I Examined 7 Finest Be aware Taking Apps: Right here’s My Fingers-On Evaluate!

I’ve all the time been a note-taker. Whether or not it’s a fast grocery record, a random thought I don’t wish to overlook, or a full-blown define for a mission, jotting issues down looks like my means of creating sense of the chaos.

Over time, my observe taking habits have developed— from scribbling in numerous notebooks to typing furiously on my cellphone when inspiration strikes on the most inconvenient instances. And whereas I nonetheless love the texture of pen on paper, I can’t deny the magic of recent note-taking apps. They’re like an extension of my mind, solely far more organized.

What I’ve realized is that not all one of the best observe taking apps are created equal. Some are smooth and easy, whereas others are feature-packed and designed that will help you handle your complete life. The perfect half? There’s one thing on the market for everybody, irrespective of your model or wants.

For those who’re seeking to degree up your observe taking recreation or interested by what these observe taking apps can supply, this record may simply be the productiveness increase you’ve been ready for. Let’s dive into the record of one of the best observe taking apps!

7 greatest observe taking apps I examined and cherished!

For me, one of the best note-taking apps are like having a private assistant in my pocket—they assist me seize concepts, keep organized, and even remind me of issues I’d in any other case overlook. 

Some instruments are extremely versatile, letting you sketch, report audio, or collaborate with others, whereas others shine of their simplicity, specializing in simply jotting issues down shortly. What I’ve observed is that one of the best note-taking instruments are those that match seamlessly into your routine, making note-taking really feel easy reasonably than a chore. As soon as you discover the proper observe taking software program, it’s onerous to think about the way you ever managed with out it.

Whether or not you’re somebody like me who loves to write down issues down, or somebody seeking to set up your ideas successfully, I hope my perspective helps you discover the proper instrument in your wants. 

What makes one of the best observe taking apps price it? My perspective

Testing note-taking apps is about discovering what works greatest for you. A few of you may want easy and quick options whereas some could favor feature-rich apps. Determining which instruments are price investing time (and generally cash) into is essential. Listed below are some elements I prioritized whereas evaluating these instruments. 

• Writing and modifying expertise: A note-taking app ought to supply a easy and versatile writing expertise. Fundamental textual content formatting choices like daring, italics, bullet factors, and headers must be straightforward to make use of. Some apps additionally help tables, checklists, and markdown formatting for extra structured notes.

  For those who ceaselessly connect photos, hyperlinks, or paperwork, see how properly the app integrates multimedia components. An intuitive textual content editor ought to help you concentrate on capturing your ideas with out getting slowed down by formatting limitations. I examined the instruments primarily based on the writing and modifying expertise they provide, how seamless the method is, and the way simply I can format my notes.

• Cross-device syncing: A terrific note-taking app ought to sync seamlessly throughout a number of gadgets, making certain you’ll be able to entry your notes whether or not you are utilizing a smartphone, pill, or pc. Being attentive to how shortly adjustments made on one machine mirror on one other. Delayed syncing can disrupt workflow and result in inconsistencies. I additionally checked out how properly the app performs throughout totally different working methods—some apps work higher on Apple gadgets, whereas others have stronger help for Home windows or Android.

  A very versatile permits you to take notes wherever, with out worrying about machine compatibility. Notes typically have to be accessed on the go, whether or not in your cellphone, pill, or laptop computer. I seemed for the sync options of the highest apps.

