Craft
Native document editor
Quick Take: Craft
Craft is the best document editor for Apple ecosystem users who prioritize visual design without sacrificing functionality. It successfully bridges the gap between simple note apps and complex workspace tools, offering AI assistance, collaboration, and version history in a package that looks professional from the first sentence. The subscription model and Apple-only availability will deter some users, but for Mac, iPad, and iPhone users who create documents for work, school, or creative projects, Craft delivers exceptional value. It is not just a notes app—it is a professional writing environment.
Best For
- •Design-conscious professionals creating client-facing documents
- •Apple ecosystem users seeking seamless Mac-iPad-iPhone workflow
- •Students and academics needing beautiful notes and research organization
- •Small teams wanting collaborative documents without Notion's complexity
What is Craft?
Craft is a native document editor for Mac, iPad, and iPhone that combines the visual elegance of Apple Design Award finalists with the functional power of modern note-taking tools. Released by Craft Docs Limited in 2020, it has become the go-to choice for Apple ecosystem users who want their documents to look as good as they read. Unlike cloud-only competitors, Craft stores your work locally first with seamless sync across devices via iCloud or Craft's own encrypted sync infrastructure. What distinguishes Craft in 2026 is its uncompromising attention to typography and visual hierarchy. Every document in Craft looks polished by default—no fiddling with fonts, margins, or spacing required. The app uses a block-based editor where paragraphs, images, files, and embedded content snap into place with magazine-quality layout. This design-first philosophy has earned Craft an App Store Award (Mac App of the Year), an Apple Design Award finalist position, and three Webby Awards. Under the hood, Craft supports Markdown shortcuts, powerful AI assistance, real-time collaboration, and multiple export formats including PDF, Markdown, and Microsoft Word. Version 3.4.2 (current as of May 2026) runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs, with full support for macOS Sequoia and the upcoming macOS Tahoe. The app requires macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later, and syncs instantly across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web browsers. For users frustrated by Notion's complexity or Bear's limitations, Craft strikes a sweet spot: powerful enough for professional workflows, beautiful enough for client presentations, and simple enough for daily journaling.
Install with Homebrew
brew install --cask craftDeep Dive: Craft's Design Philosophy and Architecture
Understanding why Craft looks and feels different from other document editors requires examining its founding principles and technical architecture.
Key Features
Block-Based Visual Editor
Craft's editor organizes content into discrete blocks—paragraphs, headings, images, files, code snippets, and embedded media—that can be rearranged by dragging. Unlike traditional word processors where formatting gets messy, Craft maintains consistent visual hierarchy automatically. Type '/' to insert any block type instantly. The editor supports Markdown shortcuts (** for bold, * for italic, # for headings) but renders everything with premium typography. Blocks can be nested, creating clean document structures without complex menu navigation. This system makes Craft equally effective for quick notes, structured project documentation, and visual mood boards.
AI Assistant Integration
Craft AI Assistant (included in Plus plans) brings generative AI directly into your document workflow. Press Space after any block to summon AI assistance for writing, editing, summarizing, or translating content. The AI can continue your writing in the same style, convert bullet points into prose, generate meeting summaries from notes, translate documents while preserving formatting, and brainstorm ideas based on your existing content. Unlike generic AI tools, Craft's assistant understands document context—referencing previous sections and maintaining consistent tone throughout. All AI processing respects your privacy settings and never trains on your personal content.
Real-Time Collaboration
Craft enables simultaneous editing by multiple users with live cursors and instant sync. Share documents via public links (read-only or editable) or invite specific collaborators by email. Comments can be added to any block, creating threaded discussions without cluttering the main document. The Activity Feed shows who made which changes and when, with the ability to restore any previous version. Team plans add shared spaces where entire folders of documents live collaboratively, with granular permissions controlling who can view, edit, or manage content. This makes Craft suitable for everything from personal journals to company wikis.
Multiple Export Formats
Documents created in Craft can be exported in numerous formats without losing formatting. PDF export preserves the visual design for professional distribution. Markdown export enables migration to other tools or publication to static site generators. Microsoft Word export allows collaboration with non-Craft users. HTML export works for web publishing. Craft also supports publishing documents as beautiful web pages with custom domains (Craft Publish feature), turning your documents into blog posts, portfolios, or knowledge bases with a single click. All exports maintain the original document's visual quality.
