good notes ipad app

The 8 best note-taking apps for iPad in 2024

Hero image with the logos of the best note-taking apps for iPad

Whether you're in a meeting or solo brainstorming, you take notes—and immediately forget they exist. There's a better way: taking notes on your iPad to access them anytime, anywhere.

iPad note-taking apps do more than replace the iconic duo of paper and pen. These apps store and organize your notes, import links and media files, record meetings, mark up PDFs, foster team collaboration, and much more.

It's like carrying around one magical notebook instead of 463 dog-eared, coffee-stained hot messes. But which top iPad note-taking app is right for you? I tested them all so you don't have to.

The 8 best note-taking apps for iPad

What makes the best note-taking app for ipad, how we evaluate and test apps.

Like you, I've been taking notes since elementary school. I'm sure you agree our notes now are more essential to daily life than scribbles about photosynthesis, right?

In my opinion, these are the five features that the best notes app for iPad needs to have:

Apple Pencil support. Good note-taking apps make full use of Apple Pencil with pressure sensitivity and tilt support to make writing on the screen feel like paper. For those who prefer to type, apps should also offer full keyboard support.

Organization tools. The benefit of digital storage can also be its downfall: nearly unlimited storage can turn you into a packrat. These apps offer easy ways to find your notes, such as folder (or "notebook") organization, categories, tags, and more.

Multi-device syncing. For most of us, our iPad isn't our main work device. You need to be able to easily access your notes—and preferably edit and create them—from all your devices.

Exporting and sharing options. Whether you want to archive, print, or email your notes, you'll probably need to save them as a PDF. Great apps go even further with collaboration tools and additional formats.

Productivity boosters, including AI. Today's top note-taking apps offer audio recordings, media imports, and handwriting recognition as standard, but the best note apps also harness the power of AI.

With these criteria in mind, and after weeks of testing apps with my usual workflow of creative brainstorming and client meetings, these are the eight best iPad note-taking apps. And if you're looking for the best free note-taking app for iPad, you're in luck: all of these apps are either completely free or have a free version.

The best iPad note-taking apps at a glance

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GoodNotes 6 pros:

Highly customizable

Imitates a physical paper notebook look and feel

GoodNotes 6 cons:

Used to be a one-time purchase, now a subscription model

I personally use GoodNotes as my main iPad note-taking app. Yes, I'm one of those #aesthetic nerds who use textured paper templates to make my fake digital notebook feel more like the real thing. Combined with the ability to customize ink colors by HEX code, choose a pen style, highlight, and turn any transparent PNG image into a sticker, GoodNotes has, in my opinion, the right combination of style and substance.

Besides the stylish pen and formatting options, GoodNotes is packed full of useful and productive features such as audio recording, so you can record a meeting or lecture while taking notes, and replay it later or break it into smaller clips. While the recording plays, what you wrote or typed during the time it was recorded is also highlighted in sync with the audio like a magically-appearing instant replay perfect for studying or reviewing concepts.

Something I use all the time is split screen to work on two GoodNotes documents at once, as well as the digital sticker book function where you can store any transparent PNG as a reusable element to drop into any of your notebooks—perfect for planners. Importing PDFs and templates is seamless, too, offering a nearly unlimited capacity to customize your GoodNotes the way you like it.

One of my favorite features is the ability to combine handwriting with the Apple Pencil or typed text boxes anywhere on any page. Just start writing, or click and drag text boxes around, to create documents and notes with complete freedom of formatting. Need to rearrange? Select handwriting with the lasso tool or drag text boxes anywhere else on the page. It's great for flexible note-taking or quickly sketching out plans and ideas.

To me, GoodNotes offers the best mix of the most important features a note-taking app should have combined with an intuitive user interface. What more could you ask for?

GoodNotes 6 pricing: Free for up to 3 notebooks. Full version is $9.99/year or $29.99 one-time payment (Apple devices only), or $6.99/year for Android/Windows devices.

