Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone of 2024

Here are some of the Best Note Taking Apps for iPad that You Must Have installed to note down tasks and drawing purposes.

Are you looking for the best note-taking app for the new iPad? Then pick from here given best Note-taking apps for All iPads. This is the next roundup after the best iPhone Apps for College Students. As you know, the iTunes Store is teeming with a lot of kinds of note-taking apps for iOS, So I tried to place here the best Note-taking apps for iPad Air and iPad Mini, which are most useful for both College students and teachers.

Download the best note-taking app on your iPad and make your iPad a digital notes tool. Of the given apps, several are handwritings note-taking app, while the remaining apps work with the stylus. Since you’ll take your class notes very easily and faster than before. Moreover, these apps are useful for office meetings, in the classroom to take math notes, and on the go.

The sweet touchpoint of a judicious blend of new technologies and the awareness of nature by going paperless resulted in the invention of Tablets – an alternative to pen and paper. Apple soon entered the game and took over the market in one go. Apple’s iPads are way ahead of the time and provide features that are not available in any of the Tabs from other manufacturers having different OS. With Apple’s brand value added to the factor, currently, there is no worthy competitor of iPad in the tech world for taking notes and other similar exercises.

Apple iPads are efficient, have best-in-class displays, and run with the company’s superfast processors and security. For note-taking, Apple is compatible with many applications and software – among which some are free and some charge a premium. Here we provide you with the most popular apps that provide the best experience while taking notes in the classroom or anywhere you want.

Best Note-Taking Apps for iPhone

#1. GoodNotes 5

GoodNotes 6 Note Taking Apps for iPhone
GoodNotes 6

At the time of writing this blog, GoodNotes 6 is the highest-rated note-taking app on Apple AppStore with a 4.8/5 rating. It is one of the most prominent players in the game. 

GoodNotes 5 provides everything you need while taking notes, including the ability to easily switch between typing and writing, and also provides pre-designed note templates and layouts. The application is a bit expensive. However, the users have to pay every time while upgrading to the latest version.

Highlighted Features:

  1. GoodNotes 5 has an Auto Deselect feature which allows you to easily switch between the tools while writing – especially between the pen and eraser tool. While using the Apple Pencil for writing, if you double-tap on the stylus, it switches from the pen tool to the eraser. You can deselect and switch it again in just one touch.
  2. It includes a Presentation Mode, which allows the users to convert the iPad into a digital whiteboard. In addition, it allows you to project the iPad screen to a bigger screen by using AirPlay or an HDMI cable. During the presentation, you will still be able to see the GoodNotes interface on your iPad. 

c. The app allows the users to adjust the sensitivity of the stylus and the palm recognition for more convenience while writing. Some people tend to press harder while writing, and this feature is handy for them.

Lacking behind: 

  1. GoodNotes 5 has a significant drawback in its notebook page dividers. The page divider does not allow you to write over it or drag images, limiting moving media elements from one page to another.
  2. Another critical flaw of the app lies in its organizer of notes. Adding a new note, creates a whole new page which is annoying at times. For example, if a student takes notes for different lectures, there would be many notebook pages for different lectures at the end of the week or a month.

#2. Notability 

Notability Note Taking Apps for iPhone
Notability

Notability is rated just equal to GoodNotes 5 on the Apple App Store. It is one of the primary choices for any Apple user taking notes on their iPads. 

The app is regularly ranked at #1 for top paid apps on the Apple App Store. It also got an Editor’s Choice Award on the platform alongside GoodNotes 5. Notability is priced at $8.99.

Highlighted Features:

  1. Notability offers an audio recording feature synced with pen strokes while taking notes. Thus, it elevates the user’s convenience to recall and reorganize the notes later while going through the digital notebook.
  2. Another highlighted feature of Notability is its simplified approach to organizing the notes. It does not provide any complicated process while filing your digital notebook, and it helps to find the notes from long back quickly in a moment.

c. The app also provides a feature to annotate PDF files which is quite helpful. It also allows sharing notes and files over iCloud, Google Drive, Dropbox, and Airdrop.

Lacking Behind:

  1. The price for purchasing Notability is relatively on the higher side. However, while comparing it with other apps, it charges a bit premium, pulling it behind in certain conditions.
  2. The app has a drawback in its limited pen sizes and organizational options. It has a simplified file organizer, giving it an edge, but users sometimes feel restrained due to a lack of options.

