Using NotePlan instead of AppleNotes

Software
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I am slow to adopt new software; my last “new” app adoption was Bear in 2016.

I have been using Apple’s Notes to create a daily schedule and list of to-dos since I started taking care of my Mom in late 2016. Mom passed in January, and I just kept using Notes, especially since I started dealing with probate and Mom’s estate, and getting ready to move. I rely on Notes’ linking ability, particularly in terms of creating an index page for a given project (like moving, and Mom’s estate, and future plans).

I am essentially starting over. I’ve had a very constrained life, but had lots of exceptional time with Mom, so I feel lucky.

In part because of April 7, 2026 Focus episode “#253: Finding Focus in the Midst of Chaos, with David Roth” I have been inspired to try NotePlan which led me to Mac Power Users #756: Exploring NotePlan with David Roth. I’m using NotePlan on my Mac as part of my SetApp subscription, but there’s a 7 day free trial. NotePlan is available for Mac, iPhone, iPad and the Web.

I really like Apple Notes, but it’s not designed for easy export.

I don’t think I’ll be using NotePlan for anything beyond to-dos and scheduling; I have a local on-my-Mac Website I hand-code with BBEdit, for things like reading and research notes.

But I am impressed with NotePlan.

I found the following resources helpful; the developer provides a lot of articles and videos, including a complete Getting Started tutorial.

There’s a NotePlan YouTube channel..

This initial video is a good overview of Getting Started with NotePlan.

There are also templates, instructions for creatung them and a variety of plugins.

I am particularly intrigued with the possibilty of using NotePlan instead of Obsidian with David Sparks Robot Assistant Field Guide.

Is anyone else using NotePlan?

How are you using it?

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If you are using iPadOS 26 and macOS 26, it’s possible to batch export except iPhone.

I also love Apple Notes, but there are some cases it’s not great. I decided to use both Notes and Obsidian (and connected its folder on iA Writer) regarding my daily cases. Freeform will also be one of the team members too.

It makes sense when I have to use more than one app. I don’t need to think which one I should choose. No decision fatigue. More flow of thinking and creativity.

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I use NotePlan as my administrative hub. It’s where I keep my calendar, my to-do lists, notes about administrative matters, and links to important documents that I need to refer to regularly. I use Obsidian for research and learning notes; I tried using it for admin too, but NotePlan is much, much better on mobile. I rarely need to refer to my research notes from a mobile device, but being able to access admin info when I’m away from my desk is more than a nice-to-have.

I do wish that my NotePlan files weren’t buried deep in my user library. I have a link to them in my Finder sidebar, but it’s still not as convenient as having them in a Documents or Desktop folder.

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Lisa, so sorry for your loss. And, admiring of your dedication to her care. She lives on in your heart.

Katie

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Lisa, I’m so sorry for your loss. I’m doing the same thing, but in Obsidian. There’s a surprising number of things to keep track of. Because of how frustrating it’s been at times, I’m putting together a shared Apple Note with my spouse and adult kids for when I go. I don’t want them to have to deal with this on top of everything else. But it’ll be a pretty macabre note to share.

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I’ve been living a constrained life too, taking care of my wife as she’s getting older. I can relate.

I’ve been using NotePlan 3 since last September and I just recently joined Setapp. For me it’s worth it because I also have Nitro PDF Pro and that’s $150 a year. NotePlan is very sticky in my life now; I can resist the Obsidian siren song a lot easier.

My use of NotePlan is sticky because it’s the first app I’ve ever found that can handle my 1900 daily notes since 2021. It’s so easy to search and find every entry of a particular client in one screen. That search screen is persistent so I can go off and come back and I can keep looking through it.

I also like that you can drag and drop a task seamlessly, for me that’s a client visit, to another calendar day and you don’t have to worry about making a note first.

I am using the para method. My project is simply my list of clients that have text-related data I need to save. I started having a client list there when I started having super difficult jobs that I needed to document multi-day progress on. Any PDF’s or other client data I’ve stored on the file system. My areas are business and personal. My resources are the various technical aspects of the computer repair work that I do. My archive is old technical articles.

I use Apple Notes for all of my non-work web capturing and link storage and my 75 pages of quotes I’ve collected since 2013. Apple Notes works better than markdown first notes when you have image heavy notes. I also use Apple Notes for any locked notes I need to protect. That’s why I started to gravitate towards Apple Notes for some note storage in the first place. The other reason I’ve even considered Apple Notes is the new markdown import/export ability in Tahoe.

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I’m thinking about writing something later about eldercare, giving away what you don’t need before you die, hospice, and probate.

I have been writing notes, but it’s too soon still for me to write about.

I may try putting these notes in NotePlan as a project test.

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I’m sorry to hear of the loss of your Mom.

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I miss her, but was lucky to have her. She was just two weeks shy of her 102nd birthday.

She used HomePod Minis and Apple Watch with enormous joy. She would try to stump Apple Music by asking for actual known music Apple didn’t have.

She took wicked glee in having Siri add things to my To Do list.

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I’m already modifying a NotePlan template; it’s easier than CSS (and Obsidian templates).

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She sounds like someone who loved life. :wink:

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We’re not 100% successful, but my wife and I have a practice we call “ruthless cleaning”. A room a month is chosen for cleaning out the cruft. Of course, sentiment gets in the way of reason. But we schedule a donation pickup every month just to impel us.

Katie

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I’m sorry for your loss. May your mother’s memory be a blessing.

Noteplan - I used it for journaling for approx a year. Like others I used it via Setapp. As an application it does a good job with a consistent experience across MacOS/iPadOS/iOS.

If you’re going to use Claude Cowork or Code with it, you need to decide which folders Claude will have access to. For instance, should it have access to any personal notes?

In addition, Noteplan can operate either txt or md files. When using Claude it will need to be .md.

I needed to write a plugin for some very specific needs I had. When I looked underneath the hood, I found the API was disorganized. Writing a new plugin was going to be harder than expected. I returned to Obsidian at that point.

If you’re happy with the existing plugins, it is good app.

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Umm … Nothing to do with NotePlan per se, but not 100% off topic:

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This made me laugh. It sounds as if she was a fun person to know and I’m glad you got to be with her.

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