Free and one-time options
Notes apps for Mac without a subscription: what you pay for
Apple Notes and Obsidian can be used without paying for the app. UpNote offers a lifetime Premium option, iA Writer sells each platform separately, and Flyout includes Mac and iPhone in one web purchase. The difference is what you pay for beyond the Mac editor: mobile access, sync and future upgrades.
The cost beyond the Mac app
| App | Payment model | Storage and sync | Mac and iPhone cost |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Notes | Free app | App-managed notes; iCloud sync | $0 for the apps; more iCloud storage can cost extra |
| Obsidian | Free app; optional paid services | Local Markdown files; optional Obsidian Sync | Free Mac and iPhone apps; Sync $4/month billed yearly or $5 monthly |
| UpNote | Free tier or lifetime Premium | App-managed notes; sync through an UpNote account | 50 notes free; $39.99 lifetime Premium across platforms |
| iA Writer | One purchase per platform | Text files; sync using a supported file provider | $49.99 Mac + $49.99 iPhone/iPad = $99.98 |
| Flyout | One web purchase for Mac + iPhone | Local database; Markdown export; optional iCloud sync | $18 once; five devices total, future Mac app updates included |
Official pricing and product documentation checked on 6 September 2026, linked below each profile. USD list prices are shown; region and tax may change totals. iA Writer’s $99.98 total adds the two listed platform purchases. We make Flyout and mark it as our app.
Separate an app subscription from an optional service. Obsidian’s paid Sync does not make the app itself paid. A one-time purchase also does not necessarily include every future major version: iA Writer explicitly leaves that possibility open.
Apple Notes$0 for the apps; more iCloud storage can cost extra
Free app
Apple Notes is the first option to try when the budget is zero. The Mac and iPhone apps are included, with iCloud providing the shared library. Your notes use the same iCloud storage allowance as other data. Check that allowance before treating cloud storage as unlimited. It suits checklists, attachments and shared notes without a separate editor purchase.
Apple: iCloud Notes setup · Apple: iCloud storage plans
Pros
- No separate Mac or iPhone app charge
- Shared notes and checklists
Cons
- iCloud storage is not unlimited
- App-managed notes rather than a folder of live .md files
ObsidianFree Mac and iPhone apps; Sync $4/month billed yearly or $5 monthly
Free app; optional paid services
Obsidian is free for personal and commercial use. Its vault is a folder of Markdown files, useful if you also want to open them in another editor. Obsidian Sync is optional and costs extra; a no-subscription setup needs another supported sync method or local-only use. Choose it for a linked note library and direct file access. Budget separately if you want the developer’s managed Sync service.
Obsidian: pricing · Obsidian: local storage · Obsidian: sync options
Pros
- Free app, including commercial use
- Direct access to Markdown files
Cons
- Obsidian Sync is a separate subscription
- Alternative mobile sync takes its own setup
UpNote50 notes free; $39.99 lifetime Premium across platforms
Free tier or lifetime Premium
UpNote’s lifetime option unlocks Premium across supported platforms through your account. The monthly plan is an alternative, not a requirement. The free tier has a 50-note limit. Choose it if you want a conventional notebook library across Mac, iPhone and other operating systems. Notes can be exported, but they are not a live folder of Markdown files.
Pros
- Lifetime purchase covers supported platforms
- Sync across Apple, Windows, Android and Linux
Cons
- Free tier stops at 50 notes
- Direct .md-file editing is not its storage model
iA Writer$49.99 Mac + $49.99 iPhone/iPad = $99.98
One purchase per platform
iA Writer is aimed at writing in text files. The Mac app and the iPhone/iPad app are separate purchases, so budget for both if you write across devices. Its pricing page says minor updates are free but major upgrades may cost extra. Choose it for focused writing and file-based documents; buying once does not promise all future major versions.
iA Writer: pricing and upgrades · iA Writer: iCloud
Pros
- File-based writing
- No required app subscription on Mac or iPhone
Cons
- Separate Mac and mobile purchases
- Future major upgrades may be paid
Flyout$18 once; five devices total, future Mac app updates includedOur app
One web purchase for Mac + iPhone
Flyout is our app. The web purchase includes Mac and iPhone, with no separate sync subscription from us. On Mac, a screen-edge panel keeps notes and custom task statuses beside your work; iPhone provides the same library when you enable iCloud on both devices. The editor includes images, tables, code, reminders, 15 themes and 38 note colours. Content is stored in a local database and can be exported as Markdown. The trial lasts seven days; Flyout is a paid app after the trial.
Flyout: license and sync help · Flyout for iPhone
Pros
- Mac and iPhone included in the web license
- Future Mac app updates included
- Task statuses and reminders in the note
Cons
- No permanently free editing tier
- No iPad, Windows or Android app
For macOS 14 Sonoma and later. iPhone app included. No account, no subscription.
Choose the cost model that fits
You want to spend nothing
Start with Apple Notes or Obsidian. A free trial is time to evaluate a paid app; it is not a permanently free plan.
You want Mac and iPhone in one payment
Compare UpNote’s lifetime option with Flyout’s web license. UpNote covers more platforms; Flyout focuses on the Mac screen-edge workflow and its iPhone companion.
You want plain files you can edit elsewhere
Compare Obsidian and iA Writer. Flyout and UpNote can export Markdown, but export is different from editing the app’s live notes through a folder.
You want to avoid future surprises
Check mobile purchases, cloud storage and major-version policies separately. iA Writer’s one-time payment can be followed by a paid major upgrade. Flyout’s web license includes future Mac app updates.
Questions people ask
- Is Obsidian free for work?
- Yes. Its pricing page says a commercial license is optional. Sync and Publish are separate paid services, not requirements for using the app.
- Does a one-time purchase include every future update?
- Not necessarily. iA Writer says major upgrades may cost extra. Flyout’s web license includes future updates to the Mac app. Read the policy for the specific product and platform.
- Can a notes app sync without a subscription?
- Yes. Apple Notes uses iCloud, UpNote offers sync with its free tier and lifetime plan, and Flyout uses optional iCloud without a separate Flyout sync fee. Cloud storage limits can still apply.
- Is the Flyout trial a free plan?
- No. It is a seven-day trial of a paid app. Buy a license if you want to continue editing after the trial.
Try the workflow before buying
Use Flyout for seven days with your own notes and tasks. The one-time web license includes Mac and iPhone if the screen-edge workflow fits.
For macOS 14 Sonoma and later. iPhone app included. No account, no subscription.
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