Apple Notes alternative for macOS
Metis vs Apple Notes
Apple Notes is the free, built-in default - and for quick capture and deep system integration it is hard to beat. Metis is for when notes become a knowledge base: plain Markdown files you own, with backlinks, a graph, typed properties, on-device AI, and git history. Here is the honest comparison, including where Apple Notes stays ahead.
$14.99 one-time · no subscription · 7-day free trial
Not a proprietary store
Backlinks and graph built in
See how a note evolved
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
An honest side-by-side - including where Apple Notes comes out ahead.
From notes to a knowledge base
Apple Notes is built for capture: jot something, find it later. Metis is built for connection and structure. `[[wiki links]]` with automatic backlinks turn isolated notes into a web; a graph view shows it; typed properties (status, owner, due) make notes manageable; and an agenda rolls up checklist tasks across folders.
Notes are plain Markdown with YAML front matter - portable, diff-able, scriptable, and readable by Obsidian, iA Writer, or git. Nothing is trapped in a proprietary store.
- Backlinks, unlinked mentions, aliases, graph view
- Typed properties + agenda
- Markdown, GFM tables, code highlighting, LaTeX math
Private AI and version history built in
Apple Notes now has Apple Intelligence writing tools. Metis goes further for a knowledge base: summarize a note, suggest tags and links, writing assist on a selection, and Ask Vault - agentic Q&A that retrieves across your whole vault with citations - all on-device. Make a vault a git repo and you also get snapshots, per-note history, diffs, and one-click restore.
Honest note: Apple Notes is free, on every Apple device, and integrates with Siri, the share sheet, scanning, and Pencil. If tight system integration and iPhone/iPad capture matter most, Apple Notes wins there.
Which One Is Right for You?
No tool wins on every axis. Here is where each genuinely fits.
Choose Metis if
- You want notes as open Markdown files, not a proprietary store
- You want backlinks, a graph, and typed properties
- You want git version history with diffs
- You want agentic AI grounded in your own notes
- You write with Markdown, code, and LaTeX math
Choose Apple Notes if
- You want the free, built-in default on every Apple device
- You rely on iPhone/iPad capture, Siri, scanning, or Pencil
- You need shared notes with family or colleagues
- Quick capture matters more than structure and links
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Metis a good Apple Notes alternative?
Yes, if your notes have grown into a knowledge base and you want plain Markdown files, backlinks, a graph, typed properties, on-device AI, and git history. Apple Notes remains great for quick capture and deep system integration across Apple devices.
Can I get my notes out of Apple Notes into Metis?
Apple Notes' export is limited, but you can copy note content into Markdown files, and Metis imports Markdown files and folders. New notes in Metis are plain .md from the start, so you are never locked in again.
Does Metis run on iPhone like Apple Notes?
Not yet - Metis is macOS-only today. Because notes are plain files, you can sync them via iCloud and view them in other Markdown apps on iOS in the meantime.
How much does Metis cost vs Apple Notes?
Apple Notes is free; Metis is $14.99 one-time (7-day free trial). You pay for a real knowledge base - open Markdown files, backlinks, a graph, an agenda, and git history - rather than the built-in default.