Here are 8 features that are still missing

Apple Notes has been a great companion over the years, helping me jot down thoughts and ideas. However, after several updates, it still lacks some features that could make it even better.

1 Official plugins or extensions

There are several reasons why Notes is the best note-taking app for Apple users, the main one being its simplicity. It is an out-of-the-box app that anyone can easily use. However, its simplistic approach and focus on the most basic note-taking features also means power users may find it lacking.

That’s where official plugin support would come in handy to extend its functionality. Adding official support for the extension would allow anyone to customize Notes to fit their workflows while enjoying additional benefits such as seamless integration with other Apple devices. In comparison, popular note-taking apps like Obsidian come with advanced features by default and still offer plugin support for extensive customization.

Although Apple Notes doesn’t officially support plugins, there are some third-party add-ons like NotesCmdr that you can use to add a few missing features like slash commands and templates. However, keep in mind that these add-ons are often created by independent developers and may not go through the same rigorous security checks as official plugins.

2 Markdown support

Another limitation of Apple Notes compared to other note-taking apps is the lack of support for Markdown. Markdown is a lightweight markup language that allows you to quickly add text formatting such as bold, italics, headings, and lists. Although Apple Notes supports some text formatting options, you’ll need to use its keyboard shortcuts or the formatting buttons on the toolbar.

Fortunately, if you rely heavily on Markdown, you can add this feature to Apple Notes using an extension like ProNotes. This free Apple Notes extension lets you use Markdown syntax in your notes. Alternatively, if you enjoy writing in Markdown, you may want to consider switching to other third-party note-taking apps, such as Simplenote.

3 Integration with other third-party applications

One of the main reasons I still use Apple Notes is that it integrates seamlessly with other Apple devices. For example, when I prefer to write on my Mac, I can quickly jot down notes on my iPhone, which goes with me everywhere, and those notes sync effortlessly across my devices. I also enjoy using Siri to take quick notes when I can’t type.

However, sometimes I wish Apple Notes could play nice with the other third-party tools I use on a daily basis. This limitation means that I only use Notes for my personal needs because I can’t connect it to other apps that I use for work.

4 Availability and collaboration outside of Apple devices

One of the biggest limitations of Apple Notes is that it is limited to the Apple ecosystem. While it works fine on my Mac and iPhone, it’s essentially locked to any non-Apple device. This means there is no direct way to access notes on my Android phone when I need it.

However, there is a workaround for non-Apple devices; you can use iCloud on the web without an Apple device to access Notes. This limited availability also affects collaboration with non-Apple users.

Collaboration in Notes with other Apple users is possible, but it is limited compared to other tools. Plus, you’re out of luck if you want to work on a note with a colleague or friend using a non-Apple device. In contrast, apps like Microsoft OneNote offer cross-platform support and more collaboration features.

5 Support for native templates

Templates are a common feature for anyone who regularly needs pre-formatted note structures because they eliminate the need to format each type of note from scratch every time. Unfortunately, Apple Notes does not have a built-in template feature.

If I want to create a specific format—like a meeting agenda or recurring checklist—I have to create it manually every time, which is far from ideal because it adds extra steps that can easily be removed with the built-in template feature.

Alternatively, you can duplicate an existing note each time you want to reuse the format. You can also use ProNotes to supercharge the Notes app on your Mac. This extension adds several useful features, including slash commands and the ability to insert templates with a few keystrokes.

6 Version history

The lack of version history is one of the biggest drawbacks of Apple Notes, especially considering that the competition has this feature. You can use version history to restore a previous version of a note in case you make any accidental changes or want to go back to an older version.

There is currently no way to access a previous version of a note in Apple Notes. However, if you accidentally delete a note in the last 30 days, you can find it in Recently deleted folder. In addition, you can use bring back abbreviation (Command + Z) to revert all recent changes to the note. However, this will not work if you close the note and reopen it later.

In addition to these solutions, it’s best to use other note-taking apps like Google Keep. Keep allows you to track changes using version history and restore a previous version of a note if needed.

7 Sheet

The whiteboard feature in a note-taking app can be incredibly valuable for visually connecting ideas, creating mind maps, or organizing ideas, which can be especially useful for brainstorming. You can use the Markers button in Notes on iPhone or iPad to draw.

However, this feature is not available in the Mac version of Notes, except for use on attached images or documents. You’ll have to rely on Apple Freeform on Mac or use other whiteboard note-taking apps like Logseq.

8 Two-way connection

You can use Apple Notes to create links between your notes, which can help link related information. However, these links are unidirectional by default, meaning they only point from one note to another without creating a reciprocal link back. On the other hand, the two-way link creates a two-way connection that allows you to easily jump between notes.

Two-way linking is extremely useful in note-taking and personal knowledge management applications, helping you see connections and connections between ideas. One way to replicate this feature in Apple Notes is to create a link from one note to the next, and a backlink from the second note to the first.

This may not be as seamless as the built-in two-way linking feature, but it can still help you effectively link your notes. Alternatively, use ProNotes to view all notes associated with a particular note.

Apple Notes is a great note-taking app thanks to its ease of use and seamless integration into the Apple ecosystem. While it works exceptionally well for basic note-taking needs, it may not have all the advanced features that other apps offer.