Best-note-taking-apps
GMTA Software Solutions Pvt Ltd
The GMTA Software Solutions company specializes in mobile apps, software, websites, and mobile marketing.
Note-taking is a very personal activity, but it's something we all do in one form or another. Whether you're quickly scribbling down a phone number or grocery list, or meticulously organizing meeting minutes or book summaries, everyone has their own approach to capturing information. For some, the notes could just be several lines of text and headings/bullet points; while others view their notes more as creative scrapbooks, using lots of pictures, sketches, and colorful markings. Regardless of the preference when taking notes, there is an app built for that taste, preference, or need, though a lot of exploration would be involved.
On the other hand, before jumping into the world of note-taking applications, it's worth keeping a key point in mind: that notes can be taken anywhere. The use of traditional notebooks, or even the back of a bill or a napkin, doesn't require a specific app. In fact, you can put down your ideas in a multitude of tools that were not originally designed for note-taking, like Google Docs. While not a special note-taking app, Google Docs has been used to capture notes related to the very article you are reading right now.
Keeping this in mind, I have exclusively covered apps specifically built for note-taking. I didn't count those apps that could be used for note-taking but were not primarily intended to do so or business collaboration tools that describe themselves as a solution for note-taking. Based on the result of in-depth testing with more than 45 different apps, I bring here the list of the best ones for personal note-taking that do not specify their purpose for use.
???????? ?????????? ?????? ???????? ????????-???????????? ???????
As a tech writer who has been reviewing software and taking notes for more than ten years now, I developed many thoughts on the art and science of note-taking. Even after all these years, I have been continuing to perfect the system that I actually use. On my way, I have always made it a point not to let personal preferences cloud my review as much. For example, I'm a fan of text-heavy note apps that support Markdown, but I understand that not everyone shares this preference. So, if your favorite app isn't on this list, feel free to let me know—loudly!
I approached this task with tough standards because there are so many note-taking applications available, most of which claim to be the "perfect solution." So, just to make it into the cut, an application had to meet a few pretty key criteria:
First, it has to meet its promises. Sounds simple enough, but boy, how many apps failed on this very basic test? Good features such as image-to-text conversion or stylus support are nice, but they need to be well-executed and user-friendly if they are part of the app offering. An app that promises it has a certain feature but cannot perform well using it doesn't cut.
The app must also be fast and easy to use. When you sit down to take notes, you don't need a clunky interface slowing you down. It should feel just as natural to use as it does to pull out a pen and a scrap of paper. Your true competition in quick jots of ideas is grabbing for that pen and paper. Sorting and editing the notes should feel intuitive, not like a fight against a poor user interface design.
One major plus of a digital note-taking app over a paper notebook is access to your notes from any place, at any time, on any device. Whether at the desk, home on the couch, or in transit, a good notes app should be able to work offline and seamlessly sync at least one desktop and one mobile platform. Getting locked out of your notes because you don't have Wi-Fi is a deal-breaker.
Finally, I determined the value for money. Since digital notes should be a sustainable, reliable option, I had to consider the longevity of the service. Free apps are great when they are of good quality; however, some services offer quality for a monthly subscription fee and can be deemed worthwhile for that reason alone by offering features that improve the experience of note taking. As a result, some of the best apps on this list aren't free, but the features make them worth the price.
What didn't make the cut: Not all popular apps were represented on the best app list. For example, web-based apps that rely entirely on internet access are not practical for customers who require offline access, like searching a grocery list at the store. Similarly, highly niche apps targeted at specific professions, such as writers or developers, were not included here, even though they might be great for their target audience. This list focuses on general-purpose note-taking apps that work well for most users.
Learn More: 40+ Unique Website Name Ideas
While there are countless powerful business collaboration tools out there, many of them market themselves as note-taking apps. That said, such platforms aren't ideal for personal use—whether it's a quick thank-you note or a grocery list. Usually, an app isn't really a note-taking app if it arrives with video calls right off the bat. That's more a collaboration tool than something you need for a simple, personal note.
