# Scratchpad — Quickly draft notes and ideas

> A simple, fast, and distraction-free note-taking app for capturing ideas. (iPhone/iPad app by Sindre Sorhus.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Sindre Sorhus](https://appshunter.io/developer/328077650)
- Category: Productivity, Developer Tools
- Price: $10.00
- Rating: 4.80/5 from 25 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 26.0 · 14 MB
- Languages: American English
- Released: 2024-08-29
- Data updated: 2026-08-31
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051/reviews.md

## What is Scratchpad?

Capture your thoughts instantly in a single, always-accessible note.

Perfect for brain dumps, quick drafts, one-off jots, and fleeting ideas. Your thoughts are just a tap away.

• Clean, distraction-free interface
• Lightning-fast and lightweight
• Sync with iCloud, or not
• Word and character count
• Font settings
• Linkifies URLs
• Support for Shortcuts and share sheet

Plain text only. Simple by design.

## Key features

- Distraction-free interface
- Lightning-fast and lightweight
- iCloud sync
- Word and character count
- Linkifies URLs
- Shortcuts and share sheet support

## Chart rankings

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

## Recent user reviews (10 of 25)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Too many conflicts

*2026-06-10*

This app is great when it works reliably but lately there are constantly syncing issues and conflicts that have to be manually resolved. The app doesn’t run well on my iPhone 13 mini.

### 5/5 — Indispensable

*2026-06-06*

5/5 !

### 5/5 — フルスクリーン表示と並行してメモが取れる便利なアプリ

*2026-02-17*

ちょっとしたメモを取りたいときに重宝しています。

【良い点】
・フルスクリーン表示中のアプリ上に重ねて表示できる点。
純正のスティッキーズ（Stickies.app）などはフルスクリーン環境では隠れてしまいますが、このアプリはSafariなどを全画面で開きながらでも、その上で簡単にメモが取れるので助かっています。
・ショートカットで即座に呼び出せる点。
私は「Command+Shift+Space」を割り当てていますが、書きたいと思った瞬間にサクッと呼び出せるのが快適です。
・シンプル・ミニマルな設計。
必要最低限の機能に絞られており、Appleの製品らしいデザインを好む方に最適だと思います。

【追記】(2026-02-17)
macOS 26・iOS26、Liquid Glassへのご対応ありがとうございました！
非常に洗練されていて使いやすいです！これからも活用していきます！

This app is extremely useful for taking notes quickly.

Pros:
Can be displayed over other full-screen apps.
Unlike the native Stickies.app, I can keep this scratchpad visible even while browsing Safari in full-screen mode.

Easy to toggle with a shortcut.
I use "Command+Shift+Space" to bring it up instantly whenever I have an idea.

Simple and minimal.
The focused feature set and clean design are perfect for those who appreciate Apple's aesthetics.

P.S. (2026-02-17)
Thank you for your hard work on the latest version compatible with Liquid Glass on macOS 26 and iOS 26!
The new UI is absolutely sophisticated and beautiful. I love using Scratchpad!

### 5/5 — Floating Notes But Better

*2025-12-18*

For years, I kept a text editor open on my computer at all times and when I needed a scratchpad, I would switch to it and type or paste whatever I needed. Then Raycast came along with it's floating notes feature, which is nice. It can be summoned with a hot key. Then I found Scrap Paper, which can also be called with a hotkey, syncs between computers and has an iOS version. You can hide the icon in the menu bar if you just want to use the hotkey. Furthermore, you can have the text window stay on top of all other windows, which is a feature I want. Finally, I saw Scratchpad on r/MacApps and I thought I'd give it a try. It has everything Scrap Paper has, but can also be launched from the dock. It adds

Automatically creating clickable links from pasted URLS
Control over font selection
Text size adjustment
Line spacing
Smart quotes
Smart Dashes
Translucent background
Because it's text, you get access to the writing tools, spelling and grammar, substitutions, speech and the Mac Services menu. One awesome feature is the ability to use Quicklook on a link, which opens a small window with a live view of the web page, similar to the Little Arc feature in the Arc browser.

