Heptabase and Craft serve different primary needs. Craft is a beautiful Apple-native block editor optimized for structured documents, notes, and sharing — think polished pages and documents. Heptabase is a research-focused visual PKM tool built around whiteboards and card synthesis. Craft wins for users who write structured documents, collaborate on notes, and live in the Apple ecosystem. Heptabase wins for researchers who need to map, connect, and synthesize ideas visually. Both have free tiers or trials; Craft has a free plan, Heptabase starts at $12/month.
Quick comparison
| Feature | Heptabase | Craft |
|---|---|---|
| Starting price | $12/mo | Free plan |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| G2 rating | Not listed | Not listed |
| Best for | researchers building visual knowledge bases with whiteboards | Apple users who want a beautiful block editor for structured notes and documents |
| Starting price | Paid plans start at $12/month. | Free plan available; paid tiers depend on usage and plan limits. |
| Free plan | No | Yes |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Deployment model | saas | saas |
| Best for | productivity software teams starting around $12/month | teams starting with productivity software on a free plan |
| Primary risk | Paid tiers may become expensive as seats, usage, or governance needs grow. | Free-tier limits can hide the real cost until workflows reach production. |
Note-taking and linking model
Craft uses a block-based editor similar to Notion — content is made of blocks (text, images, headings, embeds) you can drag and reorder. Documents can be nested inside other documents, creating a folder-like hierarchy. Craft also has backlinks. Heptabase's model is card-based: each note is a discrete card you place on a whiteboard canvas. Craft's model is better for writing structured, document-quality notes intended to be read and shared. Heptabase's model is better for synthesis — arranging and connecting ideas during the research process. If your primary need is producing clean, shareable documents with good formatting, Craft is more capable.
Offline and local-first access
Craft stores documents locally and syncs through iCloud on Apple devices. This means full offline access with local storage — your notes are on your device, not only in someone's cloud. Heptabase is a cloud-first SaaS product with offline support added later. Craft's offline model is more reliable for users in areas with poor connectivity or those who prioritize local storage. For Android or Windows users, this advantage disappears since Craft's best experience is Apple-only. On Apple devices specifically, Craft's offline story is stronger.
Knowledge graph and backlinking
Heptabase was purpose-built for knowledge linking — whiteboards, backlinks, and visual connection-building are at its core. The spatial canvas approach to organizing connected notes is genuinely powerful for research synthesis. Craft has backlinks as a feature, but they are not central to the design philosophy — Craft is fundamentally a document tool that added linking. Heptabase's approach produces a richer, more navigable knowledge network over time. For users whose primary goal is building a connected knowledge base rather than polished documents, Heptabase wins on this dimension.
Database and structured content
Craft's block editor supports tables, checklists, code blocks, and rich formatting that makes structured documents look professional. Documents can be organized in hierarchical spaces and shared publicly with clean formatting. Heptabase's card properties offer lightweight metadata but no rich table or document structure. Craft is closer to a lightweight Notion for individual document creation. Neither tool is a full database, but Craft's block model handles structured content much better than Heptabase's card model, which prioritizes connection over formatting.
AI and smart search
Craft has invested in AI writing assistance — it can draft content, improve writing, and summarize documents. Heptabase has AI features focused on knowledge synthesis: surfacing related cards and suggesting connections. Both have AI, but Craft's AI is more writing-focused while Heptabase's is more research-focused. If your use case is writing assistance and document improvement, Craft's AI is more directly useful. If your use case is discovering connections across a large research archive, Heptabase's AI serves that goal better. The right choice depends on whether you primarily write or primarily synthesize.
Pricing for individuals and teams
Craft has a free tier that covers basic document creation without requiring payment. Craft Pro costs around $5/month or $45/year. Heptabase starts at $12/month with no free plan. Craft is cheaper and has a usable free option. Craft also has team plans that support shared workspaces — Heptabase is primarily an individual tool. For teams or budget-conscious individuals, Craft has a clearer pricing advantage. The $7/month gap compounds over time. Unless you specifically need Heptabase's whiteboard model, Craft's pricing is more accessible.
Pricing deep-dive
Heptabase
- Free plan: not listed publicly.
- Entry paid tier: starts at $12/month.
- Pricing model: paid; license is proprietary; deployment type is saas.
Craft
- Free plan: available for evaluation or limited production use.
- Entry paid tier: starts from free with feature or usage upgrades on paid tiers.
- Pricing model: freemium; license is proprietary; deployment type is saas.
Pricing verdict: Craft wins on pricing with a free tier and a cheaper paid plan around $5/month. Heptabase is $12/month with no free option. Evaluate the workflow difference before committing to the premium.
How to migrate from Heptabase to Craft
What real users say
Heptabase: Heptabase users praise the whiteboard synthesis model and the focused research workflow. Complaints: no free tier, limited mobile, and occasional sync issues.
Craft: Craft users love the design quality, Apple-native performance, and document-sharing capabilities. Common complaints: limited to Apple ecosystem, backlinking is secondary, and the tool lacks depth as a PKM system.
Sources: Pattern synthesized from catalog data, vendor positioning, and public review themes; verify on G2 or Capterra before quoting directly.
Final verdict
Choose Heptabase if...
- Choose Heptabase if research synthesis on visual whiteboards is your primary workflow — mapping concepts, papers, or ideas spatially.
- Choose Heptabase if building a networked knowledge base with deep backlinks matters more than producing polished documents.
- Choose Heptabase if you need a cross-platform tool that works on Windows or Android.
Choose Craft if...
- Choose Craft if you primarily write structured documents, take meeting notes, and need a polished Apple-native editor.
- Choose Craft if sharing documents externally or collaborating with others on notes is important.
- Choose Craft if budget matters — Craft's free tier and lower paid price are meaningfully cheaper than Heptabase.
Consider neither if: Consider neither if you need a full team workspace with real-time collaboration. Look at Notion or Confluence for shared team documentation.