Choosing the right note-taking app can feel like finding the perfect partner for your thoughts. With so many options available, each offering unique strengths, how do you decide? Whether you need a simple tool for quick jots, a powerful knowledge base, or a collaborative workspace, there’s an app out there for you.
At notabletool, we’ve dived into the world of digital note-taking to bring you a rundown of 10 popular and highly-regarded apps in 2025. We’ll break down their features, strengths, weaknesses, pricing, and user ratings to help you find the perfect fit.
(Note: Pricing and user ratings are subject to change. Please check the official websites for the most current information.)
1. Notion
Notion’s note-taking experience supports various content types, including images, text notes, bookmarks, videos, and code. You can add these to your notes with intuitive controls such as drag-and-drop and slash commands.
We loved its customization options. They allowed us to tailor our workspace for different personal and team needs, such as changing privacy settings to keep confidential meeting notes private or sharing them with team members when needed.
One pet peeve the team had with Notion is the maze of organization; you’re sometimes lost in the app, and the bread crumbs aren’t always helpful. On the other hand, it is quite popular with people who want to create databases and wikis. Go figure.
The UX is sometimes hit or miss; the windows you’d want to open as separate pages often open as popups and vice-versa. Of course, it depends on your personal preference.
While testing the app, Notion AI was used to discover how it can simplify note-taking and organization. By listing a few tasks related to a new product launch, Notion AI quickly auto-filled suggested steps. While not fully accurate, the tool did a fair job.
The platform works well for cross-functional teams where collaboration is a must. Comments and real-time editing offer a seamless way to ideate with remote teams, collect and provide feedback quickly, and keep everyone on the same page.
Notion Best Features:
- Create custom templates and integrate databases into notes.
- Access important information quickly via the customizable sidebar.
- Write and format notes using Markdown alongside rich text options.
- Focus mode provides an immersive writing experience.
- Powerful collaboration features and versatile block-based editing.
Notion Limitations:
- The complex feature set and UI can be daunting for new users.
- Does not offer native screen recording or audio transcription features.
- The mobile app experience can feel less fluid than the desktop version.
- Organization can become complex and potentially confusing.
Notion Pricing:
- Basic: Free
- Plus: ~$10/seat per month
- Business: ~$18/seat per month
- Enterprise: Custom pricing
- Notion AI: Add-on for ~$10/member/month
Notion Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.7/5
- Capterra: ~4.8/5
2. Evernote
Evernote has long been a standard in note-taking, designed as a digital filing cabinet for almost any type of information. It excels at capturing web pages, images, PDFs, audio clips, and of course, text notes. Its search capabilities are robust, allowing you to find text even within images and PDFs (premium feature).
Organization relies on notebooks and tags, offering flexibility. Recent updates have added task management features, aiming to make it more of an integrated workspace. It syncs reliably across virtually all platforms (Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android).
While powerful, the user experience has undergone several redesigns, which haven’t always been universally loved. The free tier has become significantly restricted over the years, pushing users towards a paid subscription to unlock core features like offline access on multiple devices and larger upload limits.
Evernote Best Features:
- Excellent web clipper for saving articles and web pages.
- Powerful search capabilities, including text in images/PDFs (OCR).
- Supports a wide variety of content types and attachments.
- Integrated task management features.
- Cross-platform availability and reliable sync.
Evernote Limitations:
- The free plan is very limited (syncs only two devices, small upload quota).
- The interface can feel busy or less intuitive compared to newer apps.
- Subscription cost can be relatively high for some users.
- Note linking exists but isn’t as fluid as dedicated knowledge management apps.
Evernote Pricing:
- Free: Very limited features
- Personal: ~$14.99/month
- Professional: ~$17.99/month
- (Check official site for Teams pricing and annual discounts)
Evernote Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.4/5
- Capterra: ~4.4/5
3. Microsoft OneNote
OneNote stands out with its completely freeform canvas structure. Instead of rigid pages, you get digital notebooks with sections and pages where you can click and type, draw, or insert content anywhere, much like a physical binder or whiteboard. This makes it fantastic for visual thinkers, students taking lecture notes, or anyone who doesn’t like being constrained by linear text editing.
