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Finding the best note-taking app can transform how you organize your thoughts, manage tasks, and boost productivity. Whether you’re jotting down a grocery list, creating a checklist for work, or using markdown for detailed documentation, the right note-taking application can make a difference.
Many of the note-taking apps on this list offer features like seamless syncing across devices, allowing you to access notes wherever you go. From simple tools for capturing notes quickly to advanced options for digital note-taking that enable you to outline steps and assign responsibilities, there’s a perfect app for every need.
Don’t wait any longer; try out one of these top 21 options and see how they can help improve your productivity!
Key Takeaways A good note app should sync seamlessly across devices, ensuring you can access your notes anytime, whether on your iPad or smartphone. The ability to organize your notes into folders or a notebook makes it easier to keep your information structured and accessible. Advanced tools like Web Clipper and AI-powered search features enhance productivity by simplifying how you gather and retrieve information. A simple note-taking interface that supports features like quick note creation ensures a seamless and enjoyable user experience for all types of tasks. The Top 21 Note-Taking Apps ClickUp is a versatile all-in-one productivity software with hundreds of powerful features and thousands of integrations. Designed to be the best note-taking app overall, it aims to provide a comprehensive solution so users can manage their work without relying on multiple third-party tools.
This digital notebook offers flexible ways to take notes and even manage notes and tasks seamlessly. With its built-in note-taking tools and integrations with popular apps like Notepad, Evernote, and even Google Calendar, ClickUp lets you effortlessly sync and organize notes across platforms. Whether you’re jotting down ideas or managing complex projects, ClickUp ensures you have everything you need in one place.
Free Unlimited: $5 per member per month Business: $12 per member per month Business Plus: $19 per member per month Enterprise: Custom Plan
ClickUp
Work smarter as a team with real-time chat. Tag individuals or groups, assign comments for action items, and link tasks to get more done together.
Taking notes has traditionally been a simple process involving a pen and a small notepad, and Notion embraces this premise while elevating it for the digital age. This collaboration application doubles as a free note-taking app and call-taking tool, offering a robust set of features for individuals and teams.
Notion allows you to organize your notes online, add various forms of content, and customize workflows with tools like Kanban boards, tables, and lists. Its versatile system ensures you can manage new ideas, retrieve old notes, or even capture a quick voice memo when inspiration strikes.
The platform is available on Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, and as a full web app with a web clipper, providing seamless sync across all of your devices. Whether you need to capture notes without interruptions or recall something you need to remember, Notion ensures your notes are always accessible and well-organized, making it an essential tool for productivity on the go.
Free Plus: $8 per user per month Business: $15 per user per month Enterprise: Custom Plan
Notion
One tool for your whole company. Free for teams to try. Create your own labels, tags, owners, and more, so everyone has context and everything stays organized.
Notability has shown its usefulness to notetakers for years, with thousands of good evaluations.
This program is well renowned for its unique audio notes synchronization features, which allow you to record audio and sync it with your notes while writing. The audio syncs with the notes on playback, so you can hear what you were listening to upon taking the note file.
While it may appear small at first, being able to link notes to the word or phrase that led you to jot anything down is a powerful reminder while preparing for a test or exam.
Notability makes taking notes easy during courses, meetings, conferences, and everything in between by integrating multitasking tools and technology like handwriting recognition and math translation.
Notability transitioned from a one-time buy app to a free plan with a premium membership option in late 2021, so if you’re searching for excellent software that doesn’t involve a monetary commitment, Notability is a terrific alternative to investigate.
Pricing Notability: Free Notability Plus: Varies by region GoodNotes is a powerhouse for all notetakers. The program has everything you need to take notes, compose music, and mark up Documents.
One of the most significant differences between GoodNotes and its competitors is the quantity of organizing capabilities. GoodNotes allows you to create Notebooks and keep anything within them. This feature is distinct from a product like Notability or Apple Notes, where the program limits your ability to export notes and organize.
Of course, GoodNotes does not stop there. The search tool, handwriting recognition, and other capabilities assist the software. These features enable you to annotate, categorize, and mark your imported documents. Moreover, the app syncs with iCloud and third-party storage. This feature allows you to always have your notes with you.
Pricing Three Notebooks: Free Limitless: P449 one-time payment Apple Notes Apple Notes has been around since the beginning. The app initially appeared with iOS in 2007. It started out as a mobile version of the conventional Notes software, which has been (and still is) a cornerstone of the Mac operating system.
