Do you love the tactile experience of taking notes on paper but prefer the organizational features of digital note-taking apps? The key is to use a quality stylus, a screen protector that mimics paper, and, most importantly, the right note-taking app. The app offers a delightful writing experience, yet it also makes it easy to embed images, annotate PDFs, and even record voice memos. Notability does an excellent job of emulating this experience, while also allowing you to do things you can’t do on paper such as resizing and moving your drawings. Finally, Notability gives you plenty of options for exporting and sharing your notes, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and AirDrop. It has many of the features we love in Notability, including the option to annotate PDFs and multitask with the iPad’s split screen. Finally, Noteshelf lets you export your notes to iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Evernote. Notably, GoodNotes lets you adjust the sensitivity and palm recognition of the pen to match your writing style.
Finally, GoodNotes includes a “Presentation Mode” that lets you turn your iPad into a digital whiteboard.
Using either AirPlay or an HDMI cable, you can project what you’re writing onto a larger screen while still being able to see the GoodNotes interface on your iPad. The app’s drawing features are also solid, making it easy to add sketches and illustrations to your notes. Unlike the other apps we discuss in this article, Notion isn’t meant to mimic the experience of handwriting.
These tools can be as simple as a to-do list or as complex as a project management system for an entire company. But you’ll also find some features missing in other note-taking apps, including the ability to comment on specific lines of your text. You can also embed and link to other notes within pages, making Notion ideal for building a personal knowledge database. OneNote lets you write notes either on a blank page or a layout that emulates a sheet of lined paper.
The general setup of the app mimics a physical binder, allowing you to organize your notes by topic. In this course, you’ll learn how to set realistic goals, handle failure without giving up, and get going on the habits you want in your life.
The Best Tablets for Taking Notes for School and Work (Plus the Best Deals Right Now)
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. While shorthand and cursive are handy skills when it comes to hastily jotting ideas, there’s no denying that technology can offer the best of both digital and analog worlds when it comes to note-taking.
More than just a glorified smartphone, the best tablets for taking notes also work with a stylus so you can quickly write things down, keep everything organized on a hard drive or cloud, and search through everything later — which is why they’re perfect for high schoolers, college students and professionals. If you’re debating which note-taking tablet with stylus compatibility is right for you, consider whether you’re also using it for reading, web browsing, checking emails, watching videos and playing games in addition to writing, compiling lists or drawing.
Many devices also allow you to expand storage with an SD card, and today’s tech means you’ll also get decent front and back cameras for quickly snapping photos (like that whiteboard before it’s erased) and video calling. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best tablets for note-taking at school or work, from the latest Apple and Microsoft releases to options for Android users. All of our selections are compatible with stylus pens and equipped with the above-recommended specs, and they’re also available in other options (say, more or less memory or storage) to adapt to your needs or budget and are compatible with most note-taking apps such as GoodNotes, Microsoft OneNote, Notability, Apple Notes and others. And right now, all of the top note-taking tablets on our list are on sale, including the latest 2022 Apple iPad Air ($559, reg.
Check out our top productivity-friendly picks below, many of which make a great gift for students, gamers and techies. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line device that can handle note-taking and then some, Apple’s M1 chip-equipped 2021 iPad Pro with Wi-Fi is a great laptop alternative for college students and professionals seeking a speedy and powerful tablet. The tech giant’s built-in Notes app can recognize and index your handwriting, making it easier to search what you’ve jotted down. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro features 5G connectivity and a vibrant Liquid Retina display with XDR for color-faithful viewing, while 12MP cameras and a LiDAR scanner (which can “mesh” objects and spaces) let you take visual notes or stunning HDR photos alike.
The device’s True Tone (which adapts to your lighting), adaptive ProMotion refresh rate and next-level contrast ratio combine to perform for moviegoers, gamers, graphic designers and video editors seeking a powerful on-the-go experience. Students, gamers and movie lovers alike can thank the 120Hz refresh rate and the incredibly fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that handles multitasking with ease.
