Best Substack Notes Apps

182+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
19 free apps
Updated June 2026

Substack is the household name in substack notes, but it's far from the only option. We track 182+ alternatives and competitors on iOS β€” many free, many higher-rated than you'd expect.

Top Picks for Substack Notes

Substack#1

Substack by Substack Inc.

Videos, writing & podcasts
Editor's Choice
πŸ“‘ News
4.9😐(479K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#5in News
Substack screenshot 1
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Substack screenshot 5
Substack screenshot 6

Discover creators, ideas, and communities through videos, writing, and podcasts. Subscribe for free or upgrade to access exclusive content and connect directly with creators. Enjoy ad-free media and participate in live events.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Stable and functional app
  • πŸš€ Intuitive and easy to use
  • πŸ‘ Variety of great content
  • πŸ‘ Supports independent writers

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Buggy and glitchy
  • πŸ› Difficult to manage subscriptions
  • πŸ› Inconsistent user experience between app and website
The Economist - News, Podcasts#2

The Economist - News, Podcasts by The Economist Newspaper Group Inc.

Go beyond breaking news
Strong Contender
πŸ“‘ News
4.9😐(182K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#5in News
The Economist - News, Podcasts screenshot 1
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The Economist - News, Podcasts screenshot 6

Access independent, fact-checked global news analysis and reporting. Understand complex world events through articles, podcasts, and videos. Offers premium content for deeper insights into politics, economics, science, and technology.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Excellent app for accessing Economist content
  • πŸ‘ Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • πŸ“š High-quality journalism and in-depth analysis
  • πŸ”Š Convenient audio playback option

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Buggy audio playback with frequent issues
  • πŸ” Lack of search functionality and difficulty navigating past issues
  • πŸ’° Expensive subscription cost
Medium: Read & Write Stories#3

Medium: Read & Write Stories by A Medium Corporation

News, Tech, Business, Design
Worth Considering
πŸ“‘ News
4.8😊(156K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
#14in News
Medium: Read & Write Stories screenshot 1
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Access a vast collection of human stories, expert advice, and inspiring insights. Discover new topics, follow your interests, and connect with a global community of readers and writers. Publish your own work and reach a wide audience.

What We Love

  • πŸ“š Excellent content and writing quality
  • 🌐 Wide variety of topics and perspectives
  • 🧠 Thought-provoking and informative articles
  • πŸ€“ Useful for learning and personal growth

Room to Improve

  • πŸ”’ Paywall limits access to content
  • πŸ“₯ Difficulty finding and accessing past articles
  • πŸ” Lack of effective search and filtering options

More Substack Notes apps to explore

4
Flipboard: The Social Magazine
Flipboard: The Social Magazine
Flipboard: The Social Magazine
Stories curated by enthusiasts
Free

Discover and collect stories on topics you love, curated by enthusiasts and top publishers. Personalize your feed, follow local news, and create your own magazines to share insights with a community.

Personalized content feedCurated by publishers and communityCreate and share magazines
πŸ“‘ News
(328K)
free with in-app purchases
5
TED Talks: Watch and Learn
TED Talks: Watch and Learn
TED Talks: Watch and Learn
Inspiring ideas on the go
Free

Access thousands of inspiring and informative videos on a wide range of topics. Get personalized recommendations, watch with subtitles in over 100 languages, and download content for offline viewing. Stay curious and informed with this educational resource.

Personalized recommendationsSubtitles in over 100 languagesBrowse by topic or curator picks
πŸ“š Education
(10K)
free with in-app purchases
6
Ulysses: Writing App
Ulysses: Writing App
Ulysses: Writing App
Write a novel, story, book
Free

A distraction-free writing environment for Mac, iPhone, and iPad. It offers robust document management, seamless syncing, and flexible export options for writers of all kinds. Includes a proofreader and editing assistant.

Distraction-free editorUnified document libraryCross-device sync
πŸ“Š Productivity
(2K)
subscription
7
Newsletter Reader by Meco
Newsletter Reader by Meco
Newsletter Reader by Meco
An inbox designed for reading
Free

Organize and read all your newsletters in a dedicated space, free from inbox clutter. Connect existing accounts or use a personal Meco email. Enjoy features like highlighting, custom themes, podcast summaries, and easy unsubscribing.

Declutter email inboxConsolidate newslettersHighlight and save content
πŸ“° Magazines & Newspapers
(578)
free with in-app purchases
8
Academia.edu
Academia.edu
Academia.edu
Accelerating research
Free

Access a vast library of open-access research papers on your mobile device. Discover new studies, track mentions and readership of your work, and connect with fellow scholars. Explore millions of academic papers on diverse topics.