What difference does it make? Since the Notes app is the oldest on our list, its endurance indicates that it isn’t going anywhere.
Apple Notes has gone a long way as a note-taking app . Like most other note-taking programs, it contains a writing instrument (pencil), a highlighter, an eraser, a lasso selection, and a ruler. Everything is on a toolbar that allows you to arrange it to suit your needs.
Despite its numerous advantages, Apple Notes lacks certain features that competitor programs include by default. There are no onboard audio recording tools or page layouts available here. The application does not support the import of PDF, JPG, or PNG files (but you can attach them to notes).
Apple Notes is part of the Apple ecosystem, so you can be sure that it will work on any iOS and any iOS device, whether you have an iPad Pro or an iPad mini. With macOS and watchOS, you’ll also find native Apple Notes software, allowing you to take notes on your Mac and Apple Watch.
Apple Notes lacks the versatility of most other note-taking apps described here. But it’s still a powerful tool, particularly for casual notetakers. Check out our comprehensive evaluation of this app.
Pricing Unlike standard note-taking apps, LiquidText is more of a study and research tool meant to assist you in digesting PDF-scanned documents and other materials.
When you open a file with LiquidText, the document automatically goes into a digital workspace. Your file takes up half of the screen in the workspace, while the workspace takes up the other half.
You may highlight and mark your text as you read your paper, just as in any other note-taking app.
You may also drag text samples to the opposite side of the screen. These extracts are little cards that can move around the workspace with LiquidText.
When you collect information from your document, you may group it, create lines, and link the facts.
While this method is more research-based, it’s a game-changer for anybody wanting to analyze papers for critical data and insights since LiquidText provides features that most other applications don’t.
Pricing Basic: Free Pro: $9.99 paid once Live: $4.99 per month Live Unlimited: $7.99 per month MarginNote, the second of our two research tools, works and behaves similarly to LiquidText.
As a study tool, MarginNote transforms your paper into a digital workspace where you may highlight and annotate PDFs or choose text extracts.
Unlike LiquidText, which focuses on taking handwritten notes and marking up documents (which MarginNote also does), this tool allows you to clip notes, create flashcards or mindmaps, and create study outlines.
One of MarginNotes’ primary differentiators is that most mind-mapping creations may be done cleanly and crisply, with straight lines and blocks that seem sharp and ordered.
MarginNote also allows you to create a single set of notes from different sources or files, which helps if you have numerous books in a series or papers where you need to merge note-taking app files.
While this program is unlikely to replace a note-taking app like Notability or GoodNotes, it is an excellent study tool for students who need to study several materials while keeping everything organized.
Pricing Reader Only: Free Full Version: $12.99 paid once Pro: $1 per month Although applications like GoodNotes and Notability highlight (and generally keep to) handwritten notes, Nebo attempts to combine the concepts of handwriting and rich text editor inside its notebooks.
Like other programs on the market, you may freely doodle on freeform pages. Yet, the app’s basic pages are where it really shines.
All pages have lines, and Apple users may write with an Apple Pencil or a keyboard. If you prefer to handwrite your material, Nebo displays how it converts your handwriting to text.
Pricing CollaNote is still a work in progress in many ways, despite gaining a significant following in recent years. The software offers a robust note-taking experience with features that look and feel fantastic.
The note-taking app’s interface includes all of the conventional tools and a few extras.
Pricing Noteshelf Noteshelf is an excellent middle ground between GoodNotes and Notability. You’ll find all the basic notes, the quick notes, and the tools you need to take notes.
The UI offers a simplified, easy-to-navigate experience with many customization options ranging from page layouts and notebook covers to different pen kinds and the colors and sizes of your tools.
It also has a favorite toolbar for saving all of your new projects.
Noteshelf also has one of the best magnification interfaces available. The Zoom Box assists when you need to type tiny text or want to get a closeup of your current or recent notes. It’s incredibly customizable, and it loads the tool interface on the magnification bar so you can move to what you need.
Pricing iPad & iPhone: $9.99 macOS: $7.99 Android: $5.18 Notepad+, another excellent alternative for visual learners, is suitable for sketching, doodling, or penning your notes.
The option to drag and drop images and photos of any file format into your notes, utilize multiple fonts and colors for written text, and add symbols and emojis makes entertaining and original notes.
Pricing Whink Whink is a great note-taking app and tool that everyone, especially users who struggle with technology, may use. It has a simple design and tools to help you take good notes.
