It’s well known that taking notes has advantages for knowledge workers. Where should we store our notes, though? While handwritten notes are beneficial for improving learning, there are some clear advantages to taking notes digitally. Organizing and filing our notes for future reference is made simple when we jot down our thoughts and insights in an app. While we were entering the notes, we could generate ideas and examine our thinking. Additionally, it is significantly less cumbersome than constantly carrying a large notebook and pen.
Nowadays, there are a hundred note-taking applications available on the market, and most of them have special functions. Putting all of your notes into one app only to realize a few weeks later that it isn’t for you is definitely annoying. I’ve been agonizing over this problem and have developed a set of standards to help me choose the best software.
Best Note-Taking Apps for all classes of people
The layout and user interface. The most crucial rule is that, as it seems obvious, the notes you take on that app ought to appear nice. Your notes should be visually appealing to you and inspire you to write more. Additionally, the app’s row and bottom layouts should be simple to read and not visually cluttered or confusing. Therefore, it is imperative that you change the font size, line spacing, and captions to suit your preferences.
straightforward and simple to use. If you had to spend an entire day learning how to use the app, that would not be beneficial. Avoid the situation where you spend more time pondering and memorizing the notes than you do actually climbing the steep learning curve.
Tags and folders. It is useless to have the notes if you can’t quickly get to them. A robust search feature is essential. Even though some experts do not advocate using folders and tags, they nevertheless have a use. I believe that having a well-organized, flexible folder structure is crucial.
linkages that are bidirectional. Connecting notes to relevant content is a great way to review what we’ve learned and expand on our understanding of the subject.
Markdown files should be saved. Finding out that the 5,000 notes in your app are stored in a proprietary format that makes it difficult for another note app to open would be disastrous. The ideal scenario would be to be able to seamlessly import all of your notes onto a different note-taking application with only a few button clicks.
a planner. With an outliner, I can consider and analyze facts much more quickly, especially if I can collapse lines with a single button click. The resulting result is also a lot more presentable for future modification when a collapsible outliner is available, which improves learning.
Easily sync with the mobile application. Some apps don’t sync well between their mobile and computer versions. Notes could disappear. Syncing may not work perfectly. To get the syncing right, the user might need to know a lot about IT. After the computer app has been synced to the mobile device, a mobile app with features that match the computer version is required.
Cost. An annual subscription fee over fifty dollars is, in my opinion, not what I would call good value.
Let me now evaluate the apps I have tested using the 8-point system. Over the past few years, I have utilized each of these for at least a month.
Evernote.
This is the most commonly used note-taking app in the world. Over time, it has added a lot of features, such as the greatest web clipper. It has drawn significant criticism, however, for its numerous shortcomings and occasionally clunky and slow operation.
Layout and user interface. Its user interface and line spacing are not to my taste. That’s just my preference, but regrettably, these aren’t very adjustable.
Folders and tags, bi-directional links, seamless syncing with mobile apps—all very basic and simple to use. Do a good job in each of these areas.
Store documents in Markdown format. This is causing problems for Evernote. Despite Evernote’s features that specifically help the user with this, notes are saved in its proprietary format and are difficult to move to another software.
It lacks bi-directional links and foldable outliners (Evernote’s version does not meet my definition).
Cost. At $59 a year, it’s not inexpensive.
Bear
It’s a simple note-taking software for iOS that comes with the perfect number of extra features.
Layout and user interface. It is quite adaptable and has a lovely, polished appearance. No matter how I modify them, I still don’t find it enjoyable to look at my notes in Bear. That is, of course, very private.
Bidirectional linkages, smooth syncing with mobile apps, straightforward operation, and Markdown file storage are all features. Perform admirably in these domains.
Tags and folders. Bear replaces the folders with a nested tag system. This is seen by some as its main advantage. It really annoys me, in my opinion.
a planner. Bear 2.0 includes a collapsible outliner; however, because it differs from traditional outliners (like Wordflowy), I don’t find it to be as useful for my thinking.
Cost, priced at $30 annually.
Obsidian
Because of its high degree of plug-in adaptability and ability to apply the Zettelkasten approach, this software has received the most attention.
Layout and user interface. It has a simple appearance, and my eyes do not find it appealing. There is no way to change the arrangement. Though I don’t enjoy reading my notes in Obsidian, I don’t mind even looking at them. Nevertheless, I had to spend days studying in order to become proficient with the button and column layouts, as well as how to access all of their features.
straightforward and simple to use. To learn how to get around it, there is a steep learning curve. This is a significant barrier for non-techies and consumes time and energy better used for learning and contemplation.
Tags and folders. Although it is provided, this app’s strength isn’t in it. Although it contains folders, they don’t seem very pleasant. Although it features tags, these are only additional types of bi-directional linkages.
linkages that are bidirectional. Obsidian’s ability to connect all of your notes and display them in a stunning visual presentation on a different screen is an excellent feature.
smooth synchronization. Many bugs can be worked around when utilizing Dropbox or iCloud for syncing. To sync Obsidian, a subscription is required. I can’t utilize its mobile app extensively on its own because it only offers the most basic features of the Mac or PC program. For me, this is the biggest drawback.
Markdown files are preserved. All of your Obsidian notes are saved in Markdown on your hard drive. Any Markdown-compatible app can be used to open and access them with ease.
a planner. To do this, a plug-in is used. It’s not as adaptable as other apps, in my opinion.
