Raycast Notes: Fast, Lightweight Note-Taking for Mac (2026)

You're in a meeting, someone drops an important detail, and you need to write it down immediately. You don't want to open Notion. You don't want to find a text file. You just want a note — right now, right here, floating on top of everything. That's exactly what Raycast Notes delivers.

Raycast Notes (evolved from the feature previously called Floating Notes) is a lightweight, markdown-powered note-taking system built directly into the Raycast launcher. It's one of those features that seems simple until you use it daily and realize you can't live without it. If you're new to Raycast entirely, start with our complete guide to what Raycast is.

What Is Raycast Notes?

Raycast Notes is a built-in note-taking feature that gives you instant access to a lightweight text editor from anywhere on your Mac. You trigger it with a keyboard shortcut, and a floating window appears on top of your current workspace.

Key characteristics:

• Floating window — stays on top of all other windows so you can reference notes while working
• Markdown support — headers, bold, italic, code blocks, links, lists, and more
• Multiple notes — create separate notes for different projects or contexts
• Todo checkboxes — track tasks directly within your notes
• Encrypted storage — notes are stored securely on your Mac
• Instant access — one hotkey press and you're writing

Think of it as a digital scratch pad that's always one keystroke away. It's not trying to be Notion or Obsidian. It's trying to be the fastest possible way to capture and reference information while you work.

How to Access Raycast Notes

There are several ways to open Raycast Notes:

Method 1: Keyboard Shortcut

Set a global hotkey in Raycast Preferences (many users use Option+N or Cmd+Shift+N). Press it from any app and your note appears instantly as a floating window.

Method 2: Raycast Command

Open Raycast (Cmd+Space or your configured hotkey), type "Notes," and select "Floating Notes" or a specific note by name. You can also type "Create Note" to start a fresh one.

Method 3: From the Menu Bar

If you have the Raycast menu bar icon enabled, you can access notes from the dropdown menu. This is useful for mouse-oriented workflows, though most Raycast users prefer the keyboard approach.

Markdown Support and Formatting

Raycast Notes supports a rich subset of markdown, which means you can format your notes without touching a mouse. The format bar at the top provides quick access to formatting options, but you can also type markdown syntax directly.

Supported formatting:

• Headers — # H1, ## H2, ### H3 for organizing sections
• Bold and italic — **bold** and *italic* for emphasis
• Code — inline `code` and fenced code blocks with ```
• Lists — bullet lists with - and numbered lists with 1.
• Todo checkboxes — - [ ] for unchecked, - [x] for completed
• Links — [text](url) for clickable links
• Blockquotes — > for quoted text
• Horizontal rules — --- for section dividers

The live preview renders your markdown as you type, so you see formatted text immediately rather than raw syntax. This strikes a nice balance between speed (markdown typing) and readability (live rendering).

Multiple Notes and Organization

Raycast Notes lets you create multiple separate notes. On the free plan, you can have up to 5 notes. With Raycast Pro, the limit is removed — create as many as you need.

Each note has its own title and content. You can switch between notes quickly from the Raycast launcher by searching for note titles. Some organization strategies that work well:

• One note per project — keep a running scratch pad for each active project
• Daily note — create a fresh note each day for tasks and meeting notes
• Pinned reference — keep one note with frequently referenced information (API keys, server IPs, common commands)
• Meeting notes — create a note before each meeting and jot down action items in real time
• Quick inbox — one catch-all note for random thoughts you'll process later

Todo Tracking

One of the most practical uses for Raycast Notes is lightweight task tracking. You don't need a full project management tool for your daily todo list. Markdown checkboxes work beautifully:

## Today
- [x] Review PR #428
- [x] Reply to design feedback
- [ ] Update API documentation
- [ ] Fix flaky test in auth module
- [ ] Prepare demo for Friday standup

Click a checkbox (or use the keyboard shortcut) to toggle completion. It's satisfying in its simplicity. For quick daily task management, this replaces Todoist, Things, or Apple Reminders for many developers.

The key advantage: your todo list floats on top of your editor. You can see what's next without switching apps or contexts.

Export Options

Notes aren't locked inside Raycast. You can export them in multiple formats:

• Plain text — copy the raw content to your clipboard
• Markdown — export as .md files for use in other apps
• HTML — rendered HTML for pasting into emails or web tools
• Share to Apple Notes — send directly to Apple Notes if you want long-term storage

This makes Raycast Notes an excellent capture point. Jot things down quickly during the day, then export to your permanent storage system (Notion, Obsidian, Apple Notes, a git repo) at the end of the day or week.

