Sunday evening: you save a receipt, write three lines about a project and add a task for tomorrow. Both Apple Notes and Zen Slate can hold the writing. The useful question is how you want to organize it, follow up and find it again. Zen Slate is available on the App Store.
Both apps can keep notes on the device
Apple Notes supports an On My iPhone account as well as iCloud and other accounts. Notes saved in On My iPhone are local to that phone, though they can be included in its iCloud backup. Apple explains the account choices in its Notes account guide. It would be misleading to describe Apple Notes as cloud-only.
Zen Slate keeps writing on your iPhone or iPad, with optional iCloud sync through your own Apple account. There is no separate Zen notes account. Decide whether you need a second device, then review the Zen Slate sync guide.
What the current Zen Slate includes
- Rich text with headings, checklists, code, images and file attachments.
- Document scanning and editable handwriting with Apple Pencil tools.
- Voice notes with on-device transcription on supported devices, software versions and languages.
- Todos with dates, reminders, priorities and repeats, alongside your notes.
- Categories, tags, search, pinning, bookmarks and restorable version history.
Compare the workflow, not just the feature count
Scroll sideways to compare every column.
Reviewed 17 September 2026. Zen Slate details reflect the current iPhone and iPad release; check the app and store listing before buying.
| Question | Zen Slate | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Which devices? | iPhone and iPad. No current Mac release. | Available across Apple devices, including Mac. |
| Can I scan or write by hand? | Document scanning and editable Apple Pencil handwriting. | Document scanning and handwriting. |
| How do I organize notes? | Categories, tags, pinning and bookmarks. | Folders, tags and pinned notes. |
| How does sync work? | Optional iCloud sync with Pro, through your own Apple account. | iCloud notes sync between signed-in devices; local accounts are also available. |
| Can other people edit the same note? | Built for your own notebook, not shared-note collaboration. | iCloud notes and folders support collaboration. |
| What is free? | Five slates; Pro removes the limit and adds features. | The Notes app is included with Apple devices. |
Choose Zen Slate if, stay on Apple Notes if
Choose Zen Slate if you want notes, voice capture and todos together in a dedicated iPhone and iPad notebook, with its organization and draft history. Stay on Apple Notes if your workflow depends on a Mac or shared iCloud notes and folders. Scanning and handwriting alone are no longer a reason to rule out Zen Slate.
Try one real note before moving a library
- Create a note you expect to use this week, with a paragraph, an image and a checklist.
- Add a category and a tag, then find it again with search.
- If you use an iPad, try handwriting in the way you normally take notes.
- Check the Pro options and export controls before moving a large collection. Keep the original notes until the new workflow is verified.
Check storage and export before switching
Zen Slate uses on-device storage and optional sync through your Apple account. Read the privacy policy for the data practices. Pro includes backup and export; check the current purchase options in the app. For a comparison with another dedicated editor, see Zen Slate vs Bear.
See the current screenshots on the Zen Slate product page or download on the App Store.
