Simple from the start
Open the app and type. No setup, no onboarding, no account.
Apple Notes alternative
The free, open-source Apple Notes alternative for Mac.
Apple Notes is always there, but your notes live inside it. kayet gives you the same calm, but every note is a Markdown file you own, with a live preview and real search across a folder.
kayet vs Apple Notes at a glance
| kayet | Apple Notes | |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free, no paid tiers | Free, built into macOS |
| Source code | Open source (Apache 2.0) | Closed source |
| Where your text lives | Plain files in any folder you pick | The Notes database, synced with iCloud |
| Platforms | macOS on Apple Silicon | Mac, iPhone, iPad, iCloud.com |
| Format | Markdown and plain text | Rich text |
| Code files | Syntax highlighting | — |
| Export | HTML and PDF |
What will feel familiar
Native feel
A quiet Mac window that follows your light or dark appearance.
Checklists
Markdown task lists render as checkboxes in the preview.
Where kayet is different
Files you ownNotes are .md files in a folder. Back them up, version them with Git or open them in any app.
Markdown and previewWrite in Markdown with smart lists and shortcuts, and see the result side by side.
Built for long textZen mode, a readable line width and slides from Markdown for longer writing.
Open sourceApache License 2.0.
When Apple Notes is the better choice
kayet does less on purpose. Stay with Apple Notes if:
- You need your notes on iPhone and iPad with zero setup.
- You use drawings, scanned documents or shared notes.
- You prefer rich text formatting over Markdown.
Questions
Is kayet a replacement for Apple Notes?
If you want notes as plain Markdown files with a live preview and workspace search, yes. If you depend on iPhone sync and sharing, Apple Notes remains easier.
Where does kayet store notes?
In a folder on your Mac, ~/.kayet/workspace by default. You can point it at any folder, including one in iCloud Drive.
Is kayet free?
Yes. kayet is free and open source, with no paid tiers.
Start writing.
Free and open source. Requires macOS on Apple Silicon.
Download for Mac
Signed and notarized. Release notes & previous versions.
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Apple Notes is a trademark of its respective owner. kayet is an independent project, not affiliated with or endorsed by the makers of Apple Notes. The comparison reflects publicly available information as of October 2026 and may change.