Encrypted Storage

Raycast Notes are stored encrypted on your local machine. This means your notes are protected even if someone accesses your filesystem. For developers who frequently store sensitive information in notes (API tokens, environment variables, server credentials), this is a meaningful security improvement over plain text files.

If you have Raycast Pro with Cloud Sync enabled, notes sync encrypted across your Macs. The sync is end-to-end, meaning Raycast's servers handle the transfer but can't read your note content.

Raycast Notes vs. Standalone Note-Taking Apps

Raycast Notes isn't trying to compete with full-featured note-taking platforms. Here's where it fits:

The sweet spot for Raycast Notes: quick capture, temporary information, daily todos, meeting notes, and reference material you need visible while you work. For permanent knowledge storage, backlinks, and complex organization, pair it with Obsidian or Notion.

Many developers (myself included) use a two-tier system: Raycast Notes for capturing information throughout the day, then migrate anything worth keeping to a permanent system during a weekly review.

Best Use Cases for Developers

Here are the workflows where Raycast Notes adds the most value:

Meeting Notes with Action Items

Before a meeting starts, open a floating note. Jot down decisions and action items as they come up. The note stays visible alongside your meeting app (Zoom, Google Meet). After the meeting, export the note or share it with your team.

Daily Standup Prep

Keep a running note of what you accomplished and what's blocked. When standup comes, your talking points are already written. Check items off as you discuss them.

Code Review Scratch Pad

While reviewing a PR, keep a floating note with your observations. Note line numbers, questions, and suggestions. When you're ready to write your review, everything is already organized.

Quick Reference While Coding

Working with an unfamiliar API? Paste the key endpoints and parameters into a floating note. It stays visible while you code, eliminating constant tab-switching to documentation.

Debugging Log

When tracking down a tricky bug, document each hypothesis and result in a note. This prevents you from going in circles and gives you a record if you need to escalate.

Tips and Keyboard Shortcuts

Get the most out of Raycast Notes with these power-user tips:

• Set a global hotkey — configure Option+N (or similar) in Raycast Preferences so opening notes is a reflex, not a conscious action
• Use markdown headings — even in quick notes, ## headers make scanning easier when you return later
• Pin your most-used note — keep your primary note accessible with a dedicated hotkey or alias
• Start todos with a date — prefix your daily tasks with the date (## 2026-03-10) so you can track history
• Use code blocks for commands — when noting down terminal commands or code snippets, wrap them in backticks for easy copying
• Quick clear — select all (Cmd+A) and delete to reset a note for reuse, or create a new note for each context

Getting Started with Raycast Notes

If you already have Raycast installed, you can start using Notes right away — it's a built-in feature, no extension needed. Open Raycast, type "Floating Notes" or "Create Note," and you're in.

If you haven't installed Raycast yet, follow our step-by-step setup guide to get up and running in minutes. Raycast Notes works on the free plan (up to 5 notes), so you can try it without any commitment.

For unlimited notes and cloud sync across your Macs, you'll want Raycast Pro. The best current deal is 80% off with a free 14-day trial. For a full breakdown of what Pro includes, see our Raycast Pro review.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is Raycast Notes free or do I need Pro?

Raycast Notes is available on both the free plan and Pro. The free plan lets you create up to 5 notes. Raycast Pro unlocks unlimited notes, cloud sync across devices, and additional formatting options.

How many notes can I create in Raycast?

On the free plan, you can create up to 5 notes. With Raycast Pro, there is no limit — you can create as many notes as you need. All notes support markdown formatting and todo checkboxes.

Do Raycast Notes sync across devices?

Notes sync across your Macs if you have Raycast Pro with Cloud Sync enabled. On the free plan, notes are stored locally on a single machine. Cloud Sync keeps your notes, snippets, and settings in sync across all your Macs.

Can Raycast Notes replace Notion or Obsidian?

Raycast Notes is designed for quick capture and lightweight note-taking, not as a full knowledge base replacement. It excels at meeting notes, quick todos, scratch pads, and temporary information. For long-term knowledge management, databases, or complex note hierarchies, tools like Notion or Obsidian are better suited. Many users use both — Raycast Notes for quick capture and a dedicated app for permanent storage.