“Note taking apps – why do you even need them? Can’t you just write it down using a pen and paper?”
If this is you, the article is going to be an eye-opener for you.
First of all, taking notes isn’t just about writing down everything that you think or hear. Taking notes is about staying focused, being interactive, and recalling information that otherwise is lost.
Earlier, whenever you’ve had an idea or hear one you would simply take out a sheet of paper and get to writing. But since we’re in the age of advancement and invention, and there is information overload, it’s quite easy to find yourself lost. As a result, it becomes even easier to forget to check out the information or sharing it with your team. Or worse, lose the information that you jotted down. This is where apps for taking notes come in handy.
The good thing is that we have a dizzying array of tools and apps for creating, organizing, saving and sharing notes—at home, at work, and even on the go.
In fact, creating and managing notes using note taking software is an amazing experience. The only complication here is “How do you choose which one to use?”
Table of Contents
What Makes A Great Note Taking App?
When you’re looking for a powerful note taking app, you probably are looking for a great application that you can depend on. The best note taking apps make the task of jotting down information very simple and easy, wherever you are.
While there are many apps for taking notes, very few of them offer you the right combination of functionality, efficiency, and affordability.
Remember, there cannot be a universally perfect note-taking app, and no note-taking app will do all the work for you. However, there are some essential features that best note taking tools must offer to their users.
You should also consider them while checking them out. Here’s a look at those features first before we move any further:
Works Across Multiple Devices- Whether you take notes at home, at work, or on the go, on either desktop or mobile, a good note taking app works smoothly across all devices, without any glitches. You can access all the information shared in these notes, (webpage, image, quotes, etc) on multiple devices, even if you saved it on a single device.
Guarantees Users’ Privacy- Users’ notes can contain personal information that may be sensitive. A great note taking app sync notes with end-to-end encryption, which allows you to use a password that is never sent to the app. While using these you have to be certain that the information stored in them is completely secure.
Supports Different Types Of Notes- Best note taking tools support different formats other than text, like images, audio, scanned documents, clipped web pages, and checklists.
Ability To Organize- A great note taking app lets you easily organize different types of notes in folders and subfolders. You can keep them private, attach files, collaborate on them smarter, and store them in notebooks in one place. You can add comments, attach files, and download notes in PDF format.
Searchable Notes– You can easily find what you’re looking for in notes by using relevant keywords and phrases with advanced search.
Value For Money- A great note taking app gives you bang for every buck you spent on it. They also offer a free version to let users get the hang of it. Paid versions are usually packed with a host of features at an affordable price.
Create notes, collaborate on them, and work smarter. Do it all with one tool—ProofHub!
List of best apps for note taking:
Here’s the list of 10 best note taking apps and tools that will help you save your important ideas, thoughts, and information secure, in one place, with anytime and anywhere access.
1. ProofHub
About ProofHub
ProofHub isn’t just one of those regular note-taking apps or a simple file management system; it is more of an all-in-one project management and team collaboration software with note-taking being one of its core capabilities. The Notes feature in ProofHub is easy to use and perfect for jotting down almost every important piece of information related to a project. You can keep a record of your daily minutes of meetings and save all your ideas securely. One of the best things about ProofHub’s notes is that you can share them directly with someone else and even let them make contributions to those notes.
As a note-taking app, ProofHub makes it easy for you to create notes for almost anything. You can assign a specific color to each note to make it easily identifiable. Additionally, you can add comments, attach files to a note, and store multiple notes together in a Notebook to keep things neatly organized.
Apart from note-taking, you can also accomplish various aspects of project management and team collaboration using ProofHub. You can use custom workflows and boards, create multiple tasks with deadlines, assign them to your team members, define custom roles, and proof files online. Other key highlights of ProofHub include time tracking, custom project reports, instant messaging & group chat, and real-time notifications for everything happening within different projects.
