Sticky notes on Mac: every way to do it
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All the options at a glance
| Price | Above other windows | Above full-screen apps | Sync | Out of screen sharing | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Stickies | Free | Float on Top | No | No | No |
| Notes, Keep on Top | Free | Keep on Top | No | iCloud | No |
| Notes widget | Free | Behind windows | No | iCloud | No |
| Stickytray | $9.99 once | Always | Yes | iCloud and Reminders | In most apps |
Stickies
Stickies has been on the Mac for decades. Open it from Applications, type, and pick a color from the Color menu. Notes save on their own. Window › Float on Top keeps a sticky above other windows. It doesn't sync, has no checklists, and its notes disappear when an app goes full screen.
Notes, with Keep on Top
Double-click a note in Notes to open it in its own window, then choose Window › Keep on Top (called Float on Top on older macOS). You get checklists and iCloud sync, but the window still stays behind full-screen apps.
Quick Note
Press fn Q (Globe and Q) in any app to start a Quick Note. It is a fast way to capture something into Notes rather than a note that stays in view.
Desktop widgets
Since macOS Sonoma you can put widgets on the desktop, including a Notes widget that shows a note or a folder. Widgets live on the desktop, behind your app windows, so they're for glancing at between tasks.
A floating notes app
When notes need to stay in front of you while you work, a floating notes app is the answer. Stickytray lives in the menu bar and keeps notes above every app, on every Space and over full-screen apps.
- ⌃⌥N opens a note at the pointer from any app; ⌃⌥H hides every note at once.
- Notes are hidden from screen sharing in most apps, with a built-in Privacy Check.
- Checklists sync with Reminders; notes sync between Macs through your iCloud.
- $9.99 once, no account, macOS 14 Sonoma or later.
Questions
Is there a sticky notes app on the Mac?
Yes. Stickies comes with every Mac (Applications › Stickies) and is free. Notes can also keep a note on top of other windows. For notes that stay above full-screen apps, use a floating notes app such as Stickytray.
Can I put sticky notes on my Mac desktop?
Yes. Stickies notes sit on the desktop, and since macOS Sonoma you can add a Notes widget to the desktop. Both sit behind your app windows; Stickytray's notes float above them.
What is the best sticky notes app for Mac?
For simple notes on one Mac, the free Stickies app is enough. If you work in full-screen apps, share your screen or use more than one Mac, a floating notes app does more: Stickytray keeps notes above every app, hides them with ⌃⌥H and syncs through iCloud, for $9.99 once.
Do Mac sticky notes sync with iPhone?
Stickies doesn't sync at all. Notes syncs through iCloud. Stickytray is Mac only, but checklists you sync with Reminders reach your iPhone.
How do I make a sticky note stay on top on a Mac?
In Stickies, choose Window › Float on Top. In Notes, open the note in its own window and choose Window › Keep on Top. Neither stays over full-screen apps. Step-by-step guide.