As a Microsoft product, it integrates seamlessly with the Office suite (Word, Excel, Outlook) and is available across all major platforms. It offers robust drawing and handwriting tools, especially on tablet devices. The best part? It’s completely free with generous storage tied to your Microsoft account (OneDrive).
The highly unstructured nature can be a double-edged sword; while offering freedom, it can sometimes lead to disorganized notes if not managed carefully. Some users find the sync mechanism occasionally less immediate than competitors, and the sheer number of features can feel overwhelming initially.
OneNote Best Features:
- Completely free with generous storage.
- Flexible, freeform canvas for non-linear note-taking.
- Excellent drawing, inking, and handwriting support.
- Strong integration with Microsoft Office ecosystem.
- Available on Web, Windows, Mac, iOS, Android.
OneNote Limitations:
- The freeform structure can lead to disorganization for some users.
- Interface can feel complex due to the number of features.
- Syncing can occasionally have minor delays.
- Tagging and linking systems are less robust than dedicated PKM tools.
OneNote Pricing:
- Free: Fully functional with storage based on your Microsoft account (OneDrive).
OneNote Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.5/5
- Capterra: ~4.6/5
4. Obsidian
Obsidian takes a different approach, focusing on building a network of linked notes – a “second brain.” Your notes are stored as plain text Markdown files directly on your local device, giving you complete ownership and privacy. Its core strength lies in bi-directional linking, allowing you to connect ideas effortlessly and visualize these connections through a graph view.
It’s incredibly customizable through a vast library of community-developed plugins and themes. You can tailor it to function as a simple note-taker, a complex project manager, a journal, or a research repository. The core app is free for personal use.
The learning curve can be steeper than simpler apps, especially if you’re new to Markdown or the concept of linked notes (Zettelkasten). While the core app is free, official services for syncing between devices and publishing notes online require a paid subscription, although free community workarounds exist (like using iCloud, Syncthing, or Git).
Obsidian Best Features:
- Local-first storage (Markdown files) ensures data ownership and privacy.
- Powerful bi-directional linking and graph view for connecting ideas.
- Highly extensible and customizable with themes and plugins.
- Active community support and development.
- Free for personal use.
Obsidian Limitations:
- Steeper learning curve compared to traditional note apps.
- Official sync and publish services are paid add-ons.
- Requires some understanding of Markdown.
- Can feel overwhelming due to the sheer number of customization options.
Obsidian Pricing:
- Personal: Free
- Commercial: ~$50/user per year
- Optional Add-ons: Sync (~$10/month), Publish (~$20/month per site)
Obsidian Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.8/5
- Capterra: ~4.9/5
5. Google Keep
Google Keep is all about speed and simplicity. It mimics the experience of using physical sticky notes, making it perfect for capturing fleeting thoughts, creating quick checklists, setting reminders, or saving images and voice memos on the go. Its colourful, card-based interface is intuitive and visually appealing.
As a Google product, it integrates seamlessly with Google Calendar, Docs, and other Workspace apps. Reminders can be time-based or location-based. Collaboration is straightforward for sharing notes or lists with others. It’s entirely free to use.
Its strength is also its limitation: Keep lacks advanced formatting options, complex organizational structures (only labels and colour-coding, no folders or notebooks), and features found in more robust apps. It’s ideal for short-term notes and reminders rather than extensive research or writing.
Google Keep Best Features:
- Extremely simple, fast, and intuitive interface.
- Great for quick notes, checklists, and reminders (time/location-based).
- Seamless integration with Google Workspace.
- Voice memo recording with transcription.
- Completely free.
Google Keep Limitations:
- Very limited text formatting options.
- Basic organization (labels only, no folders/notebooks).
- Not suitable for long-form writing or complex knowledge management.
- No dedicated desktop app (accessed via web).
