Stickies for Windows: Which Sticky Notes App to Use (2026)
There is no Windows version of Apple's Stickies. On Windows, the usual picks are Stickies by Zhorn Software (free, classic, deep alarms), Microsoft Sticky Notes (built in, syncs through a Microsoft account), and BetterStickies (modern notes that hold screenshots and code, and also run on Mac and Linux).
Which "Stickies" Do You Mean?
Three different apps come up when you search for "stickies" on a PC, which is why it gets confusing:
- Stickies (Apple) is the sticky notes app that comes with every Mac. It has never been made for Windows.
- Stickies (Zhorn Software) is a free Windows app with the same name, maintained by one developer since the early 2000s. It is what most "Stickies download" pages for Windows point to.
- Sticky Notes (Microsoft) is the app that ships with Windows. Different name, same idea.
BetterStickies is not one of them: it is a separate sticky notes app for Windows, Mac, and Linux.
Stickies by Zhorn Software
The closest thing Windows has to a classic "Stickies" app, and the deepest one feature for feature.
- Free, funded by donations. Runs on Windows 7, 8, 10, and 11; the installer is under 3 MB.
- Attached notes: a note can attach to an application, website, document, or folder and show up only when that thing is on screen.
- Alarms: a note can sleep until a date and time, then reappear, daily, weekly, or monthly.
- Always on top, per note.
- Sending notes to other PCs over the network or by email, no cloud involved.
- Skins, fonts, and images, notes that snap to each other and to the screen edges, and right-to-left text.
- Portable: all notes live in one database file and nothing is written to the Registry. A manual install option and a Stickies Portable build on PortableApps.com run it without an installer.
The trade-offs: the settings dialogs look like classic Windows utilities, it runs on Windows only, and some antivirus products flag the download, a false positive the developer acknowledges on the download page. The current version, 10.2a, came out in January 2025.
For the full head-to-head, see Stickies by Zhorn Software vs Better Stickies.
Microsoft Sticky Notes
The built-in option. Type "Sticky Notes" in the Start menu to open it; if it isn't there, Microsoft Store installs it for free.
- Sync: sign in with a Microsoft account and the same notes show up on other PCs, in Outlook on the web, and in OneNote on iPhone and Android. Without signing in, notes stay on the PC.
- Formatting: bold, italic, underline, strikethrough, and bullets, plus pictures. You can't change the font or text size.
- The newer Sticky Notes opens from OneNote or with Win+Alt+S. It captures a screenshot in one click, saves a link to the page a note came from, brings those notes back when you revisit the same document or website, and can dock beside your other apps. It needs OneNote and asks you to sign in with a Microsoft account.
One detail matters to anyone used to Apple's Float on Top: Microsoft's support page says the classic Sticky Notes can't stay on top of other applications. The newer Sticky Notes can: pop a note out and click its pin icon to keep it above your other windows.
For the full head-to-head, see Better Stickies vs Microsoft Sticky Notes.
BetterStickies
A modern sticky notes app for Windows 10 and later, Mac, and Linux, that works offline and needs no account.
- Paste anything. A screenshot, files, code (as a code block), Markdown, rich text from a web page, email, or document (both keep their formatting), a link, or plain text. The note works out what you copied.
- Notes that stay put. An Always on top button in each note's header, and notes that appear on every virtual desktop automatically.
- Shortcuts from anywhere. Ctrl+Alt+N for a new note, Ctrl+Alt+S to search, Ctrl+Alt+H to hide or show every note, and Ctrl+Alt+V to turn the clipboard into a note, working out of the box on Windows and changeable in Settings.
- More in each note. Nested checklists, reminders, up to three pages behind tabs, and search across every page of every note, including hidden ones.
- Per-note looks. Image and animated GIF backgrounds, opacity from 1% to 100%, font size from 8pt to 72pt, and a 40-color grid or any hex value.
- No installation. The Windows download is a single
.exethat runs with a double-click and needs no admin rights. It is also on the Microsoft Store.
Free for 4 notes, with no signup and no time limit; each extra tab inside a note counts as one of the four. A one-time Premium unlock, currently $7.99, removes the limit. There is no subscription.
Coming From a Mac
If you are used to Apple's Stickies and now work on a PC, here is where its habits land in BetterStickies:
| On a Mac (Stickies) | In BetterStickies on Windows |
|---|---|
| Window > Float on Top | The Always on top button in the note's header |
| Translucent | Opacity per note, 1% to 100% |
| Collapse to the title bar | Double-click the header, or its Collapse button |
| Note colors and fonts | A 40-color grid or any hex value, any installed font, 8pt to 72pt |
| Drag in a picture | Paste a screenshot or image straight into the note |
| Lists | Nested checklists (Tab and Shift+Tab) |
| Export All to Notes | Export every note to one text, Markdown, or JSON file |
If you still have a Mac, BetterStickies runs there too (Apple Silicon, macOS 13 Ventura or later), so the same app sits on both desks. Notes don't sync between computers, though. How it compares with Apple's own app: Sticky Notes for Mac: Better Stickies vs Apple's Stickies.
