This intelligent app unexpectedly grew to become my note-taking default

Observe-taking is a central and core a part of my life and profession as a author. As such, I spend loads of time making an attempt out totally different note-taking applications. I am at all times searching for the very best one to simplify my workflow and streamline the method of getting my concepts out of my head and onto a web page. An awesome number of note-taking apps is offered proper now; some are solely free and open-source, whereas others require a subscription price. Nonetheless, they every supply a variety of providers, together with cross-platform syncing. I first took discover of Craft when Apple highlighted the app at WWDC24, and since then, I have been exploring the app by means of the free trial interval, and have even paid for the subscription.

Craft shortly grew to become my most used note-taking app on each my Mac and my iPhone, changing Microsoft OneNote, which I had been utilizing day by day for years. There’s quite a bit to like about Craft, from its colourful and customizable design, to its easy-to-use interface on each desktop and cellular. Whereas Craft has loads of options, it is nowhere close to as overwhelming as apps like Obsidian, which has a notoriously steep studying curve.

Craft has one thing to supply everybody, and I will be exploring the the reason why it is turn into my private favourite note-taking app and why I believe it is best to check out Craft if you have not already.

Associated

What do you use your Notes app for? 

The Notes app on iPhone is a harmful place — amongst all my grocery lists and birthday reminders are some fairly insane fossils and gems from ten years in the past. Nonetheless, between innocent half-finished ideas and sorry makes an attempt at poetry throughout a university semester of Romanticism sit some novel concepts from 2016 that positively should not see the sunshine of day once more. My rapid friends (wherever within the vary of 20-somethings) all agree — our messaging apps aren’t almost as a lot of a minefield as our beloved Notes app. I would argue the very best function that Apple ever added was the flexibility to lock a observe. So, whereas I won’t delete these makes an attempt at becoming a member of the Suzanne Collins and Veronica Roth’s of the fiction world, they’re protected from outdoors eyes and a heck of loads of second-hand embarrassment. My first (of 1,412 and counting) observe was a truth from Geography class in 2014. My most up-to-date was the thought for this very Thread. What do you employ the Apple Notes app for? Do you employ a unique app t

What’s Craft, and who’s it it for?

Designers, visible thinkers, collaborators, and extra

Craft is a note-taking app that’s at the moment out there for Apple units, Home windows, and internet browsers. When you can entry Craft through an online browser on an Android machine, there is no native Android app — but.

Craft is nice for anybody who likes to visualise their notes. The app provides high-quality picture importing that is easy to make use of, in addition to a completely customizable interface, permitting you to make your notes look nonetheless you need. There is a strong quantity of consideration paid by the Craft builders to esthetics, however they did not sacrifice performance for it by any means. The builders have managed to offer a elegant — and, at-times, stunning — interface to jot down notes, create day by day to-do lists, and even define your subsequent massive venture.

Associated

Does Napkin for iPhone represent the future of note-taking apps?

Serviette units out to do the entire note-taking factor in a different way, with a give attention to wellness and reflection.

I recognize how straightforward it’s to make issues look good in Craft. Taking a look at a coloured observe is helpful for the mind, according to researchers, and Craft makes it straightforward to make your notes pop. There’s a variety of accessible backgrounds you possibly can select from, or, in case you do not wish to spend the time, there’s an built-in AI-assistant that may customise your templates for you.

If you happen to do not wish to or do not feel the necessity to customise or beautify your notes in Craft, you do not have to. It is easy sufficient to simply create a fundamental observe with Craft, and go on along with your day. In my time with Craft, I noticed that it is a killer app due to its flexibility and its adaptability, which is backed by steady updates. It is a hub for not solely my skilled work, however for my day-to-day life. I can hyperlink notes collectively, hold them organized and separated if want be, and even embed totally different file codecs into my Craft notes.

How Craft has modified my note-taking

Non-linear notes — a author’s dream

Craft / Pocket-lint

If you happen to’ve labored on a e book, or know somebody who has, you could be accustomed to the picture of a whole lot, if not 1000’s, of notes sticking to each wall and floor of their workplace. That is what I seek advice from as ‘non-linear note-taking’. I used to dump all my notes into an all-encompassing Phrase doc, however Craft makes it straightforward to create these huge information dumps, after which later return and arrange them.

