I Examined 7 Finest Notice Taking Apps: Right here’s My Palms-On Evaluate!

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

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

What I’ve discovered is that not all one of the best word taking apps are created equal. Some are modern and easy, whereas others are feature-packed and designed that can assist you handle your total life. One of the best half? There’s one thing on the market for everybody, regardless of your type or wants.

For those who’re seeking to degree up your word taking sport or inquisitive about what these word taking apps can provide, this listing may simply be the productiveness increase you’ve been ready for. Let’s dive into the listing of one of the best word taking apps!

7 greatest word taking apps I examined and beloved!

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, document audio, or collaborate with others, whereas others shine of their simplicity, specializing in simply jotting issues down rapidly. 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 quite than a chore. As soon as you discover the suitable word taking software program, it’s laborious to think about the way you ever managed with out it.

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

What makes one of the best word taking apps value 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 want feature-rich apps. Determining which instruments are value investing time (and typically 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 provide a easy and versatile writing expertise. Fundamental textual content formatting choices like daring, italics, bullet factors, and headers ought to be straightforward to make use of. Some apps additionally assist tables, checklists, and markdown formatting for extra structured notes.

  For those who regularly connect pictures, hyperlinks, or paperwork, see how properly the app integrates multimedia parts. An intuitive textual content editor ought to help you give attention to 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: An awesome note-taking app ought to sync seamlessly throughout a number of gadgets, guaranteeing you’ll be able to entry your notes whether or not you are utilizing a smartphone, pill, or pc. Taking note of how rapidly modifications made on one gadget replicate 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 techniques—some apps work higher on Apple gadgets, whereas others have stronger assist for Home windows or Android.

  A very versatile means that you can take notes wherever, with out worrying about gadget compatibility. Notes typically have to be accessed on the go, whether or not in your telephone, pill, or laptop computer. I appeared for the sync options of the highest apps.

• Voice and audio integration: Some note-taking apps provide built-in voice recording, making them perfect for capturing lectures, conferences, or brainstorming periods. For those who depend on audio notes, take a look at whether or not the app means that you can document 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 kids and professionals who want correct assembly minutes or lecture summaries.
• Search and retrieval effectivity: The flexibility to rapidly discover info inside an app is simply as vital as taking notes within the first place. A powerful search perform ought to be capable of find notes utilizing key phrases, tags, and even handwritten textual content (if OCR know-how is supported). Some superior apps help you filter outcomes by date, word kind, or class, making retrieval much more environment friendly. For those who regularly take in depth notes, testing how properly the search perform performs is crucial to make sure you gained’t waste time digging by previous entries. I appeared 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 rapidly turns into a problem.
• Media integration: I examined how properly apps deal with multimedia parts like pictures, movies, sketches, and audio recordings, as these improve the flexibility of note-taking. Notes are not restricted to textual content. The flexibility to embed pictures, 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 assist: For many who want handwritten notes, stylus assist is a game-changer. Some apps enable for pure handwriting enter and even provide handwriting-to-text conversion. A very good handwriting-supported app ought to present easy pen strokes, customizable pen kinds, and the flexibility to focus on and annotate instantly 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 type.
• Collaboration and sharing: Collaboration options could 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 word concurrently—very similar to Google Docs. Test 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. Robust collaboration instruments be sure that teamwork and communication stay seamless.

These are the primary elements that guided my testing and analysis course of. My listing accommodates choices that cater to totally different wants and budgets. Whether or not you’re a person person or seeking to jot staff 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 verify packing containers
• Provide collaborative note-taking instruments or word sharing

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

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 undertaking monitoring wants, I like how versatile it’s. Want a to-do listing? Completed. An in depth undertaking tracker? Straightforward. A spot to handle your staff’s workflow, consumer databases, or perhaps a private studying listing? Notion’s bought you coated. 

Whereas it might 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 sport changer for positive. Notion is a type of instruments you need to use each personally and professionally. Right here’s a method I exploit Notion to trace my each day duties. 

One other game-changer? Customized templates & automation. I don’t must reinvent the wheel each time I arrange a brand new undertaking or workflow. I exploit templates that pre-fill fields, dashing up my course of dramatically. The flexibility to create database templates is particularly 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 maintaining 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 good. The studying curve is actual—it takes time to determine one of the simplest ways to construction your workflow, and new customers can really feel overwhelmed by the countless prospects. I undoubtedly 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 could be irritating once I’m touring or working in a spot with poor web. Whereas not too long ago accessed pages stay out there, it’s not as seamless as I’d like.

Efficiency is one other subject when dealing with giant quantities of knowledge. 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 bear in mind should you depend on Notion for heavy-duty undertaking administration.

What I dislike about Notion: 

• After I first began utilizing Notion, I felt overwhelmed. It’s not the sort of device you’ll be able to simply decide up and use effortlessly; I needed to watch tutorials and experiment quite a bit 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 recordsdata. The options are additionally sophisticated with crusing, so it makes onboarding slower for brand spanking new staff members, which in flip will get in the way in which of effectivity with workflow.”

– Notion Evaluate, Ron H. 