I included AI-powered note-taking apps this year, with the promise of either improving the writing of notes or surfacing recorded information in interesting ways. However, I would not eliminate any app just for having AI features, but instead ensured that it still performed as a great tool for traditional note-taking. No matter how cool the AI might be, if the app couldn't get the simple job of taking and organizing notes done, it wouldn't make the list.
Over the course of a few days, I used the apps I was testing to capture ideas, create lists, and jot down other things I needed to remember—essentially replacing my go-to notebook or note app. I tested features like sorting and syncing to see if they could live up to the expectations for a top-tier note-taking app. After careful evaluation, here are my top picks for the best note-taking apps on the market.
?????? ???????? ????????-???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????
Best for: A free option
Standout feature: Very freeform—click anywhere to add text
Free plan: Free for up to 5GB of notes
Best for: Apple users
Standout feature: Very native-feeling on Macs and iPhones, with easy syncing
Free plan: Free for 5GB of storage across all iCloud services
Best for: Google power users
Standout feature: Connected to all the Google apps, so everything is always right there
Free plan: Free for 15GB of storage across all of Google apps
Best for: Collaboration
Standout feature: Ridiculously feature-rich
Free plan: Free for personal use
Best for: Tinkerers and power note-takers
Standout feature: Internal bi-directional linking between notes
Free plan: Free for personal use
Best for: Anyone looking for an Evernote alternative
Standout feature: Open source
Free plan: Free
???????? ???????? ????????-???????????? ??????
OneNote pros:
OneNote cons:
● Little too corporate, as this is still a Microsoft product
Of the free note-taking apps, Microsoft OneNote is one of the best and also one of the strongest contenders for the best overall note-taking app. It's an excellent choice for most users unless you have very specific feature requirements that OneNote doesn't offer.
Flexibility is OneNote's defining strength. Each "notebook" resembles a ring binder, divided into sections and further broken down into pages. The real magic happens on the pages themselves, which are like canvases where you can freely jot down anything, anywhere on the page. You can add text, insert images, draw with a stylus (or your trackpad, though it's less stylish), and even have fun with creative annotations—like adding a mustache to people in pictures. This makes it ideal for the student or the person who really needs to make detailed, free-form notes. It is as opposed to an easy, nice digital notebook just for brief thoughts or lists.
However, OneNote isn't the most intuitive app out there, especially if you haven't used Microsoft products like Word, Excel, or PowerPoint in the past. If you're familiar with these tools, though, OneNote will feel comfortable right away. It's particularly well-suited for more complex note-taking situations, such as during classes or meetings, but might be overkill for quick grocery lists or reminders.
OneNote also shares AI usage through partnerships with Microsoft for OpenAI and brings Copilot to the table. With it, you can summarize and edit notes and even better understand your own writing. In its current state, it is restricted to some of the current user types in Microsoft 365, so I did not consider it this year. Still, business users or those subscribed to Microsoft 365 should absolutely take a look.
Pricing is free, but OneNote uses OneDrive for storage. You get 5GB of free storage, which is more than most users will ever need. If you need more space, especially if you're storing images or large audio files, then you can pay $1.99 per month for 100GB of storage. Alternatively, you can get additional storage and access to Microsoft's full suite of apps with a Microsoft 365 subscription for $6.99 per month, though figuring out the best plan can be a bit confusing.
OneNote also excels with automation capabilities through GMTA Software (Google Apps Script). Here, you could automatically add new notes in OneNote every time a new task, note, or calendar event is added within another app. Whether you're starting from existing workflows or learning how to create your own, the integration will save you much time and hassle in the process of taking down your notes.
???????? ????????-???????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ??????????
Apple Notes pros:
Apple Notes cons:
● Getting it to play nice with Android or Windows is a fool’s errand
For those in Apple's world already, then surely Apple Notes, as one of the free ones, stands alone. It's integrated all around macOS and iOS, accessible within your browser where it shows under the header title of "iCloud Notes," or as noted, you simply call them "Notes." Thus, from other devices using anything but the former, a login to www.icloud.com/notes serves quite well if there is occasional, or really consistent, cross-system access into Apple devices, always keeping you from losing these ever-important mental bits.