Best iPad note-taking app for text notes

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Apple Notes pros:

Easy to use

Great automatic organization with Smart Folders and tagging

Apple Notes cons:

Can combine text and Apple Pencil writing in the same note, but would be nice to have more flexibility

Made by Apple, Notes comes pre-installed on your iPad and offers an intuitive user experience and flawless syncing to all your Apple devices over iCloud—and it's free. For many people, those are enough reasons to use Notes as your main note-taking app.

Notes supports handwritten text or sketches with the Apple Pencil, typed text, links, photos, and videos, and it offers some basic text formatting options like checklists, lists, and headings. In short, it's got most of the features you probably want for simple note taking, and it's easy to use from the second you open it.

There are a few drawbacks for more advanced (read: picky) note-takers. It's awkward to combine typed text and handwriting within the same note. Similar to other text-first apps like Evernote, in order to handwrite with Apple Pencil, you have to add a handwriting "section" inside a note. You can insert multiple "Pencil sections" within a note, but this segmented, document-style format of alternating rows of text and handwriting can be limiting. Even the act of inserting a section can be enough to disrupt your creative workflow if you enjoy sketching out ideas. It left me wishing I could type or write wherever I wanted. Overall, it feels clunky.

What Notes lacks in formatting freedom it makes up for in organization. Smart folders allow you to set criteria to sort new notes into, which can be as simple as placing notes with the same hashtag within a folder. These smart folders sync across devices to keep you organized anywhere. The ability to quickly sort your notes by typing a hashtag is a super time-saver.

Apple Notes pricing: Free

Best iPad note-taking app for Windows users

OneNote pros:

Great interface that makes organization and writing workflow easy

Full cross-platform sync support

OneNote cons:

Not as many ink styles, color, and customization options for handwriting as other apps

OneNote is nearly perfect as an iPad note-taking app for those who use Windows or Android devices alongside their iPad. Many of the other apps on this list are also cross-platform, but OneNote will feel most familiar to diehard Windows users. And as of 2024, it includes support for Apple Pencil handwriting as well.

OneNote is so well-executed, it's almost perfect, even for Apple-only users. I like OneNote's approach to organization the most: sections on the left, pages within the section in the middle, and a large note space on the right. It makes it incredibly easy to stay organized while having a bird's eye view of your notebook at all times. The efficiency of being able to jump around in a digital notebook without having to open menus and tabs cannot be overstated.

OneNote also does a great job of working with both text and Apple Pencil handwriting, as of its major 2024 update. You can combine both within the same note and easily switch between text mode and Pencil mode, and move elements around later on if you need to.

Overall, OneNote offers the best cross-platform, free note-taking option for those who like to stay organized across all their devices, especially if many of those are Windows or Android devices.

Add notes on OneNote for upcoming Google Calendar events

Add new OneNote notes to Todoist as tasks

OneNote pricing: Free. Premium plans allow for more storage and access to all Microsoft 365 apps, starting at $6.99/month for individuals or $9.99/month for family sharing.

Best iPad note-taking app for layered notes

Noteful pros:

Layered notes are infinitely useful for everything from studying to work meetings

Easy sharing and exporting options

Noteful cons:

Syncing across devices is a premium feature

Part of the reason digital notes are so popular is that they can do things a physical piece of paper can't, like contain multiple layers. Yep, Noteful is like the Photoshop of iPad note-taking apps. You can type or handwrite notes on multiple layers and show or hide any of them.

Cool, but… why? Besides the obvious of students using it to quiz themselves, layered notes are also helpful at work. Write notes from a client meeting on one layer and your action items (or mindless scribbles) on another. Hide the layer with your messy scribbles (or secret company info) and export only the layer with nicely formatted notes meant for your client's or team's eyes.

Layers also work well with Noteful's presentation mode to turn your notes into a click-to-reveal slideshow when mirroring your iPad to an external display. (Hot tip: hide your snarky scribble layer before mirroring.)

