Benchpad vs SideNotes
SideNotes hides notes in a screen edge sidebar on Mac. Benchpad provides three named scratchpads with offline CRDT sync across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Android.
The problem: A screen-edge hover trigger becomes a nuisance
SideNotes is a highly specialized Mac utility. Instead of being a standard window, it lives completely hidden on the side of your monitor. When you move your cursor to the extreme edge of your screen, the app slides out. You write your note, move the cursor away, and it slides back into hiding.
The problem with this interaction model is that we frequently move our cursors to the edges of our screens for other reasons: reaching for the scrollbar, clicking a browser tab, or trying to resize a window.
When you use SideNotes, you inevitably trigger the slide-out animation by accident, dozens of times a day. What was supposed to be a friction-free way to capture notes quickly becomes a visual nuisance that interrupts your actual work.
Furthermore, SideNotes is exclusively available on Apple devices (Mac and iOS). If you use a Windows PC at work, or an Android phone, your notes are trapped in the Apple ecosystem.
The solution: Global hotkeys and full cross-platform sync
Benchpad is a standard window that appears exactly when you call it, and never when you don't. We built a very sharp, very fast knife.
Instead of a hover trigger, Benchpad uses a global hotkey (or a standard dock icon) to open instantly. When you are done, you close it. It does not slide out by accident, and it does not interrupt your work.
More importantly, Benchpad runs everywhere.
Benchpad App View
The honest comparison
| Feature | SideNotes | Benchpad |
|---|---|---|
| Platforms | Mac & iOS only | Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, Web |
| Interface | Slide-out sidebar on screen edge | Clean 3-scratchpad window |
| Sync Engine | iCloud | Local-First CRDT sync |
| Rich Markdown | Basic text & images | Headings, tables, task lists, code blocks |
| Pricing | $19.99 one-time / Setapp | Free 1-pad tier; $20/year Pro |
When you should use SideNotes
If you live entirely within the Apple ecosystem and you genuinely love the screen-edge hover interaction, SideNotes is beautifully designed for exactly that use case. It is a one-time purchase of $19.99, or available via Setapp. If you want a note app that is physically attached to the edge of your monitor, keep SideNotes.
When to switch to Benchpad
True cross-platform availability. SideNotes is Mac and iOS only. If you use a Windows PC for work and an iPhone for personal use, your notes cannot bridge the gap. Benchpad runs natively on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, and in any browser.
No accidental hover triggers. A global keyboard shortcut is deliberate. A screen edge is accidental. Benchpad only appears when you explicitly ask it to.
Advanced editor capabilities. SideNotes offers basic text and images. Benchpad gives you a full block editor with markdown tables, syntax-highlighted code blocks, collapsible callouts, and slash commands.
Structure without filing. SideNotes requires you to create different folders in the sidebar to organize your notes. Benchpad gives you exactly three pads. You never have to file anything; you just open a pad and type.
Take whatever you have in your SideNotes "Inbox" and paste it into one Benchpad pad. See if you miss the slide-out animation.
Related: Benchpad vs Tot · Benchpad vs Antinote · Mac scratchpad
Frequently Asked Questions
Is SideNotes available on Windows or Android?
No. SideNotes is a Mac and iOS app. If you need a fast scratchpad that syncs across Windows, Android, Mac, and web, Benchpad is cross-platform.
How does Benchpad compare to SideNotes?
SideNotes uses a slide-out sidebar pinned to your Mac screen edge. Benchpad uses three fixed, named scratchpads with rich markdown tables, code blocks, and instant keyboard shortcuts.
Get Benchpad
On every platform
Native apps for iPhone & Android, and a Mac menu bar & Windows tray app — same three pads, offline-first, synced everywhere.