Whink’s pen tool, unlike most other note-taking apps, replicates a gel pen with traditional ink colors, creating the sense of writing on paper with a pen. You may also modify the thickness of your lines and select from a range of color palettes.
One of the best features of this program is its ability to multitask. Whink allows you to take notes while watching a movie or reading another document in split-screen mode. While you may change this through your iPad’s settings, the app is far easier.
Pricing ZoomNotes has an unlimited whiteboard, making it ideal for visual notetakers.
ZoomNotes, as the name suggests, has the most remarkable zoom range. It’s nearly limitless, making it simple to scribble down your thoughts and ideas without fear of running out of space.
As you zoom in to get a better look or make changes to your notes, the whole view remains on your screen to the right, letting you see the overall picture while you work.
Pricing Microsoft has controlled the software industry for decades, and that hasn’t changed. OneNote is a popular and essential note-taking program available. This program can do a lot, whether you want to gather data from emails or insert Excel tables.
This tool is multi-platform and cloud-connected, which means if you’ve taken notes on your laptop you can access them in a meeting via your smartphone. OneNote is compatible with Windows, Mac, Android, and Apple devices.
The Android app is simple and functions as a versatile canvas, allowing you to text, handwrite, draw, and clip anything from the web. Furthermore, you may scan paper notes and make them searchable in OneNote. You may use tags, labels, to-do lists, and follow-up items to organize your notes. OneNote also classifies note files according to their significance.
OneNote supports collaboration by allowing you to share your virtual notebooks with anybody. Comments and follow-up inquiries about sensitive notes can also go on the same page as your notes. The best part about OneNote is that it is free to download while providing premium features.
Pricing Evernote is a well-known and efficient productivity software. It is an organizing and planning tool that allows you to record typed and handwritten and store notes anywhere, make to-do lists, scan documents with your camera, and collaborate on material with others.
Evernote is unique in that it makes use of a range of media. Users can make notes in text, drawings, photographs, audio, video, PDFs, or online clippings.
This program, like Microsoft’s OneNote, is based on cloud technologies. Meaning, that users can now sync notes and material across their devices, including desktops, tablets, and phones. To put it another way, if you start a task on one device, you may finish it on another.
You may also use Evernote to create notes, share notes, and discuss the material with your coworkers. The software is presently accessible for free download. However a premium plan with more features is available for a monthly or yearly subscription.
Pricing Google Keep is a powerful note-taking program that allows you to create unlimited notes and lists. And your note files don’t have to be just words; you can also include photographs and music.
There’s also the option to record memos that the software will automatically transcribe. That’s especially useful if you’ve had a light bulb moment and need to jot it down somewhere immediately. Similarly to OneNote, you may scan handwritten notes, receipts, invoices, and other documents.
Google Keep is also a good productivity software for teams. It is simple to exchange notes and work with others. Color-coded labeling, reminders, and multi-platform support are among the other features. The software is available for free download from the Google Play Store.
Pricing Material Notes Material Notes is a simple software that lets you make notes, to-do lists, and reminders. To keep things structured and make it easier to access essential information, these are all color-coded and saved within a card-style user interface itself. You may also use stars to highlight notes in a category based on the urgency of tasks.
You can locate anything using the app’s search tool to guarantee you never misplace a note or list. You can also create and add widgets on your home screen to provide access to your note files.
To ensure that critical information does not get into the wrong hands, create a four-digit pin for all your digital notes. Furthermore, the software allows you to effortlessly and quickly import material from other devices. Material Notes is a free download with in-app purchases for additional functionality.
Pricing When an app is bloated with features, many of which you may never use, it’s easy to become overwhelmed. Simplenote is intended for people who want a quick, easy-to-use piece of software to jot down random thoughts.
Just launch the app and you may start making notes and lists straight away. As you use the software more, you’ll be able to organize your notes using tags and pins. When you make a new note, it is saved in the cloud and can be accessed from other devices. The program is available for free download and usage.
Pricing Keep My Notes is an Android note-taking software with a variety of useful features. To begin, you may generate handwritten notes using a finger or a pen, as well as voice notes utilizing the built-in text-to-speech capability.
There are additional formatting choices to bold, underline, or italicize your notes, as well as the ability to add audio to your notes. Even better, you can password-protect notes for increased protection.
Notes may be set up on your home screen like sticky notes, and they can even be shared with other apps. There are many bright and dark themes available, and the display can be switched between portrait and landscape orientations for phones and tablets.
