Apple Notes is not available for Android, but Google Keep is offered on the App Store.
Both offer basic note-taking features, but one might be a better choice than the other, depending on the tools you want.
So how do both compare? The article helps you decide by covering Google Keep vs. Apple Notes.
Platforms
Apple Notes is only offered on Apple products, including iPhone, iPad, and Mac devices. You can access notes on browsers and other desktops by logging into iCloud.
Google Keep contrarily is available for Android, iOS, and browsers. You can install the app and the extension on Chrome from the Chrome Web Store.
You also get an icon to access Keep notes Gmail, Sheets, Calendar, and Slides websites.
Tools
In this round of Google Keep vs. Apple Notes, we cover all the tools both offer. Google Keep offers basic text editing tools. You get the following:
- Simple text editor
- Attach images
- Camera (photo only)
- Draw (separate space)
- Record voice
- Checkbox (switches the typed text to checkboxes)
- Increase and decrease indent
Keep supports limited options regarding text editing. For example, you can’t write text and add checkboxes in the same note.
If you add checkboxes, the app converts the text into checkboxes. Also, while adding grocery items, the app suggests items as you start typing.
Apple Notes is a bit more advanced. It has a few rich text editing tools and an option to add tables. Here is the list of all the features:
- Headings and subheadings
- Titles
- Monospaced text
- Bold text
- Italicize text
- Underline
- Strikethrough
- Indent
- Numbered list
- Botted list
- Images
- Videos
- Camera (photo or video)
- Checkboxes
- Document scanner
- Draw (separate space)
- Tables
- Printing notes
Review: There is no doubt that Apple Notes is more advanced in editing.
Related: Samsung Notes vs. Google Keep
Saving notes
Because of the extended options, Apple Notes is better than Google Keep in saving notes. The app gives the option to save on iCloud and your device.
Furthermore, the app also offers to download the note as PDF or the note’s media on your phone. The entire note option saves each type separately. I.e., text in a text file format and images in an image format.
If you have a Pinterest account, you can save Apple notes on any of your Pinterest boards.
Google Keep only saves notes on the cloud, and yes, you will not be able to refresh the app until the connection is not back.
Review: This round also goes to Apple Notes.
Sharing notes
One of the best things about Google Keep is its integration with other Google apps. You can open notes from Gmail, Calendar, and Sheets websites.
If you want the rich-text editing features, you convert the note to a Google Docs document and edit it in Google Docs. Finally, you can send invitations to Google users to collaborate on a specific note.
Apple Notes also offers to share notes and collaborate. A copy of the note can also be sent via other apps.
You can also enable guided access for collaborators to either only view or make changes. You can also allow others to add anyone as a collaborator.
Review: This round is a tie.
Related: Gboard vs. Apple Keyboard
Extra features
Google Keep
Shopping list: Google Keep automatically suggests shopping items as you type.
Reminders: You can set reminders with specific daytimes (morning, afternoon, etc.).
Location-based reminders: You can set a location-based reminder to pull up the desired list in the specific location, like a grocery list in a grocery store.
Disable sharing: You can disable sharing entirely in the app settings.
Labels: You can create and attach labels to notes. Labels are searchable.
Background color: You can change a note’s background color to separate it from other notes.
Background image: You can change a note’s background with one of the offered images.
Google Keep and Docs: You can convert Google Keep notes into Google Docs formats. Also, paragraphs and images from Google Docs can be saved as Google Keep notes.
Apple Notes
View attachments: The app has the option to view all the attached media of all the notes in one place.
Lock notes: You can set passwords with password hints and lock a note. The app offers to set a different password for each note for extra protection.
Lines and grids: The app can show lines and grids for better drawing.
Find in the note: You can search for words within a note.
Common
Pin notes: Both allow pinning the notes to the top.
Widgets: Both offer widgets on iOS. Google Keep comes with a new note option, while Apple Notes displays a few notes with a new note option.
iPad and Apple Watch: Google Keep and Apple Notes support the iPad and Apple Watch to add notes quickly.
Dark theme: Both come with a dark theme.
Which one is for you?
Apple Notes is more advanced, but the platforms make it less effective. If you work on iOS and macOS devices, I recommend using Apple Notes.
Google Keep is a simple note-taking app, and it is suitable for shopping or just saving simple text notes to come back to later. Keep is also beneficial if you work on a Windows PC.
Links
Summary
All it comes to the platforms you work on. Both have pretty much the same tools except for a few.
I hope the article Google Keep vs. Apple Notes helped you decide. Thanks for reading. Please share your thoughts and your daily drive app or suggestions below.
candilite
Tuesday 25th of October 2022
i am a teacher and i need to insert a talbe, a simple table with two cloumns and lots of rows; while it is a piece of cake to insert it in apple note, impossible in google keep. i dont wanna use google docs to follow my student hours due to practicality in apple note side. why google still does not make it available in google keep?
Madhsudhan Khemchandani
Tuesday 25th of October 2022
Google Keep was designed to be a simple app to save quick notes, which is why Google hasn't implemented any advanced features.
Raj
Wednesday 31st of August 2022
Apple Notes does not have an Apple Watch app. Google Keep does.
Lewis
Monday 29th of August 2022
Apple Notes works well in some browsers. It would not work in Brave (which is Chrome). It worked perfectly in Safari, which is no longer available on other platforms. It worked perfectly in Firefox, which is certainly cross-platform. So, it is essentially comparable to Google Keep, which only works in a browser (probably only Chrome).
Madhsudhan
Monday 29th of August 2022
@Lewis, Thank you, Lewis for letting us know. Actually, I never tested Apple Notes in Firefox. I will do that and update the article.