NotePlan review 2026: how this Markdown notes, tasks, and calendar app works, pricing plans, and how it compares to Notion, Obsidian, and Todoist.
Category
Productivity
Pricing
Subscription, from $4.99/month (Personal plan), 7-day free trial
Verified
Not yet
Last updated
July 19, 2026
Founded
2016
Headquarters
Berlin, Germany
Web AppiOSFree TrialAITemplatesMac
Overview
NotePlan was created in 2016 by Berlin-based developer Eduard Metzger to combine note-taking, task management, and calendar planning into one Markdown-based app for Apple devices. Rather than organizing notes into folders, NotePlan centers everything around daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly notes tied to the calendar.
The app stores all content as local, plain-text Markdown files, giving users full ownership of their data and the ability to edit notes in other Markdown editors if desired, while still offering iCloud sync across macOS, iOS, and iPadOS devices.
Key Features
Tasks are written inline within any note using Markdown checkbox syntax and can then be scheduled to specific calendar days, dragged between dates, or referenced across multiple notes. NotePlan syncs with the native Apple Calendar and Reminders apps, so time-blocked tasks and events appear alongside externally scheduled meetings.
Power users can extend NotePlan with templates for recurring note structures, backlinks and tags for connecting related notes, and a plugin and scripting system for automating repetitive workflows, giving it flexibility closer to Obsidian than to simpler calendar or to-do apps.
Pricing
NotePlan is subscription-based with a Personal plan and a Business plan, both offering a 7-day free trial before billing begins. A subscription unlocks full functionality across all of a user's Apple devices.
There is no permanent free tier; access to core features requires an active subscription after the trial period ends.
Key Features
Calendar-centric note organization — Daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly notes form the primary structure for planning and journaling, rather than folders.
Inline Markdown task management — Tasks are written directly in notes using Markdown syntax and can be scheduled, rescheduled, or moved between days.
Native Calendar and Reminders sync — Integrates with Apple's Calendar and Reminders apps so scheduled tasks and events appear in one unified view.
Local, plain-text Markdown storage — Notes are stored as Markdown files on-device with iCloud sync, avoiding lock-in to a proprietary data format.
Templates — Reusable templates speed up recurring note types such as meeting notes, daily planning pages, or project kickoffs.
Backlinks and tags — Connects related notes through backlinks and hashtags, supporting personal knowledge management workflows.
Plugins and scripting — A plugin system lets advanced users automate workflows and extend NotePlan's functionality.
Pros & Cons
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
Pricing
Personal $4.99/month Monthly (7-day free trial)
Business $8.33/month Monthly (7-day free trial)
Frequently Asked Questions
What platforms does NotePlan support?
NotePlan is available for macOS, iOS, and iPadOS; there is no native Windows, Android, or web version.
Is NotePlan free?
NotePlan offers a 7-day free trial, but ongoing use requires a Personal or Business subscription.
How does NotePlan store notes?
Notes are stored as local, plain-text Markdown files on the device, with optional iCloud sync across a user's Apple devices.
Does NotePlan sync with Apple Calendar?
Yes, NotePlan integrates with the native Apple Calendar and Reminders apps so scheduled tasks and events appear together.
Who created NotePlan?
NotePlan was created in 2016 by Berlin-based developer Eduard Metzger.
How is NotePlan different from Notion or Obsidian?
NotePlan organizes notes and tasks around the calendar as the primary structure, whereas Notion uses databases and pages and Obsidian uses a folder-based note graph.
Can I use NotePlan for task management alone?
Yes, tasks can be created and scheduled without heavy note-taking, but NotePlan is designed to combine both in one workspace.