Apple Notes offers a native Mac app, Apple's signature intuitive interface, with extensive writing tools and attachment options.

Google Keep allows for easy note organization with background colors and simple drawing options, but must be used via a browser and isn't great for long-form note-taking.

Both apps are free to use, offer collaborative features, with optional storage bumps if you need them.

Note-taking on a Mac can be deeply personal, and the experience is heavily defined by the app you use. Both Apple and Google have strong contenders, and both are free to use. So how do these compare against each other, and what should you use?

With Apple's Notes, you have access to a native app that fits in perfectly with the rest of your Mac apps. The app includes a simple ribbon with formatting and media options, a folder tab for easy access to other notes, and a notes tab that you can view in a list or as a grid. Since it is a native app, you can also use your Mac's menu bar to access a wide range of controls spanning formatting, attachments, exporting, and help.

You can use Google Keep's free web app on Mac, as part of the Google Docs Editors suite. Unfortunately, there is no native Keep app for Mac, although the app is available for iPhone and iPad. Keep's web app has an extremely simple interface that is easy to grasp and navigate.