The impressive battery life, DeX (which lets users turn the tablet into a desktop with mouse, keyboard and monitor integration), Microsoft 365 and speedy Wi-Fi 6E compatibility round out this powerful device with productivity in mind. You can use the included stylus to control presentations, and your files and content can be synced with other compatible Samsung devices.
If you prefer the functionality of a laptop without the extra weight, the tablet can be expanded with Samsung’s Bluetooth book cover keyboard also acts as a screen protector. For entertainment, the tablet boasts an edge-to-edge display and Dolby Atmos surround sound speakers for a cinematic viewing experience on the go.
It works with the company’s 2nd gen Pencil, which offers a responsive writing and drawing experience. Powered by an M1 8-core CPU chip and Neural Engine (which promises up to 60 percent faster performance), the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina screen has a 120Hz refresh rate that makes it a breeze to quickly jot down notes or doodle without any lag.
Like the iPad Pro, expect easy cross-device access to your documents on iCloud, convenient handwriting indexing on the Notes app, and compatibility with many other note-taking apps that let you add photos, links and more to your docs. There are plenty of cheap tablets for note-taking that offer basic functionality, but Apple’s 2021 iPad (reg. The ninth generation of Apple’s tablet has a TrueTone screen that automatically adjusts to the color temperature of the room, making it easier on your eyes whether you’re taking notes in a giant lecture hall or outdoors. It pairs with the 1st gen Apple Pencil ($95) and Bluetooth keyboards so you can write down your thoughts on the Scribble note-taking app, mark up PDFs and screenshots, highlight items, convert your handwriting into text, sketch illustrations and design logos.
The 10.2-inch Retina display delivers vibrant details and colors for watching TV shows and movies, and the tablet weighs about one pound, making it a travel-friendly option for mobile entertainment. Microsoft’s 13-inch Surface Pro 8 (currently 24 percent off) is the tech company’s lightest and sleekest laptop-to-tablet yet at just under two pounds. It’s the first in the brand’s Surface lineup to feature the Intel Evo platform, which delivers high performance and up to 16 hours of battery life. Note-takers will get a pen-to-paper-like experience when they pair the tablet with the Slim Pen 2 (on sale for $109, reg.
130; sold separately), while the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard ($279 and bundled with the stylus) gives the device the functionality of a laptop, especially when the built-in Kickstand is in use. Compared to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 8’s Intel Core i5 or i7 processor makes it a powerful mobile gaming station for casual players, a vibrant screen for watching movies and TV and a versatile device for multi-taskers who also want to create documents and edit photos.
It’s worth noting that the extra cost of accessories puts the tablet at essentially the same price as a traditional laptop, but with touchscreen capabilities. The device comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office apps, and you can connect Lenovo’s Precision Pen 2 ($70, sold separately) and wireless keyboard ($90, sold separately) for easy note-taking in class or at the office. The stylus has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt detection — so artists and note-takers alike can get an accurate writing or drawing experience — and the P11 Pro comes with Bamboo Paper and Squid illustration apps. Whether you’re a college student or an executive, you can easily jot your thoughts on OneNote, write papers on Word and organize your files, among other productivity tasks.
Clocking in at just 1.2 pounds, the Surface Go 3 isn’t going to replace your desktop computer or laptop — but it’s one of the best note-taking tablets for anyone seeking a lightweight device that can also handle lighter tasks such as answering emails, streaming videos and browsing the internet. As far as writing things down, the tablet is equipped with the latest version of Microsoft’s OneNote app, which lets you create and edit Word documents, convert your handwriting to text, search notes and more.
With the Surface Pen, you can also take notes on web pages using Microsoft Edge and even write reminders to yourself directly into Cortana. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite ($279 and up) is one of the best lightweight tablets for users who want productivity, entertainment and minimalism in one device.
This is also one of the best tablets for younger students, as the unit also comes with Kids Mode, which lets parents set usage limits and control access to certain content and apps. For entertainment, the crystal-clear display and Dolby Atmos surround-sound speakers offer a vibrant and engaging viewing experience, and you can also use the unit as a hotspot or share content to other devices.
