The best note-taking apps for 2024

As we dive into 2024, the digital landscape continues to evolve, bringing forth a myriad of note-taking apps designed to enhance productivity, organization, and creativity. Whether you're a student, a professional, or simply someone who loves to jot down thoughts, the right note app can make all the difference. Here’s a look at some of the best note apps available this year, each offering unique features to cater to various needs.

But first, the big caveat. You can write notes anywhere: on the back of a napkin, in an envelope, on an important bill, even in a notebook. It's the same with apps: you can stick notes in just about any old app, even if it's not really designed for it. Example: Google Docs isn't a great notes app, but I have notes about this article you're reading in the Google Doc I'm working in.

So for this list, I didn't look at every note-taking app, or every note-taking app I've personally used, or even every business collaboration tool that claims to be a note-taking app - I was only interested in apps that were explicitly designed to be note-taking apps. I also only really considered general-purpose personal note-taking apps.

The best note-taking apps

• Oneboard for a powerful Goodnotes alternative

• Apple Notes for very basic note-taking

• Google Keep for Google power users

• Notion for collaboration

• Obsidian for linked notes

Oneboard

Oneboard is making progress in the digital note-taking space. It offers a customisable and versatile platform for different users. This app lets you mix handwritten and typed notes, so you can work in different ways. You can make notes that suit your own way of working, whether you want to jot down ideas, take notes from lectures or plan projects. The interface is easy to use, so you can find what you need and keep your digital notebook organised.

One of the standout features of Oneboard is its AI assistant, which enhances the note-taking experience by providing contextual suggestions, reminders, and prompts, making it easier for users to stay organized and focused. Additionally, Oneboard incorporates advanced OCR (Optical Character Recognition) technology, allowing users to search their handwritten notes with remarkable accuracy. This feature ensures that no important information is ever lost, as users can quickly locate specific notes or concepts simply by typing in keywords. Moreover, the app includes a powerful text rewrite feature that can help users refine their notes, improve clarity, or generate alternative phrasings, thus enhancing the quality of their written content.

With its robust features, including the AI capabilities and commitment to enhancing user experience, Oneboard emerges as a compelling choice for anyone looking to elevate their note-taking practices, making the process not only more efficient but also more enjoyable.

Editing documents in PDFs and notebooks with Oneboard is a delightful experience that makes your note-taking feel effortless and enjoyable. You’ll love the variety of ink options at your fingertips—choose a fountain pen for that elegant flair, a pencil for easy sketching, or a ball pen for those clear, bold notes. The handy marker tool lets you highlight important points or add a splash of color to your work, making it easy to bring attention to what matters most. Plus, with three different erasers, you can tackle edits however you like—whether you need a precise touch or something a bit broader, you’ve got it covered!

Oneboard also offers a fantastic selection of page templates, including lined, checkered, dotted, Cornell, and music notation pages, so you can customize your workspace just the way you want it for any project or subject. This perfect blend of friendly tools and templates ensures your note-taking and document editing is not only smooth and efficient but also feels personal and tailored to your unique style.

Oneboard is designed with students in mind, making it the perfect companion for your academic journey. Imagine a space where you can effortlessly organize your notes, ideas, and projects—all in one place. With Oneboard, that’s exactly what you get.

We found out the number of notebooks that seperates a basic user from a power user is five. That's why we created Oneboard Plus. Oneboard Plus includes unlimited notebooks, full access to Oneboard AI, no limits for Oneboard AI Rewrite and all paper templates. Additionally Plus users can import PDF files at any size while normal users have a maximum limit of 20mb per import. Oneboard Plus is available at just 1.99€/per month, 9.99€/per year or 24.99€ for the lifetime version.

Notion

• Notion Pros:

Best-in-class collaboration and team note-taking features. Packs a lot of features, including task management, databases and just about anything else you can think of

• Notion cons:

If you're looking for a personal note-taking app, it can be a bit over the top. Note-taking can be something you do for yourself, or something you do with and for others - whether they're your colleagues, fellow students or just friends and family. All the apps we've looked at so far are mainly for taking notes for yourself. Sure, you can share and collaborate on notes and even notebooks, but their main features lie elsewhere. Notion has collaboration built in from the start (although it can still be used solo).

Notion is the only app on this list that avoids being a note-taking app. It is, but its collaborative features mean it can be so much more. It's basically three tools in one: a powerful note-taking app (which is why it's on this list), a task and project manager, and a reference wiki. How you combine these three things is up to you.