#3. Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Microsoft OneNote

The classic offering from OneNote from Microsoft is an excellent choice for note-taking and the best free note-taking application available on the Apple App Store without a shadow of a doubt. It is rated 4.7/5 on the app store.

OneNote is the most robust note-taking application with cross-platform compatibility. Moreover, it provides almost the similar features provided on the paid apps without charging a penny.

Highlighted Features:

  1. Microsoft, in OneNote, provides the most flexible note-taking structure. It allows you to set up and use the app the way you want. 
  2. OneNote offers various multimedia features, and the cross-platform flexibility adds extra leverage to work seamlessly.

c. Collaborating with Microsoft Office, OneNote is a feature-rich yet straightforward app, and a user can utilize the maximum without digging a hole in the pocket.

 Lacking Behind:

  1. The major disadvantage of OneNote is it is laggy. It lacks accuracy while taking notes and responds late, which at times feels very annoying.
  2. The users report bugs and syncing problems many times. It occurs due to poor compatibility issues between Apple and Microsoft.

#4. Apple Notes

Apple Notes Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Apple Notes

Apple Notes does not require an introduction; as the name suggests, it is the default note-taking app provided by Apple. It is a native app, and it does not have a rating on the App Store.

Apple Notes is a trendy choice among users. The free application provides the most seamless experience as it is an in-house development by the company. It remains the only option for those who do not want to install any third-party application on their iPad or other Apple devices.

Highlighted Features:

  1. The simplistic approach of note-taking is the USP of Apple Notes. 
  2. The most significant advantage the app has over any other application is its integration with iOS.

c. Apple Notes has another edge as its compatible flexibility for the Apple Ecosystem.

Lacking Behind:

  1. The significant disadvantage of Apple Notes is its limited organizational tools and advanced features.
  2. Like every in-built app, it only offers the basics. At times, the interface looks dull, monotonous, and unproductive.

#5. Evernote

Evernote Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Evernote

Evernote is another known application for note-taking, giving tough competition to giants like GoodNote 5 and Notability. It is rated 4.6/5 on the App Store and offers both a free and a paid version.

The application exists in the market for quite a long time. Therefore, as a business, it has an excellent experience with its bag and has seen trends and developments in the tech industry. Evernote is one of the applications to introduce many innovative features to note-taking activities.

Highlighted Features:

  1. The biggest reason for going with Evernote has always been its long list of integration features with different devices.
  2. Since the application has pioneered a lot of features that many note-taking applications offer today, it has the most optimized interface and collaboration with various platforms. 

c. An edge for Evernote is it is also compatible with Android. 

Lacking Behind:

  1. Despite being an old application with a reputation, users often complain about its poor customer support.
  2. Another reason people avoid Evernote is that some essential features are reserved only for the Premium version. 

#6. Noteshelf 2

Noteshelf 2 Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Noteshelf 2

Noteshelf has been in the App Store for quite some time now. It is even older than Notability and significantly the most popular note-taking app in the past. It still has a good 4.2/5 rating which indicates its loyal user base.

The app is a paid one and is priced at $9.99.

Highlighted Features:

  1. Like Nebo, Noteshelf also offers a handwriting recognition feature. But, adding a feather more to the cap, it demands recognizing handwriting in 65 different languages around the world. 
  2. Another cool feature of Noteshelf is the voice recording that goes along with handwritten notes, which is very similar to what Notability offers.

c. Multitasking in iPad’s split-screen is one advantage the application provides.

Lacking Behind:

  1. The main reason why it is not so popular despite offering some attractive features is the presence of significant bugs in the app.
  2. Noteshelf offers a lot, but some of the basic features are missing, essential for note-taking.

#7. Whink Notes

Whink Notes Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Whink Notes

The Whink app is relatively lesser-known yet a good option for note-taking purposes. The straight-to-the-purpose approach of the application makes it different from the lot. It is rated 4.1/5 in the App Store and priced at $6.99.

Highlighted Features:

  1. Whink tags itself as the ‘gel pen’ app because it mimics the effect of writing with a gel pen on paper. The incredible feature enhances the note-taking experience to a different level.
  2. The app is relatively affordable. You have to pay only once, and there are no extra charges for unlocking any additional features.

c. Another stand-out feature of the app is that it supports diagrams and geometric shapes.