When charging, the tablet screen displays your calendar, the weather or your music, so you can stay productive even when the unit is docked. It also comes with the TrueTone adaptive display that adjusts to your environment’s lighting, while the combination of the A15 Bionic chip and battery life lets you play or work for up to 10 hours.
Rounding out the sixth-gen iPad Mini’s features are 12MP front and back camera and 4K video recording. Eco-minded users will like that the tablet is made of 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure, rare earth elements in the speaker and magnets and tin in the main logic board. Named Time‘s Best Invention of 2020, the ReMarkable 2 ($399) features a monochrome digital display that lets you turn your handwritten notes into searchable text, organize your notes across devices, review documents and write directly onto PDFs. At just .2 inches thick, the e-paper device is the thinnest tablet out there, and the 8 GB internal storage can accommodate about 100,000 pages.
The device also works on 5G, and you can sync files between ReMarkable’s apps for Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows 7 and newer.
iPad note taking apps every student and professional should try
Microsoft OneNote was previously included in my list of top five favorite apps I use as a student. Many colleges, universities, and employers provide a free subscription to Microsoft Office that includes OneNote. You can also create separate tabs within the notebook, insert photos, edit PDFs, and integrate notes within meetings under your Outlook account. Additionally, multiple users can be on the account, letting employees collaborate on tasks and track progress.
Designed for companies, the plan is $14.99 a month, requires a minimum of two users, and offers a free trial. Also, you can search within your notes, resize your handwriting, choose from a variety of paper templates, and create flashcards.
Notability is very limited for users with free accounts, so if you’re not looking to spend money, this isn’t the app for you. People even create some beautiful sketches with the app, so if you frequently draw in your notes, you may like Notability.
Apple Notes is a free app automatically downloaded on any iPad, iPhone, or Mac.
Not only can you track your thoughts, but it integrates with your Apple Calendar and Reminders, works with Siri, lets you collaborate with others, lock notes, and scan documents.
Also note that for some of these items, buying used can save you a nice chunk of change and will often ship to you in perfect condition.
taking notes ipad
i also got the 256 to store more pictures when i’m on vacation or at events, it’s smaller size makes it less awkward to snap pics.
iPad note taking apps every student and professional should try
Microsoft OneNote was previously included in my list of top five favorite apps I use as a student. Many colleges, universities, and employers provide a free subscription to Microsoft Office that includes OneNote. You can also create separate tabs within the notebook, insert photos, edit PDFs, and integrate notes within meetings under your Outlook account. Additionally, multiple users can be on the account, letting employees collaborate on tasks and track progress.
Designed for companies, the plan is $14.99 a month, requires a minimum of two users, and offers a free trial. Also, you can search within your notes, resize your handwriting, choose from a variety of paper templates, and create flashcards.
Notability is very limited for users with free accounts, so if you’re not looking to spend money, this isn’t the app for you. People even create some beautiful sketches with the app, so if you frequently draw in your notes, you may like Notability.
Apple Notes is a free app automatically downloaded on any iPad, iPhone, or Mac. Not only can you track your thoughts, but it integrates with your Apple Calendar and Reminders, works with Siri, lets you collaborate with others, lock notes, and scan documents. Also note that for some of these items, buying used can save you a nice chunk of change and will often ship to you in perfect condition.
3 very simple ways to take notes on your iPad using an Apple Pencil
Apple’s iPad has many different uses, one of which is using it to replace a tablet of paper and a pen, or a sketchbook and a pencil. I’ll include a list of which iPad model uses which version of the Apple Pencil at the bottom of this post.
The easiest way to start using the Apple Pencil to take notes on your iPad is to open the Apple Notes app, tap the New Note/Compose button in the top-right corner and start writing or drawing.
You can start taking notes using the Apple Pencil directly from the lock screen, even when your iPad is asleep.
