Should I Build It Should I Build It
08 May 2025
Notes Productivity

A macos native app that is a simple note taking tool but with nice ...

...features like optical text recognition automatic math etc

Confidence
Engagement
Net use signal
Net buy signal

Idea type: Freemium

People love using similar products but resist paying. You’ll need to either find who will pay or create additional value that’s worth paying for.

Should You Build It?

Build but think about differentiation and monetization.

Your are here

You're entering a crowded market for note-taking apps on macOS, where users have many options. The good news is, there are 14 similar products, indicating a clear demand for such tools. With an average of 15 comments on similar product launches, there's demonstrated engagement in this space, so people are actively seeking and discussing these kinds of apps. Your idea of incorporating features like OCR and automatic math is promising, but keep in mind the 'Freemium' category suggests users are hesitant to pay. This means you'll need to carefully consider what features justify a premium offering and how to differentiate yourself from free alternatives. Many competitors were criticized for unclear value propositions or missing key features. A good starting point is to make sure that your features are very well defined and that the value is immediately obvious to the user.

Recommendations

  1. First, identify which users derive the greatest benefit from the free version of your note-taking app. Are they students needing quick math solutions, or professionals relying on OCR for document processing? Understanding your core free user will help you tailor your premium features.
  2. Develop premium features that offer significant value to your identified core users. This could include advanced OCR capabilities with higher accuracy, integration with cloud storage for seamless access, or collaborative features for team projects. Prioritize features that directly address user pain points and offer clear advantages over free alternatives.
  3. Given the potential resistance to individual subscriptions, consider offering team-based pricing models. This could be attractive to businesses or educational institutions seeking a unified note-taking solution for their members. This approach aligns with the "Freemium" model, where you monetize the collaborative aspect rather than individual usage.
  4. To increase value, offer personalized help or consulting services to users. This could involve one-on-one training sessions, customized templates, or dedicated support channels. By providing personalized assistance, you can build stronger relationships with your users and increase their willingness to pay for premium features.
  5. Test different pricing approaches with small groups of users before implementing a full-scale launch. Experiment with various subscription tiers, one-time purchase options, and feature bundles. Gather feedback on pricing sensitivity and perceived value to optimize your monetization strategy.
  6. Address the data security concerns raised by users in similar products. Clearly communicate your app's security measures, including encryption protocols, data storage policies, and privacy safeguards. Transparency is crucial for building trust and alleviating user concerns about data security.
  7. Carefully consider how to differentiate your app from the native Mac sticky note application, as this was a point of criticism for similar apps. Focus on offering unique features and capabilities that are not available in the built-in option, such as OCR, math recognition, or advanced organization tools. Highlight these differentiators in your marketing materials.
  8. Since some users felt that previous products lacked a clear purpose, clearly communicate your app's unique value proposition on your website. Address questions such as, "What problem does this app solve?" and "Who is this app for?" A well-defined value proposition will help potential users understand the app's purpose and benefits.

Questions

  1. Given that similar products have faced criticism for redundant features, how will you ensure that your app's features are truly unique and valuable to users, and not just replicating existing functionalities?
  2. Considering the 'Freemium' category, what specific, concrete user behaviors will you track to identify potential premium subscribers, and how will you design your premium features to directly address their needs and incentivize conversion?
  3. Since several competing note-taking apps were criticized for their subscription model, have you thought about alternative monetization models that may better align with user expectations and willingness to pay?

Your are here

You're entering a crowded market for note-taking apps on macOS, where users have many options. The good news is, there are 14 similar products, indicating a clear demand for such tools. With an average of 15 comments on similar product launches, there's demonstrated engagement in this space, so people are actively seeking and discussing these kinds of apps. Your idea of incorporating features like OCR and automatic math is promising, but keep in mind the 'Freemium' category suggests users are hesitant to pay. This means you'll need to carefully consider what features justify a premium offering and how to differentiate yourself from free alternatives. Many competitors were criticized for unclear value propositions or missing key features. A good starting point is to make sure that your features are very well defined and that the value is immediately obvious to the user.