Cross-Device Sync
Craft maintains perfect sync across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and web browsers. Free users sync via iCloud with 1 GB storage. Plus subscribers get Craft's encrypted sync service with 1 TB storage per account, enabling larger files and faster synchronization. The sync architecture is conflict-resistant—if you edit the same document on two devices simultaneously, Craft intelligently merges changes rather than overwriting them. Offline support means you can create and edit documents without internet; changes sync automatically when connectivity returns. The mobile apps are full-featured, not stripped-down companions, supporting the same block editing and AI features as the Mac version.
Version History
Craft automatically saves every change to your documents with a comprehensive version history system. Free plans retain 7 days of version history—enough to recover from accidental deletions or bad edits. Plus plans extend this to 30 days, creating a safety net for long-term projects. The version browser shows a visual timeline of document changes, with the ability to preview any previous state and restore it with one click. Named versions can be manually saved at milestones (draft, review, final), making it easy to track document evolution through multiple revision cycles. This feature eliminates the anxiety of editing important documents.
Shared Spaces
Craft organizes documents into Spaces—collections of related documents with shared settings and collaborators. Free users get 3 personal spaces. Plus subscribers get 5 personal spaces plus the ability to create shared spaces for collaboration. Family plans add 5 shared family spaces, while Team plans include 25 shared team spaces. Each space has its own document structure, templates, and sharing permissions. Spaces can be color-coded and given custom icons for easy identification. This organizational system scales from a single user's journal to a company's entire documentation library, with clear boundaries between personal and collaborative work.
Who Should Use Craft?
1The Creative Professional
A freelance designer uses Craft as their project hub. Client proposals are crafted in shared spaces where clients can comment directly on specific sections. Mood boards combine images, text, and embedded Figma files in a single flowing document. Meeting notes from client calls are linked to project documents using Craft's internal linking. When projects conclude, the designer exports a polished PDF portfolio directly from Craft, preserving all visual formatting. The AI assistant helps draft project descriptions and email copy, maintaining the designer's established voice across all client communications.
2The Academic Researcher
A graduate student manages their entire thesis workflow in Craft. Literature notes are organized in a dedicated space, with each paper summarized using the AI assistant. Daily research logs use the daily notes template to track progress and insights. The version history provides confidence when restructuring chapters—knowing any previous draft can be restored. Collaborating with advisors happens through shared spaces where feedback appears as comments on specific paragraphs. Export to Word format enables submission to university systems while maintaining proper formatting. The visual clarity of Craft helps the student see their research structure clearly, identifying gaps in their literature review.
3The Small Business Owner
A coffee shop owner runs their business operations from Craft. Employee handbooks live in a team space where staff can access procedures but only managers can edit. Inventory tracking uses simple tables within documents, updated daily from an iPad. Marketing content—social media captions, promotional emails, menu descriptions—is drafted with AI assistance and stored in organized spaces. Customer feedback is collected through Craft Publish links shared as QR codes on tables. The owner exports operations manuals as PDFs for investors and uses version history to track how standard operating procedures evolve as the business grows.
How to Install Craft on Mac
Craft is available via the Mac App Store, direct download from craft.do, or Homebrew. It requires macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later and runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.
Download Craft
Visit craft.do/download or open the Mac App Store and search for 'Craft: Docs, Notes, AI'. Click 'Get' or 'Download' to install the app. Alternatively, run 'brew install --cask craft' if you use Homebrew.
Create Your Account
Launch Craft and sign up with your Apple ID, Google account, or email address. The free plan starts automatically—no credit card required. Choose whether to sync via iCloud (free) or Craft's encrypted sync service.
Set Up Your First Space
Craft creates a default 'My Space' on first launch. Create additional spaces by clicking the + button in the sidebar. Name your spaces descriptively ('Personal', 'Work', 'Projects') to keep documents organized from the start.
Pro Tips
- • Enable keyboard shortcuts early: Cmd+N for new document, Cmd+K for quick search, Cmd+/ for the command menu. These shortcuts transform Craft from mouse-dependent to keyboard-efficient.
- • Install Craft on your iPhone and iPad to enable seamless mobile-to-desktop workflow. Documents started on mobile sync instantly and can be polished on Mac with full keyboard shortcuts.
- • Set up the 'Daily Notes' feature in Settings to automatically create a dated document each day—perfect for journaling, work logs, or meeting notes with automatic organization.
Configuration Tips
Customize the Quick Menu
Craft's Quick Menu (Cmd+K) becomes more powerful with customization. Pin frequently used actions—creating new documents, searching specific spaces, or inserting specific block types—to the top of the menu. This turns the Quick Menu into a personalized command center tailored to your specific workflow patterns.
