Short answer: if you lend out one or two things a year, Apple Notes is probably enough. It’s already on your iPhone, it’s free, and it’s quick to open. We’re not going to tell you otherwise.
So why build something else? Because tracking lent items is a slightly different job from taking notes. This page lays out where Notes works well and where a purpose-built tool might help. Borrowly is available now on the App Store.
What Apple Notes does well
- Comes with the iPhone, with no setup and nothing new to learn.
- Free for everyday use.
- Handles text, checklists and photo attachments.
- Syncs through iCloud across your Apple devices, and notes can be shared with other people.
- Flexible: you can organize a list however you like.
For a short list of lent items, a note titled “Stuff people have of mine” works.
Where a plain note gets harder
Notes is a general-purpose app, so it isn’t built around lending. In practice that means:
- Nothing is structured for “who has what.” Every entry’s format depends on you being consistent.
- A due date is only text. Notes can’t treat “back by Friday” as something to act on unless you set up a separate reminder yourself.
- It won’t write the message. Asking for something back is the awkward part, and a note doesn’t help with that.
- Photos are loose. You can attach a picture to a note, but connecting it to a person and date is up to you.
- It’s easy to forget to look. A note you rarely open doesn’t help you at the moment you need it.
What Borrowly is designed to do
Borrowly is a free iPhone app for tracking borrowed and lent items first, and money you lend as well. The idea is to make the lending record the structure, not an afterthought:
- Snap it. Take a photo of the item and pick the borrower.
- Follow up. Borrowly follows up automatically when something hasn’t been returned, and you can send a reminder whenever you need to.
- Keep track. History of what you’ve lent and what’s come back stays in one place.
The person who borrowed your stuff doesn’t need to install anything. Borrowly is a personal record for the items you lend and borrow, and you can track money and partial payments too.
Which should you use?
| If you… | Notes may be enough | A dedicated tracker may help |
|---|---|---|
| Lend a couple of things a year | ✔ | |
| Lend often (tools, books, kids’ stuff) | ✔ | |
| Share a home and things get mixed up | ✔ | |
| Find asking for things back awkward | ✔ | |
| Want zero new apps | ✔ |
If you want to see how a simple log works first, try our free lending log template in Notes or a spreadsheet. Borrowly is free on the App Store. Android is coming later — join the Android waitlist.
FAQ
Is Apple Notes good enough to track things I lend?
For a few items, yes. A note with the item, person and date is a perfectly good start. It gets harder to keep track of as your list grows.
Can I attach photos in Apple Notes?
Yes, Notes lets you add photos to a note. Connecting a photo to a specific person and due date is something you do manually.
Does Borrowly replace Apple Notes?
No. Notes is a general notes app. Borrowly is built for one specific job: tracking items you lend or borrow, and money as well.
Does the person who borrowed my stuff need Borrowly?
No. The borrower doesn’t need to install the app.
Is Borrowly available yet?
Yes. Borrowly is a free iPhone app on the App Store. Android is coming later.
Android is coming later
Borrowly is free on the App Store for iPhone and iPad. Android is coming later. Leave your email and we’ll let you know when it is.
You’re on the list.
Thanks! We’ll email you when Borrowly is ready for Android. Until then, here are two things you can use right now:
Free for iPhone. The person who borrowed your stuff doesn’t need to install anything.