Drafts

Active

Country: United States (US)
Founded: 2012
Developer: Agile Tortoise
Pricing: Freemium
Open source: No
Platforms: iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Apple Watch

Indexes

Note-Taking

Overview

Drafts is a quick-capture note-taking app that serves as an inbox for text input from sources like dictation, widgets, share extensions, and file imports. Users process drafts using actions to send content to other apps, tag for organization, flag for importance, or archive. It targets users needing fast text handling and automation on Apple devices, with standout features like immediate keyboard access and extensive action integrations.⁵⁴

Key Features

Quick Capture - Opens instantly to a blank draft with keyboard ready, supports dictation, Siri, widgets, and share extensions.
Actions - Customizable steps to process text, including sending to apps, copying, sharing, or manipulating content.
Inbox and Organization - New entries go to inbox; supports tagging, flagging, and archiving drafts.
Text Editing Modes - Includes Link Mode, Arrange Mode, and text manipulation tools for processing.
Customization - Adjustable interface with custom fonts and themes.
Drafts Directory - Repository of add-ons for integrating with third-party apps and services.
iCloud Sync - Syncs drafts across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch via iCloud.

Pricing

Plan	Price	Includes
Free	Free	Core capture, editing, and basic actions.
Pro (Subscription)	In-app purchases	Advanced features, unlimited actions, and full extensibility.

Platforms & Requirements

Runs natively on iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch with iCloud sync. Web Capture at capture.getdrafts.com allows draft creation from any browser using Apple ID, syncing to native apps. No native apps for non-Apple platforms; limited to capture-only in web tool without editing capabilities.⁷⁵

Integrations & Ecosystem

Dropbox file creation
Reminders tasks
Twitter composition
Mail.app and web email services
Drafts Directory add-ons
Share extensions
Siri capture
iCloud sync

Alternatives

App	Difference
Bear	Focuses on markdown notes and organization; less emphasis on quick actions and app integrations.
Ulysses	geared toward long-form writing with publishing workflows; requires subscription without free tier.
Evernote	Cross-platform with web access and clipping; more general note storage than quick text processing.
OneNote	Microsoft ecosystem integration and free cross-platform access; hierarchical notebooks over inbox model.

Reputation

Drafts is regarded as a powerful quick-capture tool for Apple users, praised for its action extensibility and speed.⁵¹ Criticisms center on its Apple-only availability, lacking native support for Windows, Android, or full web editing.¹⁰⁷ Community forums show active engagement with frequent updates.⁸

Sources (10)