Note apps with version history
Most note apps call it “version history.” But there's a real difference between an undo slider and a real diff log. Here's what each app actually gives you.
What matters in note version history
Shows diffs
Can you see exactly which words or lines changed between versions? Most apps show snapshots — only Git-based tools show real line-level diffs.
Restore any version
Can you restore a specific past state? Most apps support this. The question is how far back, and at what granularity.
History is free
Is version history free, or only on a paid plan? Many apps gate meaningful history depth behind paid tiers.
| Name | History depth | Shows diffs | Restore any version | History is free |
|---|---|---|---|---|
knowdustthis site Subscription ($5/mo) | Unlimited — every save | |||
Notion Freemium ($8–15/mo for teams) | 7 days (free); 30 days (Plus); 90 days (Business); 1 year (Enterprise) | |||
Obsidian Free (Sync $4–8/mo) | 1 year with Obsidian Sync; requires a plugin otherwise | |||
Evernote Freemium ($14.99/mo Personal) | None on free; unlimited on paid | |||
Apple Notes Free (Apple only) | Up to 30 days, OS-dependent | |||
Craft Freemium ($4.99/mo) | 7 days (free); unlimited (paid) | |||
Bear Free / $14.99/yr | No dedicated history feature |
knowdust versions every note automatically with Git
Every save is a commit. Browse the history, see the diff, restore any version. No plugins, no paid tier, no configuration. Just write.
Edit fearlessly — try knowdust freeNotes on each app
knowdust
Every save becomes a version you can browse, diff, and restore — no time limit. Git-based under the hood: each save is a real commit.
Notion
Notion shows "page history" as snapshots but no diff view. You can restore a past snapshot, but you can't see exactly what changed between them. Depth is gated behind paid plans.
Obsidian
Obsidian Sync includes version history up to a year. Without Sync, you need a plugin and a git repo. No built-in diff view.
Evernote
Note history is a paid feature. Evernote shows previous versions as snapshots but no diff view. You restore a full past version, not individual paragraphs.
Apple Notes
"Browse All Versions" is available via the File menu on macOS. It shows past versions as snapshots, no diff highlighting. iOS is more limited.
Craft
Craft saves document history and allows restoration, with no diff view. Depth is limited to 7 days on the free plan.
Bear
Bear has no dedicated version history feature — only whatever the OS-level Files app history offers via iCloud sync.