Best Note Taking Apps in 2024

In today's busy world, keeping track of everything can be tough! That's why many professionals use note-taking apps instead of just pen and paper. These apps can help you write down ideas, make to-do lists, and manage your schedule.

This guide will explore different note-taking apps like NotePlan, Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep. We'll look at what each app is good at and what it's not so good at, so you can pick the one that works best for you.

These apps are great for anyone who wants to be more productive, whether you're a busy professional with many projects or a student trying to organize your studies.

• NotePlan: A note-taking app that combines tasks, notes, and calendar in a single, Markdown-based workspace.
• Evernote: An app for all kinds of notes, with search and web clipping.
• OneNote: Like a digital notebook with sections, great for freehand drawings.
• Apple Notes: Simple notes app that comes with Apple devices.
• Notion: Flexible workspace for notes, projects, and to-dos.
• Google Keep: Simple and colorful app for quick notes and reminders.
• Bear: Beautiful app for writing notes with rich formatting.
• Obsidian: Powerful for linking notes together, good for complex projects.
• Zoho Notebook: All-purpose note taking with notebooks, checklists, and audio.

The best note taking apps at a glance

NotePlan

When it comes to combining the features of a note-taking and a calendar app beautifully, nothing beats NotePlan. It combines elements of a calendar, a to-do list, and a note-taking app to provide a comprehensive productivity solution. Users can manage their daily tasks, take notes, and plan their schedule all at one place.

NotePlan allows for seamless collaboration. You can create shared space, allowing for easy communication, planning, and note-sharing among team members. Its clean, intuitive interface makes it easy to navigate, so you can up your efficiency game. 

Here are some key features of note-taking in NotePlan:

• Daily Notes: One of NotePlan's standout features is its emphasis on daily notes. Users can create notes for each day, which can include tasks, events, and general notes. This structure is particularly useful for those who like to organize their notes and tasks based on dates.
• Markdown Support: NotePlan supports Markdown, allowing users to format their notes with headings, lists, links, and other formatting options. This makes it easy to create well-structured and visually appealing notes.
• Linking Notes: Users can link notes together, which is helpful for organizing related information. For example, you can link a project note to specific daily notes where tasks related to that project are listed.
• Attachments: While NotePlan's focus is on text-based notes, users can also attach files to their notes for additional context or information.
• Teamspaces: NotePlan Teamspaces allows users to create a shared workspace where team members can contribute to the same set of Daily Notes. Additionally, teams can create project notes, enabling members to collaborate and manage long term projects as well.

Pricing: 7 day free trial. Starting with $9.99/mo

Rating & Reviews:

• Apple App Store: 4.8 out of 5

Pros of NotePlan:

• Integrates note-taking and scheduling into one application.
• Offers markdown support, allowing for seamless formatting and structuring of notes.
• Syncs across devices, enabling access to notes anytime, anywhere.
• Enables tagging for better organization and easy retrieval of notes.
• Allows for setting reminders on notes, ensuring important tasks and ideas are never missed.

Cons of NotePlan:

• Users unfamiliar with Markdown might have a slight learning curve, although it's generally simple to pick up.
• May not be ideal for complex note-taking.
• If you often need to capture web articles to your notes, NotePlan isn't the best choice.

Evernote

Evernote is a note-taking app that allows users to store and organize their notes, tasks, and files across all their devices. It serves as a digital notebook, helping them capture ideas, create to-do lists, and collaborate on projects. Evernote's flexible platform supports a variety of content types and is widely used for both personal and professional purposes.

Evernote is packed with helpful features designed to take your note-taking to the next level. Its most notable feature is its powerful search tool, which allows you to sift through your notes seamlessly, even if they are in the form of text within images. 

To add to it, the app offers a range of formatting options for your notes. From bullet points to checklists, to different text orientations, Evernote ensures your notes are not just easy to read, but also easy on the eyes. Plus, this versatile app also enables you to add attachments, bookmarks, record audio notes, and set reminders. 

