Craft vs Standard Notes
Craft is native document editor for Mac and iOS with beautiful formatting and real-time collaboration, while Standard Notes is end-to-end encrypted note-taking app with extensible editors and self-hosting option. Standard Notes is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Craft is built for apple users who want beautiful native docs, whereas Standard Notes targets privacy-focused users wanting encrypted notes.
| Feature | Craft | Standard Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free tier available | ✓ | ✓ |
| Open source | — | ✓ |
| AI Assist | ✓ | — |
| E2E Encryption | — | ✓ |
| Editors | — | ✓ |
| Markdown | ✓ | — |
| Native App | ✓ | — |
| Self-Hosted | — | ✓ |
| Sharing | ✓ | — |
| Tags | — | ✓ |
Pricing: Both tools offer free tiers, so you can test each before committing. Craft's free plan: Free for 1000 blocks. Standard Notes's free plan: Free with basic editors.
Feature gaps: Craft offers AI Assist, Markdown and Native App that Standard Notes lacks. Standard Notes brings E2E Encryption, Editors and Self-Hosted that Craft does not have.
Team fit: Both tools target individuals teams, so the decision hinges on features and workflow fit rather than scale.
Open source: Standard Notes is open source, meaning you can self-host, audit the code, and avoid vendor lock-in. Craft is proprietary — you are trusting the vendor with your data and uptime.
Where each tool shines: Craft's biggest strengths are: includes native app as a core feature, purpose-built for note taking workflows. full markdown support with live preview for clean, structured notes. Standard Notes's biggest strengths are: open source and transparent. end-to-end encryption by default — messages are unreadable even to the server operator.
Watch out for: With Craft, users commonly note that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade. With Standard Notes, the main complaint is that free plan exists but key features are locked behind the paid upgrade.
choose Craft if
- You need a tool built for apple users who want beautiful native docs
- You specifically need AI Assist and Markdown
- You care about full markdown support with live preview for clean, structured notes
- The free tier works for you: free for 1000 blocks
choose Standard Notes if
- You need a tool built for privacy-focused users wanting encrypted notes
- You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code
- You specifically need E2E Encryption and Editors
- You care about end-to-end encryption by default — messages are unreadable even to the server operator
- The free tier works for you: free with basic editors
frequently asked
What is the difference between Craft and Standard Notes?
Craft is native document editor for Mac and iOS with beautiful formatting and real-time collaboration, while Standard Notes is end-to-end encrypted note-taking app with extensible editors and self-hosting option. Standard Notes is open source and can be self-hosted, giving you full control over your data. Craft is built for apple users who want beautiful native docs, whereas Standard Notes targets privacy-focused users wanting encrypted notes.
Should I use Craft or Standard Notes?
Standard Notes gives you open source and self-hosting; Craft is a managed service. Which trade-off works for you?
When should I choose Craft over Standard Notes?
Choose Craft if You need a tool built for apple users who want beautiful native docs; You specifically need AI Assist and Markdown; You care about full markdown support with live preview for clean, structured notes; The free tier works for you: free for 1000 blocks.
When should I choose Standard Notes over Craft?
Choose Standard Notes if You need a tool built for privacy-focused users wanting encrypted notes; You need self-hosting, data sovereignty, or the ability to audit source code; You specifically need E2E Encryption and Editors; You care about end-to-end encryption by default — messages are unreadable even to the server operator; The free tier works for you: free with basic editors.
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