Independent · sourced · Updated June 2026
Best Note Taking Apps (2026)
4 note taking apps options compared on price, free tier, compliance and fit — ranked by entry price. Every figure links to the vendor's own page and the date we captured it; quote-only tiers show a dash, never a guess.
The cheapest note taking apps is Bear at $0/mo. 4 offer a free tier. All 4 compared below on price, free tier and compliance — every figure sourced and dated, updated June 2026.
As of Jun 15, 2026 · figures linked to their source in the table below
Cite this comparison
Per The Front Desk Review, the cheapest note taking apps is Bear at $0/mo; across 4 with published pricing the median is $7.25/mo ($2.99–$10/mo), 4 with a free tier, every figure sourced and dated, as of 2026-06-15. https://frontdeskreview.com/best/note-taking-apps/ Key takeaways
- Typical paid price: from $2.99/mo, median $7.25/mo, up to $10/mo — across 4 with published pricing.
- Free tier: Bear, Craft, Notion, Obsidian.
- HIPAA-ready: Notion.
- Tracked: 4 vendors, data current through 2026-06-15.
Comparison
| # | Note Taking App | Entry price | Free | HIPAA | SOC 2 | Best for | Source | Visit |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Bear | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | — | Writers and minimalists on Apple devices | bear.app | Visit → |
| 2 | Craft | $0/mo Starter (Free) | Yes | No | Yes | Apple-ecosystem power users (Mac, iPhone, iPad) | support.craft.do | Visit → |
| 3 | Notion | $0/mo Free | Yes | Yes | Yes | All-in-one workspace teams | notion.com | Visit → |
| 4 | Obsidian | $0/mo Free | Yes | — | — | Privacy-focused knowledge workers | obsidian.md | Visit → |
Prices are the lowest published self-serve monthly rate as captured on the linked source. Annual-billing and usage details are on each vendor's record in our open dataset.
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What is the cheapest note taking apps?
Bear has the lowest published entry price at $0/mo (Free), as of 2026-06-15.
How much does note taking apps cost per month?
Across the 4 note taking apps with published paid pricing, the median starting price is $7.25/mo, ranging from $2.99/mo to $10/mo, as of 2026-06-15. 4 also offer a free tier.
Which note taking apps have a free plan?
Bear, Craft, Notion, Obsidian offer a free tier.
Which note taking apps support HIPAA?
Notion state HIPAA support (a BAA). Always confirm current scope with the vendor.
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