# Notebooks: Write and Organize — Notes, Tasks, Markdown, Files

> A writing and organization app for documents, tasks, and files with lifetime access. (iPhone/iPad app by Alfons Schmid.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebooks-write-and-organize/id1490084838 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Alfons Schmid](https://appshunter.io/developer/297571754)
- Category: Productivity, Business
- Price: $17.99 with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 1,056 App Store ratings · 206 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.6 · 47 MB
- Languages: German (Germany), European Spanish, American English, French (France)
- Released: 2020-01-20
- Data updated: 2026-08-29
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebooks-write-and-organize/id1490084838/reviews.md

## What is Notebooks?

Own your notes — forever. Notebooks is a writing and organization app with no subscription, no lock-in, and no worries. Your documents are stored as standard files you can always access, export, or move freely. Pay once. Use for life.

Use Notebooks as a personal wiki, Zettelkasten, document archive, task manager, or long-term writing space. Capture quick notes, turn them into actionable tasks, combine text fragments into chapters, organize research, or keep business documents separate from personal journals — without ever switching apps.

Designed to help you stay focused and work at your own pace, Notebooks grows with your needs and is always ready to support you.

WRITE AND CREATE

Create beautifully formatted documents with styles, attachments, tables, checklists, and optional tables of contents. Choose from ready-made styles or design your own.

Write in different ways:

Formatted text (WYSIWYG)

Plain text, with smart handling of lists, automatic character pairing, and a focused writing view

Markdown, supporting MultiMarkdown and Discount, with syntax highlighting, dedicated keyboard keys, wiki-style links, and interactive checklists

Sketch ideas or annotate images and PDFs using Apple Pencil.

STORE AND ORGANIZE

Notebooks stores all documents as regular files in standard formats. You always remain in control — no lock-in, no export worries, fully compatible across devices and over time.

Organize your work in books and nested hierarchies without limits. Import PDFs, emails, web pages, MS Office and iWork documents, images, audio, video, and more. Use full-text search to find even the most deeply nested document.

PLAN AND ACT

Turn books into project lists and documents into tasks. Assign due dates and alerts, create nested projects, and track progress naturally — right where your work lives.

Use simple checklists in formatted documents or Markdown for lightweight task tracking.

STAY FOCUSED

Link documents together to build knowledge over time. Use wiki-style links, backlinks, contexts, and smart books to keep everything connected and within reach. When you rename or move documents, links stay intact.

A PLACE YOU CAN RELY ON

Sync your documents between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. Work on documents stored in other apps, compile selections into PDFs or eBooks, scan documents and extract text using OCR, and trust that your data stays accessible — now and in the future.

With time, Notebooks often becomes the one place users rely on to keep everything that matters close at hand.

WHAT USERS SAY

“Notebooks is a wonderful app — sophisticated in an unassuming way. I feel more productive without spending time managing the app itself.”

“You are GTD in every way that makes it efficient — and makes me efficient.”

## Key features

- Formatted text, plain text, and Markdown writing
- Create documents with styles, tables, and attachments
- Organize with nested hierarchies and 'books'
- Task management with due dates and checklists
- Wiki-style linking and backlinks
- Full-text search
- Cross-device synchronization

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: $17.99.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Custom Storage Locations | $2.99 | one-time |
| Small Tip | $0.99 | one-time |
| Medium Tip | $2.99 | one-time |
| Generous Tip | $4.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #144 in Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

## What do users think of Notebooks?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Powerful and flexible organization
- 🔒 Respects user data and privacy
- 👍 Reliable and stable
- 👍 Responsive and helpful developer
- 👍 Elegant and intuitive interface
- 👍 Seamless cross-device sync

**Cons**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and sync issues
- 🐛 Formatting and editing limitations
- 🐛 Steep learning curve for some users

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Data loss after iOS upgrades
- Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

**Most requested features**

- Improved Markdown support
- More font and color customization options
- Better Apple Watch integration
- Export to Word format

## Recent user reviews (10 of 206)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebooks-write-and-organize/id1490084838/reviews.md

### 5/5 — point d'ergonomie à affiner

*2026-08-06*

👍28536 M / 190 954 L
arrivée du compteur de mots 
____
l'édition-recherche nécessitant le clavier, ne laisse pas la page fixe 
____
Possibilité d’édition multi-formats au ToP 
⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️⭐️
𝑪𝒐𝒏𝒕𝒆𝒏𝒕 de voir arriver cette 13ⁱᵉᵐᵉ 𝓂𝑜𝓊𝓉𝓊𝓇𝑒 de 𝙉𝙤𝙩𝙚𝙗𝙤𝙤𝙠𝙨.
____
Testé : 
sur texte long en un seul document html, le rechargement de la page devient plus lent mais semble maintenant avoir des comportements notables, différents selon qu'il soit après une recherche …
avec deux types de recherches 
1. à l'intérieur d'un document,
2. sur plusieurs documents, 
la vitesse de replacement dans un document semble beaucoup plus rapide, que lors d'un rechargement de page (avec quelques imprécisions sur la position dans le document)