A blank note page will open, ready for you to start writing or sketching. Starting with iPadOS 15, Apple added a feature called Quick Notes to the tablet. Quick Notes lives as a popup that slides out of the bottom-right corner of the screen, letting you add links to whatever Safari page you’re currently on, or you can begin writing with your Apple Pencil and save it for future access. Not only is it available on your iPad, but if you own a Mac or use an iPhone, your notes will sync between all of your Apple devices using your iCloud account. There’s something intimate about writing notes on paper instead of a screen that helps me, personally, with retaining information. And it never fails, whenever I need to access a specific note from a meeting, my notebook is missing or is in my office when I’m nowhere near it. Taking notes on the iPad is an easy and convenient way to have all of your information with you at all times.
Best iPad Pro notetaking apps in 2022
A particular track that the best note-taking apps take is to harness the strong multimedia features that the iPad can offer, so you don’t just have to work with text but can also add in images, video, and audio. Notability The Swiss army knife of note-taking apps Today’s Best Deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Annotate PDFs + Work with multiple input formats + Share notes via the cloud Reasons to avoid – Higher cost This app allows the user to combine multiple inputs, including typing, sketching, handwriting and photos, in a single place. The app also supports multiple other features including simultaneous audio recording and the conversion of handwriting and math equations to text.
Evernote Note-taking app with cross-platform support Today’s Best Deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Free version + Lots of features + Also supports Android Reasons to avoid – Need premium version for collaboration Evernote is a great app to collect multiple inputs, including images, text notes, recorded messages, and clippings of web pages – all in one file for storage and collaboration.
They can then be accessed via the iPad Pro, Android, or a PC though the web browser interface for ease of workflow. Step up to the Premium tier to sync all your devices, gain a more generous 10GB of uploads in a month, as well as the additional features of live chat support, and offline access to your notes. GoodNotes The note app that focuses on handwriting Today’s Best Deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Flexible digital note-taking + Handwriting to text conversion + Searchable handwritten notes Reasons to avoid – No free tier With the focus on handwriting, this app makes it easy to enter complex mathematics and chemical formulas that can border on the impossible via a traditional keyboard. The notes are also synced via iCloud, and can be backed up to your choice of cloud providers, including Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box. Nebo The advanced note-taking app Today’s Best Deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Affordable price + Handles more complex documents + Exports to multiple formats Reasons to avoid – Requires an official Apple Pencil
It also handles ‘rich content,’ such as diagrams, sketches (with different colors and pen widths), flow charts, and formulas, letting you integrate them into the document. Whink The gel ink pen approach to notes Today’s Best Deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Mimics a gel pen on paper + Perfect geometric shapes + Affordable Reasons to avoid – No cloud integration Whether you prefer to write with a stylus, type text, or draw with a finger, Whink makes the process as simple as using real paper. Notepad+ Today’s Best Deals VISIT SITE (opens in new tab) Reasons to buy + Type or use handwriting + Color and image options + Works with multiple file formats
There are a wide range of formatting options that take Notepad+ away from standard note-taking software, with the ability to use different fonts, colors, and highlighting, as well as support for handwriting. OneNote (opens in new tab) may be a Microsoft production, but it’s a full-featured digital notepad for the iPad Pro and other iOS devices.
Bear (opens in new tab) is a decent note-taking app for people who use an iPhone, iPad, or Mac computer.
The Best Tablets for Taking Notes for School and Work (Plus the Best Deals Right Now)
If you purchase an independently reviewed product or service through a link on our website, The Hollywood Reporter may receive an affiliate commission. While shorthand and cursive are handy skills when it comes to hastily jotting ideas, there’s no denying that technology can offer the best of both digital and analog worlds when it comes to note-taking.
More than just a glorified smartphone, the best tablets for taking notes also work with a stylus so you can quickly write things down, keep everything organized on a hard drive or cloud, and search through everything later — which is why they’re perfect for high schoolers, college students and professionals.
If you’re debating which note-taking tablet with stylus compatibility is right for you, consider whether you’re also using it for reading, web browsing, checking emails, watching videos and playing games in addition to writing, compiling lists or drawing.
Many devices also allow you to expand storage with an SD card, and today’s tech means you’ll also get decent front and back cameras for quickly snapping photos (like that whiteboard before it’s erased) and video calling. Ahead, we’ve rounded up the best tablets for note-taking at school or work, from the latest Apple and Microsoft releases to options for Android users.