Utilizing Craft, I can hyperlink disconnected notes collectively, serving to to get nearer to the ultimate picture of a long-form artistic venture. For instance, a observe I had a few character sparked an concept that I used to be capable of hyperlink to a unique observe with an thought a few location, which I then was capable of hyperlink to a thematic brainstorming observe, which helped me visualize and create a stronger thought for a novel.

Utilizing craft on this means, you possibly can nest a number of notes collectively, which inspires note-taking and pondering in a non-linear sample. As a rule, even when engaged on this text, I want to totally discover a subject earlier than I can write totally about it. The linked notes in Craft assist me obtain this quicker, and never solely that, however it’s not a headache to hyperlink notes collectively. This function does exist in different note-taking purposes like Microsoft’s OneNote, however I discovered it to be far more intuitive with Craft.

Associated

Google NotebookLM made an entire podcast from my notes in just a few clicks

The brand new Audio Overviews in Google’s NotebookLM device can convert any supply right into a surprisingly lifelike podcast.

Options and templates

Templates for each sort of observe and an AI assistant

Craft provides a variety of free templates so that you can use for a variety of various doc types. These templates are unfold throughout a number of classes, starting from private to groups to conferences. I personally use the bulleted journal template to maintain observe of my day by day notes, and I exploit Craft’s to-do listing template to maintain organized. Along with templates, Craft additionally options an AI-assistant that can be utilized to create and format paperwork and templates for you.

I have not been the largest fan of consumer-facing AI. I have not discovered a lot use for the Giant Language Fashions resembling Open AI’s ChatGPT which were launched to the general public over the previous couple of years. I did mess around with Craft’s AI assistant, which runs on Open AI’s GPT-4o mannequin, and I discovered it to be surprisingly useful. Whereas I nonetheless would not use AI for any true researching or writing functions, I did discover it to be a superb and quick solution to format a doc with one button in Craft. One other factor that I like about Craft’s AI assistant is how within the background it’s. You do not have to make use of it, and it certainly is not in your face pressuring you to provide it a strive — it is merely there within the background.

Associated

Who ya gonna call? ChatGPT, apparently

OpenAI has revealed now you can name ChatGPT in your cellphone within the U.S. You may also now message ChatGPT on WhatsApp.

Pricing and availability

Craft incorporates a free trial, however then there is a paid model after that

Craft / Pocket-lint

Craft’s pricing is a bit sophisticated. There are 5 totally different plans, which embrace a plan that’s solely free to make use of. The free plan permits you to create ten paperwork and contains 1GB of cloud space for storing and options real-time collaboration. If you’d like extra space for storing or extra superior options resembling customized branding and a customized area to your notes, you may have to pay at the very least $8 a month. There’s additionally a enterprise model designed for enterprise customers, which options precedence customer support and no limitations on doc creation, the AI-assistant, or customized branding options, which is priced at $250 a month.

Most customers will probably be effective with paying for the starter version of Craft, but when you end up needing a customized area or need many individuals to have the ability to entry your paperwork, it could be value paying for the household plan, which is priced at $15 a month. I am utilizing Craft for my very own work and private causes, so I do not want a purpose to pay for the household plan, and I only in the near past upgraded to the $8 a month plan. If you have not tried Craft but, I strongly advocate getting began with the free starter plan, and in case you just like the app and use it day by day, then it could very properly be value upgrading to the $8 plan for your self.

Your adjustments have been saved

Craft

Craft is a feature-rich note-taking app that rivals Notion in each design and options. It is simple to make use of, though there’s a steep studying curve if you wish to turn into an professional with the app. You may strive it free of charge, however plans begin at $8 for limitless entry. 

Associated

After using these 5 Microsoft Edge extensions, my productivity skyrocketed

Microsoft’s Edge internet browser has its personal extension storefront — listed below are among the add-ons I at all times depend on for productiveness beneficial properties.