saasrankedSoftware, ranked on the facts

note-taking app · Google LLC

Google Keep

Free notes, lists and drawings from Google, shared and synced in real time across phones and the web.

44/100

#9 of 10 note-taking apps
Facts checked 8 Oct 2026

In short

Google Keep suits people who want fast, free notes and lists on an Android phone or iPhone. Sharing is simple, and collaborators edit the same note in real time1,8. The catch: there is no Windows or Mac app, and Google does not say what format exported notes come in4,10.

Best for: People who want quick, free notes and lists shared with others.

Where the points come from

Systems9 of 25
Your data0 of 30
Features15 of 25
Price20 of 20

Systems 9 of 25 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
AppsAndroid, iOS, WebApps for Android and iPhone or iPad; computers use keep.google.com. No Windows or Mac app is described2,3,4.9 / 18
Works offlineNot publishedGoogle says notes can be updated offline, but does not say the web app works offline on a computer1.0 / 7

Your data 0 of 30 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Notes as plain filesNot published0 / 10
Export everything to Markdown or HTMLNot publishedKeep data can be downloaded, but Google does not name the file format10.0 / 6
End-to-end encryptionNot published0 / 8
Open sourceNot published0 / 6

Features 15 of 25 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Web clipperYesThe Keep Chrome extension saves a web page, selected text or an image to a note7.5 / 5
Linked notesNot published0 / 5
Real-time collaborationYesGoogle says several people can edit the same note in real time1.5 / 5
Tables and databasesNot published0 / 5
Handwriting and drawingYesDrawings can be saved as notes, with pen and marker tools9.5 / 5

Price 20 of 20 points

RuleWhat is publishedPoints
Free syncYesKeep is free and syncs notes across phone, computer and smartwatch1,6.10 / 10
Cheapest paid plan$0No paid plan; the app is free6.10 / 10

The rule behind each line: how we score note-taking apps.

Plans and prices

As the vendor lists them, before tax. Prices are in US dollars unless the plan shows euros; the points use US dollars, with euros converted at the ECB rate.

PlanPrice as listedPer monthNotes
Free1 personFree1,6$0Syncs across phone, computer and watch

Google sells no Keep plan. Google One memberships add storage, which Google describes as shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos11.

Strengths

  • Free, with no paid plan to unlock features6.
  • Collaborators can edit text, lists, images, drawings and audio in a shared note8.
  • Notes can be drawn with pen and marker tools9.
  • The Chrome extension clips pages, text and images into notes7.

Limits

  • Google describes no Windows or Mac app; computers use Keep in a supported browser4,5.
  • Since December 5, 2022, notes created in the Chrome extension do not save automatically7.
  • Google's export help does not name the file format of exported notes10.

What Google LLC says

Vendor claims. We show them, but they earn no points.

  • Google says everything added to Keep syncs in real time across phone, computer and smartwatch1.

Other note-taking apps

  1. 1
    AnytypePeople who want Notion-style databases kept encrypted on their own devices
    76/100
    $4/mocheapest paid plan
  2. 2
    LogseqPeople who want linked notes as plain files they control
    72/100
    $5/mocheapest paid plan
  3. 3
    ObsidianPeople who want their notes as plain files they own
    71/100
    $4/mocheapest paid plan
  4. 4
    JoplinPeople who want free, open-source notes with encrypted sync
    67/100
    $2.67/mocheapest paid plan

All 10 note-taking apps

Sources

  1. Google Keep, Google Workspace. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  2. How to use Google Keep - Android phone & tablet, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  3. How to use Google Keep - iPhone & iPad, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  4. How to use Google Keep - Computer, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  5. What you need to use Google Keep - Computer, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  6. Google Keep - Notes and lists, Apple App Store. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  7. Use the Google Keep Chrome extension - Computer, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  8. Share notes, lists & drawings - Computer, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  9. Save a drawing as a note - Computer, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  10. Export your data from Google Keep, Google Keep Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.
  11. How your Google storage works, Google One Help. Accessed 8 Oct 2026.

Website: keep.google.com · Markdown version · We are not affiliated with Google LLC.