Recommendations

  1. First, identify which users derive the greatest benefit from the free version of your note-taking app. Are they students needing quick math solutions, or professionals relying on OCR for document processing? Understanding your core free user will help you tailor your premium features.
  2. Develop premium features that offer significant value to your identified core users. This could include advanced OCR capabilities with higher accuracy, integration with cloud storage for seamless access, or collaborative features for team projects. Prioritize features that directly address user pain points and offer clear advantages over free alternatives.
  3. Given the potential resistance to individual subscriptions, consider offering team-based pricing models. This could be attractive to businesses or educational institutions seeking a unified note-taking solution for their members. This approach aligns with the "Freemium" model, where you monetize the collaborative aspect rather than individual usage.
  4. To increase value, offer personalized help or consulting services to users. This could involve one-on-one training sessions, customized templates, or dedicated support channels. By providing personalized assistance, you can build stronger relationships with your users and increase their willingness to pay for premium features.
  5. Test different pricing approaches with small groups of users before implementing a full-scale launch. Experiment with various subscription tiers, one-time purchase options, and feature bundles. Gather feedback on pricing sensitivity and perceived value to optimize your monetization strategy.
  6. Address the data security concerns raised by users in similar products. Clearly communicate your app's security measures, including encryption protocols, data storage policies, and privacy safeguards. Transparency is crucial for building trust and alleviating user concerns about data security.
  7. Carefully consider how to differentiate your app from the native Mac sticky note application, as this was a point of criticism for similar apps. Focus on offering unique features and capabilities that are not available in the built-in option, such as OCR, math recognition, or advanced organization tools. Highlight these differentiators in your marketing materials.
  8. Since some users felt that previous products lacked a clear purpose, clearly communicate your app's unique value proposition on your website. Address questions such as, "What problem does this app solve?" and "Who is this app for?" A well-defined value proposition will help potential users understand the app's purpose and benefits.

Questions

  1. Given that similar products have faced criticism for redundant features, how will you ensure that your app's features are truly unique and valuable to users, and not just replicating existing functionalities?
  2. Considering the 'Freemium' category, what specific, concrete user behaviors will you track to identify potential premium subscribers, and how will you design your premium features to directly address their needs and incentivize conversion?
  3. Since several competing note-taking apps were criticized for their subscription model, have you thought about alternative monetization models that may better align with user expectations and willingness to pay?

  • Confidence: High
    • Number of similar products: 14
  • Engagement: High
    • Average number of comments: 15
  • Net use signal: 4.9%
    • Positive use signal: 14.3%
    • Negative use signal: 9.4%
  • Net buy signal: -5.4%
    • Positive buy signal: 1.4%
    • Negative buy signal: 6.7%

This chart summarizes all the similar products we found for your idea in a single plot.

The x-axis represents the overall feedback each product received. This is calculated from the net use and buy signals that were expressed in the comments. The maximum is +1, which means all comments (across all similar products) were positive, expressed a willingness to use & buy said product. The minimum is -1 and it means the exact opposite.

The y-axis captures the strength of the signal, i.e. how many people commented and how does this rank against other products in this category. The maximum is +1, which means these products were the most liked, upvoted and talked about launches recently. The minimum is 0, meaning zero engagement or feedback was received.

The sizes of the product dots are determined by the relevance to your idea, where 10 is the maximum.

Your idea is the big blueish dot, which should lie somewhere in the polygon defined by these products. It can be off-center because we use custom weighting to summarize these metrics.

Similar products

Relevance

Text Capture - Simple & convenient OCR tool for macOS

28 Oct 2024 Productivity Apple Menu Bar Apps

Capture text from anywhere - non-selectable text in apps, images, videos, PDFs, or anything on your screen! Simple & convenient OCR tool for macOS 1. Click capture text 2. Select an area on screen with text 3. Paste the text anywhere

The Product Hunt launch is receiving positive feedback, with users praising its simplicity. A system tray app is well-received, with users finding it faster than traditional screenshot methods and appreciating text selection capabilities. A question was raised about platform support, suggesting interest in broader accessibility.

The primary criticism is that the product's speed, while marginally faster than existing methods like screenshots and manual selection, may not be sufficiently fast to offer a significant advantage.

Avatar
102
2
50.0%
2
102
50.0%
Relevance

Open Source Version of AI "Math Notes" from Apple WWDC

15 Jun 2024 Artificial Intelligence Education

Users appreciate the app's straightforward approach of writing images to disk and sending them to OpenAI. They believe Apple is using an on-device LLM without any trickery. The minimal abstraction and single file structure are also well-received.

The product has been criticized for causing unnecessary disk writes, leading to an inefficient process.

Avatar
13
3
3
13
Relevance

Yet Another Notepad App for macOS

31 Aug 2023 Productivity Menu Bar Apps

Any suggestion is welcomed and appreciated!

Users are looking for markdown tools on Mac and mention HackMD as an option. One user is interested in the product and inquires if it is open source. No additional content is available.

The moderation feature is unclear and lacks detailed explanation.

Avatar
8
3
33.3%
3
8
33.3%
Relevance

Strflow – Mac Native App for Chat-Style Note-Taking

04 Jan 2024 Productivity

Hi HN community,I know what you might be thinking – another note app? (I thought the same, haha). But when I couldn't find the perfect app that matched my vision, I decided to create my own. Let me introduce you to Strflow. Here are some key features:- Chat-style interface for effortless, chronological note-taking.- Tagging for organization.- Global shortcuts for quick note-taking from anywhere on your Mac.- A native Mac app look and feel.- Encrypted iCloud backup & synchronization.(supports end-to-end encryption with advanced data protection).Strflow is built with Swift, utilizing AppKit+SwiftUI to ensure an authentic Mac experience.I'd really appreciate your thoughts and feedback!

Avatar
4
4
Top