JikuDeck
Choose Apple Notes if
- You write long notes, lists, and documents
- You need your notes on iPad, Mac, and the web
- You share or collaborate on notes with others
- You want one free app that's already built in
Compare
JikuDeck vs. Apple Notes
Apple Notes is great for documents. JikuDeck is built for the ideas you want to remember.
The short answer
Apple Notes is a free, all-purpose notes app built into every Apple device. It syncs through iCloud and is best for documents, lists, and shared notes. JikuDeck is an iPhone app for capturing single ideas from books, podcasts, talks, and articles as visual cards, then bringing them back with fast search and a daily Home Screen widget. If you want one place for everything, use Apple Notes. If you want to remember what you learn, use JikuDeck. Many people use both.
At a glance
Which one is right for you?
Choose JikuDeck if
- You want to remember what you read, hear, and watch
- You want to capture an idea in seconds, without organizing first
- You want old ideas to resurface on your Home Screen
- You like scanning ideas as visual cards
Real life
Which app for which moment
Neither app wins everything. Here's where each one shines.
A grocery list for tonight
Checklists are built in, and a shared note keeps everyone's phone up to date.
Apple NotesA line from a podcast on your walk
Say it out loud and it's a card. Episode details fill in from the link.
JikuDeckMeeting notes with a teammate
Long-form notes you can share and edit together.
Apple NotesA slide at a conference
Snap it as a photo card and add the takeaway in one sentence.
JikuDeckA trip plan with links and tables
Tables, attachments, and one long document for the whole trip.
Apple NotesA lesson from a book chapter
One idea per card, tagged with the book, resurfaced by the widget.
JikuDeckHead to head
Feature by feature
Capture, organizing, search, devices, privacy, and price, side by side.
See the full feature comparison
| Feature | Apple Notes | JikuDeck |
|---|---|---|
| Capture | ||
| Starting a note | A new note in a folder. The first line becomes the title. | One card, one idea. No title or folder needed. |
| Ways to capture | Typing, dictation, document scanning, attachments, and audio recordings with transcripts on supported iPhones. | Text, voice, camera, photos, clipboard, the share sheet, and URL scanning. |
| Saving links | Share to a new or existing note. | Share to a card. Podcast and YouTube details fill in automatically. |
| Organizing | ||
| Structure | Folders, tags, smart folders, and pinned notes. | One deck of cards with tags, sources, and creators. |
| Formatting | Rich text, checklists, tables, and long documents. | One short idea per card, with visual card styles. |
| Finding and remembering | ||
| Search | Full-text search, including text in images and handwriting. | Search by words, tags, sources, creators, platforms, photos, or date range. |
| Resurfacing | A widget shows a note or folder you pick. | A widget shows a random card from your deck each day. |
| AI writing help | Writing Tools on devices with Apple Intelligence. | On-device rewriting with Apple Intelligence in Pro. |
| Devices and privacy | ||
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, and iCloud.com, synced through iCloud. | iPhone (iOS 17 or later). |
| Account | Uses your Apple Account for iCloud sync. Notes can also stay on device. | No account. Cards are stored locally on your iPhone. |
| Sharing | Share and collaborate on notes. | Built for personal use. |
| Price | ||
| Cost | Free and built in. Large libraries may need more iCloud storage. | Free for up to 50 cards. Pro is a one-time $6.99. |
Based on Apple Notes features as of October 2026. Some features depend on your device and iOS version.
Better together
You don't have to pick just one.
Keep your lists, documents, and shared notes in Apple Notes. Send the ideas you want to remember to JikuDeck, where they stay short, visual, and come back to you.
- Apple NotesLists, documents, shared notes
- JikuDeckIdeas from books, podcasts, talks, and articles
FAQ
JikuDeck vs. Apple Notes questions
Is JikuDeck better than Apple Notes?
It depends on what you're saving. Apple Notes is better for documents, lists, shared notes, and anything you need on iPad or Mac. JikuDeck is better for capturing single ideas from books, podcasts, talks, and articles and remembering them, thanks to one-idea cards, fast search, and a widget that resurfaces a random card each day.
Can I use JikuDeck and Apple Notes together?
Yes, and many people do. Keep lists, documents, and shared notes in Apple Notes, and send the ideas you want to remember to JikuDeck. Both work with the iOS share sheet.
Does JikuDeck sync across devices like Apple Notes?
No. JikuDeck is an iPhone app and stores your cards locally on your device, with no account. Apple Notes syncs across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through iCloud.
Can Apple Notes resurface old notes like JikuDeck?
The Apple Notes widget shows a note or folder you choose. JikuDeck's widget shows a different random card from your deck each day, so ideas you saved months ago come back to you.
Is JikuDeck free like Apple Notes?
JikuDeck is free for up to 50 cards. JikuDeck Pro is a one-time $6.99 purchase for unlimited cards and extra features. Apple Notes is free and built into iOS.
Keep Apple Notes for everything else. Give your ideas a deck.
Download JikuDeck free for iPhone.
Download on theApp Store
Apple Notes is a trademark of Apple Inc. JikuDeck is an independent app and is not affiliated with or endorsed by Apple.