Your Mac Stickies notes don't come with you on their own: Stickies has no Windows or web version, and no Windows app imports its notes. Two ways across: File > Export Text saves a note as plain text, RTF, or RTFD (an RTF file opens in WordPad or Word on the PC), or File > Export All to Notes copies every note into Apple Notes, which you can open in a browser at iCloud.com (with Notes turned on in iCloud). Then paste into your new app.
Features Comparison
| Feature | BetterStickies | Stickies (Zhorn) | Microsoft Sticky Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| Price | Free for 4 notes; $7.99 one-time for unlimited | Free (donations) | Free |
| Windows | 10 and later | 7 to 11 | Built in |
| Mac and Linux | Yes | No | No app (notes readable in Outlook on the web) |
| Keep a note on top | Yes | Yes | Newer version only (pin a popped-out note) |
| Screenshots and images | Paste screenshots, images, files | Images | Pictures; screenshot capture in the newer version |
| Code blocks | Yes | Not listed | Not documented |
| Reminders | Yes | Yes (recurring, sleeping notes) | Not documented |
| Attach a note to an app or document | No | Yes | Partly (the newer version brings notes back when you revisit a document or website) |
| Runs without installing | Yes (single .exe) | Yes (PortableApps.com, manual install) | Built in (not portable) |
| Cloud sync | No | No (sends notes over the network) | Yes (Microsoft account) |
| Account needed | No | No | Only for sync |
BetterStickies' Weak Spots on Windows
- The free version holds 4 notes. Zhorn's Stickies is free with no note limit, and Microsoft Sticky Notes is free.
- A SmartScreen warning on first launch. The download from betterstickies.com isn't code-signed yet, so Windows may show "Windows protected your PC" once; click More info, then Run anyway.
- No sync and no phone app. Notes stay on the PC they were written on. Microsoft Sticky Notes syncs through your Microsoft account.
- No attached notes. Nothing matches Zhorn's notes that appear only when a certain app or document is open.
Other Options
- Simple Sticky Notes: free, Windows-only, clean text notes with checklists and themes, and no images.
- Notezilla: a paid Windows app (around $30) with sticky note boards and an optional sync plan.
More picks, including Linux: Best Sticky Notes Apps for Windows and Linux.
When to Choose Zhorn's Stickies
- You want every feature free, with no note limit
- Notes that appear with a certain app, document, or website would change how you work
- You rely on recurring alarms and notes that sleep until a date
- A dated interface doesn't bother you
When to Choose Microsoft Sticky Notes
- You already use a Microsoft account and want notes on other PCs and your phone
- You want nothing to download
- Plain text with light formatting is enough
When to Choose BetterStickies
- You paste screenshots, files, code, or links into notes, not just text
- You want notes that stay on top and a shortcut to make one from any app
- You want a portable app that runs without installing
- You also use a Mac or Linux computer and want the same app there
- You want to style each note: backgrounds, opacity, font size, and colors
FAQ
Is there a Windows version of Apple's Stickies?
No. Apple makes Stickies for the Mac only. On Windows, the closest matches are Stickies by Zhorn Software, which shares the name, Microsoft Sticky Notes, which comes with Windows, and BetterStickies, which runs on both Windows and Mac.
Does Windows have a built-in sticky notes app?
Yes, Microsoft Sticky Notes. Type "Sticky Notes" in the Start menu. If it doesn't appear, install it free from the Microsoft Store.
How do I keep a sticky note on top of other windows in Windows?
In the newer Microsoft Sticky Notes (open it from OneNote or with Win+Alt+S), pop a note out and click its pin icon; Microsoft's support page says the classic app can't keep notes on top. In BetterStickies, hover over a note and click Always on top in its header.
Is Stickies by Zhorn Software safe?
It is widely used freeware maintained for over two decades. Some antivirus products flag its download, and the developer's download page acknowledges these as false positives.
Is there a portable sticky notes app for Windows?
Yes. BetterStickies for Windows is a single .exe that runs without installing or admin rights. Zhorn's Stickies offers a manual install option and a Stickies Portable build on PortableApps.com.
Can I move my notes from Mac Stickies to Windows?
Not directly: no Windows app imports them. On the Mac, File > Export Text saves a note as plain text, RTF, or RTFD, which opens on a PC; or File > Export All to Notes copies every note into Apple Notes, which you can open in a browser at iCloud.com (with Notes turned on in iCloud). Then paste into the app you pick.
Does BetterStickies sync between Windows and Mac?
No. BetterStickies runs on both, but notes stay on the computer they were written on. Microsoft Sticky Notes syncs through a Microsoft account but has no Mac app.