All of our selections are compatible with stylus pens and equipped with the above-recommended specs, and they’re also available in other options (say, more or less memory or storage) to adapt to your needs or budget and are compatible with most note-taking apps such as GoodNotes, Microsoft OneNote, Notability, Apple Notes and others. And right now, all of the top note-taking tablets on our list are on sale, including the latest 2022 Apple iPad Air ($559, reg.
Check out our top productivity-friendly picks below, many of which make a great gift for students, gamers and techies. If you’re looking for a top-of-the-line device that can handle note-taking and then some, Apple’s M1 chip-equipped 2021 iPad Pro with Wi-Fi is a great laptop alternative for college students and professionals seeking a speedy and powerful tablet.
The tech giant’s built-in Notes app can recognize and index your handwriting, making it easier to search what you’ve jotted down. The 12.9-inch iPad Pro features 5G connectivity and a vibrant Liquid Retina display with XDR for color-faithful viewing, while 12MP cameras and a LiDAR scanner (which can “mesh” objects and spaces) let you take visual notes or stunning HDR photos alike.
The device’s True Tone (which adapts to your lighting), adaptive ProMotion refresh rate and next-level contrast ratio combine to perform for moviegoers, gamers, graphic designers and video editors seeking a powerful on-the-go experience. Students, gamers and movie lovers alike can thank the 120Hz refresh rate and the incredibly fast Qualcomm Snapdragon 8 Gen 1 processor that handles multitasking with ease.
The impressive battery life, DeX (which lets users turn the tablet into a desktop with mouse, keyboard and monitor integration), Microsoft 365 and speedy Wi-Fi 6E compatibility round out this powerful device with productivity in mind.
You can use the included stylus to control presentations, and your files and content can be synced with other compatible Samsung devices.
If you prefer the functionality of a laptop without the extra weight, the tablet can be expanded with Samsung’s Bluetooth book cover keyboard also acts as a screen protector. For entertainment, the tablet boasts an edge-to-edge display and Dolby Atmos surround sound speakers for a cinematic viewing experience on the go.
It works with the company’s 2nd gen Pencil, which offers a responsive writing and drawing experience. Powered by an M1 8-core CPU chip and Neural Engine (which promises up to 60 percent faster performance), the 10.9-inch Liquid Retina screen has a 120Hz refresh rate that makes it a breeze to quickly jot down notes or doodle without any lag. Like the iPad Pro, expect easy cross-device access to your documents on iCloud, convenient handwriting indexing on the Notes app, and compatibility with many other note-taking apps that let you add photos, links and more to your docs.
There are plenty of cheap tablets for note-taking that offer basic functionality, but Apple’s 2021 iPad (reg. The ninth generation of Apple’s tablet has a TrueTone screen that automatically adjusts to the color temperature of the room, making it easier on your eyes whether you’re taking notes in a giant lecture hall or outdoors. It pairs with the 1st gen Apple Pencil ($95) and Bluetooth keyboards so you can write down your thoughts on the Scribble note-taking app, mark up PDFs and screenshots, highlight items, convert your handwriting into text, sketch illustrations and design logos.
The 10.2-inch Retina display delivers vibrant details and colors for watching TV shows and movies, and the tablet weighs about one pound, making it a travel-friendly option for mobile entertainment. Microsoft’s 13-inch Surface Pro 8 (currently 24 percent off) is the tech company’s lightest and sleekest laptop-to-tablet yet at just under two pounds. It’s the first in the brand’s Surface lineup to feature the Intel Evo platform, which delivers high performance and up to 16 hours of battery life.
Note-takers will get a pen-to-paper-like experience when they pair the tablet with the Slim Pen 2 (on sale for $109, reg. 130; sold separately), while the Surface Pro Signature Keyboard ($279 and bundled with the stylus) gives the device the functionality of a laptop, especially when the built-in Kickstand is in use. Compared to its predecessor, the Surface Pro 8’s Intel Core i5 or i7 processor makes it a powerful mobile gaming station for casual players, a vibrant screen for watching movies and TV and a versatile device for multi-taskers who also want to create documents and edit photos.
