Quick Comparison
| Feature | Snowball | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Primary purpose | Contact management | Quick notes |
| Business card scanning | 2-second AI scan | Not available |
| Contact database | Native feature | Not available |
| Follow-up reminders | ||
| Voice notes | Per-contact | Generic |
| CRM integration | 100+ | Not available |
| Free tier | ||
| Apple ecosystem | iOS app | Native |
Notes About People vs Contact Records
Apple Notes is great for quick notes, lists, and ideas. But when you write "Met John at conference - discuss partnership" in Notes, there's no contact record, no reminder, no way to track the relationship.
Key Differences
Structured Contact Data
Snowball creates real contact records with name, company, email, phone. Apple Notes is unstructured text.
Business Card Scanning
Scan a card and create a contact in 2 seconds. Apple Notes can't capture contact information from cards.
Follow-Up System
Set reminders, track when you last connected, get notified. Apple Notes has no relationship tracking.
CRM Sync
Contacts sync to HubSpot, Salesforce, and 100+ other tools. Apple Notes stays in Apple Notes.
When Apple Notes Makes Sense
- Quick personal notes and lists
- Ideas and brainstorming
- You want something free and simple
- Deep Apple ecosystem integration matters
When to Choose Snowball
- You need to track business relationships
- You scan business cards
- Follow-up reminders are essential
- You want contacts in your CRM
How to Upgrade
Review contact-related notes in Apple Notes
Create proper contact records in Snowball
Add context and set follow-up reminders
Keep Apple Notes for general notes, Snowball for contacts
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I stop using Apple Notes?
No—Apple Notes is great for general notes. Use Snowball specifically for managing contacts and relationships.
Is Snowball free like Apple Notes?
Snowball has a generous free tier. Upgrade for advanced features like team sharing and custom integrations.
Can I import Apple Notes to Snowball?
Not directly. Review your contact-related notes and create proper contact records in Snowball.
Does Snowball work on iPhone?
Yes—Snowball has a native iOS app designed for quick contact capture on the go.