There are a few note-taking apps that Apple provides, including Bear and Craft, which I also like. However, many users rely on Apple Notes since it's free, easy to use, and continually being improved. During the last couple of years, Apple has added very useful features, such as tags, sharing options, and a powerful search function. You can format your notes with text, handwriting, drawings, images, and even scanned documents. Moreover, it integrates with Siri so that you can dictate your notes hands-free.
Apple Notes is the first app you should try for anyone with an iPhone, iPad, or Mac. Simplicity and seamless syncing make it perfect for most users, even though it does not offer all the frills of premium apps, and casual note-taking will do.
Apple Notes Price: Free for 5GB of storage across all iCloud services; starts at $0.99/month for 50GB
● Best note app for Google power users
???????????? ???????? (??????????????, ??????, ??????, ????????????)
Google Keep pros:
● Works well with Google Docs and Gmail, among other services.
● Free with a standard Google account
Google Keep cons:
● Very Basic on its own?
For users who are deeply invested in Google's ecosystem, Google Keep is a great option for quick note-taking. It's simple and easy to use, with apps for Android, iOS, and the web, as well as a useful Chrome extension for saving notes and links quickly. Real power, however, comes from the integration with Google's other services. If you already use tools such as Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Gmail, Keep is even more useful.
The app itself is quite simple, but the power of integration makes it stronger. For example, if you open Gmail, you will find a small lightbulb icon in the sidebar, which gives you direct access to your Keep notes. You can search for old notes, view notes related to your current project, or create a new note. This sidebar also comes in Google Drive, Google Docs, and Google Calendar, which makes it super convenient if you're using these apps regularly. You can also copy notes to Google Docs, and you can even set reminders that sync with your Google Calendar.
Google power users will appreciate Keep as an essential app to store and easily access notes across the Google domain. The feature set isn't impressive in this app on its own, but its integration into Google services is perfect for any user working largely within the apps of Google.
Moreover, Google Keep provides integrations with many other Google services that make it even more useful. For example, you can create a Google Docs document by selecting "Copy to Google Docs" from a note, and if you have Google Docs open, you can drag and drop notes from Keep into your document. This seamless integration between Keep and Google Docs makes it ideal for brainstorming and developing ideas further or transforming ephemeral notes into more substantial pieces of content. Keep also offers the option of setting reminders via a small bell icon, which then shows the note in your Google Calendar at the specified time. This is quite useful in reminding you of any important tasks or reminders that should not be missed.
If your professional life runs on Google, then Google Keep is a must, even if you use another note-taking app for personal notes. It's an ideal tool to sync and access notes across Google Docs, Gmail, and Google Calendar, which is seamlessly integrated with your Google account. So, it becomes very valuable to anyone who wants their notes to integrate smoothly with the rest of Google's suite of tools.
Google Keep price: Free for 15GB of storage across all Google apps;?
???????? ????????-???????????? ?????????????? ?????? ??????????????????????????
Notion (Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Web)
Notion pros:
Notion cons:
● Can be overkill if you're just looking for a personal note-taking app.
Notion stands apart from other note-taking apps, as it was built with both the individual and teams in mind. While most apps we've explored thus far emphasize personal note-taking, Notion has been designed with the power of full collaboration right at the start. While you might still use Notion solo, its true potential is realized by using it to organize, manage, and share information with others.
The Notion is more than just a note-taking app. It functions as a task and project manager, a reference wiki, and a notes app all rolled into one. You can combine these features in a way that works best for you. Everything in Notion is organized into blocks, which can be anything from text and checklists to images, videos, files, and code snippets. Each note or document is called a page, and you can arrange blocks in any way that makes sense to you. The sidebar is divided into two areas: Private for your personal notes and Spaces for content you share with collaborators.
