Craft
Memos
| Feature | Craft | Memos |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free / from $5/mo | Free / from $0/mo |
| Free Plan | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| Rating | 4.5 / 5 | 4.4 / 5 |
| Best For | apple-users, writers, consultants, students, creative-professionals | self-hosters, quick-note-takers, journaling, privacy-focused-users |
| Founded | 2019 | 2022 |
| Nested Docs | ✓ | ✗ |
| Collaboration | ✓ | ✗ |
| Ai Assistant | ✓ | ✗ |
| Templates | ✓ | ✗ |
| Export | ✓ | ✗ |
| Deep Links | ✓ | ✗ |
| Offline Access | ✓ | ✗ |
| Markdown | ✗ | ✓ |
| Tags | ✗ | ✓ |
| Search | ✗ | ✓ |
| Api | ✗ | ✓ |
| Docker Deployment | ✗ | ✓ |
| Embed Resources | ✗ | ✓ |
| Timeline View | ✗ | ✓ |
✓ 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
✓ Memos Pros
- Completely free and open-source
- Lightweight and fast (single binary deployment)
- Twitter-like quick note interface
- Full data ownership with self-hosting
✗ Memos Cons
- No real-time collaboration features
- Limited organizational tools (no folders/hierarchy)
- Self-hosting required (no managed cloud option)
The Verdict
Craft is built for apple users and writers, with a focus on nested-docs and collaboration. Memos targets self hosters and quick note takers and leads with markdown and tags.
On pricing, Memos is the clear winner for budget-conscious users — starting at $0/mo compared to $5/mo for Craft. That $5/mo difference adds up quickly for growing teams.
Both offer free plans, so you can test each with your real workflow before committing to a subscription.
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.