Gone are the days of sticky notes and crumpled paper in your bag. Whether you’re a student, creator, or just someone with a million thoughts a day, a good note-taking app can be your second brain.
But with so many options on the App Store and Google Play, how do you know which one’s actually worth your time?
Don’t worry, I’ve tested them all so you don’t have to. Here are the top note-taking apps for iPad, iPhone, and Android that’ll seriously upgrade how you think, write, and stay organized.
Top 10 Note-Taking Apps for iPad, iPhone, and Android (That Are Actually Worth Using)
1. Notability (iPad & iPhone)
Best For: Students & handwritten note lovers
Notability combines typing, handwriting, and audio recording into one slick interface. Perfect for lecture notes, drawing diagrams, or annotating PDFs. Bonus points for Apple Pencil support.
Standout Feature: Record lectures while taking notes that sync with the audio. Tap a word later to hear what was said when you wrote it.
2. GoodNotes 6 (iPad & iPhone)
Best For: Digital planners, artists, and aesthetic lovers
If you like handwriting everything, this one’s gold. GoodNotes offers a paper-like experience with beautiful templates, folders, and pen options. It’s super customizable and Apple Pencil-ready.
Standout Feature: Create custom digital notebooks that feel just like real ones—but way more organized.
3. Microsoft OneNote (iPad, iPhone & Android)
Best For: Cross-platform users and professionals
OneNote is basically a digital binder. You can create sections, pages, and subpages to organize everything from grocery lists to meeting notes. And it syncs like a dream across devices.
Standout Feature: Draw, type, insert PDFs, and collaborate in one flexible layout.
4. Apple Notes (iPhone & iPad)
Best For: Apple users who want simplicity and speed
It’s free, fast, and built-in. Apple Notes keeps getting better—with support for folders, tags, scanning documents, and even locking notes with Face ID. It also works beautifully with Siri.
Standout Feature: Drag images, scan docs, and write with Apple Pencil—all in one clean space.
5. Google Keep (iPhone, iPad & Android)
Best For: Quick notes and reminders
Google Keep is like Post-it notes for your phone. It’s colorful, lightweight, and integrates seamlessly with your Google account. Great for checklists, voice memos, and syncing across devices.
Standout Feature: Pin your top notes and share lists in real-time with others.
6. Evernote (iPhone, iPad & Android)
Best For: Power users and work-related note-taking
Evernote is a productivity powerhouse. Clip web pages, attach PDFs, take meeting notes, and set reminders—all in one place. It’s ideal for business use and content creators.
Standout Feature: Web clipper and smart search that even scans inside images and PDFs.
7. Simplenote (iPhone, iPad & Android)
Best For: Minimalists who just want to write
Clean, fast, and totally free. Simplenote is great if you just want to jot down thoughts without all the extras. It supports markdown and automatic syncing.
Standout Feature: Focused writing space with no distractions.
8. Zoho Notebook (iPhone, iPad & Android)
Best For: Creative thinkers who like visual notes
This app lets you create “note cards” for different types of content—text, images, checklists, audio, and files. It’s visually beautiful and totally free without ads.
Standout Feature: Each note type has its own distinct design and function.
9. Bear (iPhone & iPad only)
Best For: Writers and bloggers
Bear is a gorgeous, Markdown-based app with powerful tagging and cross-linking. Ideal for writers who want structure without sacrificing style.
Standout Feature: Hashtag-style organization and export to PDF, HTML, or Word.
10. Joplin (iPhone, iPad & Android)
Best For: Privacy-focused users and developers
Joplin is open-source and syncs via Dropbox, OneDrive, or WebDAV. Supports Markdown and offline access. Great for people who don’t want to store their notes on big tech servers.
Standout Feature: Full data control, encryption, and open-source flexibility.
Final Thoughts
Whether you’re jotting grocery lists or mapping out your next big idea, a good note-taking app is a game-changer. The best part? Many of these are free or offer generous features at no cost.
So try a few, see what fits your style, and start capturing your thoughts like never before.
Ankit is an engineer by profession and blogger by passion. He is passionate to do all the stuff such as designing the website, doing the SEO, researching for the content, writing tech blog posts and more.