### 4/5 — Zufrieden, fast perfekt

*2026-07-17*

Seit gestern bin ich also auch dabei. Ein wenig Eingewöhnung in Sync (ich synchronisiere von lokal nach lokal über den eingebauten WebDAV) braucht es schon. Später habe ich versehentlich auf dem iPhone alle Dateien samt Ordnerstruktur in die iCloud gehievt. Oh Schreck, aber es geht ja auch leicht wieder zurück. Ansonsten erklärt sich das meiste während der Nutzung und Handbücher gibt es auch. 
Für mich ausschlaggebend für den Kauf: Nun ist alles, auch meine sehr umfangreiche PDF Sammlung, zusammen mit meinen Schreibsachen an einem Ort. 
Ein Wermutstropfen: In den PDFs werden fest eingebaute Lesezeichen nicht dargestellt, sondern ledig die Thumbnails der Seiten. Ich habe literarische Werke, historische Adressbücher und Noten mit ausführlichen Lesezeichen. Diese PDFs muss ich in einer anderen App öffnen (Menü öffnen mit), um zu navigieren. 
So also 4+ Sterne.

### 4/5 — A brilliant helpful notebook app

*2026-07-05, version 13.2*

A notebook engine wrapped around giant storage that allows each file to maintain its original file format. Easy to keep in notes and easy to share with no proprietary notebook behavior. 
Tasks! One line or an entire notebook can be turned into a tasks and a check box for a to-do list so it's also a to-do list engine interconnected to the storage files and the words in the notebooks. This is not your normal notebook app! Brilliant design. I love it and it synchronizes with all my devices including Mac. The developer is also incredibly kind, intelligent and attentive. Connected to family account, buy it once and share with the family. Huge value for the money. Highly recommend! 👏🏽💝🌹

### 4/5 — Cloud indépendant

*2026-06-19*

Dommage qu’à ce prix là on ne puisse avoir un stockage sur un cloud dédié comme le propose Things 3. Il faudrait alors proposer d’autres solutions de stockage comme Proton Drive ? :)
Édit a la suite de la réponse du dev : J’en reviens a Things 3 qui est un achat unique et propose du cloud. Ça ne semble donc pas si impossible. iCloud propose du stockage gratuitement oui mais il est peut déjà être plein avec 5Go seulement, tout le monde ne veut pas forcément prendre un abo iCloud+

**Developer response:** Merci pour votre retour. Notebooks est un achat unique sans abonnement. Un service de stockage cloud dédié implique des coûts permanents et ne peut donc pas être inclus dans le prix de l’application. En revanche, Notebooks fonctionne parfaitement avec iCloud Drive, qui est disponible gratuitement pour tous les utilisateurs Apple.

### 5/5 — Fidèle, en évolution constante, Merci

*2026-06-08*

Update 2026 - Je me félicite d’avoir choisi Notebooks il y a bien longtemps : aujourd’hui je peux partager les notes que je veux avec l’IA de mon choix sans effort particulier. Les dossiers et fichiers textes sont accessibles simplement sur mes disques persos. Je peux facilement faire un travail de réflexion sur des années de notes. 
Merci Notebooks !!!
———
Utilisé pour toutes mes notes depuis… je ne sais pas… je dirais 12 ans, 15 ans peut-être…
Choisi au départ pour le format non-propriétaire des notes et le fait de pouvoir les stocker sur le cloud de mon choix, contrairement aux leaders de l’époque. 
Jamais regretté, au contraire. 
Toujours aussi fluide, adaptable à mes besoins et en consolidation/évolution constante. 
Bref, une fiabilité à toute épreuve. 
Merci Notebooks 🙂

### 5/5 — Nice note app!

*2026-06-06, version 13.1.1*

Been using Notebooks for years and like it a lot. It can do everything other note apps can and more, including inserting time stamps, location, etc. Well done.

### 5/5 — Great notebook

*2026-03-15, version 13*

Great Notebook, does what it states it does, the only notebook you need.

### 5/5 — Minor Issue

*2026-03-06, version 13*

I can’t swipe my document to another document, and I can’t make side-by-side documents either. I couldn’t even swipe document in side-by-side before as well. I am dissatisfied.

### 5/5 — Great app

*2026-03-01*

This app has helped me organize all my docs, all my projects for more than a decade. No subscription model is an another plus. Nothing else to say but support the developer’s efforts.