ProofHub Pros
- Intuitive interface with little to no learning curve
- Delivers robust performance and comes with the ability to handle multiple projects and a virtually unlimited number of notes
- Pin notebooks to make them easily accessible
- Allows you to keep track of all the changes made to your notes
- Mark notes as private to safeguard all your important information from unwanted access
- Look for notes easily using advanced search and download notes in PDF format
- Straightforward pricing and no per-user fees make it a favorable choice for teams of all sizes
ProofHub Cons
- Powerful but limited number of app integrations
ProofHub Pricing
- Ultimate Control plan is available for $89 per month (limited time offer) (billed annually) with unlimited projects and unlimited users
- Essential plan is available for $45 per month (billed annually) with unlimited users
*ProofHub comes with an initial free trial (including all features) and offers special discounts for nonprofits.
2. Evernote
About Evernote
Using Evernote, you can store everything from personal thoughts and ideas to business projects, and know they’re always safe and secure, and easily accessible whenever you need them. Rated as one of the best apps for taking notes, Evernote auto-syncs across all your devices, and you can invite anyone to collaborate on whatever is on your mind. This versatile note-taking app has a range of solutions that fits your needs.
Evernote Pros:
- PDF and DOC search lets you find the information you want
- Formatting tools help you write what you think
- Evernote connects with the productivity tools you already use, so you can work your way
Evernote Cons:
- No option to record audio and video directly from Evernote
- Images cannot be rotated or cropped in Evernote
Available For: Windows, iOS, Android
Further Reading: Evernote Alternatives: 12 Note-Taking Apps You Should Be Using Today
What is better ProofHub or Evernote?
ProofHub Vs Evernote
| ProofHub | Evernote |
| Overview: ProofHub is an all-in-one software suite for growing teams and businesses. With ProofHub, a team gets all the tools it needs to plan, collaborate, assign, track, and deliver work faster, together. Best for:
and more… List of features: Discussions, To-do lists and tasks, Workflows & Boards, Events & milestones, Gantt charts, Customization of the file upload window, Reports, Custom roles, Files, Proofing, Time tracking, Notes, Chat, Security options, Customization, Multiple languages, Advanced search, Custom domain SSL, API, and Mobile compatibility Integrations: Freshbooks, Google Calendar, iCal, Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, and OneDrive Supported devices: Windows, Linux, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac, We Available support: Email, Live support, Training, Tickets | Overview: Evernote is an app designed for note taking, organizing, task management, and archiving. Best for:
List of features: Web clipping support, Mobile and Web interface, Web clipper browser extensions, Edit rich text and sketches, Geolocation, Content available on any device, Snap photos, record audio, save documents, Save favorite webpages, Shapes, arrows and quick sketches, Sketch on a page and sync notes to any device, Share notes and collaborate on files, Annotation and markup, Feedback sharing Integrations: No information available Supported devices: Windows, Android, iPhone/iPad, Mac Available support: Email, Live support, Training
|
Is ProofHub the best note taking alternatives to Evernote? Yes, indeed! Try it today.
3. Microsoft OneNote
About Microsoft OneNote
Similar to note taking tools like Evernote and Dropbox Paper, OneNote lets you store text and images in free-form documents that you can share with others or keep private. OneNote is a part of the Microsoft Office Suite, along with programs like Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.
Easy navigation and search let you find notes right where you left them. OneNote works across all devices, and you can revise your notes with type, highlighting, or ink annotations. Share your bright ideas and collaborate on them, and organize your notes in notebooks that can be divided into sections and pages.
Microsoft OneNote Pros:
- Cloud syncing
- Integration with Outlook
- Versatility
- Simple, thought-out user interface
Microsoft OneNote Cons:
- It doesn’t always sync immediately between the desktop and the cloud versions
- Can have more robust table features
Available For: Windows, iOS, Android
4. Google Keep
About Google Keep
Google Keep is a free note taking app for personal use. Capture your notes, lists, photos, and audio to keep and set location-based and/or time-based reminders to make sure you never miss a thing.
Google Keep is fast, colorful, and comes on many Android devices. Google Keep supports image recognition, which enables you to convert images (photos of your notes) and PDFs into searchable text. Keep work on your phone, tablet, and computer. Everything you add to Keep syncs across your devices so your important stuff is always with you.
