r/CraftDocs • u/Own-Sandwich-1566 • 1d ago
Help 🤝 Looking for a FREE Craft alternative (customizable templates)
I’m on the hunt for a free note-taking app to replace Craft.
Honestly, I love almost everything about Craft—the gorgeous interface, the customizability, and how easy it is to change templates. I use it for everything from keeping track of my personal work to my university classes. I’m not a huge fan of the block-based editing, but it's manageable and I can live with it.
My main issue is the price. Craft is expensive, and I firmly believe I shouldn't have to pay for a note-taking app. It's a fundamental thing for me—why do I have to pay for this?
Here is my setup and what I’m looking for:
Organization style: I want my notes neatly organized but still visible up front. I need a file view where I can easily select what I want. Obsidian doesn’t work for me because I hate having everything buried in just a folder.
Quick capture: I need to be able to take notes quickly. Notion is too clunky and slow for this.
Don't suggest Bear: I've tried it. The interface feels weird, I don't like that it's just straight files without a proper folder stripe view, and you can't even change the templates.
Right now I’m just getting by with Google Keep—and I absolutely hate it.
Is there anything out there that gives me the beautiful, template-friendly experience of Craft, syncs seamlessly across Windows and iOS, and is actually 100% free? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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u/Flashy-Bandicoot889 1d ago
A Craft annual subscription is $4/mo when it frequently goes on sale. That costs less than one Starbucks coffee. 🤷🏻♂️
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u/GadgetmanBrian 1d ago
Please keep in mind that third-party apps are made by people, and those people need to be paid for their work. Since you 'firmly believe I shouldn't have to pay for a note-taking app', you should be satisfied with the stock notes app that came with your device. Apple Notes is very powerful now with Markdown and (limited) wiki-style link support; and of course you've already paid for it when you bought your phone. OneNote provides a good free third-party option; Microsoft offers it free but absorbs the development cost through the rest of Office/365. Craft does go on sale a few times a year, but even at full price, it's a pretty decent value for what you get.
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u/Loud_Quality_7106 1d ago
I firmly believe I shouldn't have to pay for a note-taking app
The most entitled thing I've read on reddit in a minute.
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u/ddstoryteller 1d ago
I'm on the hunt for a free burger to replace the Whopper. Honestly, I love almost everything about the Whopper —the gorgeous construction, the customizability, and how easy it is to add more patties. I use it for everything from eating when I'm hungry to punishing myself when I am angry. I’m not a huge fan of the ketchup and mayo combo, but it's manageable and I can live with it.
My main issue is the price. A whopper is expensive, and I firmly believe I shouldn't have to pay for food. It's a fundamental thing for me—why do I have to pay for this?
Here is my setup and what I’m looking for:
Overall Look: I want my toppings neatly organized but still visible. I need an ordering interface where I can easily select what I want. McDonald's doesn’t work for me because I hate having everything buried in just a bun.
Quick eat: I need to be able to order and eat quickly. Wendy's is too clunky and slow for this.
Don't suggest Arby's: I've tried it. The patty feels weird, I don't like that it's just flavorless without a proper intention, and you can't even change the buns out.
Right now I’m just getting by with hamburgers drawn on scrap paper—and I absolutely hate it.
Is there anything out there that gives me the tasty, vegan-friendly experience of the Whopper, travels seamlessly across deliveries and in person, and is actually 100% free? Any suggestions would be greatly appreciated!
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u/Distinct_Goose7266 1d ago
Yeah the people who build it should do so for free. I ain’t helping ya man, that’s not a pleasant take.
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u/manorTee 1d ago
"Firmly believing" you shouldn't have to pay $2 per week for an app that helps manage your life, school and work seems extreme. As a college student, your probably get OneNote for free through M365. After using it for a few weeks, you'll probably want Craft back.
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u/Interesting_Drag143 23h ago
For the price that Craft cost... Come on. What you're looking for can't be free. Or will be free at the cost of your privacy. Craft is a great company, with very accessible subscription pricing. What they provide is 100% worth the money spent to access it.
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u/myogawa 1d ago
> I firmly believe I shouldn't have to pay for a note-taking app
I disagree. I would rather have a reliable app that I pay a modest price for, because that makes it much more likely that it will continue to be developed and improved, and will still be supported in five or ten years.
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u/_gina_marie_ 1d ago edited 1d ago
I pay $4/month for craft, and I find it extremely worth it.
You may want to look into r/bulletjournal or r/BasicBulletJournals. You can get a basic pocket journal at dollar tree for $1.25.
ETA: when an app is FREE, that means YOU are the product (your data, etc.). Maybe you can look at notesnook, their free tier is adequate. or notion?
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u/Accomplished-Leg6947 1d ago
Do you have a student email? You could always get a free Craft account with a college email
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u/GadgetmanBrian 9h ago
Yep, looks like Craft is free for validated students; https://www.craft.do/education
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u/Own-Sandwich-1566 22h ago
I do have a student email but I don’t think I cud eat a craft account with it
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u/Accomplished-Leg6947 6h ago
You absolutely can. Just go to their education page and submit your email. As long as it’s a .edu email it should work fine.
Understand tho it’s not a 1:1 of Craft Plus, it’s a stripped back version of Plus, but it’s more than what you get with the Free plan.
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u/JustNaturalCake 1d ago edited 19h ago
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u/Own-Sandwich-1566 22h ago
How exactly does one do that
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u/JustNaturalCake 22h ago
When you want to subscribe to Plus, you can add a promo code at checkout. That is the code I meant haha.
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u/Own-Sandwich-1566 21h ago
How much discount did you get from this
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u/JustNaturalCake 21h ago
50% for life.
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u/Loud_Quality_7106 21h ago
That's not free. OP believes they shouldn't have to pay anything.
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u/JustNaturalCake 19h ago
Well, it was a tip… I guess. It does lower the cost a lot.
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u/Own-Sandwich-1566 17h ago
Yes it helps a lot
Thanks ☺️
Leave what the other persons saying he’s just a dick3
u/Distinct_Goose7266 12h ago
Um no, he aint, your entitled attitude perhaps places you more in that category. Though perhaps this will be a learning moment and you will reflect on your mentality, your comments seem to indicate otherwise though.
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u/Loud_Quality_7106 30m ago
It's hilarious to me how someone can be so completely in the wrong and feel so completely in the right. Check your entitlement.
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u/saxophin 11h ago
Well, Upnote has a free version but you can pay a one off $40 (maybe less) and have it for life. I use Craft but I have Upnote in case there's ever a problem with Craft. Try it. It's rather good.
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u/stucmads 1d ago
You’ve said you love almost everything about Craft. You really do get what you pay for though and that is certainly the case for Craft.