One (small) complaint I have about Noteful is I kept accidentally drawing with my finger. I'm used to GoodNotes, which you can set to only draw with the Apple Pencil and ignore finger pokes. I'm so used to being able to scroll around a document with one finger instead of leaving a pen smear. Classic iPad gestures like pinching in/out with two fingers to zoom and the three-finger swipe to undo still work in Noteful, though.

If you regularly share notes with clients or your team—or doodle swear words during conference calls—Noteful's layered notes can save you a ton of time (and disciplinary action).

Noteful pricing: Free; for multi-device syncing and additional features, the Pro plan is a one-time payment of $4.99.

Best iPad note-taking app for creative project planning

Milanote pros:

Flexible but structured layout

Beautiful built-in project templates

Milanote cons:

There are almost too many formatting options and features. (Translation: this app is nearly perfect.)

At first glance, Milanote looks very similar to Apple Freeform. And in some ways, it is: you can use a mix of typed text or handwritten notes and include links, photos, and other media. Milanote is more of a "Pinterest-board style" app instead of a notebook format, and comes packed with built-in project plan templates, stock photos, task organization, and other tools to power creative teams.

Milanote describes their iPad note-taking app as allowing people to turn "nothing into something." It's open enough that you can start typing, writing, or adding elements anywhere, but also structured as it auto-aligns elements and offers specific formats creative people will appreciate, such as color cards with built-in HEX codes.

Anyone can use Milanote, though it excels in project planning for designers, writers, filmmakers, marketers, and other creatives. Team collaboration is deeply embedded, with changes instantly visible for everyone in the same board. You can also leave comment cards anywhere, with the ability to tag users and reply in threads, similar to Google Docs.

Milanote is like if Freeform, Notion, OneNote, Pinterest, and Trello had a baby… and that's a beautiful thing.

Milanote pricing: Free for up to 100 notes/10 files. The unlimited Pro plan is $12.50/month for individuals, $49/month for 10 users, and $99/month for 50 users.

Best iPad note-taking app for notes and calendar together

Agenda pros:

The best execution of notes and calendar tasks together in one app

Organized note-taking structure

Agenda cons:

Apple Pencil handwriting support could be better

Listen, my brain is a bit of a mess. I'm sure you can relate: a million to-dos, calls, projects, etc. To manage it all, I have a cobbled-together system of Google Calendar, Todoist, and a notes app. Agenda completely changes the game by combining your calendar items with your notes in a presentation that somehow works just as well for iPad note-taking as it does for daily to-do lists and keeping your appointments.

Other apps do this to varying degrees, but Agenda is the most seamless pairing of notes and a calendar together that I've tried. Agenda really shines for text-based notes with plenty of formatting and organization options. You can also assign dates to notes so that they show up alongside calendar events, and link to and cross-reference notes with each other. It's perfect for making daily to-do lists or having your notes ready for an important meeting.

My one complaint is that Apple Pencil support is only in the premium version of the app and currently limited to converting your handwriting into text instead of allowing for handwriting and drawing.

Agenda is already a fantastic calendar/notes app that includes collaboration and plenty of ways to share your note files, but if they improved the Apple Pencil functionality, I'd say it would be the best iPad note-taking app on the market.

Agenda pricing: Free. For premium features like collaboration, custom colors, and enhanced Apple Pencil options, paid plans are $34.99/year for all Apple devices or a $119.99 one-time payment.

Best iPad note-taking app for handwriting-to-text

Most accurate handwriting-to-text output that I've ever tried

Minimal UI and infinite canvas is easy to open and start writing notes quickly

Nebo organizes notes a little differently than most. A "Note" is an infinite canvas to handwrite or type notes, add doodles, arrows, stickers, shapes, and more. A "Document" is like a traditional Word file, breaking your handwriting or text into separate horizontal sections. You can also import and markup PDFs. Any of these formats can live inside folder-like notebooks.

