Alfred Apple Notes Alternative = Hot Notes
If you are looking to search and open your Apple Notes using Alfred, it seems you have two options:
1. Golang based third party plugin
https://github.com/sballin/alfred-search-notes-app
- Golang based - likely to be quite fast and reliable.
- You can search for folder names.
- Requires Full Disk access.
- Not notarized by the developer.
- Must purchase the Alfred Powerpack to install this and other plugins ($45).
2. Official plugin
https://alfred.app/workflows/alfredapp/notes/
- https://github.com/alfredapp/notes-workflow/
- This is the official Alfred Apple Notes integration.
- Around 3 months old (as of 2025-w17).
- Does not seem to be widely tested or used.
- Does not read the SQLite database directly, only uses AppleScript, which seems much slower to read the note list.
- Must purchase the Alfred Powerpack to install this and other plugins ($45).
The plugin models of Alfred and Raycast
Note: In Alfred, plugins/extensions are called "workflows".
Alfred is the original "launcher" app for macOS. Raycast is an alternative to Alfred that follows the same general model of "parent app shows the input box and list UI, plugins read and map data from diverse systems APIs into the list". This allows Alfred/Raycast to provide a fast UI and offer APIs which the plugin authors then use.
Alfred starts very fast, and workflows are flexible and customizable. But I feel standalone macOS apps can offer faster fuzzy search for huge lists as they do not have the parent app <=> plugin API boundary.
Hot Notes
- Hot Notes is a standalone macOS app that is free.
-
It gives you fast fuzzy search over your Apple Notes.
- ✅ Free
- ✅ Fast start up time and search
- ✅ Stays fast with large numbers of notes
- ✅ Minimal macOS permissions (Notes only, not Full Disk)
- ✅ Notarized for safety