It is very well worth noting that while collaboration is one of Notion's major strengths, it is utterly optional. If you prefer to use it solo, you can keep your personal notes private, and Notion still offers plenty of features to create a powerful personal note-taking system. The app has also fully embraced AI, allowing you to access powerful features like summarizing meeting minutes, extracting action items, and even querying a chatbot for details about your notes. This can also make finding and retrieving the right content out of your notes much easier. You can use this just like how you will use apps such as Mem to help in the retrieval of content from your notes.
It is, however worth noting that Notion has positioned itself as a rival to Evernote, many users view it as overly complicated for simply taking personal notes. Its offline functionality can also be lacking, which might be a drawback if you need to access notes without an internet connection. However, if you like the concept of an all-in-one productivity tool with extensive AI and collaboration features, Notion is definitely worth exploring. You can try for free the Personal Plan or many of the features are free and Notion is pretty close to what some people use, for example, Obsidian or Craft, that address more specific user needs.
Notion also integrates with GMTA Software, enabling you to connect it to thousands of other apps. For instance, you can easily automate creating Jira or GitHub issues whenever new items are added to your Notion database. This connection brings a whole new level of power in terms of automation, helping teams or users get workflow as streamlined as possible.
Notion Price: Free for individual users, with a 1,000 block limit for team users; the Plus plan costs $10 per user per month and offers unlimited blocks. Notion AI is available for an additional $10 per month.
???????? ?????????? ?????? ?????? ?????????? ????????-????????????
Obsidian (Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux)
Obsidian pros:
Obsidian cons:
● A steep learning curve that can be challenging for new users
Obsidian is a new-generation note-taking application that takes an entirely different approach from traditional note-taking applications. It allows the creation of a digital database of connected notes, making it the perfect tool for building complex, interconnected knowledge bases. Unlike other standard note applications, Obsidian goes beyond just text inputting by allowing the user to connect notes together through internal hyperlinks, creating an information web easily navigated.
If you are new to Obsidian, be prepared for a steep learning curve. It is not a simple, out-of-the-box solution like most other apps. At its core, Obsidian uses Markdown-formatted text files, and its true potential only emerges when you dive deeper into its advanced features. If you are looking for a straightforward note-taking experience, you might find Obsidian to be more complex than you need. But for those willing to invest the time to learn, it can be an incredibly powerful tool for organizing and linking knowledge.
One of Obsidian's standout features is its ability to create internal links between notes. You can pull up a list of your other notes by typing and linking them easily. This is particularly useful for organizing topics where one note leads to another. For example, you could create a list of books you've read and link each book to detailed notes on your thoughts about it. These links also appear in the sidebar for quick access.
What really makes Obsidian stand out is its Graph View, which visualizes all the connections between your notes. This view can help you see how everything in your knowledge base is related and give you a better understanding of the big picture.
Customization is another key strength of Obsidian. You can have multiple notes open at once, control the interface to suit your preferences, and even extend its functionality with plugins. For example, the Kanban board plugin, developed by the community, adds project management capabilities to the app. The sheer level of control you have over Obsidian makes it an incredibly flexible tool, but that also means it requires a bit more effort to set up and configure compared to simpler apps.
As my colleague Justin Pot aptly put it, "Obsidian has literally changed my life," which speaks to the app's potential for those who embrace its depth and flexibility.
Obsidian Cost: Free for personal use; $50 per year for commercial use. Premium add-ons like Sync and Publish are available for $10 per month.
领英推荐
???????? ???????????????? ??????????????????????
Joplin (Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, Linux)
Joplin pros:
Joplin cons:
● Less polished than some of the competition
Joplin stands out as the top free alternative to Evernote, and it’s also one of the best open-source note-taking apps available. If you’re familiar with Evernote’s interface and features, you’ll feel right at home with Joplin. It duplicates many of the core functionalities of Evernote, such as notebooks, note management, and smooth support for Markdown. One of the biggest advantages of Joplin is its capacity to import Evernote notebooks, which makes this an easy switch for people looking for something free and open-source to use instead.