Nebo really shines at converting your handwriting into text. The accuracy is pretty good, considering my handwriting is often unreadable even to myself. Handwriting to text is great for taking work notes and turning them into professional-looking typed summaries or emails. If you're way smarter than me, Nebo can also convert handwritten math formulas into equations.

Nebo features several new updates in 2024, including AI-powered summaries to explain complex things in simple terms, and ask questions to get answers, ChatGPT-style. These new features are in addition to time-saving tidbits like "scribble to erase," so you can erase words with your Apple Pencil instead of needing to select the eraser, and automatic shape recognition, where holding your Apple Pencil for a moment instantly straightens your lines to draw perfect circles, squares, and more.

Most of Nebo's features are free to use, including all three note formats and its impressive handwriting recognition. The only reason I can see to upgrade is for multi-device syncing, which sadly isn't included in the free plan.

If you often type up handwritten notes after meetings, Nebo can save you a lot of time.

Nebo pricing: Free; unlock syncing and more for a one-time payment of $8.99.

Best iPad note-taking app for outstanding AI tools

Notes Writer Pro pros:

The most robust and powerful AI tools built into any note-taking app

Can handle all formats from text files to imported PDFs and more

Notes Writer Pro cons:

Could use more ink size, color, and customization options

Formerly called Notes Writer, the new Notes Writer Pro 2024 has been substantially updated with better Apple Pencil support and notes organization. But its killer feature is the power behind the built-in AI tools, which is like merging ChatGPT seamlessly into your note-taking workflow.

Plenty of apps have AI tools these days, but none execute it as well, or offer as many options, as Notes Writer Pro 2024. There's everything from simple text prompt "ask a question, get an answer" output, to grammar and spell-checking, to writing jokes (hey, that's my job), and translating content into 20 different languages—to name a few. The amount of value here for $2.99/month is mindblowing.

Plus, you can draw and handwrite to your heart's content inside any note, though the ink and color customization does leave a lot to be desired.

While the more aesthetic approach of GoodNotes entices me, I can't overlook the sheer value and time-saving features Notes Writer Pro 2024 contains for anyone who works with a lot of text or ideas, from fellow writers and marketers to nearly every modern workplace role. This one is a keeper.

Notes Writer Pro 2024 pricing: $6.99 one-time payment for the app, plus an optional $2.99/month for AI Assistant features.

Other iPad note-taking apps

It's hard to choose a note-taking app when there are so many options. The truth is, you have to test them to see what works best for you. I believe the eight options above represent the best choices for most people, but there are a few more I enjoyed testing that didn't make the final cut:

Which iPad note-taking app is best for you?

Sure, you can let me tell you what to do by picking one of the apps above. But the best way to find your One True App is to test them all and see which one best fits your workflow needs and—most importantly—your personal style.

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Goodnotes 6 Review: The Best Note-Taking App for iPad?

Goodnotes 6 is one of the most popular note-taking apps for iPad. But is it worth spending money on? We took a close look at all its features.

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If you’re looking for an app to organize your digital notes, capture your thoughts, or even transform your creative ideas into digital artworks, then Goodnotes 6 could become your digital Swiss army knife.

Goodnotes 6 is available for iPads and is the latest version of the Goodnotes app. In this review, we won’t be focusing on its predecessor, Goodnotes 5.

There’s also “Goodnotes for Android,” available in the Google Play Store for 8-inch or larger Samsung tablets with at least 3 GB of storage. However, it lacks some features, such as AI support, compared to Goodnotes 6. This version is not the focus of this review.

We thoroughly tested Goodnotes 6 on the iPad .

Below, we describe the document creation options, assess the success of Goodnotes 6’s AI integration, especially in solving mathematical equations or handwriting recognition, and delve into the strengths and weaknesses of the app.

Goodnotes 6 User Interface

Goodnotes 6 offers the option to display the user interface as a list or grid.

For some time now, a sidebar has also been available. By clicking on the icon in the top left, you can open it. Documents, Favorites, Search, Share, and the Marketplace can be found there.