Google Keep Pros:
- Syncs across all your devices
- Colorful
- Intuitive
- User friendly
Google Keep Cons:
- Less useful for larger note databases
- No tags
- Better suited for users who already use Google/Android services
Available For: Android, Chrome, iOS, Web Version
Organize all ideas and information in one place with ProofHub. Sign up for free!
5. Slite
About Slite
With Slite, you can easily share and collaborate on information with your team, track what tasks your team is working on, review, and give feedback to ensure your project is progressing in the right direction. Slite’s structure gives you a clear view of your docs so that you can easily organize and locate them.
Slite Pros:
- Slite seamlessly integrates with Asana, Trello, and Slack
- Advanced formatting features
- Excellent support team
Slite Cons:
- Doesn’t integrate easily with the other tools we use
- Basic interface
- Needs improvement in text editing
Available For: Windows, iOS, Android Beta
6. Notion
About Notion
Collaborate on notes with Notion, which enables you to write in a clean, uncluttered workspace, create your own personal wiki, plan using multiple views, and create spreadsheets and databases for recording everything. Notion offers excellent team functionality and real-time collaboration, and allows teams to share, post comments, assign tasks, and set reminders. This sleek and sophisticated note-taking app blends everyday work apps into one.
Notion Pros:
- Highly customizable
- Incredibly flexible
- Intuitive organizational workflows
- Great user experience
Notion Cons:
- The usability of the mobile app isn’t good
- The lack of an API
- Can be confusing and disorganized at times
Available For: iOS, Windows, Mac, Android
7. Zoho Notebook
About Zoho Notebook
Zoho Notebook is a completely free note taking app that allows teams to create unlimited notes and notebooks in the cloud. In addition to note taking, Zoho Notebook is also a great app for real-time collaboration. It makes storing and sharing information easy, quick, and very specific.
Zoho Notebook Pros
- Allows recording audio notes
- Enables you to add images, checklists, or audio, all in the same note automatically
- Syncs notes with all devices and cloud
Zoho Notebook Cons
- No image editing option
- Limited amount of fonts
- Lacks the more advanced features
Zoho Notebook Pricing
- Zoho Notebook is free to use application
8. Dropbox Paper
About Dropbox Paper
Dropbox Paper is an online document workspace where you can organize and display all your display text, media, and files in a single location. Users can easily collaborate with others and access your docs from anywhere. You can Drag and drop images, PDFs, videos, audio files, spreadsheets, and over 175 other file types directly into your docs.
Dropbox Paper Pros:
- Gives you the freedom to design your documents precisely the way you want
- Super easy to learn, to navigate, and use
- User friendly interface
Dropbox Paper Cons:
- Lack of spell check feature
- The default view of folders is rather unappealing
Available For: Windows, iOS, Android
9. Simplenote
About Simplenote
You can categorize your notes using tags, which makes it easy to organize notes and find them later on. This cross-platform note taking tool offers users the easiest way to create notes and to-do lists, capture ideas, and more. It syncs across all your devices for free.
Simplenote Pros:
- Allows quick and easy formatting
- Notes quickly sync across mobile apps and the web app
- Easy to use and it does not require to register there for editing
Simplenote Cons:
- Does not have Windows apps
- No text formatting tools
- Limited to one tag
Available For: iOS, Mac, Android, Windows
10. Standard Notes
About Standard Notes
Standard Notes is a free, open-source, and completely encrypted note taking app that allows you to compose any kind of note, from rich text, to Markdown and code. Standard Notes is faster and lighter than most note taking apps available today. In its free format, this app is so simple and easy to use text editor with a focus on privacy.
Standard Notes Pros:
- 100% secure and private
- Powerful extensions
- Simple, faster, and lighter
- Long lasting
Standard Notes Cons:
- Steep monthly subscription price
- Mobile apps lack functionality
- No spell check
Available For: Windows, iOS, and Android
11. Apple Notes
About Apple Notes
With Apple Notes, you can capture your ideas the very moment they come across your mind. If you’re using iPhone, iMac, and iPad, this note taking tool will definitely meet most (if not all) of your note-taking requirements. Quite similar to Simplenote, Apple Notes seamlessly syncs with iCloud.
