What "sticks to a window" actually means
There is no shortage of note apps. But "sticks to a window" means different things in different products. Some show a note while a window is on screen. Some make the note travel with the window. Everything below comes from each vendor's own documentation.
| Tool | Relationship to the window | Price | Sync | Where notes live |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| WindowPin | Attaches to the window itself. Moves with it, hides when it is minimised, and finds the window again when it reopens | Free | None (file export and import) | This PC, %APPDATA%\WindowPin |
| Notezilla | Shows or hides a note based on the window title, with wildcard matching. Its documentation does not describe the note moving with the window | $29.95 perpetual (2 PCs) · $19.95 a year (+$10 first year) | Cloud and mobile on the subscription | Cloud (subscription) or this PC |
| Zhorn Stickies | Attaches to an application, web site, document or folder "so they only show when it's on screen" | Free | LAN transfer | This PC |
| Windows Sticky Notes | Not tied to a window. Notes sit at a desktop position | Free (built in) | OneNote / Microsoft account | Cloud |
| PowerToys Always on Top | No notes. It pins a window above the others | Free | — | — |
Two meanings of "attached"
Title matching works fine when there is one window. It gets hard when the same app has six windows open. Six spreadsheets. Four browser windows. If the titles are identical or nearly so, there is nothing to tell them apart. Titles that change are the same problem — saving drops the asterisk, switching tabs rewrites the whole title. WindowPin looks at the executable name, the window class, the title, and when the window was opened. When that is not enough to be sure, it asks you which window instead of quietly picking the wrong one.
When Sticky Notes is the better answer
If a note is a personal to-do with no particular window behind it, if you want the same notes on several computers, or if you need them on your phone, an account-synced app is the better fit. WindowPin does not sync. Notes live on this PC only.
When WindowPin is the better answer
When you work with several windows of the same program. Dev and prod terminals. One ticket window per customer. Twelve monthly spreadsheets. When the taskbar icon tells you nothing, the note has to follow the window to be worth anything.
Common questions
How was this table checked?
Each row comes from the vendor's own documentation and pricing page, linked below. Anything that could not be verified was left out.
Can I migrate from Notezilla?
There is no automatic import. You would copy and paste.
What if prices have changed?
Figures are as of 16 September 2026. Check each vendor's site for current pricing.