First off, the convenience of use with regards to Google Workspace is unbelievable. Every part simply works. Google Docs, Sheets, and Slides make collaboration easy. I can actually see my staff making edits in actual time, go away feedback, and monitor modifications with out ever hitting the save button. It’s all cloud-based, which suggests I can entry my recordsdata from wherever—whether or not I’m on my laptop computer, telephone, and even borrowing a pal’s gadget.

Talking of entry, Google Drive is a lifesaver. It integrates completely with Gmail, making it tremendous straightforward to connect recordsdata, share paperwork, and set up every little thing. And let’s not overlook Varieties—most likely one of the vital underrated instruments within the suite. I exploit it for surveys, suggestions assortment, and even easy information entry duties.

One other massive win? Google Meet. It’s a strong video conferencing device, and because it’s constructed into Gmail and Calendar, scheduling and becoming a member of conferences is a breeze. I don’t have to 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 educational 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 provide superior stylus assist or handwriting-to-text conversion.

What G2 customers dislike about Google Workspace: 

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

– Google Workspace Evaluate, Verified person in medical companies.  

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 largest benefits is its extremely correct transcription, which makes reviewing conversations easy. I additionally love the way it robotically generates notes and motion objects, saving me tons of time. The search performance is extremely highly effective, permitting me to immediately discover previous discussions with out digging by countless recordsdata. 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 could possibly be improved. Whereas I personally haven’t confronted main points, I would really like a bigger display 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 digital camera stays on throughout conferences, which could be distracting and pointless.
• I’ve observed that fathom typically lacks voice recognition skills, which could be a problem when a number of customers are talking.

What G2 customers dislike about Fathom: 

“In terms of the forms of conferences with which Fathom works most successfully, I’ve recognized two fundamental points – first, the occasional lack of voice differentiation in giant group conferences, and second, the failure to separate voices if individuals discuss concurrently. It could even be much more highly effective if its transcription accuracy could possibly be enhanced in such circumstances.“

– Fathom Evaluate, Rohit W.

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

First off, the activity administration options are completely good. 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 suggests 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 seems like the entire staff is on the identical web page, even should you’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 rapidly as you’d like, particularly throughout peak work hours.

The studying curve is value mentioning. Whereas the fundamentals are straightforward, mastering superior options like automation and detailed studies 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 fundamental duties throughout totally different sprints, which is a standard want in agile workflows. Moreover, the way in which filters and the “Me Mode” work will not be very intuitive—it took a number of assist conversations to determine the best way to 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 largest frustrations I encountered was the lack to assign fundamental 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 objects.
• Though I respect ClickUp’s capacity to combine with different apps, some integrations have been tough to arrange. I struggled with sure configurations.

What G2 customers dislike about ClickUp: 

“Wrestle to search out one of the simplest ways to have a spot of simply note-taking throughout the name. I lump them collectively beneath totally different duties I’ve opened beforehand. Typically I discover myself working from the identical 5-8 duties and simply go away notes as we go.”

– ClickUp Evaluate, Stephan B.

One of many issues I like most about Microsoft OneNote is its flexibility—it permits me to construction my notes precisely how I would like, whether or not by freeform note-taking, embedded media, or a well-organized pocket book structure. The mixing with different Microsoft instruments like Phrase, Excel, and Outlook makes my workflow a lot smoother, and the flexibility 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 telephone.

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

From a technical perspective, OneNote’s efficiency could be inconsistent. Often, it turns into sluggish and unresponsive, notably when dealing with giant notebooks with numerous 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 typically be cumbersome and restricted. 

What I dislike about Microsoft OneNote: 

• Whereas the cloud-based sync is beneficial, 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 modifications 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 presents primary formatting, it does not have as many options as another note-taking/ phrase processing utility.”

– Microsoft OneNote Evaluate, Jasmine Ok.

One of many issues I like most about Fellow is the flexibility to assign motion objects 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, guaranteeing 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 numerous time when reviewing assembly outcomes. The flexibility to combine with my calendar and collaborate with my staff in real-time can also be a giant 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 device, it typically feels extra like a private to-do listing quite than a fully-fledged note-taking app. For many who depend on in depth word group past conferences, it’d really feel a bit restricted. Moreover, a number of the extra superior options, like non-public 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 typically be irritating. 
• For those who’re wanting 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 folks use it. Individuals have a tendency so as to add notes as speaking factors within the default template that are by no means checked off. Motion objects haven’t got clear reminders and may simply get misplaced. The AI options are cool, however their accuracy, particularly round motion objects, is low.” 

– Fellow Evaluate, Verified person in pc software program. 

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 undertaking concepts. The flexibility to collaborate in real-time with my staff has additionally been a game-changer—everybody can contribute to shared notes, eliminating the necessity for countless e-mail chains and fragmented discussions.

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

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

One factor that actually 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.

What G2 customers dislike about Lark: 

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

One new characteristic that I’ve a giant gripe with is the default to opening docs in Lark quite 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 have to “x out” of 3-4 docs inside Lark earlier than seeing the folder hierarchy once more.” 

– Lark Evaluate, Tim L. 

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