structured documents with blocks – You build pages with different blocks such as text, images, tables, and lists. You can drag-and-drop and nest blocks for a clear structure.
- AI Assistant for writing and summarizing – The built-in AI helps you write text, improve wording, and summarize long documents. This also works offline in the free version.
- Daily notes and calendar integration – You can link daily notes to specific dates in a calendar view. Handy for meeting notes and daily thoughts.
- Real-time collaboration – Work together with others in the same document. You see changes immediately and can leave comments.
- Collections (databases and tables) – Create structured collections of information with filters and sorting. Less powerful than Notion databases, but still usable for basic organization.
- Advanced export options – Export your documents to PDF, Markdown, or Word. You can secure shared links with a password.
What does Craft cost?
Craft has a free Starter plan that lets you create 10 documents, plus 2 extra per week. You get 1 GB storage and limited AI requests. For hobby use this is sufficient, but if you get serious you’ll quickly hit the limits.
The Plus plan costs 10 dollars per month or 8 dollars per month with annual payment (96 dollars total). This is for individual use with unlimited documents and more storage. For families, there’s a Family plan for 18 dollars per month or 15 dollars per month with annual payment (180 dollars total). Teams pay 60 dollars per month or 50 dollars per month with annual payment (600 dollars total).
You can try all paid plans free for 14 days before you pay. That gives you enough time to see if Craft fits your workflow.
What should you watch out for?
Craft has strong points, but there are also things you should know before switching. The databases are less powerful than what you find in Notion. For example, you’re missing Kanban views for tasks and advanced relationships between databases are still in beta.
There are concerns about privacy with uploads. Files get public links by default, which can be a security risk if you’re not careful. The Windows app feels less refined than the Mac version, which makes sense given the company’s Apple focus.
The free version has a strict block limit that you reach quickly. If you create a lot of documents, you basically need to upgrade to a paid plan right away. Some users also feel that more and more features are being added, causing the app to lose its original focus.
Craft reviews
I’ve looked at a number of Craft reviews to see what users experience in practice. Here are the key insights:
1. Feel Productive
Ez from Feel Productive is clearly impressed with Craft. He describes it as an app that “changes almost everything” and sits somewhere between Apple Notes and Notion. The design philosophy and user experience really stand out to him, although he’s also honest about what’s still missing before Craft can become his perfect all-in-one tool.
What stands out is that Ez now actively uses Craft for his daily work. He’s stopped using Google Docs for important documents and now uses Craft for everything from invoices to manuals. His daily notes also now go through Craft’s calendar view. For task management, he still sticks with Things, because he feels Craft is still missing some features there. He emphasizes that you don’t necessarily have to do everything in one tool – sometimes a combination works better.
Pros
- Design and user experience are excellent – feels like a perfect mix between Apple Notes and Notion
- Offline-first approach with AI features that also work offline, even in the free version
- Daily notes linked to the calendar are super handy for daily thoughts and meetings
- Readwise integration is a brilliant addition
- iPad and iPhone apps feel native and are just as good as the desktop version
- Styling options make documents not only beautiful but also more readable
Cons
- Many features are behind a paywall, with a content limit in the free version
- Collections are less powerful than Notion databases – missing Kanban view for example
- Task management could use more features like tags and priorities
- AI search is missing – you can’t ask questions about your knowledge base like in Notion
- No AI note recordings and automatic meeting summaries
2. ToolFinder
ToolFinder dives into the major Craft 3.0 update with more than a hundred new features. He calls it the biggest Craft update he’s ever seen and is enthusiastic about how the app has evolved. The focus is on the three major new features: task management, collections (comparable to Notion databases), and the improved styling options.
He’s honest about the comparison with Notion – Notion is more powerful, but Craft offers a more accessible experience that focuses on documents and creativity rather than pure structure. ToolFinder has been using Craft himself for six months and is increasingly considering switching from Notion, especially because Craft works better on the go and offline. According to him, the new template gallery and styling options make it possible to create everything from children’s parties to professional documents.
Pros
- Task management with its own tab, priorities, due dates, and integration with iOS Reminders
- Collections offer database functionality with filters and sorting, relationships are coming
- Styling options are extremely extensive with washi tape, colors, fonts, and page breaks
- Template gallery makes it easy to quickly create professional documents
- Now works on Windows, Web, Mac, and iOS with a consistent experience
- Mobile app also has the new styling interface – impressive technical achievement
Cons
- Free version limited to 10 documents plus 2 per week – quite restrictive
- Collections currently only have table view, other views are still missing
- Less powerful than Notion for those who need a lot of database functionality
Craft alternatives
If Craft doesn’t quite fit what you’re looking for, there are alternatives that have other strengths:
- Notion – Choose this if you need complex databases and extensive team workflows. Notion is more powerful for project management and has more view options.
- Obsidian – Choose this if privacy and local storage are most important. Obsidian works offline-first with Markdown files that you fully control yourself.
- Bear – Choose this if you’re looking for a pure, fast markdown editor for Apple devices. Bear is simpler and focuses on the essentials without extra features.
Frequently asked questions
Here are answers to questions that are frequently asked about Craft:
Is there an Android app available?
Yes, Craft recently released an Android version. In addition to Android, you can use Craft on iOS, Mac, Windows, and through the browser. The Android app is newer than the other versions, so some features may become available later.
Can I use Craft for free?
Yes, the Starter plan is free and offers a limit of 10 documents. You get 2 additional documents each week. For hobby use or to try out the app, this is sufficient, but for professional use you’ll quickly hit the limit.
Where is my data stored?
Craft stores data by default in the United States via AWS. The company itself has European roots, but the servers are located in the US. If data location is important for your privacy or compliance, you need to take this into account.
Conclusion
Craft is a strong choice if you’re looking for a beautiful, fast note-taking app with AI support and good collaboration. The app works best for Apple users, writers, and small teams who value design. The offline-first approach and daily notes with calendar integration are real advantages.
The limitations are mainly in the database functionality and the strict limits of the free plan. If you need complex project management or work a lot with databases, then Notion is a better choice. For Linux users, Craft is not an option. But if you mainly write documents, take notes, and want a tool that works pleasantly, then Craft is definitely worth trying.
