{"id":2217,"date":"2024-04-22T07:17:50","date_gmt":"2024-04-22T07:17:50","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.gmtasoftware.com\/blog\/?p=2217"},"modified":"2026-05-19T12:52:28","modified_gmt":"2026-05-19T07:22:28","slug":"best-note-taking-apps","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.gmtasoftware.com\/blog\/best-note-taking-apps\/","title":{"rendered":"What are the Best Note-Taking Apps in 2026?"},"content":{"rendered":"

\"note-taking<\/p>\n

Taking notes is one of those things that is both extremely personal and universal. <\/span><\/p>\n

Everybody takes notes of some sort, be it as easy as jotting down a phone number or grocery list or as methodical as typing up thorough book summaries or minutes from meetings. <\/span><\/p>\n

Some see notes as nothing more than text with a few headings and bullets, while others see notes as elaborate scrapbooks filled with drawings and photos. <\/span><\/p>\n

Whatever your note-taking style, there’s an app out there to accommodate all your peculiarities, obscure tastes, and requirements. <\/span><\/p>\n

It may need to be sought after.<\/span><\/p>\n

First, though, a major warning. <\/span><\/p>\n

Notes can be jotted down anywhere: in a notebook, on the back of an important bill, an envelope, or even a napkin. Similarities exist with apps as well: you can insert notes into almost any old app, even if it wasn’t made for them specifically. <\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, although Google Docs isn’t the best note-taking app, I have notes about the article you’re currently reading in the Google Doc I’m currently working on.<\/span><\/p>\n

I was only interested in apps that were specifically made to be notes apps, so I didn’t look at every app that could be used to take notes, every app that I’ve personally used to take notes, or even every business collaboration tool that claimed to be a notes app for this list. <\/span><\/p>\n

Additionally, I only really gave general-purpose personal note-taking apps any thought. <\/span><\/p>\n

Despite putting all these requirements in place, I tested more than forty-five different online note-taking apps. The top note-taking apps that I could find are listed here.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>What makes the best note-taking app?<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n

\"Note<\/p>\n

I’ve been reviewing software and taking notes as a tech writer for more than ten years. <\/span><\/p>\n

I have some thoughts about taking notes. I’m still honing the system I use ten years later.<\/span><\/p>\n

I’ve tried my hardest to avoid influencing this decision-making process with my preferences.<\/span><\/p>\n

For instance, it should come as no surprise that I adore text-heavy note apps that support Markdown, but I also understand that different people have different needs. <\/span><\/p>\n

Please feel free to shout at me if your preferred app isn’t listed. <\/span>I had very strict standards for what apps should be on this list because there were so many to choose from, and a lot of them claimed to be notes apps.<\/span><\/p>\n

The greatest note-taking software must, first and foremost, perform as promised. <\/span><\/p>\n

Although it seems like a simple bar to reach, you’d be shocked at how many apps didn’t make it. <\/span><\/p>\n

While features like image-to-text conversion and stylus support are not necessities for every note-taking app, they should be well-thought-out and user-friendly if the app makes such claims on its marketing page.<\/span><\/p>\n

Second, each note-taking app needed to be quick and simple to use in order for it to serve its purpose. <\/span><\/p>\n

A pen and a scrap of paper are your true competitors when searching for a place to write a note, not other note-taking applications. <\/span><\/p>\n

It didn’t cut it if opening the notes app and quickly taking notes wasn’t nearly as convenient as reaching across my desk for a Moleskine and pen. <\/span><\/p>\n

This rule applied to other features as well: sorting and editing notes should be easy and natural, not like battling a terrible user interface.<\/span><\/p>\n

Comparably, the main benefit of using a notes app rather than a real notebook is that you can access it at any time, from anywhere on any device, whether you’re working at your desk at the office, lounging on your couch at home, or travelling across the country. <\/span><\/p>\n

I needed each notepad app to, at the very least, work offline and be compatible with one desktop and one mobile platform (and sync between them).<\/span><\/p>\n

You do not have Wi-Fi, so you cannot be locked out of your notebook.<\/span><\/p>\n

The value for money test came last. <\/span><\/p>\n

Though I do enjoy a good free app, when it comes to something as permanent as digital notes, that has to be weighed against the possibility that the service will survive and continue to provide server-based features like syncing in the coming years. <\/span><\/p>\n

While there are free note-taking apps on this list, some of the best note-taking apps that are not run by big tech companies require a fair subscription fee. <\/span><\/p>\n

However, as long as the cost was justified by the features provided, the app was still included. <\/span><\/p>\n

As you can expect, many popular apps are not included in this list.<\/span><\/p>\n

An online-only web-based note-taking app might not be an issue for you if you work from a desk, but it’s not practical for people who wish to check their grocery list while they’re shopping.<\/span><\/p>\n

Though they aren’t suitable for most users, some fantastic super-niche note apps for fiction writers or developers weren’t taken into consideration for this list.
\n<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>Learn More: 40+ Unique Website Name Ideas.<\/a><\/strong><\/span><\/h3>\n

Comparably, many robust business collaboration tools masquerade as note-taking applications, but they are simply not fit for a single person to use for writing a thank-you note or managing their grocery list. <\/span><\/p>\n

(Generally speaking, an app isn’t a notes app if it can make video calls right out of the box.)<\/span><\/p>\n

AI-powered note-taking apps have also become popular in the past year, promising to either improve note-taking or bring up previously recorded information in fresh ways.<\/span><\/p>\n

Even though AI features did not disqualify any app, it still needed to function well as a standard note-taking app to be included on the list.<\/span><\/p>\n

I jotted down my ideas, lists, and other notes to remember over the course of a few days in one of the apps I was testing out in place of my favourite notebook or notes app. <\/span><\/p>\n

I went a little further and tested the other features, such as sorting and syncing, for any that seemed like they might make the list. <\/span><\/p>\n

These are my top picks.<\/span><\/p>\n

<\/span>The best note-taking apps at a glance<\/b><\/span><\/h2>\n\n
\n \n\n \n \n \n \n \n \n \n
\n Best for <\/td>\n \n Standout feature <\/td>\n \n Free plan <\/td>\n \n \u00a0 <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Microsoft OneNote <\/td>\n \n A free option <\/td>\n \n Very freeform\u2014click anywhere to add text <\/td>\n \n Free for up to 5GB of notes <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Apple Notes <\/td>\n \n Apple users <\/td>\n \n Very native-feeling on Macs and iPhones, with easy syncing <\/td>\n \n Free for 5GB of storage across all iCloud services <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Google Keep <\/td>\n \n Google power users <\/td>\n \n Connected to all the Google apps, so everything is always right there <\/td>\n \n Free for 15GB of storage across all of Google apps <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Notion <\/td>\n \n Collaboration <\/td>\n \n Ridiculously feature-rich <\/td>\n \n Free for personal use <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Obsidian <\/td>\n \n Tinkerers and power note-takers <\/td>\n \n Internal bi-directional linking between notes <\/td>\n \n Free for personal use <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n
\n Joplin <\/td>\n \n Anyone looking for an Evernote alternative <\/td>\n \n Open source <\/td>\n \n Free <\/td>\n <\/tr>\n <\/table>\n<\/div>