Google Keep Pricing:
- Free: Fully functional.
Google Keep Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.5/5
- Capterra: ~4.7/5
6. Apple Notes
For users invested in the Apple ecosystem (iPhone, iPad, Mac), Apple Notes offers a surprisingly capable and seamlessly integrated experience. It has evolved significantly from its basic origins, now supporting rich text formatting, tables, checklists, document scanning, drawing/sketching (with Apple Pencil support), and folder-based organization.
Its biggest advantage is the deep integration with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, including features like Quick Notes and excellent iCloud syncing. Collaboration on notes with other Apple users is easy. Best of all, it’s completely free and pre-installed on Apple devices.
The primary limitation is its platform exclusivity – it’s not practically usable outside the Apple ecosystem. While organization has improved with folders and tags, it might still feel less powerful than apps with more advanced tagging or linking capabilities for complex knowledge management.
Apple Notes Best Features:
- Seamless integration and sync across Apple devices via iCloud.
- Good range of features: rich text, drawing, scanning, tables, checklists.
- Simple, clean interface.
- Supports collaboration with other Apple users.
- Completely free and pre-installed.
Apple Notes Limitations:
- Essentially limited to Apple devices (limited web access via iCloud.com).
- Organization features (folders, tags) are good but less advanced than some competitors.
- No cross-platform availability for non-Apple users.
- Lacks features like robust templates or bi-directional linking.
Apple Notes Pricing:
- Free: Included with Apple devices and iCloud.
Apple Notes Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- (Often reviewed as part of iOS/macOS, fewer dedicated platform ratings)
- G2: N/A (Generally not listed as a standalone business product)
- Capterra: ~4.6/5 (Based on user entries)
7. Simplenote
Simplenote lives up to its name. Created by Automattic (the company behind WordPress.com), it focuses on providing a clean, fast, and distraction-free writing experience. It primarily uses Markdown for formatting and relies on tags for organization rather than notebooks.
Its core strengths are speed and simplicity. Syncing across devices (available on nearly all platforms) is typically very fast and reliable. It supports collaboration by sharing notes and allows users to publish notes directly to the web. It’s completely free with no upsells.
If you need rich text formatting, image embedding (inline), folders, or complex features, Simplenote is not the tool for you. Its minimalism is its defining characteristic, which is perfect for plain text enthusiasts but limiting for others.
Simplenote Best Features:
- Clean, minimalist, distraction-free interface.
- Excellent Markdown support.
- Extremely fast and reliable sync across platforms.
- Simple collaboration and note publishing options.
- Completely free.
Simplenote Limitations:
- Very basic feature set – primarily text-focused.
- No rich text formatting (only Markdown).
- No notebooks/folders (organization via tags only).
- No inline image support or attachments.
Simplenote Pricing:
- Free: Fully functional.
Simplenote Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.3/5
- Capterra: ~4.5/5
8. Joplin
Joplin is a popular open-source alternative to apps like Evernote, prioritizing user control and privacy. Notes are stored locally, typically in Markdown format, and it offers end-to-end encryption (E2EE) for secure syncing. Users can choose their own sync target, including cloud services like Dropbox, OneDrive, Nextcloud, or Joplin’s own paid cloud service.
It supports notebooks, tags, rich text and Markdown editing, file attachments, alarms, and has a web clipper extension similar to Evernote’s. Being open-source means it has an active community and is highly transparent. It’s available on all major desktop and mobile platforms.
While powerful and flexible, the user interface might feel less polished or modern compared to some commercial competitors. Setting up sync requires a few extra steps if you’re not using the official Joplin Cloud. While feature-rich, discovering all its capabilities might take some time.
Joplin Best Features:
- Open-source with an active community.
- Local-first storage and end-to-end encryption options for privacy.
- Flexible sync options (self-hosted or cloud services).
- Supports notebooks, tags, Markdown, attachments, and web clipping.
- Free (unless using the optional Joplin Cloud sync service).
