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Why I Returned to the iPad mini for Note-Taking
Thanks to an unfathomably mean subscription model and a price point that places it squarely within iPad territory, the reMarkable 2 is a huge miss. I’ve been using the reMarkable 2 for the last few weeks, and the combination of that wonderfully satisfying screen and paper-thin form factor makes it a brilliant note-taking device. I’ve noted previously that the iPad mini makes such a good note-taking companion because it feels like a digital journal. Now, while I wouldn’t personally edit podcasts on my iPad mini (I’m far too old-fashioned and stuck in my ways for that), it’s impossible not to be impressed by what this tiny little thing can do.
Apple’s tiniest iPad uses the same A15 Bionic chip found in the iPhone 13 line, and it clearly offers more power than most normal users will ever need if Stephen’s podcasting antics are anything to go by. It adds an extremely satisfying layer of resistance to the iPad which – you guessed it – makes it feel far more like writing on real paper.
The reMarkable 2 arguably offers a slightly more paper-ish feel, but that’s to be expected, given the screen technology it uses, and the fact that note-taking is pretty much its only role. I even like how it adds a matte texture and feel to the iPad mini (any fear of diluted colours or screen brightness was unfounded).
I’m afraid as much as I admire your hardware, I have to agree with my audience; all roads appear to lead back to the iPad mini for me when it comes to digital note-taking.
The 6 Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad in 2022
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.
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. There are a few different ways you can jot down your latest idea or quickly draw an example of what you want to create on the iPad.
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.
The best handwriting note-taking app for the iPad: Notability — Hello Brio
Handwriting notes is the best way to learn stuff and remember things for writing later Yes, it works for the 20% use case where I’m in a meeting and I need to remember literally everything I hear in order to reduce back-and-forth questions with a client.
By doing so, you’ll have reusable bits of credible information where you won’t have to worry about using words that are too close to the original author’s. Just remember to cite your source when you use the information later, whether you’re writing a piece or plugging it into your personal knowledge management system.
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. makes it simple to create and save your favorite tools for fast and easy reuse. 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.
Notice how the lines separating the handwriting from the text runs the entire length of the note. 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.
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. Inside the notetaking interface, you’ll find all the standard tools, as well as a few extra goodies. #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. 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.
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. It’s highly customizable, and it loads the tool interface on the magnification bar, so you can quickly switch to what you need.
#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.
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. #alt#A screenshot from ZoomNotes showing the different types of sub-documents available, such as a sticky note. 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. 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. Notes are attached to projects and can be assigned to a specific date so that you regularly refer back to them. 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.
Best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil 2022
Apple has native text recognition search and in-line scanning and annotation support too. GoodNotes is packed with plenty of robust features, including handwriting and sketching with Apple Pencil. You can choose from a massive selection of digital paper types to suit any need you have: lined, graph, design, music notation, and more. If that’s not enough, you can also upload your own custom template too, and there are different cover styles for digital notebooks that you can write or sketch on for further personalization.
Another great option for the best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil, which most of us use here at iMore, is Notability. It has tools for handwriting, drawing, annotating PDFs, making shapes, highlighting, moving objects around the page, adding audio notes, integration with photos and web clips, and so much more. You can share your digital notebooks with third-party syncing services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, and even print them out with ease. With OneNote, you get a fully-featured note-taking app, complete with handwriting and sketching tools that work perfectly with Apple Pencil.
This means you can handwrite important notes, sketch diagrams and ideas, and even annotate existing documents that you already have in OneNote.
If your note-taking is more about annotating and marking up PDFs, then PDF Expert is a great contender since it does so much more than Apple’s own built-in Markup extension.
The free version of PDF Expert allows you to read, annotate, highlight, draw, fill forms, and more. Do you enjoy handwriting notes but want it converted into regular text just to make life easier, especially if your writing is a little hard to read?
Nebo will convert on-the-fly, and the conversion is also non-destructive — this means you can preserve both the handwriting and the text if it is not a perfect translation. There are multiple digital pen tools offered in Nebo, so you can choose whatever you like best and add photos and videos, diagrams, and even equations alongside your text. Noteshelf is an excellent alternative to GoodNotes and Notability, making it one of the best note apps for Apple Pencil and iPad. Whink features a gel-pen tool with natural ink colors, so it’s definitely geared towards professionalism and simplicity.
Typing is just a tap away, and Whink also has PDF and photo annotation features, shape tools, and audio recording capabilities. ZoomNotes is one of the few apps out there that provides a huge zoom range so that you can handwrite notes, sketch diagrams, and ideas on a near-infinite whiteboard, right on your iPad with Apple Pencil. It provides eight different pen types, from gel to nib to pencil, and it has handwriting recognition so you can search all of your handwritten notes. There is also support for layers, split-screen (two views of the same document), internal linking, unlimited paper sizes and styles, and so much more.
So don’t forget to check out some of the best drawing apps for iPad (opens in new tab) when you want to let those creative juices flow.
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