Plume provides instant note capture from the menu bar for quick thoughts, meeting notes, and temporary information that requires immediate recording. A click on the menu bar icon opens a text popover without window switching or app launching.
The Magic Mode feature offers smart text completion that learns from typing patterns, suggesting completions for common phrases over time. This assists with repetitive content like meeting attendees or standard action items without requiring advanced AI integration.
Notes organize into tabs accessible from the popover, searchable with Command+F. Users can create tabs for different projects, scratch pads for temporary content, or reference information needed throughout the day. The interface maintains minimalism with plain text only, avoiding formatting complexity.
Resource usage stays under 50MB of memory with essentially zero CPU when idle. The popover size is customizable (small, regular, large, xlarge), and keyboard shortcuts are configurable for integration with existing hotkey systems.
The base app is free from the Mac App Store with no limitations on note-taking functionality. Plume Premium adds iCloud synchronization and backups, available as a subscription or one-time purchase from Creach Agency.
Limitations include intentional design constraints: no markdown rendering, rich text formatting, or attachment support. The app functions as a quick-capture tool rather than a comprehensive note-taking system. Users needing full note management should consider alternatives like Obsidian or Bear.
System requirements are macOS with standard permissions. No specific version minimum is listed.
Suitable for users who need instant text capture from anywhere on their Mac, prefer plain text over rich formatting, and want a lightweight companion to their primary note-taking system.