You can view all your documents under the “Documents” section. For instance, you can create a folder and insert notes, study sets, images, etc. into it. You can also create a variety of subfolders. As a test, I created ten different subfolders, and the limit was still not reached.

You can also create a note directly without using a folder. However, I recommend creating a folder to stay organized.

For example, I created a folder for daily to-dos and then created subfolders for each day of the week. Each subfolder contains a note with the current to-dos for the day.

Additionally, I have a folder called “Shopping List.” The folder contains a note with a shopping list and the receipt, which I insert after shopping to keep track of my expenses.

Documents marked with a star as favorites can be accessed under Favorites.

You can also bookmark a page in a note. This way, you can quickly find the desired document.

The search function of Goodnotes 6 is excellent. You can search for both handwritten and typed notes using the search function. PDF files, document names, and folder names can also be found using the search function.

Under the “Shared” section, you can see at a glance which documents you have already shared with others.

To share a document, simply click on the upward arrow symbol in the top right if you have it open. You can export a page or the entire document or share a collaboration link. Your notes can be viewed, commented on, and shared by friends, colleagues, or family members.

Symbols in the top right of the app lead you to settings and notification functions. You can also choose whether your documents should be displayed as a list or grid in the top right.

Initially, the user interface of Goodnotes 6 confused me a bit, especially the differences between the various document types were not immediately apparent.

Marketplace for Planners, Stickers, and More

In the so-called “Marketplace,” you have the opportunity to purchase individual, theme-specific planners.

For example, the “Ambitious Planner” is recommended for productivity-oriented individuals. This planner is designed to help you keep track of your appointments, to-dos, and other important things.

The “Ultimate Planner for Students” is also cool. Whether you want to record your latest reading, a changing exam schedule, your workouts, or your shopping, this planner provides space for it all. It offers a year’s worth of undated pages for monthly, weekly, and daily planning. Additionally, there’s a customizable timetable linked to overview pages for each course. Moreover, there’s an extensive set of study templates, including task trackers, study logs, project planners, and more.

Navigation tabs and hyperlinks help you find the desired page or tracker with a single tap. However, the “Ultimate Planner for Students” is priced at 14.99 euros and is certainly not a bargain. In theory, you can also create your own templates in Goodnotes 6.

In the Marketplace, you can also buy stickers, for example, to spruce up your notes.

Read: This is how useful iPads can be

Academic Notes

Especially for students, academic notes are handy.

For example, there’s the document “Admission Test Mathematics – complete handwritten guide + formula sheet.” This is a comprehensive guide to the mathematics admission test handwritten in Goodnotes. The guide has four main chapters: Core of Algebra, Problem Solving, Pass for Advanced Mathematics, and additional mathematics topics. This costs 9.99 euros.

There are also academic notes for chemistry, physics, economics, and more, which can make your student life a bit easier.

Document Creation

When creating a new document, you have the choice between a notebook, study set, folder, or image. Additionally, options like “Scan Documents,” “Take Photo,” “Import,” and “Quicknote” are available. Depending on the document type you choose, different tools will be available afterward.

Folders are self-explanatory, and I’ve already explained how I use them in Goodnotes 6.

Things get more interesting with the so-called “Study Sets.” When creating a study set, you are prompted to give it a title, choose the desired language, and select a symbol color.

Afterward, you can enter a question and an answer.

This is super handy for preparing for exams or learning vocabulary, for example.

Also Read: Best Note-Taking Apps for iPads | 2023 Edition

Smart Learning

Once you’ve created all your study sets or flashcards, you can quiz yourself in the app. You can also access the “Smart Learning” feature.

“Smart Learning” uses a spaced repetition system (SRS) to distribute your practice over a longer period. This is a scientifically proven method to improve long-term memorization of topics. The system uses your performance in your study sets to adjust what you see next.

