NotePlan vs Scrintal

NotePlan and Scrintal both include AI-assisted note-taking, but they're organized around fundamentally different structures. NotePlan is a markdown-based…

Best for NotePlan: Users who want daily, weekly, and monthly planning notes tied to a calendar, stored as portable plaintext markdown files, with AI tools for voice-note transcription (Memo AI) and writing/summarizing (Smart Note Assistant).
Best for Scrintal: Researchers and learners who think visually and want an infinite canvas for brainstorming, multi-format content (PDFs, images, videos, documents), bi-directional visual links, and real-time collaboration on boards, with study/research-specific templates.

At a Glance

 NotePlanScrintal
Primary categoryProductivityProductivity
RatingNot documentedNot documented
Pricing modelSubscriptionFreemium (free plan plus paid subscription tiers)
Starting price$4.99/month (Personal plan), 7-day free trial5 USD per month billed annually (Personal plan)
Free planNot documentedNot documented
Free trialYesNot documented
PlatformsWeb, iOS, MacWeb, Mac, Windows
Team collaborationNot documentedNot documented
AI featuresYesYes
Public APINot documentedNot documented

Key Differences

Organizational Structure

NotePlan: NotePlan organizes content around daily, weekly, and monthly notes integrated with a calendar.

Scrintal: Scrintal organizes content on an Infinite Canvas, a freeform space for brainstorming without a fixed daily/calendar structure.

The underlying structure determines whether the tool suits linear day-by-day planning or nonlinear visual brainstorming.

Platform Availability

NotePlan: NotePlan is built primarily for the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPhone, iPad) plus a web app, with no confirmed native Windows, Android, or Linux app.

Scrintal: Scrintal has native apps for Mac (Apple Silicon and Intel) and Windows, plus web access.

Windows users specifically need a tool with native desktop support rather than relying on a web app.

Content Format

NotePlan: NotePlan is markdown/plaintext-centric, with content stored as plaintext markdown files.

Scrintal: Scrintal supports multi-format content directly on boards, including PDFs, images, notes, videos, and documents.

Multi-format embedding matters for research workflows that mix source PDFs and media, while plaintext suits users who prioritize simplicity and portability.

Collaboration

NotePlan: NotePlan's documented features don't mention real-time multi-user collaboration.

Scrintal: Scrintal documents real-time collaboration for working together on boards live.

Real-time collaboration is essential for teams or study groups working on shared material simultaneously.

Pricing Transparency

NotePlan: NotePlan publishes clear subscription pricing: $12/month or $8.33/month billed annually ($99.99/year).

Scrintal: Scrintal's exact subscription pricing is not displayed as plain text on its official site, and it has no confirmed free plan.

Transparent pricing lets buyers budget without contacting sales or hunting for pricing pages.

Feature-by-Feature

Structure & Format

FeatureNotePlanScrintal
Organizational modelAvailableAvailable
Plaintext markdown storageAvailableNot documented
Multi-format content (PDF/video/images)Not documentedAvailable
Bi-directional linkingAvailableAvailable

Collaboration & Platforms

FeatureNotePlanScrintal
Real-time collaborationNot documentedAvailable
Native Windows appUnavailableAvailable
Native Mac appAvailableAvailable
Web appAvailableAvailable

AI & Pricing

FeatureNotePlanScrintal
AI assistantAvailableAvailable
Free planUnavailableUnavailable
Published pricingAvailableUnavailable

Pricing Compared

Starting price reflects the lowest paid tier, not the full cost for every team size or usage level.

NotePlan

Personal — $4.99/month Monthly (7-day free trial)
Business — $8.33/month Monthly (7-day free trial)

Scrintal

Free — 0 free
Personal — 5 USD per month annual
Scrintal Pro — 9 USD per month annual

Pros & Cons

NotePlan

Pros

  • Unique calendar-first organization bridges notes, tasks, and scheduling
  • Local Markdown file storage gives users full data ownership
  • Deep native integration with Apple Calendar and Reminders
  • Flexible enough for GTD, time-blocking, and bullet-journal workflows
  • Lightweight, focused app built by an independent developer team

Cons

  • Apple-only, with no native Windows, Android, or web app
  • No permanent free plan, only a 7-day trial
  • Smaller plugin and template ecosystem than Notion or Obsidian
  • Steeper learning curve for users unfamiliar with Markdown syntax
  • Small independent team means slower feature velocity than venture-backed competitors

Scrintal

Pros

  • Intuitive visual and spatial approach to note-taking
  • Real-time collaboration on shared boards
  • Generous free plan for individual light use
  • Backed by seed funding and under active development
  • Well suited to research and idea-mapping workflows

Cons

  • Free plan capped at around 100 cards per board
  • Smaller ecosystem and fewer integrations than Notion or Obsidian
  • Can become visually cluttered on very large boards
  • Primarily web-based, dependent on an internet connection
  • Higher effective monthly cost if billed monthly instead of annually

Use Cases

Choose NotePlan: Users who want daily, weekly, and monthly planning notes tied to a calendar, stored as portable plaintext markdown files, with AI tools for voice-note transcription (Memo AI) and writing/summarizing (Smart Note Assistant).
Choose Scrintal: Researchers and learners who think visually and want an infinite canvas for brainstorming, multi-format content (PDFs, images, videos, documents), bi-directional visual links, and real-time collaboration on boards, with study/research-specific templates.
Need both: A researcher could use Scrintal's infinite canvas to visually map out sources, brainstorm connections, and collaborate with peers on a research board, then use NotePlan to schedule the daily writing tasks and calendar deadlines needed to turn that research into a finished paper.

NotePlan

  • Daily time-blocked planning — Individuals plan their day by writing tasks directly into the daily note and scheduling them alongside calendar events.
  • Markdown-based journaling — Writers and consultants keep a long-running journal of daily notes that stays searchable and linkable over time.
  • GTD and project task tracking — Users following Getting Things Done or bullet-journal methods track project tasks across daily, weekly, and monthly notes.

Scrintal

  • Academic and UX research synthesis — Researchers and designers visually cluster interview notes, sources, and findings on connected canvases.
  • Content and product brainstorming — Teams map out content plans or product ideas visually before committing to a linear document.
  • Personal knowledge management — Individuals build a visual, interconnected map of notes and references over time.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does Scrintal have a free plan?

No, Scrintal's documented facts note no confirmed free plan. NotePlan also has no permanent free plan, only a 7-day free trial.

Which tool supports real-time collaboration?

Scrintal does, documenting real-time collaboration for working together on boards live. NotePlan's documented features don't mention real-time multi-user collaboration.

Is Scrintal available on Windows?

Yes, Scrintal has native apps for Mac and Windows plus web access. NotePlan has no confirmed native Windows app.

How do the AI features compare?

NotePlan's AI tools include a Smart Note Assistant for writing/summarizing and Memo AI for turning voice notes into structured insights. Scrintal's AI Assistant automates repetitive organizational tasks on the canvas, a different AI use case suited to its different structure.

Which tool publishes clear pricing?

NotePlan does: $12/month or $8.33/month billed annually. Scrintal's exact subscription pricing is not displayed as plain text on its official site, per its documented cons.

Which is better for visual brainstorming versus daily planning?

Scrintal's infinite canvas is built for visual brainstorming and connecting ideas, while NotePlan's daily/weekly/monthly notes integrated with a calendar suit structured daily planning.

Read the full NotePlan review · Read the full Scrintal review