Scratchpad offers scripting and shortcuts support. You can enter text onto Scratchpad from any app that can open a URL.

There is a fully functional free trial of the macOS app available here. The only limitation is a reminder to buy the app every 12 hours, and no automatic updates. All data and settings carry over if you buy it on the App Store.

### 5/5 — BEST DEV

*2025-10-13*

Sindre is one of the best devs out there! Thanks 💜

### 5/5 — Praktisch

*2025-09-17*

Sehr nützlich, wenn man mal schnell was notieren will, die Notiz aber nicht gleich in Apple Notes (oder anderswo) landen soll. Die Synchronisation zwischen dem Mac und den mobilen Geräten funktioniert auch sehr zuverlässig.

### 4/5 — Sync issues

*2025-08-12*

A beautiful and thoughtful but simple tool. The only issue is the syncing. If you plan on using this on multiple devices (mac, ipad, iphone), plan on having sync issues that you have to manually resolve)

**Developer response:** Sync issues like this happen when devices don’t update at the same time. This can occur for reasons like Low Power Mode delaying background tasks. When the actual sync happens is determined entirely by the system and is outside the app’s control.

### 5/5 — Elegant simplicity!

*2025-07-21*

This is the app I never knew I needed. I really appreciate the subtle beauty of the font rendering. I forgot what my username was on here and seeing it now I am sad.

### 5/5 — I love it!

*2025-06-06*

Awesome lightweight app to quickly copy blobs of text temporarily. The companion Mac app is equally great! This is a must have app on any iPhone and Mac.

### 4/5 — Almost perfect

*2025-04-11*

Solid app for drafts/throwaway notes, but had two issues: 1) Screen jumps up and down when adding/deleting lines, and 2) no auto switching between RtL/LtR writing directions.

## Frequently asked questions about Scratchpad

### What is Scratchpad's price?

Scratchpad is a paid app, available for a one-time purchase of $8.00. This grants you full access to all its features without ongoing costs.

### What devices does Scratchpad support?

Scratchpad is available on Mac, Apple Watch, iPhone, and iPad, allowing you to capture notes across your Apple ecosystem.

### How often is Scratchpad updated?

Scratchpad was last updated on February 16, 2026, with version 1.4.0. This indicates a commitment to ongoing development and improvements.

### What is the age rating for Scratchpad?

Scratchpad has an age rating of 4+, making it suitable for a wide range of users, including children and adults.

### Can I sync my notes with Scratchpad?

Yes, Scratchpad offers optional iCloud sync, allowing you to keep your notes consistent across all your supported Apple devices. You can also choose not to sync if preferred.

### Does Scratchpad offer collaboration features?

Scratchpad is designed for individual note-taking and does not currently offer collaboration features. Its focus is on quick, personal idea capture.

### What file formats can I export from Scratchpad?

Scratchpad exclusively supports plain text. This ensures simplicity and compatibility, allowing you to easily copy and paste your notes elsewhere.

### What do users like most about Scratchpad?

Users frequently praise Scratchpad's clean, distraction-free interface and its lightning-fast, lightweight performance. The simplicity and ease of capturing ideas are highly valued.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 1.4.0 — 2026-02-16

- The app now requires iOS 26.

### 1.3.7 — 2025-06-21

- Bug fixes.

### 1.3.5 — 2025-04-07

- Bug fixes.

### 1.3.4 — 2025-03-25

- Bug fixes.

### 1.3.3 — 2025-03-20

- Bug fixes.

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## More apps by Sindre Sorhus

- [Blear](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/blear/id994182280)
- [Pasteboard Viewer](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pasteboard-viewer/id1499215709)
- [Refined GitHub](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/refined-github/id1519867270)
- [Photo Widget — The Best One](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photo-widget-the-best-one/id1532588789)
- [Plain Text Editor](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/plain-text-editor/id1572202501)
- [Actions](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/actions/id1586435171)

All apps by Sindre Sorhus: https://appshunter.io/developer/328077650

## Related topics

[scratchpads](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/scratchpads)

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*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 2026-08-31.*