Set Up Document Templates
Create templates for recurring document types—meeting notes, project briefs, client proposals. Build a document with the perfect structure, then save it as a template via the '...' menu. New documents can start from these templates, ensuring consistency across team workflows without starting from scratch each time.
Configure AI Assistant Presets
The AI Assistant supports custom prompts for frequently needed tasks. Create presets for 'Professional Email Tone', 'Expand Bullet Points', or 'Simplify Technical Language'. Access these presets with a single click instead of retyping instructions, making AI assistance faster and more consistent with your brand voice.
Alternatives to Craft
While Craft excels in design-focused document creation, these alternatives serve different note-taking philosophies and platform preferences.
Notion
Obsidian
Bear
Apple Notes
Pricing
Free Plan: Up to 1,500 blocks (content units) across all documents, 1 GB storage, 3 personal spaces, 7-day version history, iCloud sync. Plus Plan: $60/year or $6/month—unlimited blocks, 1 TB storage, 5 personal spaces, 30-day version history, AI Assistant included, Craft Sync service. Family Plan: $180/year or $18/month—covers up to 5 members with Plus features plus 5 shared family spaces. Team Plan: $600/year or $60/month—up to 10 members with Plus features plus 25 shared team spaces. Student/Education: Free Plus plan for verified students and educators. All plans support Mac, iPad, iPhone, and web. No lifetime purchase option available.
Pros
- ✓Stunning visual design with magazine-quality typography out of the box
- ✓Native Mac app performance—launches instantly, runs smoothly on Apple Silicon
- ✓Seamless Apple ecosystem integration across Mac, iPad, iPhone, and web
- ✓Powerful AI Assistant integrated naturally into the writing workflow
- ✓Excellent collaboration features with real-time editing and comments
- ✓Flexible export options (PDF, Word, Markdown, HTML, Publish) preserving formatting
- ✓Reliable version history and conflict-free sync across devices
- ✓App Store Award winner with continuous active development
Cons
- ✗No Windows or Android apps—Apple ecosystem only limits cross-platform teams
- ✗Free plan limited to 1,500 blocks, which power users may hit quickly
- ✗Subscription-only model—no option to purchase a perpetual license
- ✗AI features require Plus subscription—no way to use AI on the free tier
Community & Support
Craft has cultivated an enthusiastic community of design-conscious users. The official Craft Community Discord and Reddit r/CraftDocs are active spaces where users share templates, workflows, and design inspiration. The Craft team is responsive on social media and maintains an active changelog showing continuous improvements. Support is available via email with typically 24-48 hour response times. The team publishes regular 'What's New' updates showcasing features and use cases. While smaller than Notion's community, Craft's user base is highly engaged and produces quality templates and tutorials. The annual Craft Conference brings together power users and the development team for deep-dive sessions.
Frequently Asked Questions about Craft
Our Verdict
Craft is the best document editor for Apple ecosystem users who prioritize visual design without sacrificing functionality. It successfully bridges the gap between simple note apps and complex workspace tools, offering AI assistance, collaboration, and version history in a package that looks professional from the first sentence. The subscription model and Apple-only availability will deter some users, but for Mac, iPad, and iPhone users who create documents for work, school, or creative projects, Craft delivers exceptional value. It is not just a notes app—it is a professional writing environment.
About the Author
Productivity & Workflow Analyst
Related Technologies & Concepts
Related Topics
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Sources & References
Fact-CheckedLast verified: May 7, 2026
Key Verified Facts
- Craft Free plan includes up to 1,500 blocks, 1 GB storage, 3 personal spaces, and 7-day version history.[cite-1]
- Craft Plus costs $60/year or $6/month and includes unlimited blocks, 1 TB storage, 5 personal spaces, 30-day version history, and AI Assistant.[cite-1]
- Craft was awarded Mac App of the Year by the App Store and was an Apple Design Award finalist.[cite-2]
- Craft requires macOS 12.0 (Monterey) or later and runs natively on both Apple Silicon and Intel Macs.[cite-3]
- Craft supports real-time collaboration with live cursors, comments, and shared spaces for teams.[cite-1, cite-2]
- 1Craft Pricing Plans
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 2Craft Subscription Plans and Pricing - Help Center
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 3Download Craft
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 4About Craft AI Assistant - Help Center
Accessed May 7, 2026
- 5Craft: Docs, Notes, Tasks & AI on the Mac App Store
Accessed May 7, 2026
Research queries: Craft document editor Mac pricing 2026; Craft app features AI assistant blocks; Craft vs Notion comparison Mac