• Voice and audio integration: Some note-taking apps supply built-in voice recording, making them excellent for capturing lectures, conferences, or brainstorming classes. For those who depend on audio notes, take a look at whether or not the app permits you to report whereas taking notes concurrently. Some superior instruments, like Otter.ai and Notability, even present computerized transcription, changing speech into textual content. This characteristic is especially helpful for college students and professionals who want correct assembly minutes or lecture summaries.
• Search and retrieval effectivity: The power to shortly discover data inside an app is simply as essential as taking notes within the first place. A powerful search operate ought to be capable of find notes utilizing key phrases, tags, and even handwritten textual content (if OCR expertise is supported). Some superior apps help you filter outcomes by date, observe kind, or class, making retrieval much more environment friendly. For those who ceaselessly take in depth notes, testing how properly the search operate performs is crucial to make sure you received’t waste time digging via outdated entries. I seemed for apps with highly effective search options, like key phrase search, scanned paperwork, and filters to find notes by date, tags, or content material kind. Because the variety of notes grows, discovering what you want shortly turns into a problem.
• Media integration: I examined how properly apps deal with multimedia components like photos, movies, sketches, and audio recordings, as these improve the flexibility of note-taking. Notes are not restricted to textual content. The power to embed photos, sketches, movies, or audio permits customers to seize concepts in no matter format fits the context, making the app extra versatile and creative-friendly.
• Stylus help: For individuals who favor handwritten notes, stylus help is a game-changer. Some apps enable for pure handwriting enter and even supply handwriting-to-text conversion. A very good handwriting-supported app ought to present easy pen strokes, customizable pen types, and the power to focus on and annotate straight on paperwork or PDFs. For those who use an Apple Pencil, Samsung S Pen, or one other stylus, take a look at how responsive the app is to your handwriting model.
• Collaboration and sharing: Collaboration options will be extremely helpful, particularly for groups or college students who work on shared notes. Some apps enable for real-time collaboration, the place a number of customers can edit the identical observe concurrently—very like Google Docs. Examine whether or not the app helps totally different permission ranges, reminiscent of “view-only” or “edit” entry. For those who typically share notes with others, see if the app permits straightforward exporting in a number of codecs like PDF, Phrase, or Markdown. Sturdy collaboration instruments be certain that teamwork and communication stay seamless.

These are the principle elements that guided my testing and analysis course of. My record accommodates choices that cater to totally different wants and budgets. Whether or not you’re a person consumer or seeking to jot group assembly notes and collaborate, there’s an answer current. 

To be included on this class, an answer should:

• Create editable, text-based paperwork
• Permit customers to create and retailer a number of notes
• Present restricted performance for lists, reminiscent of entry cross-off or examine containers
• Supply collaborative note-taking instruments or observe sharing

*This information was pulled from G2 in 2025. Some opinions could have been edited for readability.  

1. Notion

For those who love staying organized and having all of your notes in a single place, Notion may simply be your new favourite factor.

As somebody who makes use of Notion for all my note-taking and mission monitoring wants, I like how versatile it’s. Want a to-do record? Achieved. An in depth mission tracker? Straightforward. A spot to handle your group’s workflow, shopper databases, or perhaps a private studying record? Notion’s bought you lined. 

Whereas it could take a while to regulate to all of Notion’s options (there’s a lot you are able to do!), when you get the grasp of it, it’s a recreation changer for positive. Notion is a kind of instruments you should utilize each personally and professionally. Right here’s a method I take advantage of Notion to trace my each day duties. 

One other game-changer? Customized templates & automation. I don’t should reinvent the wheel each time I arrange a brand new mission or workflow. I take advantage of templates that pre-fill fields, rushing up my course of dramatically. The power to create database templates is very helpful for issues like content material calendars and recurring duties.

For these of us who love textual content formatting, Notion helps Markdown and wealthy textual content. It even permits for code blocks with syntax highlighting, which is a large plus for builders protecting documentation in a single place. I like the truth that I can write freely and format simply with out having to cope with clunky menus.

Whereas Notion does a lot proper, it isn’t excellent. The studying curve is actual—it takes time to determine the easiest way to construction your workflow, and new customers can really feel overwhelmed by the limitless prospects. I positively needed to watch tutorials to get essentially the most out of it. After which there’s the offline limitation. Notion isn’t a real offline-first app, which will be irritating once I’m touring or working in a spot with poor web. Whereas not too long ago accessed pages stay accessible, it’s not as seamless as I’d like.

Efficiency is one other subject when dealing with massive quantities of information. For those who go overboard with nesting pages and databases, issues begin to decelerate. It’s not a deal-breaker, however it’s one thing to remember if you happen to depend on Notion for heavy-duty mission administration.

What I dislike about Notion: 

• Once I first began utilizing Notion, I felt overwhelmed. It’s not the type of instrument you’ll be able to simply decide up and use effortlessly; I needed to watch tutorials and experiment so much earlier than I felt snug.
• Notion is nice when I’ve an web connection, however once I’m offline, it’s irritating. I can solely entry not too long ago opened pages, and actual offline performance continues to be missing.

What G2 customers dislike about Notion: 

“The one drawback with the offline mode in Notion is that it doesn’t work too properly, and it has a problem when my web will not be too secure. It has solely delayed me once I wanted these notes throughout a gathering. The search performance is one other disadvantage because it fails to hint older information. The options are additionally difficult with crusing, so it makes onboarding slower for brand new group members, which in flip will get in the best way of effectivity with workflow.”

– Notion Evaluate, Ron H. 

