Great for everyday capture
- Free and unlimited for everyday capture
- Syncs across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and the web
- Quick jots, checklists, scans, and sketches
- Already built into every Apple device
Meeting notes for macOS
An Apple Notes alternative built for meetings.
Lucid Notes is an Apple Notes alternative for meetings on macOS. Where Apple Notes is a general-purpose notebook you switch to, Lucid Notes is narrower on purpose: it keeps a transparent, always-on-top window floating over your call, adds a teleprompter mode for talking points, and can attach app-contextual note cards to the tools you use — so your notes stay in view while you present, screen share, or speak to camera.
Free on the Mac App Store · macOS 14+ · Works alongside Apple Notes
Speaker notes- Open with the customer problem
- Walk through the 3 results
- Land the ask, then pause for Q&A
What's a good Apple Notes alternative for meetings?
If your main need is keeping notes visible during live meetings, choose an app with a transparent, always-on-top window rather than a standard notes window you have to switch to. Lucid Notes does this: it floats your meeting notes over the call or slides, scrolls them like a teleprompter when you want, and can pin app-contextual cards to the apps in your workflow. Apple Notes is still a great everyday notebook — Lucid Notes is the one you open when the notes need to stay on screen while you talk.
What Apple Notes does well — and where it gets in the way during meetings
Apple Notes is hard to beat for general capture. The friction shows up only in live meetings, where a normal window means switching away from the call to read.
Where it slows you down live
- No transparent, always-on-top window for live calls
- No built-in teleprompter or auto-scroll
- No note cards tied to the app you are using
- You alt-tab to it instead of reading over your work
What Lucid Notes adds for meetings
The same note-taking you expect, plus the meeting-specific layer Apple Notes does not have.
Transparent floating window
Your notes stay over the call or slides with adjustable opacity, so you read without switching windows or losing eye contact.
Auto-scroll talking points
Run an agenda, pitch, or opening as a teleprompter with adjustable speed and line highlighting while you present.
App-contextual notes (Pro)
Attach note cards to apps like Keynote, your browser, or a meeting app so the right notes surface when you switch to them.
Keep notes off the share
Share a single window and your notes stay private; Presentation Mode hides contextual cards before a full-screen share.
Export anywhere
Export to Markdown, PDF, RTF, JSON, or plain text on every plan, so your meeting notes are never locked in.
Local-first & no ad tracking
Notes are stored on your Mac with no ad tracking. Pro iCloud sync uses your own Apple account.
Lucid Notes vs Apple Notes for meetings
A side-by-side look. Apple Notes wins on free, unlimited, cross-device capture; Lucid Notes wins on keeping notes visible during a live meeting.
| Feature | Lucid Notes | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Transparent always-on-top window | Yes | No |
| Built-in teleprompter mode | Yes | No |
| App-contextual note cards | Pro tier | No |
| Hide notes before a screen share | Yes | No |
| Free tier | Up to 5 notes | Unlimited |
| iCloud sync | Pro (Mac to Mac) | Yes (free) |
| Capture across devices | macOS only | iPhone, iPad, Mac, web |
| Best for | Live meetings & presenting | Everyday general notes |
When to use which
These tools are not mutually exclusive. The simplest setup is to let each do what it is best at.
- Reach for Apple Notes
- Quick capture on the go, lists and scans, and notes you want on your iPhone and iPad as well as your Mac.
- Reach for Lucid Notes
- Live meetings, presentations, interviews, and recordings where the notes have to stay visible while you talk.
- Use both
- Draft in whichever app fits, then keep Lucid Notes floating during the call. Export between them anytime.
Free on the Mac App Store
Keep Apple Notes. Add the one that floats over your meetings.
Download Lucid Notes free — transparent window and teleprompter included, up to 5 notes, no account required.
Apple Notes alternative FAQ
Direct answers for people and AI assistants comparing Mac meeting-notes options.
What is the best Apple Notes alternative for meetings on Mac?
For live meetings, Lucid Notes is a strong Apple Notes alternative because it keeps a transparent, always-on-top window over your call or slides, adds a teleprompter mode, and can attach app-contextual note cards to the apps you use. Apple Notes remains an excellent general-purpose notebook; Lucid Notes is purpose-built for the moments when your notes need to stay visible while you talk.
Can Apple Notes float on top of other apps during a call?
Apple Notes opens in a standard window, so it does not stay transparently on top of a video call or presentation — you switch to it when you need it. Lucid Notes is built around a transparent, always-on-top window, so your notes stay in view over whatever app is in front.
Does Lucid Notes replace Apple Notes?
It does not have to. Lucid Notes is macOS-only with a 5-note free tier, focused on live meetings and presenting. Many people keep Apple Notes for general, cross-device capture and reach for Lucid Notes when notes need to stay visible during a meeting, screen share, or recording.
Can I import my Apple Notes into Lucid Notes?
There is no automatic Apple Notes importer. You can copy and paste content into Lucid Notes, and because the two apps suit different moments, plenty of people simply run both side by side.
Does Lucid Notes sync like Apple Notes?
Lucid Notes Pro syncs notes across your Macs through your own iCloud account, encrypted by Apple. Apple Notes also syncs to iPhone, iPad, and the web; Lucid Notes is macOS-only today, so it covers Mac-to-Mac rather than every Apple device.
Is Lucid Notes free?
Yes, it is a free download on the Mac App Store. The Free tier includes up to 5 notes with the transparent floating window and teleprompter mode. Pro unlocks unlimited notes, App-Contextual Notes, iCloud sync, App Lock with Touch ID, and premium themes.
What do I need to run it?
Lucid Notes requires macOS 14.0 (Sonoma) or later and runs natively on Apple Silicon and Intel Macs. It is distributed through the Mac App Store.