### 5/5 — True Gem

*2026-02-21, version 12.8.4*

I’ve had Notebooks for years and like many people, I’ve been tempted away by Bear, Notability, Obsidian, Notion etc.  I’ve eventually come back to Notebooks and given it the commitment it deserves.  I’ve now dumped iCloud and sync to my NAS via WebDAV. It is a total success, and the depth of usability keeps surprising me.  It is ideal for quick notes, as well as complex content block editing using hyperlinks. 
Markdown is now my default, which gives great formatting.

## Frequently asked questions about Notebooks

### What does Notebooks do?

Notebooks is a versatile app designed for writing, organizing, and managing your documents, tasks, and files. It allows you to create formatted notes, manage projects, and keep all your information accessible in one place.

### What are the key features of Notebooks?

Key features include multiple writing modes (formatted text, plain text, Markdown), document organization into nested hierarchies, task management capabilities, wiki-style linking for knowledge building, and full-text search. It also supports syncing across devices.

### How much does Notebooks cost?

The app operates on a 'pay once, use for life' model, meaning you make a single purchase to access all features permanently. There are no subscriptions or recurring fees.

### What devices is Notebooks compatible with?

Notebooks is designed to work across multiple platforms, including iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. Your documents are stored as standard files, ensuring compatibility and accessibility across these devices and over time.

### What are common use cases for Notebooks?

Users can utilize Notebooks as a personal wiki, a Zettelkasten system, a document archive, a task manager, or a long-term writing space. It's suitable for capturing quick notes, organizing research, managing business documents, or journaling.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 13.2.1 — 2026-07-28

This update focuses on refining the user interface and making the overall Notebooks experience smoother and more polished.

### 13.2 — 2026-06-20

This update makes Notebooks more predictable when working with multiple windows on iPad. Editing formatted documents is smoother, Smart Books update more consistently, and sharing and importing documents work more reliably. As always, this release also includes numerous refinements and fixes throughout the app. You find a list of all changes on our website.

### 13.1.1 — 2026-05-07

This update speeds up editing very long text documents, improves link handling in formatted documents, and refines user interface consistency.

- Faster editing performance in very long text documents with Markdown highlighting turned on.
- In formatted documents, pasting a URL turns the selected text into a clickable link, "Remove Link" works more reliably, and content remains consistently aligned when window width changes.
- The list of search results displays the number of documents again and restores the button for bulk edit actions.
- Improved handling of fullscreen and Document-Only appearance, now consistent across device orientations.
- Fixed an issue where document titles could be truncated to a single character.
- The Due Tasks widget reliably skips items that are not yet due.
- Importing documents via "Copy to Notebooks" (for example from Safari’s Share sheet) works as expected.

### 13.1 — 2026-03-29

Thank you for your feedback on Notebooks 13. - In this update, context menus are better organized with submenus, renaming or moving documents and books can be undone with a three-finger swipe, you can immediately continue editing formatted documents when switching between apps. The Print and Create PDF options for images are back, JXL image format is now supported, and sharing from Safari and other apps works more consistently. Settings have been tidied up with clearer names and new options, including a "Start at" setting and the return of "Show Sidebars", the Classic Icon and a few other options you have been asking for.
The full list of changes is available on our website.

### 13 — 2026-02-27

Notebooks 13 focuses on a refined and more flexible user experience. 

This update introduces multi-window support and three-column split view on iPad, Liquid Glass support, and a new sidebar with a hierarchical list of books and more. 

You'll also notice new icons, visual refinements, and numerous smaller improvements throughout the app. As part of this update, some menus and buttons have been refined and reorganized to better support the new layout. 

You find all the details about this update on our website.

## Apps similar to Notebooks

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Evernote: AI Notes & Notebook](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/evernote-ai-notes-and-notebook/id281796108) | 4.4 (77,262) | Free | Productivity |
| [Craft: Notes, Documents, AI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/craft-notes-documents-ai/id1487937127) | 4.8 (6,595) | Free | Productivity |
| [Notability: AI Notes & Planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notability-ai-notes-and-planner/id360593530) | 4.8 (452,987) | Free | Productivity |
| [Ulysses: Writing App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ulysses-writing-app/id1225570693) | 4.6 (2,091) | Free | Productivity |
| [Werdsmith: Writing App](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/werdsmith-writing-app/id489746330) | 4.7 (7,962) | Free | Productivity |
| [Notebook – Notes, Notepad](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-notepad/id973801089) | 4.7 (23,845) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Alfons Schmid

- [Notebooks for iPhone](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebooks-for-iphone/id780442075)

All apps by Alfons Schmid: https://appshunter.io/developer/297571754

## Related topics

[notebooks](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/notebooks) · [markdown pro](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/markdown-pro)

---

*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-29.*