Card Buddy - Index Cards

Card Buddy - Index Cards

Outline, plot & beat sheets

44 ratings
56 reviews
Free
In-App Purchases

Details

Released
April 24, 2023
Updated
November 2, 2026

Features

Card Buddy - Index Cards screenshot #1 for iPhone
Card Buddy - Index Cards screenshot #2 for iPhone
Card Buddy - Index Cards screenshot #3 for iPhone
Card Buddy - Index Cards screenshot #4 for iPhone
Card Buddy - Index Cards screenshot #5 for iPhone
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About

This app provides a digital corkboard for organizing ideas with index cards. Effortlessly arrange cards, add images, and utilize various text styles to outline stories, plot novels, or manage research. It offers a flexible and intuitive workspace for creative projects.

✓Free-form canvas with drag-and-drop cards
✓Two-sided cards with front summary and back details
✓Image support for storyboards and mood boards
✓Multiple text styles including Markdown
✓Kanban layout for column organization
✓Syncs across Mac and iPhone
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What users say about Card Buddy

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+1

What's New in Card Buddy

1.5.0

November 2, 2026

- The canvas UI has been redesigned to be cleaner and easier to use - The toolbar above the keyboard while editing has been simplified - A refreshed Focus Mode with previous and next buttons, a narrower text column, and a photo thumbnail that the text wraps around. - The free trial now allows saving up to 10 cards - Card Arrangement is now Drop Behavior, with clearer descriptions of what each option does. - Changing the New Card Color (formerly Default Card Color) now only affects cards you create afterwards. Existing cards keep their colors. Touch and hold + to change it. - Document Settings is now called Canvas Settings. - Fixed drag and drop layout issues when dragging card to margins of the canvas - Fixed an issue where some photos could appear sideways or upside-down, or be cropped to a square on Kanban cards with text. - Fixed an issue where the app wouldn't detect the Pro purchase on launch - Fixed miscellaneous UI issues

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Subscriptions & In-App Purchases

$19.99

Non-expiring License

Non-expiring license

User reviews

Pro license required to save changes

So you don’t even get to try it for a week or month or whatever to see if it fits your work flow, unless you’re willing to re-input everything everyday.

No Subscription

I will forever love this app, a one-time £20 payment that takes away the harsh commitment of a subscription.

Excellent, Neat & Simple (Perfect for ASD folks)

Love it. It’s so neat and refined and easy to use and I have been looking for something like this to help me organise my writing.

As an autistic person, I struggle a lot with technology and the internet as it is, so, finding such a simple app as this is a blessing. Thank you.

I’d love to be able to see a time-lining aspect added to this or… the storyboarding app you seem to have abandoned but are hopefully still working on.

Great work and well done.
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Exactly What I Needed for a Digital Holiday Index Card Writing Reference System!

I have been trying to create a digital reference system based on the Holiday index card system and there really are not a lot of apps out there designed for that purpose. This works perfectly and the files are localized on my own workstation instead of a cloud based web app I would love to be able to tag individual cards but other than that this is exactly what I needed.
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For Writing - My Go-to

For fiction writing, this has become my go-to, and I’ve tried a bunch of others (Scapple, Scrivener, Final Draft 12, etc).

Developer apps

User experience

🐞

Reported Bugs

3 issues

Trial mode does not allow saving

Bug

Images not displaying adequately

Bug

Double-tap zoom out feature interrupts text selection

Bug
✨

Requested Features

19 requests

Tagging individual cards

Feature

Apple Pencil support

Feature

More keyboard shortcuts

Feature

Support for multiple canvases within a single document

Feature

More customized options for text formatting, fonts, and colors

Feature

Auto update to cloud option

Feature

Form of auto version number on save

Feature

Dropping small video clips

Feature

Templates

Feature

Fit to window view

Feature

Grab function for moving the board

Feature

Linking notes

Feature

Basic formatting (Bold, Italics, underline, highlight, color)

Feature

Share outline with others for editing

Feature

iPhone version

Feature

Duplicating boards

Feature

Duplicating cards

Feature

Disabling double-tap zoom out feature or making it customizable

Feature

Adding back previous document type options (Storyboard, Kanban, etc.)

Feature

FAQ

What is Card Buddy used for?

Card Buddy is designed for outlining stories, plotting novels, organizing research, and managing creative projects. Users can arrange digital index cards on a free-form canvas, add images, and utilize different text styles to visualize their ideas.

Does Card Buddy have ads?

No, Card Buddy does not contain advertisements. The app is free to download and use, with an option for in-app purchases.

What devices does Card Buddy support?

Card Buddy is available for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Your boards sync across these Apple platforms, allowing you to work on your projects wherever you go.

Can I add images to cards in Card Buddy?

Yes, you can add images to any card in Card Buddy. This feature is useful for creating storyboards, mood boards, or visually representing elements of your project.

How does Card Buddy handle text formatting?

Card Buddy offers three text styles: Plain, Auto-style for instant headers and subtitles, and Markdown support. This allows for flexible text formatting within your cards.

What is the update frequency for Card Buddy?

The latest version of Card Buddy is 1.5.0, last updated on November 2, 2026. While this date is in the future, indicating potential for ongoing development, users can expect regular updates based on the developer's activity.

How does Card Buddy compare to physical index cards?

Card Buddy replicates the experience of using physical index cards on a digital canvas. It offers advantages like automatic card arrangement, image integration, and cross-device syncing, while maintaining a simple and intuitive interface.

What are the main criticisms of Card Buddy?

User reviews indicate some limitations, such as a desire for Apple Pencil support, issues with trial mode saving, and limited text formatting options. Some users also found cards to be too small or the editing box not resizable.