It’s worth noting that the extra cost of accessories puts the tablet at essentially the same price as a traditional laptop, but with touchscreen capabilities. The device comes pre-loaded with Microsoft Office apps, and you can connect Lenovo’s Precision Pen 2 ($70, sold separately) and wireless keyboard ($90, sold separately) for easy note-taking in class or at the office.
The stylus has 4,096 levels of pressure and tilt detection — so artists and note-takers alike can get an accurate writing or drawing experience — and the P11 Pro comes with Bamboo Paper and Squid illustration apps.
Whether you’re a college student or an executive, you can easily jot your thoughts on OneNote, write papers on Word and organize your files, among other productivity tasks.
Clocking in at just 1.2 pounds, the Surface Go 3 isn’t going to replace your desktop computer or laptop — but it’s one of the best note-taking tablets for anyone seeking a lightweight device that can also handle lighter tasks such as answering emails, streaming videos and browsing the internet. As far as writing things down, the tablet is equipped with the latest version of Microsoft’s OneNote app, which lets you create and edit Word documents, convert your handwriting to text, search notes and more.
With the Surface Pen, you can also take notes on web pages using Microsoft Edge and even write reminders to yourself directly into Cortana. The Samsung Galaxy Tab S6 Lite ($279 and up) is one of the best lightweight tablets for users who want productivity, entertainment and minimalism in one device.
This is also one of the best tablets for younger students, as the unit also comes with Kids Mode, which lets parents set usage limits and control access to certain content and apps. For entertainment, the crystal-clear display and Dolby Atmos surround-sound speakers offer a vibrant and engaging viewing experience, and you can also use the unit as a hotspot or share content to other devices. When charging, the tablet screen displays your calendar, the weather or your music, so you can stay productive even when the unit is docked. It also comes with the TrueTone adaptive display that adjusts to your environment’s lighting, while the combination of the A15 Bionic chip and battery life lets you play or work for up to 10 hours.
Rounding out the sixth-gen iPad Mini’s features are 12MP front and back camera and 4K video recording. Eco-minded users will like that the tablet is made of 100 percent recycled aluminum enclosure, rare earth elements in the speaker and magnets and tin in the main logic board.
Named Time‘s Best Invention of 2020, the ReMarkable 2 ($399) features a monochrome digital display that lets you turn your handwritten notes into searchable text, organize your notes across devices, review documents and write directly onto PDFs.
At just .2 inches thick, the e-paper device is the thinnest tablet out there, and the 8 GB internal storage can accommodate about 100,000 pages. The device also works on 5G, and you can sync files between ReMarkable’s apps for Android, iOS, MacOS and Windows 7 and newer.
11 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad [2022]
As with pen and paper, handwriting is slower, but it gives your mind more time to absorb what you’re writing. While keyboarding is more efficient, for many notetakers, notes created in this way simply lack the sticking power that comes with using traditional methods. With that in mind, most of the apps below are designed for handwriting your digital notes using your iPad and your Apple Pencil. Creating effective notes has been proven to enhance recall and improve study sessions, resulting in greater academic success. While it might seem trivial at first, the ability to connect the word or phrase that prompted you to write something down is a powerful refresher when studying for a test or an exam. By combining multitasking tools and technologies like handwriting recognition and math conversion, Notability makes it easier than ever to take notes during classes, meetings, conferences, and everything in between. Math conversion (premium only) allows you to convert handwritten calculations into common mathematical expressions. No iCloud syncing or backups on the free plan creates some risk for notetakers who don’t upgrade. (resets monthly) means that hardcore notetakers could find themselves unable to continue taking notes without an upgrade. Limited organizational tools force users into a style of note-keeping that may feel restricted or insufficient. This is a fundamental difference from a tool like Notability or Apple Notes, where your ability to organize is somewhat constrained by the software. You can also import calendars, create folders for additional storage, and navigate to favorites using the tab on the bottom right.
