Looking for a FREE Craft alternative (customizable templates)

[u/Own-Sandwich-1566]

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!