Cost. Most of its features are free to use, but some require a subscription.
Craft
It is an iOS software with numerous installed functions that was all the rage around a year ago.
Layout and user interface. Simply put, it’s incredible. It is a pleasure to work with and has an aesthetically pleasing appearance, particularly with the Mac versions. Nonetheless, the Home Page’s column groupings and layout are disorganized and challenging to navigate. I’ve been turned down a lot and can’t use it frequently because of this.
straightforward and simple to use. While there isn’t a significant learning curve, mastery does take a day or two.
Tags and folders. There are no tags attached! One more significant drawback.
linkages that are bidirectional. While it is not nearly as well executed as Obsidian and Logseq, it still has a solid implementation.
Markdown files should be saved. It offers a simple way to convert files into Markdown and twelve additional formats, but it stores data in a proprietary format.
Headlines. extremely neatly executed in Craft.
Easily sync with the mobile application. It is a pleasure to use and well-delivered. Nevertheless, I find that the iOS craft’s fonts are too small for my eyes and that they are fixed.
Cost. At $60 a year, it’s not inexpensive.
Logistic
This one is from the renowned Notion app creator.
Layout and user interface. It has a simple, aesthetically unappealing appearance. Similar to Obsidian, its appearance isn’t problematic, but it’s definitely not appealing. Compared to Obsidian, the button and column arrangement is more easily adaptable.
straightforward and simple to use. Its usage has a learning curve, but I don’t find it as intimidating as Obsidian’s. To be fair, however, it isn’t as powerful as Obsidian.
Tags and folders. To achieve this, it uses bi-directional connections, which are the same as tags, much like in Obsidian. It has absolutely no folders. To retrieve files, one must either use the search function or browse categories and links. I’m turned off by this.
linkages that are bidirectional. This is executed so nicely.
a planner. The outliner is the best on the market. Using it to write my notes provokes interesting thinking.
On the hard drive of your computer, files are stored in Markdown.
smooth synchronization. You may use iCloud or Dropbox to sync with several bugs, just like in Obsidian. Several times when I sync, I have permanently lost notes, and this is a big turn-off for me. Based on what I observed on Reddit, a few other individuals shared similar experiences, although it happened infrequently.
Cost. The majority of its features are free to use.
Noteplan
This software links its notes to a certain calendar day. In my opinion, it is excellent as a digital bullet journal, but not as practical as a note-taking tool.
Layout and user interface. Although it is aesthetically pleasing, I believe Craft looks better. Although there aren’t many adjustments needed, the layout isn’t very flexible.
straightforward and simple to use. Although I don’t believe it is difficult to use, it did take me a few days to get the hang of it, especially because some of the shortcuts it uses might not be very common.
Folders and tags, two-way links, Markdown file saving, an outliner, and seamless mobile app syncing are all included. All of these are there and executed flawlessly. However, I don’t think their presentation is the best in the bunch, and there’s always another app that excels in all of these categories. Either way, it’s not too bad.
Cost. At $60 a year, it’s not inexpensive.
Note to self
a Vietnamese software that is hardly known. With a few more additions, its functions are essentially the same as Bear’s.
Layout and user interface. I believe the notes that have been composed are lovely and will help me learn. I also appreciate how versatile the layout is for me to make changes to. Nothing is wrong in this regard.
straightforward and simple to use. It is quite simple to learn. If you already use the app on a daily basis, you can progressively learn how to use its various features. You may learn how to utilize the app without having to sit down and study.
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Tags and folders. There is nothing better in its class than this.
linkages that are bidirectional. Similarly elegant to Obsidian and Logseq, but not quite as skillfully executed.
Markdown files should be saved. Although it offers a simple way to convert files into Markdown and other formats, it stores data in a proprietary format.
a planner. It is not like traditional outliners, although it does include a folding outliner like Bear.
Easily sync with the mobile application. Yes, in fact. With the same features as the web app, it also has iOS and Android apps for Mac, Windows, and Linux.
Cost. For $30, you can’t beat the lifetime value!
Here are a few things to think about:
Features: Are you looking for a straightforward note-taking tool or something more robust with collaboration, search, and organization features?
Platform: Is it necessary for the software to function on one platform only, or on all of your devices (computer, tablet, and phone)?
Arrangement: What system do you use to arrange your notes? While some apps utilize tags or a more freeform approach, others employ notes and folders.
Content type: Do you primarily take text notes, or are photos, audio files, or videos also required?
Cost: A paid subscription may be necessary for certain functions, but there are many free note-taking applications available.
The following are a few well-known note-taking apps and their advantages:
Microsoft OneNote is a feature-rich, cross-platform program that is free and ideal for loose organizations.
Apple Notes: free, exclusive to Apple users, and well-integrated with other Apple goods
Google Keep is a free, user-friendly tool that’s ideal for making to-do lists and taking brief notes.
Notion: Excellent for project management and teamwork; free for personal use.
Evernote: Strong features, useful for keeping notes and conducting research (the free tier has limitations).
Obsidian: Not as beginner-friendly, but ideal for more experienced users who enjoy a lot of freedom and customization.
After determining your requirements, you can look into particular apps to determine which ones have the features that are most essential to you. On YouTube, you may also view review videos to gain a better understanding of how certain apps function.
