Craft
Heptabase
| Feature | Craft | Heptabase |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | From $11.99/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✗ No |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.6 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, writers, consultants, students, creative-professionals | researchers, students, visual-thinkers, phd-students |
| Founded | 2019 | 2021 |
| Nested Docs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Assistant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deep Links | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Access | ✓ | ✗ |
| Whiteboards | ✗ | ✓ |
| Card System | ✗ | ✓ |
| Mindmaps | ✗ | ✓ |
| Journal | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pdf Annotation | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ Craft Pros
- Stunning native macOS/iOS design
- Offline-first with seamless sync
- Nested documents for organized hierarchies
- Export to Markdown, PDF, Word, and more
✗ Craft Cons
- Best experience limited to Apple ecosystem
- Web app less capable than native apps
- Fewer integrations than Notion
✓ Heptabase Pros
- Visual-first approach to note-taking
- Whiteboards for spatial thinking
- Card-based system is very flexible
- Great for research and learning
✗ Heptabase Cons
- No free plan
- Mobile app is limited
- Steeper learning curve than simple note apps
The Verdict
Craft is built for apple users and writers, with a focus on nested-docs and collaboration. Heptabase targets researchers and students and leads with whiteboards and card-system.
On pricing, Craft is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $5/mo compared to $11.99/mo for Heptabase. That $6.99/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Craft has a free plan, which gives it a meaningful edge for individuals and small teams exploring their options. Heptabase requires a paid subscription from day one.
Feature-wise, Craft offers broader built-in capabilities (7 features vs 6), while Heptabase takes a more focused approach — which can mean a simpler, faster onboarding experience.
Both tools are a solid fit for students — in those cases, the decision often comes down to workflow style and how your team prefers to organize work.
This is a genuinely close comparison. If you can, sign up for both free trials (where available) and run a one-week test with your actual team tasks before deciding.