CrushPaper
Comparison
The best sticky note apps for Mac in 2026, honestly compared
Updated October 6, 2026 · by Shiva Chandra, maker of CrushPaper
Short answer: Apple Stickies if you want free and built in, Tot for a few elegant synced notes, Noticky for the most features, and CrushPaper if you want free notes that float over fullscreen apps and clear themselves every night. Full disclosure: CrushPaper is our app — the rest of this page is written to be useful even if you pick another one.
At-a-glance comparison
| App | Price* | Over fullscreen apps | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apple Stickies | Free (built in) | No | Basic desktop notes, nothing to install |
| Tot | Free on Mac | No (menu bar dropdown) | Seven elegant notes synced with iCloud |
| CrushPaper (ours) | Free | Yes | Short to-dos you finish; notes pinned to apps; screen-share privacy |
| Noticky | $9.99 once | Yes | A full sticky-note system: Markdown, iCloud, locked notes |
| FloatyNote | $9 once | Yes | One note that greets you every time your Mac wakes |
| Antinote | $5 once | Not its focus | A quick scratchpad with a built-in calculator |
| SideNotes | $19.99 | Not its focus | Organised notes in a panel at the screen edge |
| Unclutter | $24 | Not its focus | Notes plus clipboard history and a file shelf |
*Prices as listed in October 2026. Check each app's site before buying.
Apple Stickies — free and already on your Mac
Colourful notes on the desktop with zero setup. You can float a note with Window → Float on Top, but notes don't follow you into fullscreen apps and nothing ever clears them. Start here if your needs are light.
Tot — the elegant minimalist
The Iconfactory's Tot gives you seven colour-coded notes in the menu bar, synced through iCloud, free on Mac. It's a dropdown you visit, not a note that stays in view.
CrushPaper — free notes you actually finish (ours)
Notes float over every app, including fullscreen. Pin a note to one app and it docks to that app's window as a small tab. Ghost mode makes notes see-through and click-through; a lock keeps any note out of screen shares. Done notes crumple into the Dock Trash, and one-off notes you didn't finish turn to ash at midnight. Free, no account, macOS 14+. No sync, Markdown or images — pick Noticky or Tot if you need those.
Noticky — the feature-rich one
Multiple notes with Markdown, iCloud sync, lockable notes and always-on-top that works over fullscreen apps, for $9.99 one-time on macOS 15+. The strongest pick if you want a complete sticky-note system.
FloatyNote — one note you can't miss
Deliberately narrow: a single plain-text note that floats above everything and comes to the front every time your Mac wakes. $9 once with a free trial.
Antinote — the $5 scratchpad
One summonable note with inline maths and unit conversions. Built for temporary thoughts: jot, use, clear.
SideNotes — notes at the edge of your screen
A panel you swipe out from the screen edge, with folders, Markdown and code formatting. Closer to a light notes manager than a sticky note.
Unclutter — notes plus clipboard plus files
A drop-down with clipboard history, a file shelf and quick notes. Worth it if you'd buy a clipboard manager anyway.
How to choose
- Free, nothing to install: Apple Stickies.
- A few pretty synced notes: Tot.
- Free notes over fullscreen apps that clear themselves: CrushPaper.
- A full system with Markdown and sync: Noticky.
- One note that's always the first thing you see: FloatyNote.
- Scratchpad with maths: Antinote. Organised folders at the edge: SideNotes. Notes + clipboard + files: Unclutter.
Questions
What is the best sticky note app for Mac?
It depends on how you work: Apple Stickies for free basics, Tot for a few synced notes, Noticky for the most features, FloatyNote for one can't-miss note, and CrushPaper for free notes over fullscreen apps that clear themselves at midnight.
Which Mac sticky note apps stay on top of fullscreen apps?
CrushPaper, Noticky and FloatyNote list notes that stay above fullscreen apps. Apple Stickies can float a note, but not over fullscreen apps.
Is there a free sticky notes app for Mac?
Yes: Apple Stickies is built in, Tot is free on Mac, and CrushPaper is free with no account.
Sources
- Apple — Stickies User Guide for Mac
- Tot — The Iconfactory
- Noticky
- FloatyNote (and its comparison, used for prices)
- Antinote
- SideNotes — Apptorium
- Unclutter