Lacking Behind:

  1. A major misgiving of the app is that it does not provide cloud integration.
  2. Another area where it falls behind is it only supports photos and audio recording as a part of multimedia integration.

#8. Noted

Noted Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Noted

The free-to-download application stands apart with its audio-focused note-taking approach. In addition, although the app is free, it offers in-app purchases.

Highlighted Features:

  1. Even though there are more popular apps offering audio-focused note-taking, Noted is a step ahead because of its dedicated approach toward that direction.
  2. The app offers quite a good experience with plenty of features and tools to play with.

Lacking Behind:

  1. A drawback of this app is it offers only an annual subscription by expecting a long-term commitment from its users.
  2. While the audio-focused approach is its USP, the app lacks other advanced features that its competitors offer. 

#9. Notes Plus

Notes Plus Note Taking Apps for iPad and iPhone
Notes Plus

Now start to take your notes using Notes Plus on iPad. The app gives features including background audio recording, auto shape detection, Inserting images from camera or photos, Auto backup to Dropbox, multi-level folder management, and more. You can convert your handwriting to text with Notes Plus.

This app supports various Styluses, likely Adonit, Wacom, Pencil, etc. The app supports different 52 languages. You can get an outstanding handwriting experience on your iPad.

Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad: 

#1. Notability

Notability Note Taking Apps for iPad
Notability

Notability is a powerful and best note-taking app for iPads. Notability gives superb note folders an organized layout, and with them, you also get a wide variety of pens and writing tools. This taking note is a reliable resource providing you scissor tool that is used to do copy, cut, and paste as well as move any part of your notes. This is an incredibly helpful note-taking app for high school students, College Students, Teachers, and Business professionals.

The Zoom option of the app offers writing smoothly and quickly. The main thing is it’s compatible with iOS 8 and iOS 9 compatible devices. Notability supports iCloud so you can get your notes on your iPad, iPhone, or Mac anytime and anywhere.

#2. Penultimate

Penultimate Note Taking Apps for iPad
Penultimate

Penultimate is developed by popular Evernote. It provides the natural best digital handwriting experience on iPad. Big helpful app to take class notes, journal your thoughts, a good idea of the office, and outline your next important idea.

The app makes it easy to find the option to search for any notes with your handwriting. Download now and get access Evernote to-do note app.

#3. Notepad+/Notepad+ Pro

Notepad+ Pro Note Taking Apps for iPad
Notepad+ Pro

Notepad+ Pro is one of the most expensive note-taking applications available on the iOS platform. However, the basic version of the app is free to download. The Pro costs $24.99, an expensive option yet useful for those who prefer an actual pen and paper feel while taking notes.

Highlighted Features:

  1. A notable characteristic of the app is the flexibility to access different formats of text. You can annotate PDFs, Excel sheets, number formats, and many more to the list.
  2. This Notepad duo offers an engaging interface that is much better than a blank white notebook page. Many customization options are available in the apps. There is also a blur tool that allows you to hide private information.

   Lacking Behind:

  1. Although there is a free version, the app is quite expensive and does not offer a value-for-money proposition.
  2. The free version of the app contains minimal features.

#4. Nebo Note

Nebo Note Note Taking Apps for iPad
Nebo Note

Rated at 4.5/5 on the App Store, Nebo from MyScript is another popular application serving note-taking purposes. Nebo is free for download; however, certain features can be utilized through in-app purchases. 

Highlighted Features:

  1. The most helpful feature of Nebo is it translates handwritten notes to texts – to a great extent. This keyboard-plus-pen feature makes it stand out among the lot, and it is pretty accurate in functionality. 
  2. Apart from the handwriting recognition feature, Nebo offers many productivity shortcuts making lives easier for students and corporates in the meeting briefings.

Lacking Behind:

  1. Despite being dependent on AI to a considerable extent, we are not yet in a state of real magical peak point. It also applies to the handwriting recognition of Nebo. It works well in ideal conditions but has yet to learn to recognize the spiral letters of a doctor.
  2. There are a few instances where users report significant lag and unresponsiveness of the app while taking notes and writing on the iPad screen.

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Karly Wood

Karly Wood is a journalist based in Ohio who specializes in covering Apple and technology trends. With a varied experience in reporting on public safety, government, and education, her insights bridge multiple disciplines, providing readers with a well-rounded perspective on today's technological advancements. If you need to contact me, you can reach me at [email protected] or through (Facebook)

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