Joplin Limitations:
- The user interface can feel less polished than some alternatives.
- Requires manual setup for most sync options.
- Can have a moderate learning curve to utilize all features.
- Discoverability of some features might be lower.
Joplin Pricing:
- App: Free
- Optional Joplin Cloud (Sync & Collaboration): Starts around €2.99/month
Joplin Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.5/5
- Capterra: ~4.7/5
9. Bear
Bear has gained a loyal following within the Apple ecosystem for its beautiful, clean design and excellent Markdown editing experience. It focuses on providing a fluid and aesthetically pleasing environment for writers and note-takers. Organization is primarily handled through a flexible tagging system, including nested tags (#work/project/alpha), which many users prefer over traditional folders.
It supports linking between notes, making it useful for connecting related thoughts. The app feels fast and responsive on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. While the core app is usable for free, syncing between devices and exporting to various formats requires a Bear Pro subscription.
The main limitation is its exclusivity to Apple platforms. If you use Windows, Android, or Linux, Bear is not an option. While it supports images, its focus remains heavily on text and Markdown.
Bear Best Features:
- Beautiful, elegant, and focused user interface.
- Excellent Markdown editor with live preview.
- Flexible organization using nested tags.
- Supports linking between notes.
- Fast and responsive performance on Apple devices.
Bear Limitations:
- Only available on Apple platforms (macOS, iOS, iPadOS).
- Syncing between devices requires a paid subscription (Bear Pro).
- Primarily text-focused; less emphasis on varied attachments compared to Evernote.
- No collaboration features.
Bear Pricing:
- Free: Core editor on a single device, limited export.
- Bear Pro: ~$2.99/month or ~$29.99/year (provides sync, themes, export options)
Bear Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.5/5
- Capterra: ~4.6/5
10. UpNote
UpNote has emerged as a strong contender, offering a blend of useful features, a clean user interface, and attractive pricing. It strikes a good balance between the simplicity of apps like Bear or Simplenote and the feature set of Evernote, but with a more modern feel. It supports rich text and Markdown, notebooks and tags for organization, note linking, tables, code blocks, and attachments.
It’s praised for its speed, reliable sync, and intuitive design across all major platforms (Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android). A major draw is its affordable pricing model, including a lifetime purchase option which is rare these days.
As a relatively newer app compared to giants like Evernote or OneNote, its ecosystem of integrations might be less developed. While feature-rich, it might lack some niche power features found in apps like Notion or Obsidian (e.g., complex databases, extensive plugin architecture).
UpNote Best Features:
- Clean, intuitive, and aesthetically pleasing interface.
- Supports both rich text and Markdown editing.
- Good balance of organizational tools (notebooks, nested tags, pinning, linking).
- Fast and reliable sync across all major platforms.
- Very affordable subscription or lifetime purchase option.
UpNote Limitations:
- Fewer integrations compared to long-established apps.
- Lacks highly advanced features like databases (Notion) or graph view (Obsidian).
- Web clipper is functional but perhaps less powerful than Evernote’s.
- Collaboration features are basic.
UpNote Pricing:
- Free: Limited number of notes.
- Premium: ~$1/month or ~$29.99 Lifetime Purchase
UpNote Ratings and Reviews (Approximate):
- G2: ~4.7/5
- Capterra: ~4.8/5
Finding Your Match
The “best” note-taking app truly depends on your needs.
- Need simplicity and speed? Try Google Keep, Simplenote, or Apple Notes (if you’re on Apple).
- Want an all-around digital filing cabinet? Evernote or OneNote are strong contenders.
- Building a complex knowledge base? Obsidian or Notion are powerful choices.
- Value privacy and open source? Joplin is excellent.
- Love Markdown and aesthetics on Apple? Bear is calling.
- Seeking a great balance of features and price? UpNote is worth a look.
We recommend trying the free versions of 2-3 apps that catch your eye. See which interface clicks with you, how well it handles the types of notes you take, and whether the organization system makes sense for your brain. Happy note-taking!