For example, cards that you struggled with in previous sessions are more likely to appear in the next one. Cards you’re confident with, on the other hand, will appear less frequently. Moreover, you’re notified when you need to revisit a study set to maximize your learning efficiency.

This is done by predicting when you’re likely to start forgetting a card so that you’re quizzed again in the next session.

The main advantage of this method is that this learning technique (reviewing when you start to forget instead of daily) has been scientifically proven to be one of the optimal methods for learning and reviewing.

In short, the “Smart Learning” feature essentially checks how well you perform with each card in a study set and adjusts it daily based on your individual progress.

If only this had been available during my school days.

Creating a Notebook

When you create a new notebook, you give it a title, choose the language, and decide whether the notebook should have a cover. The cover is just a nice visual touch and helps you keep track

if you’ve created multiple notebooks. You also have the choice of various paper templates. There’s dotted, lined, and more. You can also opt for a blank sheet of paper, of course.

Tools for Note Creation

After making your choice, you can start creating your note.

Various tools are available to you.

Goodnotes 6 includes pen tools, an eraser, a lasso tool, and a text box tool, among others.

What’s cool is that with the Apple Pencil, you can simply draw a circle around an object and tap on it to select it. This makes selecting super quick and intuitive.

The app also offers a shape tool, allowing you to fill shapes with colors and join lines.

You can, of course, create handwritten notes with the Apple Pencil as well as drawings. If you want to erase handwritten text, you can simply “scribble” over an unwanted word to remove it. This works more or less well; sometimes, a few strokes remain. However, thanks to Goodnotes 6’s spell check, this is not a big issue.

The app also supports the conversion of handwriting into machine text.

Read: The Best iPads With Pen Support You Can Buy

Goodnotes 6 also offers so-called AI-assisted writing. This allows the app to learn and generate text according to your handwriting. This feature is far from perfect but is actually a pretty good idea.

This is practical, for example, when you’ve written handwritten notes, and the app detects a spelling mistake. Even with handwritten text, the useful spell check works, correcting errors and adding or removing letters in your own handwriting or in a more or less similar one. The more you write by hand in your “Goodnotes 6 career,” the better the AI can mimic your handwriting.

In practice, it works “okay.”

Here, you can see an obvious error in a handwritten sentence of mine:

The correction of Goodnotes 6 looks like this: The AI has added an “n” and an “l.” The incorrect “h” has been removed, but the word is now even more incorrect with the additional letters “n” and “l.” So, you see that it doesn’t work perfectly yet. In other cases, the spell check worked without any problems, even if we didn’t always recognize our own handwriting. It probably depends on individual handwriting and the specific word. The feature seems somewhat immature to me, but it definitely has potential.

Audio recordings can also be directly recorded and saved in the notes.

A cool feature of Goodnotes 6 in this context is audio transcripts. With the help of audio transcripts, audio recordings are converted into text. Afterward, you can quickly find what was said using the search function. Handy!

Interactive Exam Preparations

It’s also great that you can solve handwritten mathematical equations directly in the notes. Additionally, handwritten equations can be converted into machine equations.

The AI in Goodnotes 6 not only helps you solve mathematical equations but can also point out errors during your solution process. There are a few learning tasks that you can download to improve your math skills. Unfortunately, there’s still no “Interactive Exam Preparation” in the field of mathematics specifically tailored to German users, and the selection is still quite limited.

Sharing and Exporting Notes

You can export your notes as a PDF file, image file, or in the Goodnotes format. You can also send a link to collaborate on a note in real-time with colleagues or friends. However, they must also have Goodnotes 6 installed in the latest version.

As a backup option, conventional cloud services such as iCloud, Dropbox, or Google Drive are available.

The premium version of Goodnotes 6 costs $9.99 annually for iPad or $29.99 as a one-time purchase.

In the paid premium version, you can create an unlimited number of notebooks (only three in the free version), and you can record audio without time restrictions (max 20 minutes in the free version). Additionally, you have access to the AI math tutor and can export documents without watermarks, among other features.

