Why use Thinkblot if Apple Notes already reads handwriting?

Apple Notes reads, searches and refines handwriting beautifully. Thinkblot builds on the same Apple technology for people who want a paper notebook: pages that turn, notebooks shaped for planning, music or study, and a line that becomes a reminder or calendar time when you tap it.

Can both do maths in handwriting?

Yes. Apple's Math Notes solves an expression when you write an equals sign, and can graph equations. Thinkblot writes the answer after an equals sign too, and adds a column when you write “total” under it.

Does Thinkblot work with Apple Reminders and Calendar?

Yes. Ticking a box on a Thinkblot page ticks it in Reminders, and a time you write can become an event in Calendar. Thinkblot uses Apple's own apps rather than keeping a separate list.

Do both keep notes in iCloud?

Yes. Apple Notes syncs through iCloud. Thinkblot keeps notebooks on your devices and in your own iCloud, through Apple's private CloudKit database, with no Thinkblot account or server.

Do I need an Apple Pencil?

Thinkblot is made for one, but you can write with a finger by turning on “Write with a finger”. Apple Notes also takes a Pencil or a finger.

Compare

All comparisons

Thinkblot and Apple Notes

Apple Notes is the benchmark. It's free, already on your iPhone and iPad, searches handwriting, refines and straightens it, solves maths when you write an equals sign, and keeps everything private in iCloud. If you mix typed and handwritten notes, or share notes with other people, start there.

Thinkblot is for people who want a paper notebook rather than a list of notes: pages that turn, a notebook for each part of life, and a line that becomes a reminder, a message or time on your calendar when you tap it. It's built on the same Apple foundation, so your handwriting is read on your device and your notebooks stay in your own iCloud.

Last checked: 27 October 2026

Side by side

Thinkblot and Apple Notes, row by row.

A dash (—) means Apple Notes's own pages didn't say, so we left it blank.
	Thinkblot	Apple Notes
Platforms	iPhone (including iPhone Duo), iPad with Apple Pencil, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro (the iPad app). iOS and iPadOS 27.1 or later.	Built into iPhone and iPad, and on iCloud.com.
Handwriting recognition	Read on your device. Fixing a misread word changes the text, never your ink.	Searches handwritten text in supported languages. Handwriting can be refined, straightened and pasted as typed text.
What happens to a line you write	It stays ink. When Thinkblot can help, a small blot appears at the end of the line. Tap it, and the line becomes a reminder, a drafted message, a payment or time on your calendar.	It stays handwriting. You can select it and paste it as typed text in another note or app.
Tasks and reminders	A box in front of a line makes it a task. Tick the box on paper and it's done in Reminders too. Unticked tasks carry forward.	—
Maths	Write a sum and an equals sign, and the answer is written for you. Write “total” under a column and it adds itself.	Expressions are solved inline when you write an equals sign. A line under a stack of numbers adds them. Equations can be graphed.
Privacy, account and where data lives	No account and no Thinkblot server. Notebooks live on your devices and in your own iCloud. Private Cloud Compute is optional and asks first.	Kept with your Apple Account and iCloud.
Sync	Your own iCloud, through Apple's private CloudKit database, on the same Apple Account.	iCloud.
Export	PDF or Markdown.	—
Pricing model	Not out yet. Join the waitlist.	Free, built in.

On a phone, scroll the table sideways.

Built on Apple

Made from what Apple made possible.

Thinkblot exists because of the groundwork Apple has laid: Apple Pencil, PencilKit, on-device handwriting recognition, the Vision framework, iCloud and CloudKit, Reminders and Calendar, and Private Cloud Compute for the rare request that needs more than the device.

The two work side by side. A task ticked on a Thinkblot page is ticked in Apple's Reminders. A time written on a page lands in Apple's Calendar. Notes stays the place for quick typed notes and shared lists; Thinkblot is the notebook you write in.

Who should pick which

Where each one is better.

Apple Notes is better for

Free, built in and already on every iPhone, iPad and Mac.
Typed and handwritten notes together, with shared notes and folders.
Math Notes, including graphs from equations.
Deep system integration: Quick Note, Siri, Spotlight and Apple Intelligence.

Thinkblot is better for

A notebook of pages that turn, in blank, ruled, dotted, squared or staff paper.
Notebooks shaped for a job: a Planner, a Songbook, a Study notebook, a Journal and more.
A tapped line becomes a reminder, a drafted message, a payment or calendar time, and ticks sync with Reminders.
Each notebook can be set to Paper, so nothing on it is read at all.

Questions

Thinkblot vs Apple Notes, asked.

Why use Thinkblot if Apple Notes already reads handwriting?: Apple Notes reads, searches and refines handwriting beautifully. Thinkblot builds on the same Apple technology for people who want a paper notebook: pages that turn, notebooks shaped for planning, music or study, and a line that becomes a reminder or calendar time when you tap it.
Can both do maths in handwriting?: Yes. Apple's Math Notes solves an expression when you write an equals sign, and can graph equations. Thinkblot writes the answer after an equals sign too, and adds a column when you write “total” under it.
Does Thinkblot work with Apple Reminders and Calendar?: Yes. Ticking a box on a Thinkblot page ticks it in Reminders, and a time you write can become an event in Calendar. Thinkblot uses Apple's own apps rather than keeping a separate list.
Do both keep notes in iCloud?: Yes. Apple Notes syncs through iCloud. Thinkblot keeps notebooks on your devices and in your own iCloud, through Apple's private CloudKit database, with no Thinkblot account or server.
Do I need an Apple Pencil?: Thinkblot is made for one, but you can write with a finger by turning on “Write with a finger”. Apple Notes also takes a Pencil or a finger.

How do
you think?

Thinkblot is coming soon to iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. One email the day it's out. That's all.

Join the waitlist

Sources

Claims about Apple Notes come only from its own pages, as they read on 27 October 2026. Prices are in US dollars and may change.

Thinkblot facts come from the Thinkblot support page. Last checked: 27 October 2026.