Ordo: Brain Dump is a free iPhone app for capturing mixed thoughts by typing or speaking. It separates a dump into individual items and sorts them into Now, Next, and Someday. No account is required.
Choose Ordo when
You want to say or type several unrelated thoughts at once and have them separated and sorted automatically.
Choose Apple Notes when
You want to write or preserve a detailed note, scan documents, add attachments, draw, or collaborate.
The main difference
Apple Notes gives you a flexible blank page. Ordo gives you a temporary landing place for mixed thoughts, then turns that dump into individual cards organized by when they matter.
| Need | Ordo | Apple Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Mixed capture | Separates and sorts one dump | Keeps the text together unless you organize it |
| Long-form notes | Not its purpose | Better fit |
| Attachments and scans | Not supported as a notes library | Better fit |
| Account | No account required | Core notes work locally; iCloud features use an Apple Account |
| Offline use | Capture works; sorting waits for a connection | Strong offline note-taking |
Where Apple Notes is better
Apple Notes is more capable for writing, reference material, checklists, document scans, attachments, folders, and shared notes. It is also a better choice when you need the entire workflow to remain available offline.
Where Ordo is better
Ordo removes the decision of where each thought belongs during capture. You can enter “call Maya, finish the report, trip idea, milk” as one dump and review separate cards in Now, Next, and Someday afterward.
Can they work together?
Yes. Use Ordo for fast capture and sorting. Move information worth keeping as reference into Apple Notes. The tools do not need to replace each other.
Apple Notes details checked against Apple's guides to local notes settings, document scanning, and collaboration.
Try the capture-first approach
Ordo is free on iPhone and does not require an account.
Download on the App Store