On the corresponding Samsung tablets , you can also try “Goodnotes for Android” for free for a week. Afterward, the app costs around $6.99 for Android.

Goodnotes 6 is a comprehensive note-taking and organization app that offers many practical features for academic, professional, and personal life.

From creating handwritten notes to sketching and structuring project plans, you can’t accuse Goodnotes 6 of lacking versatility or having a limited range of functions.

The sensible organization of notes into folders and subfolders allows for effortless management, while the app’s adaptability through templates, practical writing tools, and handwriting recognition adds a personal touch to your notes.

It’s unfortunate that there are so few “Interactive Exam Preparations” for the German market so far, and the “Academic Notes” primarily cater to an English-speaking audience. Criticisms also include the sometimes hefty prices for certain planners and templates. Additionally, we’re not yet convinced by the spell check for handwritten text in our test; the feature seems underdeveloped.

Nevertheless, Goodnotes 6 remains an excellent choice for those willing to pay the corresponding price for a well-designed and thoughtful note-taking and organization app. With its diverse features and customization options, it’s practically the Swiss army knife for your productivity and creativity, supporting you in both professional and personal life.

If you’re looking for a note-taking app with a comprehensive range of features and exclusive features like an AI tutor for solving mathematical equations or the ability to collaborate on notes in real-time, there’s no way around Goodnotes 6.

The app appears well-thought-out, looks stylish, and is enjoyable in daily use.

Apple App Store: Goodnotes 6

Google Play Store: Goodnotes for Android

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The best note-taking apps for iPad: Ditch the pen and paper

We all know the feeling of crumpled paper lost to overstuffed backpacks and briefcases. Thankfully, those days are over with the addition of note-taking apps for iPad. However, you can't trust just any app to hold your most important notes for your classes or your to-do lists. So instead, it is crucial to find exactly the right app that is both trustworthy and reliable, so you never have to worry again about losing your most important papers.

Also: The best iPad drawing apps

The best note-taking app for iPad is Notability , thanks to its incredible versatility and generous features. To help you make the best notes and create streamlined notes, we've rounded up other popular apps based on pricing, reviews, features, and compatibility so you can be a master notetaker.

Also: The best iPad apps for productivity

The best note-taking apps for iPad in 2024

Best ipad note-taking app overall.

Supports multiple formats and pen styles
Extra formatting tools
Free version
Paid subscription for Plus membership
Limited document sizes

Notability features: Price varies per region | Available app for Mac and iPhone | Easy annotation

Notability is widely regarded as one of the best note-taking apps for iPad, thanks to a simple interface matched by powerful capability. Notes are no longer just notes when you can add different forms of multimedia, like audio and video.

Also: The best iPad models of 2023

It melds together several different types of note-taking apps for iPad, offering the ability to take notes, create a journal, or utilize special tools like ink and highlighter. It not only allows for note-taking but also PDF annotation, as well. It is a convenient additional feature for students and professionals who spend a lot of time reviewing and working with PDF documents.

Francois Gouelo uses Notability to help him in his role as owner of Enso Connect . "I've found Notability to be an invaluable tool in managing my business and helping us take our guest hosting game to the next level," he says, adding that it has significantly streamlined his workflow. "This versatility has been a game-changer in terms of productivity."

Templates are available to help get you started, or you can simply upload your own document or slide to begin. The app is compatible with Apple Pencil for greater convenience.

The Starter plan is free with limited note edits, but you will need to subscribe to the Plus plan if you want access to extended features.

Best iPad note-taking app for businesses

Excellent for organization
Saves more than just files
Extremely efficient processing
Limited storage under the free plan
No offline access

Evernote f eatures: Up to 20GB monthly uploads | 200MB max note size | Google integration

Evernote is a fully-loaded powerhouse for the serious note-taker. Create notebooks to organize your notes and add content like PDFs, sketches, and other multimedia like photos and audio. You can sync your account to your Google calendar, offering full scheduling capability beyond your note-taking abilities.

