Simple Memo vs Craft
Which Should You Choose?

Craft is an Apple Design Award-winning document creation app. It features a block-based editor, document linking, shared pages, and AI features, known for its beautiful UI. The free plan is limited to 1,500 blocks; Plus costs $8/month ($6.40/month billed yearly). Available on iOS, macOS, and Web with iCloud-based sync.

• 1Purpose: Document Creation vs Instant Capture
  Craft is a tool for creating "works" — with block editors, document linking, and AI features suited for proposals, reports, and structured notes. Simple Memo exists solely to get you typing 0.4 seconds after the tap (warm launch, iPhone 16e) and email what you wrote. One-line ideas do not need Craft's full editor.
• 2Steps Before Typing: Several vs None
  Craft requires loading the document library, creating a new document, and selecting a block type before you can type. Simple Memo opens with the cursor ready for immediate typing. For fleeting thought capture, this speed difference is decisive.
• 3Sharing: Share Links vs Direct Email
  Craft shares content via beautiful pages and links, but this is overkill for personal memos. Simple Memo sends to email with one tap. Gmail, Outlook, or Apple Mail provides search, filters, and labels for automatic organization — accessible from any device.
• 4Pricing: $8/mo (Plus) vs Free
  Craft Plus costs $8/month ($6.40/month billed yearly), and the free plan is limited to 1,500 blocks. Simple Memo is free with 3 sends/day. If instant memo capture is your only goal, Craft Plus's monthly fee is hard to justify.

Craft has a Daily Note feature that lets you compile the day's thoughts into a single document. But writing in a Daily Note requires launching Craft, opening the Daily Note, and selecting the right block type. This workflow is fine when you're sitting at your desk in "let me organize today" mode, but it's too slow for capturing a fleeting idea while on the move.

The most efficient workflow is to delegate daytime capture to Simple Memo and reserve Craft for organizing and structuring. For example, if you think of an email reply during your commute, type it into Simple Memo (ready 0.4 seconds after the tap; warm launch, iPhone 16e) and send. When an important point comes up in a client conversation, capture it instantly with Simple Memo. In the evening, review your email inbox and copy only the valuable memos into Craft's Daily Note, then structure them with headings, bullet points, and links using the block editor.

This workflow works because it separates capture from structuring. At the moment of capture, you don't need to decide which block format to use or which project to file it under, so you can focus on writing. Craft's Daily Note becomes your "review and organize" space, while Simple Memo emails serve as the "raw material supply." For Craft enthusiasts, this combination actually enhances the value of the Daily Note feature rather than replacing it.

Simple Memo excels at instant capture, but Craft is genuinely better in these scenarios. When you need to create polished documents, Craft's refined editor is unmatched.

• 1Client Proposals and Reports
  Craft's block editor creates beautifully formatted documents combining text, images, code blocks, and tables. Its share page feature allows external publishing. The polished layout works as a presentation substitute, making it perfect for client-facing work.
• 2Seamless Work Within the Apple Ecosystem
  Working seamlessly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud sync is a major appeal of Craft. Optimized for iPad touch interactions and Apple Pencil handwriting integration, it is ideal for those fully invested in the Apple ecosystem.
• 3AI-Powered Writing Refinement
  Craft AI assists with summarizing, rewriting, translating, and expanding text. When you need AI support for editing long documents or creating multilingual content, Craft significantly boosts productivity.
• 4Team Document Collaboration
  Craft's real-time collaborative editing is highly effective for team document creation. With comments, mentions, and version history, it provides a high-quality collaboration environment as a Google Docs alternative.

The most effective approach for Craft users is to continue using Craft for document creation while adding Simple Memo for quick capture. It serves as a pre-stage capture tool before entering ideas into Craft's Daily Notes.

• 1Download Simple Memo from the App Store
  The free version allows up to 3 sends per day. It operates independently of your Craft account. No Apple ID login required — just configure your email address.
• 2Configure Your Capture Email Address
  Register your everyday email address. Use Gmail labels or iCloud Mail rules to auto-sort into a "Simple Memo - for Obsidian" folder for easier later organization.
• 3Send Fleeting Thoughts via Simple Memo
  Instead of opening Craft to create a new block, use Simple Memo for quick input and send. One-line ideas do not need Craft's full editor. Reserve Craft for content worth turning into a proper document.
• 4Transfer Content from Email to Craft
  In the evening or next morning, review received memos. Copy ideas worth developing into a new Craft document or Daily Note, then structure with the block editor. Archive the rest.
• 5Establish a Clear Division with Craft's Quick Note
  Craft has a quick note feature; for a one-line memo, Simple Memo, which opens straight to a text field, can take fewer steps (we have not measured Craft's launch time). Define clear roles: "Capture = Simple Memo, Structure = Craft" for an optimal workflow.