NotePlan vs Sorted 3

NotePlan and Sorted 3 both combine notes, tasks, and calendar into unified planning tools for Apple users, but they differ in data format, AI features, and…

Best for NotePlan: Users who want their notes stored as portable plaintext markdown files, avoiding proprietary lock-in, plus AI features like voice-note transcription and summarization, and who don't mind a paid subscription ($8.33-$12/month).
Best for Sorted 3: Users who want a fully free tier before ever paying, plus a one-time PRO purchase ($14.99 iOS / $24.99 macOS) rather than a subscription, centered on a visual auto-scheduling timeline with time-blocking.

At a Glance

 NotePlanSorted 3
Primary categoryProductivityProductivity
RatingNot documentedNot documented
Pricing modelSubscriptionfreemium
Starting price$4.99/month (Personal plan), 7-day free trialFree (Pro unlock from $14.99 one-time on iOS)
Free planNot documentedYes
Free trialYesNot documented
PlatformsWeb, iOS, MaciOS, Mac
Team collaborationNot documentedNot documented
AI featuresYesNot documented
Public APINot documentedNot documented

Key Differences

Data Storage Format

NotePlan: NotePlan stores all content as plaintext markdown files, enabling portability, offline access, and avoiding lock-in to a proprietary format.

Sorted 3: Sorted 3's documented facts don't specify a storage format.

Plaintext markdown storage means users can access and edit their data with any text editor, independent of the app.

AI Features

NotePlan: NotePlan documents a Smart Note Assistant for writing/summarizing and Memo AI, which turns voice notes into structured insights.

Sorted 3: Sorted 3's documented feature list includes no AI capability.

AI-assisted note-taking and voice transcription can significantly speed up daily planning and journaling.

Pricing Model

NotePlan: NotePlan has no permanent free plan, only a 7-day free trial before requiring a subscription ($12/month or $8.33/month billed annually, i.e. $99.99/year).

Sorted 3: Sorted 3 offers a free tier on both iOS and macOS before a one-time PRO unlock ($14.99 iOS, $24.99 macOS), with no subscription required.

A free tier with a one-time upgrade versus a trial-then-subscription model changes both the up-front cost and long-term commitment.

Auto-Scheduling

NotePlan: NotePlan documents time-blocking via drag-and-drop scheduling but not an automatic task-placement engine.

Sorted 3: Sorted 3 documents auto-scheduling that automatically places tasks into available time windows, plus a Time Ruler visual time-blocking tool.

Automatic scheduling reduces manual effort in fitting tasks into open calendar time.

Extensibility

NotePlan: NotePlan documents support for JavaScript-based plugins, custom templates, and themes for automation and formatting.

Sorted 3: Sorted 3's documented facts don't mention a plugin system.

Plugin support allows power users to customize workflows beyond the app's built-in features.

Feature-by-Feature

Notes & Data

FeatureNotePlanSorted 3
Plaintext markdown storageAvailableNot documented
Bi-directional linkingAvailableNot documented
Plugin/template systemAvailableNot documented

Scheduling & Tasks

FeatureNotePlanSorted 3
Unified task/calendar/notes viewAvailableAvailable
Auto-schedulingNot documentedAvailable
Time-blockingAvailableAvailable
Google Calendar syncAvailableNot documented

AI & Pricing

FeatureNotePlanSorted 3
AI note toolsAvailableUnavailable
Free tierUnavailableAvailable
One-time purchase optionUnavailableAvailable

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)

Sorted 3

Free — Free N/A
Pro (iOS) — $14.99 One-time purchase
Pro (Mac) — $24.99 One-time purchase

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

Sorted 3

Pros

  • Clean, unified timeline reduces app-switching between calendar and to-do list
  • Deep Apple ecosystem integration, including widgets and Siri
  • One-time Pro purchase option instead of a forced subscription
  • Fast natural language task entry
  • Highly rated on the App Store with over 21,000 reviews

Cons

  • Apple ecosystem only, no Android, Windows, or web version
  • No standalone web app for browser-based access
  • Some advanced features are locked behind the Pro unlock
  • Small independent team means slower feature velocity than larger competitors like Todoist

Use Cases

Choose NotePlan: Users who want their notes stored as portable plaintext markdown files, avoiding proprietary lock-in, plus AI features like voice-note transcription and summarization, and who don't mind a paid subscription ($8.33-$12/month).
Choose Sorted 3: Users who want a fully free tier before ever paying, plus a one-time PRO purchase ($14.99 iOS / $24.99 macOS) rather than a subscription, centered on a visual auto-scheduling timeline with time-blocking.
Need both: There's little practical case for running both as primary planners since they overlap heavily on unifying tasks, notes, and calendar; a more realistic choice is picking NotePlan for its plaintext markdown portability and AI writing tools, or Sorted 3 for its free tier and one-time-purchase auto-scheduling timeline, rather than paying for both.

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.

Sorted 3

  • Daily time-blocking for professionals — Combines meetings, tasks, and notes into one schedulable timeline for focused daily planning.
  • Combining notes and to-dos in one place — Keeps richly formatted notes next to related tasks and events instead of in a separate notes app.
  • Cross-device planning across Apple devices — Keeps a single synced schedule available on iPhone, iPad, and Mac throughout the day.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does NotePlan have a free plan like Sorted 3?

No, NotePlan only offers a 7-day free trial before requiring a subscription. Sorted 3 has a genuine free tier on both iOS and macOS before its one-time PRO unlock.

Which app has AI features?

NotePlan documents a Smart Note Assistant and Memo AI for voice-note transcription and summarization. Sorted 3's documented feature list includes no AI capability.

How is data stored differently between the two?

NotePlan stores content as plaintext markdown files for portability. Sorted 3's storage format isn't documented in the available facts.

Which is cheaper over time?

Sorted 3's one-time PRO unlock ($14.99 iOS, $24.99 macOS) avoids ongoing costs, while NotePlan requires an ongoing subscription of $8.33-$12/month after its 7-day trial.

Does either app support Windows or Android?

Neither documents Windows or Android support. NotePlan is built for Mac, iPhone, iPad, and web, while Sorted 3 is iOS and macOS only.

Which tool has auto-scheduling?

Sorted 3 documents an auto-scheduling feature that automatically places tasks into open time windows. NotePlan documents manual drag-and-drop time-blocking but not automatic scheduling.

Read the full NotePlan review · Read the full Sorted 3 review