Loam vs Apple Notes
Loam is in development. Join the waitlist to hear when it opens.
Choose Apple Notes if everyone you write with uses Apple devices and you want something free and built in, with sharing that already works. Choose Loam if you want Markdown and tags, apps for Windows, Linux and Android too, and AI agents that can work with your notes through MCP.
| Topic | Loam | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free on one device. Pro is US$2.99 a month or US$29.99 a year | Free and built in; notes use your iCloud storage Source: Apple Support: Share and collaborate on iPhone |
| Platforms | Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone, iPad and Android | Apple devices Source: Apple Support: Collaborate on notes |
| Sharing and live editing | Invite people as editors, commenters or viewers, or send a share link | Real-time collaboration on notes and folders through an iCloud link, with edit or view permissions and @mentions Source: Apple Support: Collaborate on notes |
| Private notes | A note is private until you share it | Collaboration is not available on locked notes Source: Apple Support: Share and collaborate on iPhone |
Where Apple Notes is ahead
- It is free and already on every Apple device, with nothing to install.
- Real-time sharing already works for people who all use Apple devices.
Moving your notes
Loam notes are standard Markdown. Loam has no import tool yet, so moving notes across today means copying them note by note.
When Apple Notes is enough
If every collaborator uses an iPhone, iPad or Mac and you don’t need Markdown, Apple Notes covers sharing at no cost. Loam is for the moment one of you is on Windows or Android, or you want an AI app to work with your notes.
Questions
Can I edit an Apple Note with someone on Android?
Apple Notes collaboration works through iCloud on Apple devices. Loam has apps for Android, Windows and Linux as well as Apple devices, so a shared note works on all of them.
Does Loam use Markdown?
Yes. Every Loam note is standard Markdown with GitHub-style tables and task lists, and it formats as you type.
Loam is an independent product. It is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple Notes or its maker. Apple Notes is a trademark of its owner. Facts about Apple Notes come from its own pages, linked above, and were last checked on 14 October 2026.