Discover and read researchSave research papersTrack mentions and readership
πŸ“š Education
(16K)
free with in-app purchases
9
GitNotΔ“s: Notes & Todos + Git
GitNotΔ“s: Notes & Todos + Git
GitNotΔ“s: Notes & Todos + Git
Your notes. Your repo. Yours.
$3.99
$19.99 | 80% OFF
πŸ“Š Productivity
(0)
10
Nested Folder Notes: CrumbNote
Nested Folder Notes: CrumbNote
Nested Folder Notes: CrumbNote
Organize notes your way
Free

This app allows users to create deeply nested folders for organizing notes, ideal for managing large amounts of information for work, study, or creative projects. It offers features like drag-and-drop reordering, color-coding, and search functionality to streamline note management.

Nested folders for structured organizationDrag & drop and auto sortingColor-coded notes
πŸ“Š Productivity
(9)
free with in-app purchases
11
Headway - Daily Micro Learning
Headway - Daily Micro Learning
Headway - Daily Micro Learning
Shorts・Book Summaries・Roleplay
Free

Access concise summaries of nonfiction bestsellers to gain essential knowledge and achieve your goals. Engage in daily microlearning sessions, personalized challenges, and utilize spaced repetition to reinforce learning. Stay motivated with widgets and a vast library of content.

1700+ book summariesDaily microlearning sessionsSelf-growth challenges
πŸ“š Education
(116K)
free with in-app purchases
12
NeatNotes : Notes and lists
NeatNotes : Notes and lists
NeatNotes : Notes and lists
notepad, stickies, reminders
Free
$9.99 | 100% OFF

Organize and take notes quickly with a clean interface. See full note previews, customize note styles, and set reminders. Features smart grouping and automatic link title generation.

Full note previewsCustomizable note styles (plain, sticky, lined)Home screen widgets
πŸ“Š Productivity
(28)
free
13
Library Notes
Library Notes
Library Notes
Keep notes about your books
Free

This app helps book lovers organize their thoughts and memories about the books they read. It allows users to create detailed notes and offers a unique review mode to help recall key information and quotes.

Organize book notesCreate reading logsReview mode for memory recall
πŸ“š Books
(4)
free
14
Notes: Color Notepad, Notebook
Notes: Color Notepad, Notebook
Notes: Color Notepad, Notebook
by EXTRA MART LLC
Free
πŸ“Š Productivity
(1)
15
Zettel - Quick Notes
Zettel - Quick Notes
Zettel - Quick Notes
Your digital notepad
Free

This app offers a minimalist note-taking experience, focusing on a single, full-screen note at a time. It features a unique swipe-to-clear gesture with haptic feedback and simple tag functionality for easy organization. Notes are saved as plain Markdown files for versatile use.

Single full-screen note interfaceSwipe-to-clear gesture with haptic feedbackSimple hashtag tagging system
πŸ“Š Productivity
(5)
free
16
Print(Notes)
Print(Notes)
Print(Notes)
An open source notes app
Free

An open-source notes application inspired by popular productivity tools. It offers extensive customization options for themes and note display, supports Markdown and LaTeX, and stores all data locally for easy access.

Markdown and LaTeX supportCustomizable themes (light/dark)Multiple note display layouts (Grid, List, Tree)
πŸ“Š Productivity
(4)
free
17
notetime: Timeline Dated Notes
notetime: Timeline Dated Notes
notetime: Timeline Dated Notes
notes with automatic timestamp
Free
πŸ“Š Productivity
(7)
18
OBSRV - Personal Notes
OBSRV - Personal Notes
OBSRV - Personal Notes
Personal location based notes
Free

Capture location-specific reminders and notes for businesses you visit. Remember details about your experiences or specific people you want to reconnect with.

Location-based notesBusiness-specific remindersPersonalized memory aid
πŸ“Š Productivity
(5)
free
19
Supernotes – Notes & Journal
Supernotes – Notes & Journal
Supernotes – Notes & Journal
Shareable Markdown Cards
Free

Organize your thoughts and ideas with a fast, lightweight note-taking app. Create visually rich notecards with Markdown and LaTeX support, enhanced by AI writing assistance. Build interconnected knowledge networks and share them seamlessly.

Shareable Markdown notecardsAI writing assistanceBi-directional card linking
πŸ“Š Productivity
(112)
freemium
20
Hacker Notes Pro
Hacker Notes Pro
Hacker Notes Pro
Terminal-Style Note Editor
Free
πŸ“Š Productivity
(0)