2. Google Workspace

First off, the convenience of use relating to Google Workspace is unimaginable. All the things simply works. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides make collaboration easy. I can actually see my group making edits in actual time, depart feedback, and monitor adjustments with out ever hitting the save button. It’s all cloud-based, which implies I can entry my information from wherever—whether or not I’m on my laptop computer, cellphone, and even borrowing a pal’s machine.

Talking of entry, Google Drive is a lifesaver. It integrates completely with Gmail, making it tremendous straightforward to connect information, share paperwork, and set up every little thing. And let’s not overlook Types—in all probability probably the most underrated instruments within the suite. I take advantage of it for surveys, suggestions assortment, and even easy information entry duties.

One other large win? Google Meet. It’s a strong video conferencing instrument, and because it’s constructed into Gmail and Calendar, scheduling and becoming a member of conferences is a breeze. I don’t must obtain additional software program—simply click on a hyperlink, and I’m in.

Whereas Google Workspace integrates properly inside its personal ecosystem, connecting it to third-party instruments (like CRMs) isn’t all the time seamless. Some integrations really feel clunky, and I’ve run into occasional compatibility points.

Lastly, the training curve. For those who’re used to Microsoft Workplace, switching over can really feel a bit bizarre at first. Some options work in a different way, and there are minor limitations (like fewer superior formatting choices in Docs in comparison with Phrase).

What I dislike about Google Workspace: 

• It’s nice for fast notes, however I’d love folders or higher tagging choices to maintain every little thing structured.
• Google’s note-taking instruments don’t supply superior stylus help or handwriting-to-text conversion.

What G2 customers dislike about Google Workspace: 

“The search performance inside Google Drive will be irritating, because it generally struggles with finding older information or paperwork with generic names. Moreover, the dearth of some superior options in comparison with desktop software program (e.g., Excel for energy customers) will be limiting for particular use circumstances.”

– Google Workspace Evaluate, Verified consumer in medical providers.  

3. Fathom 

I’ve been utilizing Fathom, and I’ve to say—it’s been a game-changer in how I seize and set up my assembly notes. One of many greatest benefits is its extremely correct transcription, which makes reviewing conversations easy. I additionally love the way it mechanically generates notes and motion gadgets, saving me tons of time. The search performance is extremely highly effective, permitting me to immediately discover previous discussions with out digging via limitless information. Plus, the seamless integrations with Zoom, Groups, and GoTo make it tremendous handy to make use of in my each day workflow.

That mentioned, there are some things that may very well be improved. Whereas I personally haven’t confronted main points, I would really like a bigger display screen view. There are occasional minor glitches, however nothing that has considerably disrupted my expertise.

See the underside left? That’s the place you’ll be able to entry the transcript and abstract particulars! There’s a characteristic on the high to seek for notes. 

What I dislike about Fathom: 

• I’ve observed that the app’s digicam stays on throughout conferences, which will be distracting and pointless.
• I’ve observed that fathom generally lacks voice recognition talents, which will be a problem when a number of customers are talking.

What G2 customers dislike about Fathom: 

“With regards to the sorts of conferences with which Fathom works most successfully, I’ve recognized two major points – first, the occasional lack of voice differentiation in massive group conferences, and second, the failure to separate voices if members speak concurrently. It could even be much more highly effective if its transcription accuracy may very well be enhanced in such circumstances.“

– Fathom Evaluate, Rohit W.

4. ClickUp

I have been utilizing ClickUp for some time now, and total, it has been a terrific expertise. One of many issues I recognize essentially the most is how properly the product and tech groups work collectively to constantly enhance the platform. The design is crisp, clear, and straightforward to navigate, which makes it a pleasure to make use of. 

First off, the job administration options are completely sensible. You possibly can create duties and subtasks and even break issues down right into a hierarchy that works for you. There is a ton of flexibility, which implies you’ll be able to tailor it to match your workflow completely. The collaboration instruments are a game-changer. I additionally examined out the whiteboard! With options like feedback on duties, file sharing, and real-time updates, it looks like the entire group is on the identical web page, even if you happen to’re unfold throughout the globe. 

That mentioned, some customers (and I’ve observed this myself) complain about occasional slowness or bugs. For instance, sure options—just like the Gantt charts—don’t all the time load as shortly as you’d like, particularly throughout peak work hours.