#alt#A screenshot picturing the GoodNotes interface, featuring four separate notebooks, a folder for books, and the Paperlike Planner 2022. When it comes right down to it, there aren’t a ton of cons to GoodNotes, but the ability to record audio is a pretty significant feature that this app is missing compared to Notability and others. Lack of a favorites toolbar means that you’ll need to reformat your tools each time you select or change them. While the app saves some settings, like pen width and color, resetting your tools still feels more involved than it should be.
Pricing: Limited free plan available; $7.99, one-time purchase from the App Store for the full version. Limited free plan available; $7.99, one-time purchase from the App Store for the full version. Originally, it was a mobile version of the Notes app that has been (and continues to be) a staple on the Mac operating system. Like most of the other notetaking apps, it comes with a writing implement (pencil), a highlighter, an eraser, a lasso selector, and a ruler. Will enable other options for recognized text, like scheduling events or calling phone numbers directly from the Notes app.
Will enable other options for recognized text, like scheduling events or calling phone numbers directly from the Notes app.
While it’s possible to do this with a little work if you want to back up your notes to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch. While it’s possible to do this with a little work if you want to back up your notes to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch.
Unlike traditional notetaking apps, which offer a blank page for you to jot notes, LiquidText is more of a study and research tool designed to help you parse PDFs and other documents. #caption#With LiquidText, you’ll be able to draw connections between nodes on your mindmap, access multiple documents simultaneously, and compile research in a free-form workspace. #alt#A screenshot picturing the LiquidText interface, including a written article on the left, along with a window allowing for the selection of multiple documents. As you gather data from your document, you can consolidate it into groups, draw lines and make connections between those details, and much more.
While this approach to notetaking is more researched-based, it’s definitely a gamechanger for anyone looking to parse documents for key details and insights, as LiquidText offers a battery of tools that you won’t find in most other apps. Adding multiple documents to a single workspace allows users to create projects centered around a theme or idea and assists in consolidating associated research. allows users to create projects centered around a theme or idea and assists in consolidating associated research. Ability to squeeze and expand documents during research makes critical details much easier to parse and compare.
The second of the two research tools on our list, MarginNote is similar to LiquidText (featured above) in how it functions and operates. As a research tool, MarginNote opens your document into a digital workspace where you can highlight and annotate PDFs or select excerpts from the text. #caption#MarginNote provides clean, clear connection lines for your mind map, allows for handwritten notes, and much more. #alt#A screenshot picturing the MarginNote 3 interface, including a written article on the right and a mind map of notes and excerpts on the left.
One of the key differentiators in MarginNotes is that much of the mind-mapping generation can be done in a way that looks clean and crisp, with straight lines and blocks that feel sharp and organized. Autocreate mind map tool allows you to organize excerpts without a ton of dragging and dropping. The mind map is based on the table of contents, so some forethought is required in how you structure your notes. Where apps like GoodNotes and Notability emphasize (and mostly stick to) the idea of handwritten notes, Nebo tries to marry the concept of handwriting and text together within its notebooks.
All standard pages are lined sheets, and users have the option to write using an Apple Pencil or a keyboard. With the free version, you’ll just have access to the basics, including a limited number of notebooks that you can create.
However, you can get a dictionary, convert PDFs, and share your content out in various formats by purchasing the appropriate upgrade pack for a relatively low cost. It’s also worth pointing out that Nebo is also cross-platform compatible, which makes it unique for users who are looking for one of the best iPad apps for notetaking that can exist outside of the Apple ecosystem. Combining handwriting and type text is an interesting concept that is hinted at in other apps, but Nebo really takes ownership of this feature. Lack of templates, layouts, and other custom formats that you see in apps like GoodNotes, Notability, or Noteshelf.
In many respects, CollaNote is still a work in progress that has gained a massive following in recent years. The app provides a rock-solid notetaking experience with simple and intuitive tools that look good and feel great to use.