One thing to note: Notion bills itself as an Evernote competitor for personal users. It can be - but it's too much for most people, and its offline functionality isn't the best. If you like the idea of Notion, go ahead and try the free personal plan, but for me it's really best as a team note-taking app, or an AI-powered note-taking app. Something like Obsidian (which we'll look at in a moment) or Craft have a lot of Notion's best features, but they're tailored for individuals.

Apple Notes

Pros

One of the most significant advantages of Apple Notes is its seamless integration with the Apple ecosystem. Users can access their notes across all devices—iPhones, iPads, and Macs—via iCloud. This sync feature ensures that notes are always up to date, allowing users to retrieve information on the go. The user-friendly interface of Apple Notes further enhances the note-taking experience. With a clean layout and intuitive design, users can quickly create notes without navigating complex menus.

Cons

Despite its many strengths, Apple Notes has some drawbacks. One notable limitation is its organizational capabilities. While the app allows users to create folders and use tags, some may find these tools insufficient for more complex note management needs. Users seeking advanced organizational features may find themselves constrained by the app’s simplicity.

Additionally, Apple Notes lacks cross-platform support, making it less suitable for individuals who use multiple operating systems. As a tool primarily designed for Apple users, those on Windows or Android may find it challenging to access or sync their notes across different platforms.

Google Keep

Pros

One of the most significant advantages of Google Keep is its user-friendly interface. The application’s design is straightforward and intuitive, allowing users to create, edit, and manage notes with ease. This simplicity is particularly beneficial for individuals who may not be tech-savvy, as it minimizes the learning curve associated with more complex applications. Additionally, Google Keep’s cross-platform accessibility further enhances its appeal. Available on desktops, Android devices, and iOS, users can seamlessly sync their notes across various devices, ensuring they have access to their important information whenever and wherever needed.

Cons

Despite these strengths, Google Keep is not without its drawbacks. One notable limitation is its basic formatting options. Unlike some competitors, Google Keep lacks advanced text formatting features, which can be a disadvantage for users seeking a more sophisticated note-taking experience. Additionally, the application does not offer hierarchical organization; notes can only be categorized through labels and colors. This may feel restrictive for users who prefer a more structured approach to organizing their information.

The search functionality within Google Keep, while present, can also pose challenges. Finding specific notes in a large collection may become cumbersome, as the application does not provide advanced filtering options. Users may find themselves scrolling through numerous notes, which can be time-consuming and inefficient.

Joplin

Joplin Pros:

• Closest competitor to Evernote on this list

• Free and open source (although syncing through Joplin Cloud comes at a cost)

Joplin Cons:

• Less polished compared to other options

Joplin stands out as the best open-source note-taking app here, and it's also the top free alternative to Evernote. While Evernote has been a key player in the note-taking world for years, I believe it no longer belongs on this list for various reasons I'll dive into below. That said, most apps in this space aim to differentiate themselves from Evernote. OneNote is great, but it offers a very different experience. Joplin, on the other hand, mirrors Evernote quite closely—and you can even import your Evernote notebooks.

The interface follows the familiar Evernote layout: notebooks on the left, notes in the center, and a space to read and write your notes on the right. Since Joplin supports Markdown (which is a huge plus), there’s an additional preview column that shows your notes in rich text. You can always tweak the layout to your liking, turning off the preview or switching between rich text and Markdown.

As with many open-source apps, Joplin has a few quirks. The user interface can be inconsistent at times, like menu items using different text formats (e.g., "File > New sub-notebook" and "File > Close Window"). But these are minor issues that don’t detract from its overall functionality.

Although Joplin is free, you'll need a syncing solution to access your notes across devices. You can use services like Dropbox or OneDrive, or opt for Joplin Cloud, which lets you share notes online and collaborate with others. No matter which option you choose, your notes are end-to-end encrypted for privacy.

Joplin Price: Free; Joplin Cloud starts at €2.99/month, offering syncing and 2GB of storage.

Which note-taking software should you choose?

Digital note taking is just as personal as the doodles on your high school notebook. Good note-taking apps will account for this kind of personalization, so you can do your online note taking the way that suits you. 

That means the best app for notes will be the one that feels the most comfortable for you. Give a few of them a try, and see what approach you like best. We highly encourage you to try out Oneboard.