You same note you may also modify the text size and color while entering text for your notes in the first place, which is quite useful.
Keep My Notes is a useful small software that backs up to the cloud. The software is available for a free version with advertisements, but there are in-app purchases, including the ability to run ad-free.
Pricing This software is available for free or for $10-30 (Team plan) per month and is suitable for usage on both Windows and other platforms.
Quip works best when integrating notes with other documents or spreadsheets.
Unlike other note-taking programs, Quip collects notes and then saves each of the resulting documents or spreadsheets to its file.
It also has a search option that allows you to discover documents and/or spreadsheets and embeds them into other documents within the program.
It has a quick interface and allows you to arrange your notes using several formatting choices. You can also post your notes to the web (ideal for bloggers) or save them in various formats for sharing.
Quip allows you to add any team member to a document or a note, then collaborate on the document or note as changes are reflected in the sidebar to your left, allowing you to readily see what each team member added.
While you’re doing it, you can also have a team conversation.
Quip’s spreadsheets function similarly to the standard MS Excel software, allowing you to perform computations, which is a helpful feature when compared to other note-taking mobile apps.
Pricing Starter: $10 per user per month Plus: $25 per user per month Advanced: $100 per user per month Certain Computer problems are difficult to resolve, particularly when it comes to damaged repositories or missing Windows files. If you’re having problems repairing a mistake, your system may be partially broken.
We propose installing Restoro, a utility that will scan your system and determine the source of the problem.
Remember those yellow sticky notes you used to post on your fridge or even your laptop or PC to help you remember things or remind someone to do something?
Now, the Sticky Notes app has eliminated the need for paper and replaced the Post-It notes we used before technology made things easier – sans the mess.
Sticky Notes enables you to complete the following tasks:
Write notes on stickies in the form of text or graphics, just like you would on conventional sticky notes (it also comes in different sizes and colors) Sort your notes carefully. Your notes will be pinned to the Start screen. Sync your notes to OneDrive for easy access from any computer or Apple device. To keep track of your reminders, enable the flight or calendar event options. Use a pen to make Sticky Notes (for Surface Pro users or compatible tablets) Sticky Notes is available for free on Windows for use with your Windows 10 computer or smartphone.
Pricing Conclusion Choosing the right note-taking app can make a significant difference in how effectively you organize notes and manage your information. Whether you’re looking for the best note-taking app to jot down your thoughts or a tool that syncs across all your devices for seamless access, these apps help simplify your workflow.
From creating to-do lists to capturing creative ideas, the right app makes it easy to take notes and ensures you have everything you need for taking and retrieving information when you need it. Explore these tools today to find the perfect app to keep notes organized and accessible on all your devices so you can access them anytime, anywhere.
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FAQs What Is the Best Note-Taking App in 2025? The ideal note-taking app depends on individual needs, but some of the best note-taking apps in 2025 include Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, and Notion. These apps offer robust features for organizing and managing notes effectively.
Are There Free Note-Taking Apps with Strong Data Privacy? Yes, several free note-taking apps prioritize data privacy. For instance, Joplin is an open-source app that offers end-to-end encryption, ensuring your notes remain secure.
Which Note App Is Best for Taking Meeting Notes? For capturing meeting notes, apps like Microsoft OneNote and Evernote are popular choices due to their organizational features and ability to handle different note formats.
Can I Try Note-Taking Apps for Free Before Purchasing? Many note-taking apps offer free versions or trial periods. For example, Evernote provides a free tier with basic features, allowing users to try it for free before committing to a paid plan.
How Do Note-Taking Apps Handle Different Note Formats? Modern note-taking apps support various formats, including text, images, audio recordings, and handwritten notes. Apps like Notion and OneNote are known for handling different note types efficiently.
What Are the Best Note-Taking Apps in 2025 for Data Privacy? In 2025, apps like Standard Notes and Joplin will be recognized for their strong emphasis on data privacy, offering end-to-end encryption to keep your notes secure.
How Can I Ensure My Important Notes Are Secure in a Note App? To keep your important notes secure, choose a note app that offers encryption, strong password protection, and regular updates. Apps like Standard Notes provide robust security features to safeguard your data.
Do Note-Taking Apps Sync Across Multiple Devices? Yes, most modern note-taking apps sync across all your devices, allowing you to access your notes from smartphones, tablets, and computers seamlessly. For instance, Google Keep and Evernote offer cross-platform synchronization.