The studying curve is price mentioning. Whereas the fundamentals are straightforward, mastering superior options like automation and detailed reviews may take a little bit of trial and error. One of many extra irritating limitations is the lack so as to add each subtasks and major duties throughout totally different sprints, which is a standard want in agile workflows. Moreover, the best way filters and the “Me Mode” work will not be very intuitive—it took a number of help conversations to determine how you can correctly view solely assigned duties. Synchronization additionally doesn’t all the time replace in real-time, requiring guide refreshes all through the day to make sure the most recent model of the dashboard is seen. 

What I dislike about ClickUp: 

• One of many greatest frustrations I encountered was the lack to assign major duties and subtasks to totally different sprints. For note-taking in an agile atmosphere, this was a noticeable disadvantage since I typically set up assembly notes into totally different motion gadgets.
• Though I recognize ClickUp’s skill to combine with different apps, some integrations had been troublesome to arrange. I struggled with sure configurations.

What G2 customers dislike about ClickUp: 

“Battle to seek out the easiest way to have a spot of simply note-taking throughout the name. I lump them collectively below totally different duties I’ve opened beforehand. Usually I discover myself working from the identical 5-8 duties and simply depart notes as we go.”

– ClickUp Evaluate, Stephan B.

5. Microsoft OneNote

One of many issues I like most about Microsoft OneNote is its flexibility—it permits me to construction my notes precisely how I need, whether or not via freeform note-taking, embedded media, or a well-organized pocket book structure. The combination with different Microsoft instruments like Phrase, Excel, and Outlook makes my workflow a lot smoother, and the power to sync throughout gadgets ensures that I all the time have entry to my notes, whether or not I am on my laptop computer, pill, or cellphone.

One other main plus is its search performance. Discovering particular notes, even from years in the past, is easy due to the highly effective search instrument that scans each typed and handwritten notes. 

From a technical perspective, OneNote’s efficiency will be inconsistent. Often, it turns into gradual and unresponsive, notably when dealing with massive notebooks with a whole lot of embedded media. One other subject is the dearth of superior export choices—whereas OneNote integrates properly inside the Microsoft ecosystem, exporting notes into different codecs can generally be cumbersome and restricted. 

What I dislike about Microsoft OneNote: 

• Whereas the cloud-based sync is helpful, it’s not all the time dependable, particularly when switching between a number of gadgets or working offline. There have been moments the place my adjustments took longer to replace, inflicting slight workflow disruptions.
• There are occasions when OneNote turns into sluggish or throws errors like “quota exceeded,” making it more durable to work easily.

What G2 customers dislike about Microsoft OneNote: 

“What I dislike about Microsoft Onenote is the dearth of superior formatting choices. Whereas does affords fundamental formatting, it does not have as many options as another note-taking/ phrase processing utility.”

– Microsoft OneNote Evaluate, Jasmine Okay.

6. Fellow

One of many issues I like most about Fellow is the power to assign motion gadgets and monitor them effortlessly. Having all my assembly notes in a single place, with clear follow-ups, has considerably improved my workflow. The built-in templates are one other main plus—they make structuring my notes a lot simpler, making certain that I don’t miss crucial factors throughout discussions.

One other standout characteristic is the AI-powered transcription and summaries. They’re surprisingly correct and save me a whole lot of time when reviewing assembly outcomes. The power to combine with my calendar and collaborate with my group in real-time can be an enormous benefit. It’s an effective way to maintain everybody on the identical web page with out juggling a number of apps.

Whereas it really works properly as a meeting-focused instrument, it generally feels extra like a private to-do record reasonably than a fully-fledged note-taking app. For individuals who depend on in depth observe group past conferences, it’d really feel a bit restricted. Moreover, among the extra superior options, like personal notes and deeper integrations, are locked behind the paid plans, making the free model considerably restrictive.

I’ve encountered minor sync points and occasional lag when dealing with bigger units of notes. 

What I dislike about Fellow: 

• I discovered that there are occasional bugs or syncing delays, which might generally be irritating. 
• For those who’re trying to make use of it for non-meeting notes, it’s a bit extra restricted in flexibility. Fortunately I used to be utilizing it for work.

What G2 customers dislike about Fellow: 

“How individuals use it. Folks have a tendency so as to add notes as speaking factors within the default template that are by no means checked off. Motion gadgets do not have clear reminders and might simply get misplaced. The AI options are cool, however their accuracy, particularly round motion gadgets, is low.” 

– Fellow Evaluate, Verified consumer in pc software program. 