You can drag and drop content including photos, and also create and manage simple basic to-do lists. With iOS and iPadOS 13, the Notes app adds a variety of new features, including a Gallery View, checklist options, subfolders, shared folders, and more. This tool has always been a fast and convenient way to note random thoughts or lists.
Apple Notes Pros:
- Swift and easy note taking tool
- Ideal for iPad, iPhone, and iMac users
- Similar to Simplenote in terms of functionality
- Gallery view
- Checklist view
Apple Notes Cons:
- No use for Android and Windows users
- Lacks the features of a full-on note taking tool
Pricing: Free
Available For: iOS only
12. Bear
About Bear
Bear is a beautiful, flexible note taking app for crafting notes and prose. Bear feels lightweight and faster, and also supports Markdown, which enables you to write notes faster. Available on Mac and iOS only, you can link notes to each other to build a body of work.
You can add hashtags to organize the way you work, and use face/Touch id to protect sensitive notes. From quick notes to in-depth essays, and advanced mark-up options, Bear can be an online writer’s best friend. Beautiful themes and typography makes your writing look great before and after publishing.
Bear Pros:
- Supports Markdown
- Fast search
- Quick, easy set up
- Clean user interface
- Good options for exporting and importing notes
- Inexpensive
Bear Cons:
- Limited set of features
- No integrations with third-party apps like Trello
- For Apple users only
- Syncing requires a paid plan
Pricing: The Paid plan starts at $1.49 monthly. The second paid plan is priced at $14.99 for the year.
Available For: iOS and Mac only
13. Ulysses
About Ulysses
Ulysses is a powerful note taking and writing application that allows you to convert notes into articles, blog posts or book chapters. Users can use Ulysses to arrange your notes into folders, and set writing goals. This note taking tool supports Markdown, contains several themes, and a typewriter mode.
Ulysses encourages immersion with the text, and helps to increase productivity. It is a fully-fledged writing tool, and can give a good run for money to any distraction-free writing app. You can organize all your projects in Ulysses’ unified library, of all sizes and ambitions. You can even publish to WordPress and Medium right from within the app.
Ulysses Pros:
- Supports many writing styles
- Tags and folders are good for arranging ideas
- Clean and intuitive workspace
- Word-goal allows you to set target word count
- Mark-up based text editor
- Full suite of organizational tools
Ulysses Cons:
- Only for iOS users
- Small learning curve
- Expensive subscription-only pricing
Pricing: The Paid plan starts from $5.99 per user/month
Available For: Mac and iOS
Hunting for the perfect note-taking app? Go ahead and get started with ProofHub—for FREE!
What makes a great note taking app?
Considering the many options that are available in the market, it often becomes difficult to pick the best one for your needs. Now, in terms of the note taking app, here are the three parameters that you can and you should use to compare different note taking apps available to you and select the most appropriate one.
Best Writing Experience
The best note taking apps focus on their UI. They provide you with the most pleasurable writing experience, across all devices and platforms.
Best Organization
The second most important feature to look for in a note taking software is organization. Make sure that the app you choose offers a wide range of views, custom searches, filters, and tags to help you keep all your notes and notebooks organized.
Best General Note Taking
The last and the most obvious feature to look for in a note taking app is the note taking. Just ensure that the app you pick does all the note taking and note-keeping part well enough.
Conclusion
Note taking is one of the most common needs of individuals as well as teams. Today, there are dozens if not hundreds of note taking apps available in the market. And the question of the hour is… Which note taking app will you choose? The apps we’ve listed in this post are called the best note taking apps for a reason. Go through these apps carefully to get a better understanding of which of these tools will work best for you and your teams.
What is note taking app?
Note taking apps are the kind of apps that let you keep everything from a small idea to a brief minutes of meeting in one place, on your desired device.
What is the best app for note taking?
The best note taking app will always emphasize on collecting and organizing short-term as well as long-term data in one place. Read this article to know the best options available.
What is better than Evernote?
Evernote is just a standalone note taking application. Read on to learn about popular all-round management solutions that are highliy likely to beat Evernote in terms of functionality and usability.
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