#caption#In CollaNote, pressure sensitivity is enabled by default, so your text will shrink and grow as you write based on how hard you press your Apple Pencil against the screen. #alt#A screenshot of the CollaNote interface featured a combination of handwritten and typed text. CollaNote is the only app we saw (other than Apple Notes) that actively distinguishes between a pen and a pencil, both of which provide a completely different writing experience. Even though CollaNote currently lacks some of the features you’d see in more mature apps, it’s well on its way to becoming a major player in the notetaking space.
Collaboration features make it easy to work with other notetakers to generate a group or shared note. With the exception of PDFs, media files reside within a note and are not imported as standalone objects. While this app does back up to iCloud, it currently offers no platform compatibility with Mac, Windows, or Android. While this app does back up to iCloud, it currently offers no platform compatibility with Mac, Windows, or Android.
You’ll find all the tools you need to take great notes on your iPad or Android devices. The interface provides a streamlined experience that’s easy to navigate, with plenty of customization features — from page templates and notebook covers to different pen types and the colors and sizing of your tools. When you need to write smaller text or you want a closeup of your existing notes, the Zoom Box makes it easy to do. #caption#Noteshelf offers a variety of pen types so you can stylize and customize your notes in your own way.
#alt#A screenshot picturing the pen interface and three example lines at varying thicknesses of the ballpoint, calligraphy, fine-tip, and pencil styles. While it doesn’t sync with your text, being able to listen to a playback of a lecture or presentation can be extremely helpful.
Advanced customization options, such as a variety of page templates, notebook covers, and tools, allow you to get creative with your notes. Favorites Toolbar allows you to save different pen types or sizing combinations for future use.
Resizing issues results in blurred lines, which isn’t a problem in the other major notetaking apps. Another great choice for visual learners, Notepad+ is ideal for sketching, drawing, or handwriting your notes. The layout is simple and easy to navigate, similar to Apple’s Pages, so it won’t take long to learn. You can import and markup PDFs and photos like most other notetaking apps, but it also supports Excel, Keynote, and Numbers files.
It features a sleek interface with basic tools to help you take great notes. #caption#Whink’s audio recording syncs to your notes, making it easy to follow along on playback. You’ll find a shape tool, PDF and photo annotation features, the ability to share notes, and syncing to iCloud, Dropbox, and other services. ZoomNotes provides an infinite whiteboard, making it a great choice for visual notetakers.
It’s practically endless, making it easy to sketch out your thoughts and ideas without worrying about running out of room. When you zoom in to get a better look or make adjustments or additions to your notes, the full view stays on your screen off to the right, allowing you to see the bigger picture while you work.
ZoomNotes goes the extra mile with all of its features, including audio recording, unlimited paper sizes/styles, bookmarks, digital planners, and more. It’s easy to completely customize your notes, especially with eight different pen types and unlimited color options.
Infinite canvas provides endless room to write, draw, or sketch your notes and ideas. Incredible zoom range makes taking visual notes like mind mapping or sketchnoting super easy.
makes taking visual notes like mind mapping or sketchnoting super easy. Pricing: ZoomNotes Lite is free; $10.99 one-time purchase for the full version on the App Store. ZoomNotes Lite is free; $10.99 one-time purchase for the full version on the App Store. Wildly popular and completely free, OneNote is the go-to app for tens of thousands of users interested in taking effective notes.
Its onboard organization tools also make it a great option for storage, especially for users already integrated with other Microsoft products like OneDrive, Word, Excel, etc. Compared to other apps on our list, Penultimate lacks several major features, but its connection to Evernote makes it worth a mention.
: While you can use other notetaking apps to create mind maps, ThinkSpace is specifically designed to help you manage this task. #alt#An iPad featuring a digital planner sits beside Paperlike-branded product packaging.
Without a doubt, having the right app can make the difference between success and failure when studying for the next exam or jotting down quick notes in a meeting. If you’re planning to use the Apple Pencil or a similar stylus to take notes on your iPad, don’t forget to pick up a Paperlike so that you can improve your notetaking experience.
Paperlike transforms your screen from slippery glass into something that feels just like a real notepad or notebook so that you can scribble and jot notes with ease.
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