Loam vs Apple Notes
Apple Notes is already on your Mac and syncs with iCloud. It is the fastest way to capture a thought. Pick Apple Notes for quick capture on iPhone and iPad with no setup. Pick Loam for notes you want to keep as Markdown files, link together and automate. Many people keep Apple Notes for capture and Loam for the rest.
Last updated November 3, 2026
Loam vs Apple Notes at a glance
Published capabilities, checked on official sites in November 2026.
| Dimension | Loam | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Where notes live | Plain Markdown files in a folder you choose, called a vault | In Apple's Notes database, synced with iCloud |
| Format | Markdown | Rich text, not Markdown |
| Links and backlinks | Markdown links, backlinks and tags | Links between notes, no backlink graph |
| Plugins | Every feature is a plugin. Install from the catalog or a Git URL; an agent can write one | No plugin system |
| Command line and agents | Yes: the loam command runs every action of the app | Shortcuts only |
| Platforms | macOS 26 or later, on Apple silicon | Mac, iPhone, iPad and the web |
| Sync | Git sync, with an optional encrypted remote | iCloud |
| Price | Free | Free, included with your Apple devices |
Sources: Apple Notes guide ↗
Rich text or Markdown
Apple Notes stores formatted text in its own database. It is comfortable to write in, but the notes are not Markdown, and getting them out in bulk is awkward.
Loam notes are Markdown files. They open in any editor, diff cleanly in Git, and stay readable when apps come and go.
Capture and organize
Apple Notes wins at capture: it is on every Apple device, it takes scans, sketches and checklists, and it needs no setup. It is a weaker fit for a knowledge base, because it has folders and tags but no backlinks between notes.
Loam is built for the second step. It has backlinks and search, daily notes, tasks across your vault and collections over your notes' properties. A common split is Apple Notes for capture and Loam for the notes you keep.
Automation and AI agents
Apple Notes can be automated with Shortcuts. There is no plugin system and no command line.
In Loam, plugins add features and the loam command line runs every action, so an AI agent can read, search and write your notes from a terminal. See Agents.
Which one to pick
Choose Loam if
- You want Markdown files you can open in any editor
- You want backlinks, tasks and collections over your notes
- You want agents to work on your notes
Choose Apple Notes if
- You need quick capture on iPhone and iPad, synced with no setup
- You do not need Markdown or plugins
Switching from Apple Notes to Loam
- Open an empty folder as a vault in Loam, as described in Your first vault.
- Run the Apple Notes import as a dry run, then for real, as described in Import notes. It copies every note with one folder per Notes folder, and their pictures. macOS asks for permission once.
- Keep Apple Notes for capture if you like, and move notes to Loam when you want to keep them.
Loam vs Apple Notes: questions
Can I use Markdown in Apple Notes?
Apple Notes uses rich text, not Markdown. Loam writes every note as a Markdown file, which is the main reason to switch.
How do I export Apple Notes to Markdown?
Run Loam's import.apple-notes command. It reads Apple Notes on your Mac, with a permission prompt from macOS, and writes plain Markdown files with their pictures into your vault.
Is Loam a replacement for Apple Notes?
For long-term notes, yes. For quick capture on an iPhone, Apple Notes is easier, so many people use both. Loam has no iPhone app.
Does Loam sync with iCloud?
Loam syncs through Git, with an optional encrypted remote. A vault is a folder, so you can also keep it in a folder that another tool syncs.