Pricing: Free, starting with $14.99/mo personal plan

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: 4.4 out of 5
• Capterra: 4.4 out of 5

Pros of Evernote:

• Flexible and diverse note formats, including text, drawings, images, and audio
• Effective organizational tools like tags and notebooks
• Powerful search capabilities that can locate text within images and handwritten notes
• Synchronization across multiple platforms and devices
• Web clipper browser extension to save articles, pages, or emails directly as notes
• Integration with popular productivity tools like Google Drive, Slack, and Outlook

Cons of Evernote:

• Evernote's premium version might be costly for some users
• The interface could be overwhelming for new users due to its multitude of features
• Without a stable internet connection, Evernote's performance may taper off
• While richly featured, it might be overly complex for users seeking simpler note-taking functions
• Syncing more than two devices requires a paid subscription

OneNote

OneNote is a digital note-taking app from Microsoft, part of the Office suite, designed to be an all-encompassing notebook for various types of information gathering and collaboration. It allows users to create, organize, and share notes across multiple devices.

OneNote offers a unique, flexible canvas for capturing ideas. Unlike linear note-taking apps, it allows you to click anywhere on the page to add content. From there, you can add and arrange text boxes, images, videos, links, and even file attachments. This freeform approach allows you to create notes in a way that suits your individual style. 

One major advantage of OneNote is its seamless integration with Microsoft Office. This means you can insert tables, Word documents, Excel charts, and PowerPoint presentations directly into your notes. Plus, real-time collaborative editing makes it easy to work with team members or share notes with other individuals. 

Pricing: OneNote is available with a paid subscription of Microsoft 365.

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: 4.5 out of 5
• Capterra: 4.4 out of 5

Pros of OneNote:

• Available for free on all platforms, innately supporting cross-device synchronization.
• It hosts versatile features like freeform canvas for capturing ideas, which lends flexibility to your note-taking style.
• Comprehensive integration with Microsoft Office suite, enabling smooth transitions between applications.
• Collaborative editing allows for simultaneous work on a single note with multiple users.

Cons of OneNote: 

• OneNote requires an internet connection for full functionality, which can be restricting when you're on the go without a stable connection.
• Sometimes OneNote can experience syncing issues, making it difficult to keep all your notes updated across devices.
• With heavy usage, the app can become slow, and handling multimedia files can sometimes be challenging.
• Less robust tagging than other alternatives.
• Lack of popular Markdown support.

Apple Notes

If you're an Apple user, you've likely come across Apple Notes.It provides a straightforward and integrated way to capture ideas, create checklists, and save information directly from other apps or websites. The app is designed to function seamlessly within the Apple ecosystem, utilizing iCloud for synchronization across devices.

Apple Notes allows users to create text notes, add images, and scan documents using the device's camera. It supports sketching directly within notes, which is ideal for users with touchscreen devices or those using an Apple Pencil on an iPad.

The app offers a gallery view to visually browse through notes and can organize notes into custom folders or pin the most important ones for quick access. Notes can be locked with a passcode or biometric data for added security. Additionally, the search functionality is robust, enabling users to find text even in pictures or handwritten notes.

Pricing: Apple Notes is available with a iCloud account on Apple devices

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: Not Available
• Capterra: Not Available

Pros of OneNote:

• Native integration with iOS and macOS devices, offering ease of access and syncing.
• Allows for freeform note-taking, providing flexibility and versatility.
• Excellent recognition of handwriting, images, and document scanning features.
• Supports checklists and table creation for structured note-taking.
• Contains folder organization tools, improving note management and retrieval.
• Supports the Apple Pencil, enhancing the writing and drawing experience.

Cons of OneNote: 

• Limited formatting options compared to other note-taking apps.
• Lacks advanced features such as tags for organization.
• Syncing notes across Apple devices requires an iCloud account and can sometimes be slow or inconsistent.
• Apple Notes is only available for iOS and Mac devices which limits cross-platform accessibility.
• Does not support multimedia integration as smoothly as some other note taking apps.

Notion

Notion is a comprehensive workspace platform that combines note-taking, task management, databases, and collaboration tools into a single, flexible interface. It has gained significant popularity for its ability to adapt to various workflows and functions, making it a favorite among individuals and teams looking for a customizable organizational tool.

