Table of Contents
Quick answer
There's no single "best" note-taking app — the right one depends on how you actually think. If you want your notes to connect to each other over time, Obsidian or Notion are the strongest picks. If you want the fastest path from blank page to organized notes with zero setup, Apple Notes or Google Keep win. If you annotate PDFs and readings constantly, GoodNotes or Notability are worth the cost.
Best for linked, long-term notes
1. Obsidian
A local-first app built around linking notes to each other, so your notes gradually form a personal knowledge graph instead of living as isolated documents. The learning curve is steeper than most apps on this list, but for long-term students and researchers building a body of connected knowledge, nothing else matches it.
2. Notion
More structured than Obsidian, with databases, tables, and templates alongside free-form notes. Its AI features can summarize pages and turn messy notes into organized outlines. See our full breakdown in 25 Best AI Tools for Students for how Notion AI compares to other AI study tools.
3. Roam Research
One of the original "networked notes" apps, popular with researchers who want daily-note-driven workflows. Pricier than Obsidian with a smaller free tier, but some people prefer its specific interaction model.
Best all-in-one workspace
4. Microsoft OneNote
Free with a Microsoft account, and genuinely strong for freeform note-taking — you can click anywhere on a page and start typing, which suits people who take messy, non-linear notes in lectures.
5. Evernote
One of the longest-running note apps, with strong search (including text inside images) and web clipping. Its free tier has become more limited over the years, which has pushed some long-time users toward alternatives.
6. Google Keep
The simplest option here — sticky-note-style, fast, and free, tightly integrated with the rest of Google Workspace. Not built for long documents, but excellent for quick capture.
Best simple, distraction-free apps
7. Apple Notes
Pre-installed, fast, and increasingly capable — it now supports tables, scanning documents, and basic collaboration. For Apple users who don't want to manage another app, it covers more ground than people expect.
8. Bear
A clean, markdown-based notes app for Mac and iOS with a focus on writing experience over features. A good middle ground between Apple Notes' simplicity and Obsidian's power.
Best for handwriting & PDF annotation
9. GoodNotes
The standard choice for handwritten notes on an iPad, with strong handwriting-to-text search and PDF annotation built in — useful for marking up readings directly. If PDFs are a bigger part of your workflow than note-taking itself, see our companion guide, Best PDF Editors for Students and Professionals, for tools focused specifically on that.
10. Notability
A close competitor to GoodNotes with strong audio-recording-synced-to-notes features, useful for reviewing a lecture alongside the exact notes you took during it.
11. Microsoft Loop
A newer, more collaborative note-taking format from Microsoft, aimed at team-based note sharing rather than solo use — worth knowing about if you're coordinating notes across a group project.
12. Craft
A visually polished notes app with strong document design features, popular with people who want their notes to look presentable when shared, not just functional.
Full comparison table
| App | Best for | Approx. price | Free tier? |
|---|---|---|---|
| Obsidian | Linked, long-term knowledge base | Free personal use | Yes, generous |
| Notion | All-in-one workspace + AI | Free personal; paid team plans | Yes, generous |
| OneNote | Freeform lecture notes | Free with Microsoft account | Yes |
| Evernote | Search-heavy archiving | ~$8–15/month | Yes, limited |
| GoodNotes | Handwriting & PDF annotation | One-time purchase or subscription | Limited trial |
Prices change frequently — confirm current pricing on each app's official site before subscribing.
How to choose
Pick a linked-notes app if...
- You're building long-term knowledge across a semester or career
- You want to rediscover old notes through connections, not just search
Pick a simple app if...
- You mainly need fast capture, not a long-term system
- You don't want to spend time setting up a structure
For a broader look at building a full productivity system around whichever note app you choose, see 15 Best Productivity Apps That Actually Help You Focus.
Frequently asked questions
