Noticky vs Apple Stickies
Apple Stickies does the basics — and it's free. But it hasn't been updated in years. If you need Markdown, iCloud Sync, Touch ID, or notes that stay visible in fullscreen, Noticky is $6 one-time.
| Feature | Noticky | Apple Stickies |
|---|---|---|
| Float above fullscreen apps | ✦ | — |
| Markdown support | WYSIWYG H1-H6, code, lists | — |
| iCloud Sync | ✦ | — |
| Global hotkey capture | ⌘⇧N | — |
| Smart tags + filtering | ✦ | — |
| Export PDF, MD, TXT | PDF, MD, TXT | RTF only |
| Touch ID lock | ✦ | — |
| Menu bar — no Dock icon | ✦ | — |
| Price | $6 | Free |
| Native macOS design | ✦ | ✦ |
Who is Apple Stickies for?
Apple Stickies is for users who want the simplest possible sticky note experience. It's pre-installed on every Mac, it's free, and it works. If all you need is a colored square with plain text on your desktop, Stickies gets the job done — no download, no purchase, no setup.
Who is Noticky for?
Noticky is for Mac power users who outgrew Stickies. You need notes that survive fullscreen mode, a global hotkey that summons a note instantly, Markdown formatting, smart tags, iCloud sync across devices, and Touch ID to lock sensitive notes. All for $6 once — no subscription.
Key Differences
Fullscreen visibility
Stickies vanishes the moment you enter fullscreen — which is most of the time for a lot of Mac users. Noticky floats above fullscreen apps using a dedicated macOS window level, so your notes stay visible while you work in any app.
Markdown & formatting
Stickies offers basic rich text (bold, italic, lists) but no Markdown support. Noticky renders Markdown live as you type — headers, code blocks, strikethrough, and more — with zero toggling between edit and preview modes.
iCloud Sync & export
Stickies stores notes locally with no sync and no export. Noticky syncs across all your Macs via iCloud and lets you export notes as PDF, Markdown, or plain text. No vendor lock-in.
Touch ID privacy
Stickies has no note-level security. Noticky lets you lock individual notes with Touch ID — useful for passwords, API keys, or anything you don't want visible on-screen when someone glances at your display.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Apple Stickies still supported?
Stickies still ships with macOS, but Apple hasn't added meaningful features in years. It receives basic compatibility updates with new macOS releases, but no new functionality. It's maintenance mode, not active development.
Can I migrate my notes from Stickies to Noticky?
There's no automatic importer — Stickies doesn't expose its data in an accessible format. But you can copy-paste your existing notes into Noticky. For most users with a handful of stickies, this takes under five minutes.
Why pay $6 when Stickies is free?
Fair question. Stickies is free and handles basic plain-text notes. The $6 buys you Markdown WYSIWYG, iCloud Sync, fullscreen overlay, global hotkey capture, smart tags, export options, and Touch ID lock. If you use sticky notes daily, the upgrade pays for itself in a single session.
Does Apple Stickies work in fullscreen?
No. Stickies windows disappear when you enter fullscreen or switch to a fullscreen app. This is probably its biggest limitation for power users who live in fullscreen mode.
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