Notion offers extensive customization through its block-based structure where everything from a simple note to a complex database can be built using interchangeable blocks. Users can set up their workspace by integrating these blocks to form checklists, calendars, Kanban boards, and wikis, all within the same environment.

Notion also supports real-time collaboration, allowing teams to work together on documents and projects seamlessly. Notion is also accessible via web, desktop apps for Windows and macOS, and mobile apps for iOS and Android.

Pricing: Free plan. Paid plan starting with $10/mo for personal plan

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: 4.7 out of 5
• Capterra: 4.7 out of 5

Pros of Notion: 

• Highly customizable.
• Offers both note-taking and task management capabilities.
• Presents an intuitive and visually appealing interface.
• Inbuilt templates for quick setup and utilization.
• Supports real-time collaboration.

Cons of Notion: 

• May have a learning curve due to its wide array of features.
• Requires internet connection for synchronization.
• Notion can potentially be slow and laggy, especially with heavy use
• Availability of too many features might cause distraction and reduce focus
• Its customizability can be overwhelming for beginners.

Google Keep

Google Keep is a straightforward and efficient note-taking app developed by Google. It offers a user-friendly platform for capturing quick notes, creating checklists, and setting reminders. Available on the web and as a mobile app for Android and iOS devices, Google Keep is designed to sync seamlessly across all devices linked to a user's Google account, providing accessibility and convenience for capturing ideas and tasks on the go.

Given the seamless integration with Google's ecosystem, Google Keep syncs perfectly with Google Drive, Gmail, Google Docs, and other Google services. Rapid note-taking is a breeze with single click notes. It also offers color-coded labels and time or location-based reminders for different tasks.

One standout feature is transcribing text from images which could be an valuable tool for professionals who need to record data quickly. It supports drawing and writing notes by hand, voice notes, and even comes with a dark mode for those late work nights. 

Pricing: The app is free with a Google account. 

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: Not Available
• Capterra: 4.7 out of 5

Pros of Google Keep:

• Seamless integration with the entire Google ecosystem, including Gmail, Google Docs, Google Calendar, and Google Drive.
• Complimentary with a regular Google account, eliminating additional costs.
• Versatile compatibility across different platforms: web, iOS, Android, and even a Chrome extension.
• Ideal for Google power users as it leverages the benefits of Google's interconnected services.

Cons of Google Keep:

• While accessibility is a strength, security measures are relatively lax compared to other apps, making it less ideal for storing sensitive information.
• Search function lacks advanced capabilities.
• Google Keep has limited note-taking features, lacking tools like internal links and brainstorming utilities.
• It offers sparse formatting options, resulting in visually plain notes.
• The app lacks a hierarchical organization system, posing difficulty as one's note collection grows. 

Bear

Bear stands out in the crowded note-taking apps landscape by being minimal and beautifully designed. Bear combines the simplicity of plain text with the power of markdown formatting to provide a beautiful and distraction-free environment for writers and note-takers.

Bear's key features are designed to cater to the particular needs of writers. It has advanced markup options that support and enhance your writing style. Using it, you can create bulleted or numbered lists, headers, and even add links and images. Bear also supports cross-note links, which allow you to build a network of connected ideas effortlessly. 

In combination with the iCloud sync, your notes and content can be accessed from all your Apple devices, making Bear a seamless part of your workflow. 

Pricing: Free plan. Paid plan starting with a $2.99/mo

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: 4.6 out of 5
• Capterra: 4.5 out of 5

Pros of Bear app:

• Minimalist design aids concentration and focus.
• Easy organization with hashtag system.
• Offers Markdown support for formatting text.
• Can easily export notes in a variety of formats including PDF and HTML.
• Supports smart data recognition for elements like links, emails, addresses, colors, and more.

Cons of Bear app:

• Features such as syncing across devices, which are essential for most users, are premium and require a subscription.
• Basic search functionality
• Not ideal for team projects due to missing collaborative functionalities.
• Available only on Apple devices, limiting access for non-iOS/macOS users.

Obsidian

Obsidian is a powerful knowledge base that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files. Designed for linking thoughts and ideas, it allows users to create a second brain to help manage complex data and information. Obsidian is popular among researchers, students, writers, and anyone interested in building a personal knowledge management system.