When it comes to design, Joplin closely follows the traditional Evernote look and feel. It organizes everything into columns. One column for notes, the other for notebooks, and yet another with a preview of the rich text of the content as you would have written it. In fact, it fully supports Markdown, which is a massive boon for people using this type of text format. If not so inclined, however, you could always write in rich text and hide the preview pane while modifying settings to taste.
Certainly, one standout feature in Joplin is end-to-end encryption to ensure that your notes are private and secure. Regardless of whether you'll sync them with Joplin Cloud or third-party services like Dropbox or OneDrive, privacy and security will be given in this approach while syncing across all your devices.
While Joplin is free in terms of price, it does need a syncing service to make your notes synchronized across more than one device. Joplin Cloud offers an official syncing service, but in case you prefer it, you can use any file-sharing service like Dropbox for syncing. The flexibility in options for syncing, however, will ensure you can work across all platforms without much hassle.
Though Joplin is free and very functional, it's not as polished as some of the more mainstream options, and the interface may feel a bit more utilitarian. However, its powerful features and commitment to open-source principles make it a strong contender for those who prioritize privacy, customization, and cost-effectiveness.
Joplin Price: Free (with optional Joplin Cloud for syncing; third-party syncing via Dropbox or OneDrive is also available).
Joplin price: Free, though Joplin Cloud starts at €2.99/month and adds syncing and 2GB of storage.
?????? ???????? ???????? ????????-???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????
Best for: Paper-like experience
Standout feature: Customizable ink, colors, and templates for fun and functional notes
Pricing: Free up to 3 notebooks; paid plans from $9.99/year
Best for: Apple users
Standout feature: Smart folders for automatic note organization
Pricing: Free
Best for: Windows users
Standout feature: Fully cross-platform sync and deep Microsoft 365 integration
Pricing: Free; paid plans from $6.99/month
Best for: Layered notes
Standout feature: Saving time with layers to export only what you need
Pricing: Free; $4.99 one-time payment
Best for: Creative project planning
Standout feature: Everything related to your project in one place, plus excellent collaboration tools
Pricing: Free up to 100 notes; paid plans from $12.50/month
Best for: Handwriting-to-text output
Standout feature: The most accurate handwriting-to-text results
Pricing: Free; $8.99 one-time payment
Agenda
Best for: Notes and calendar combined
Standout feature: Bring your schedule and daily to-dos together with your notes
Pricing: Free; paid plans from $14.99/year
Best for: Built-in AI tools
Standout feature: The most powerful AI content tools at your fingertips
Pricing: Free; $6.99 one-time payment for the Pro version, plus $2.99/month for AI Assistant
?????? ???????? ?????? ????????-???????????? ???????? ???? ?? ????????????
Best for: Best for
Standout feature: Stand-out feature
Pricing: Pricing
Best for: A simple notes app
Standout feature: Instant loading and support for lots of file types
Pricing: Free with 5GB of iCloud storage; paid plans starting at $0.99/month
Best for: Traditional note taking
Standout feature: Paper notebook feel with OCR
Pricing: Free with 5GB of OneDrive storage; Microsoft 365 starting at $9.99/month
Best for: Locally stored notes
Standout feature: Beautiful interface
Pricing: $43.99 one-time purchase
Best for: Powerful note taking
Standout feature: Extremely customizable
Pricing: Free for personal use; commercial plans starting from $50/year
Best for: An open-source notes app
Standout feature: Local storage with optional cloud syncing
Pricing: Free; Joplin Cloud service starts at 1.99€/month
???????? ?????????????? ????????-???????????? ????????
?for Google power users
?for a do-it-all powerhouse
?for multiple viewing options
?for focusing on the task at hand
?for team-wide collaboration
?for protecting sensitive information
● Monospace
?for barebones note-taking
?????????? ????????-???????????? ???????????????? ???????????? ?????? ?????????????
Try a few of them to figure out which one works best for you. Test their feature, interface, and syncing capabilities to see which one you have a better feel for. In the end, this is the note-taking app that feels the most natural and helpful to you.
???????? ?????? ?????? ????????