7. Lark

One factor I like about taking notes in Lark is  that I can create structured notes with bullet factors, headings, and attachments, making it straightforward to doc assembly summaries, to-do lists, and mission concepts. The power to collaborate in real-time with my group has additionally been a game-changer—everybody can contribute to shared notes, eliminating the necessity for limitless e mail chains and fragmented discussions.

That mentioned, there are a couple of limitations. Formatting choices are considerably restricted, which will be irritating once I wish to customise my notes past the fundamentals. Moreover, whereas Lark’s cellular app is helpful, it doesn’t supply the identical easy expertise because the desktop model—sure actions, like shortly accessing saved notes, can really feel barely clunky.

One other draw back is that syncing throughout gadgets is not all the time instantaneous. There have been instances once I’ve made updates on my laptop computer that didn’t instantly mirror on my cellphone, requiring a guide refresh. This isn’t a serious subject however will be annoying once I want fast entry to the most recent model of my notes.

One factor that basically stood out (sadly, not in a great way) is the dearth of split-screen or full-screen modes for notes. It could make multitasking means simpler, particularly once I’m referencing slides or different paperwork. 

What I dislike about Lark: 

• I discovered that there have been some challenges with organizing or engaged on notes inside different workflows (e.g., importing/exporting notes or collaborating with non-Lark customers).
• Whereas I like the built-in communication options, video conferencing tends to lag often, particularly when sharing my display screen.

What G2 customers dislike about Lark: 

“I would say there are some unintuitive interactions – though minor.

One new characteristic that I’ve an enormous gripe with is the default to opening docs in Lark reasonably than in a browser tab like earlier than. It makes doc group messier – it is also attainable to layer open docs contained in the Lark UI, so that you’d must “x out” of 3-4 docs inside Lark earlier than seeing the folder hierarchy once more.” 

– Lark Evaluate, Tim L. 

Ceaselessly requested questions on one of the best observe taking software program

Have extra questions? Discover extra solutions beneath.

What’s the greatest observe taking app with a stylus? 

For stylus customers, apps that help handwriting and drawing are excellent. One of many observe taking apps with stylus I’d counsel is Goodnotes. It’s a best choice for handwritten notes with glorious handwriting recognition and group instruments. Microsoft OneNote works properly with styluses just like the Apple Pencil and Floor Pen, with options like drawing, highlighting, and handwritten note-to-text conversion.

What’s the greatest observe taking app for college students? 

College students want apps that cater to lectures, assignments, and group. After testing out among the greatest observe taking apps, I’d say Notion is a good selection for organizing examine supplies, creating databases, and collaborating on group tasks. Microsoft OneNote, and different instruments will be examined out as properly. The perfect software program would rely in your particular wants. 

What’s the greatest observe taking app for iPad?

The perfect note-taking app for iPad is determined by how you intend to make use of it. GoodNotes will be excellent for handwritten notes with the Apple Pencil, that includes pure writing, templates, and superior group.Testing out the totally different observe taking instruments and software program listed above may help you determine which is one of the best observe taking app for iPads. 

What’s the greatest AI observe taking app?

Most apps have built-in AI capabilities as of late. Nevertheless, out of the apps I examined out, Notion and Otter.ai are those that stand out relating to one of the best AI observe taking app. The perfect software program would rely in your particular wants. 

Can I take advantage of observe taking apps offline? 

Many note-taking apps supply offline performance, permitting you to create and edit notes with out an web connection. Your adjustments will sometimes sync when you reconnect to the web.

How do I select the proper observe taking app for me? 

Establish your wants first—whether or not it’s easy note-taking, job administration, or collaboration. Consider apps primarily based on ease of use, options, platform compatibility, and whether or not they align along with your workflow.

Do observe taking apps help multimedia?

Many fashionable note-taking apps help you add photos, movies, audio recordings, and even sketches, making them versatile instruments for each private {and professional} use.

Time to imply it whenever you say “famous”

After making an attempt out quite a lot of observe taking instruments, I’ve realized that there’s no one-size-fits-all answer for capturing and organizing concepts. Whether or not I’m jotting down fast ideas, planning tasks, or managing my day-to-day duties, the proper app can fully rework the best way I work. From options like cross-device syncing and multimedia help to AI-powered transcription and collaboration instruments, every app I’ve explored has one thing distinctive to supply.

As soon as I recognized my priorities, discovering the proper app grew to become so much simpler. For those who’re not sure the place to begin, I’d advocate benefiting from the free plans many of those instruments supply to see what works for you. 

Be aware-taking and bettering job administration go hand in hand. Discover the greatest job administration software program to extend total enterprise and private productiveness.