Obsidian's core functionality revolves around its ability to link notes, creating a network of interconnected ideas that resemble a graph. Users can visualize their notes and their connections through various graph views, helping to see the relationships between thoughts or projects.

Besides, it offers a high level of customization, allows for community plugins, and isn't tied to a specific platform, meaning you can open your notes in other text editors or Markdown viewers. 

Pricing: Free plan. Paid plan starting with $50/mo for commercial use

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: Not Available
• Capterra: 4.9 out of 5

Pros of Obsidian: 

• Digital database format facilitates easy navigation of notes.
• The markdown system ensures easy formatting.
• Customization capabilities allow personalized note organization.
• Availability of community plugins enhances the app's functionality.

Cons of Obsidian: 

• Overwhelming for new users due to its complexity and the need for initial setup, especially when installing plugins or themes.
• Local-first is great for privacy, but syncing across devices requires extra effort (or a paid subscription).
• Powerful but complex, might be overkill for simple needs.
• Not designed for simultaneous multi-user editing, which limits its use in collaborative environments.

Zoho Notebook

Zoho Notebook is a note-taking application that is part of the Zoho suite of productivity tools. It offers a visually appealing interface where each note is represented as a customizable card.

The app allows users to create text notes, checklists, audio recordings, and photo notes. Zoho Notebook supports rich text options and can extract text from images using OCR technology. It also includes a smart card feature that automatically categorizes notes into predefined formats based on the content, such as turning a web link into a bookmark card.

It's available across multiple platforms, including iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac, ensuring that users have access to their notes wherever they go. Zoho Notebook integrates well with other Zoho apps, enhancing its functionality within the Zoho ecosystem.

Pricing: Free plan. Starting with $1.99/mo for pro plan.

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: 4.4 out of 5
• Capterra: 4.5 out of 5

Pros of Zoho Notebook: 

• Offers a comprehensive free plan that's conveniently available across all platforms
• Allows fully flexible note-taking with no binding structures
• Functions smoothly with other Zoho applications, encouraging a unified workspace

Cons of Zoho Notebook: 

• May feel overly corporate for personal note-taking needs.
• Integration with other Zoho applications could be overwhelming for users only interested in basic note-taking features.
• Excludes powerful business collaboration tools, thus may not be suitable for users needing advanced team collaboration functionalities.

Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is a collaborative workspace that helps teams create and share early ideas. It's designed to be a flexible and dynamic tool where teams can work together in real-time on documents, spreadsheets, and presentations.

Dropbox Paper integrates smoothly with the broader Dropbox ecosystem, enhancing its functionality with cloud storage solutions. The platform supports a variety of content types, including text, images, video, and audio. Users can also create tasks within documents, assign them to team members, and track progress directly within Paper.

The tool offers a simple, clean interface and includes features like a timeline view for project tracking and meeting notes templates. It's accessible via web browsers and mobile apps on iOS and Android, allowing users to stay connected and productive from virtually anywhere.

Pricing: Paid Plan only, starting with $9.99/mo

Ratings & Reviews:

• G2 Crowd: 4.1 out of 5
• Capterra: 4.4 out of 5

Pros of Dropbox Paper:

• Real-time, multi-user editing for effective team collaboration.
• Clean, easy-to-navigate design for users of all levels.
• Seamless compatibility with your existing Dropbox files.

Cons of Dropbox Paper:

• Lacks advanced formatting options, making personalization of notes difficult.
• Even its paid plans offer limited advanced features as compared to other alternatives.
• This app might seem less intuitive to those familiar with traditional note-taking software.

Conclusion

Your notes are only useful if you return to them. Make it a habit to review your notes regularly, reflect on them, and update as needed. This routine will reinforce what you've learned, keep your notes accurate and up-to-date, and ensure you don't forget any critical tasks or information. 

Navigating the world of note-taking apps doesn't need to be daunting. All you need to do is choose an app that fits your needs, explore its features, create an organization system that works for you, integrate it into your technology ecosystem, and regularly review your notes. With these easy steps, you'll be on your way to a more productive and organized workflow.