You can make to-do lists, create Tasks, and even clip your favorite sites with Evernote's Web Clipper tool. In addition, you can scan in your own handwritten or printed notes when you use your own camera.

You have the option to sync all of your devices with the number of devices determined by your subscription plan. Also controlled by your plan is the number of monthly uploads you can make and the size of your notes.

"I've really come to like Evernote," says Tina Grant, quality assessor for Aerospheres with 17 years in the aviation industry. "The fact that it's a multiplatform tool really helps, as I use a Windows computer at work. This means I can take notes on my iPad, then later access them directly in my browser on the PC. The fact that there is a built-in organization system that allows you to set up categories and tags also really helps to keep things in order."

GoodNotes 5

Best ipad note-taking app for handwriting.

Specifically for iPad
Custom pen styles and colors
Works with your personal handwriting
Must pay one-time fee after trial
Creates storage-zapping files

GoodNotes 5 f eatures: Free starter plan with 3 notebooks | Compatible with Dropbox and Google Drive | Easy device syncing

Like Evernote, GoodNotes also syncs across your devices for easy access, no matter where you are or what device you are using. You can adjust and change your handwriting, or you can use different colored inks with included tools, like Shape, Lasso, and Elements that allow you to import photos and diagrams. Plus, it's perfect to use in conjunction with the Apple Pencil.

You also have the option to work with PDFs and document outlines, housing them in an unlimited number of folders and subfolders for better organization. From handwritten notes to typed ones, your notes, files, and folders are all easily searchable.

"I use GoodNotes 5 extensively for annotating listing presentations, contracts, and reports," says Kris Lippi, a licensed real estate broker and owner of I Sold My House . "Last week, I reviewed a 50-page purchase agreement, signed key pages, and shared it with the buyer's agent in minutes. The ability to directly draw, highlight and comment on interactive PDFs right from my iPad has been a game changer."

There is a generous selection of covers and paper templates to add some pizzazz and style to your notes. GoodNotes 5 is compatible with a series of devices and other apps, including iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, and Microsoft OneDrive.

Best iPad note-taking app for Apple Pencil

Easy conversion for handwritten notes
Can use mathematical and chemical equations
Multiple languages available
Not the simplest to use
On the pricier side

Nebo f eatures: Artificial intelligence technology | 66 languages | Apple Pencil support

Nebo offers full stylus support when you have an Apple Pencil you are itching to use on your new note-taking app for iPad. It uses leading AI technology to offer the option of handwritten notes, or you can simply annotate where you see fit. Nebo works with a total of 66 languages, converting your scrappy hand-scribbled notes into lovely notes.

Also: How to take notes on your iPad with an Apple Pencil

If you are picking up where you left off, simply import a file because the app offers PDF, Word, and Powerpoint compatibility. Regardless of what you choose, you can easily transition from handwriting to text to dictation even in the same word to make transcription a breeze, no matter which method you prefer. It even has the capability to handle math equations and diagrams, available as LaTeX or image.

Nebo also offers a companion app called Nebo Viewer, which allows you to access read-only versions of your notes at any time on your iPhone. You first must make a free MyScript account and then access cloud sync before you can see your notes.

"I operate in a sphere where time is precious, and managing day-to-day operations can be a Herculean task," explains Athina Zisi, Chief Operations Officer of Energy Casino . "This is where Nebo, with its meticulously designed features, comes in. Whether I'm jotting down notes during a high-stakes meeting or capturing action points during an operations review, Nebo handles it with aplomb."

Best free iPad note-taking app

Free to use
Automatic save feature
Already built into your iPad
Rather basic features
No fancy extras

Notes features: Free | Built-in scanner | Share notes with others

A handy addition to any iPad, the Notes app is Apple's signature note-taking app with a straightforward functionality that makes it our best free note-taking app for iPads. If you own an iPad, you probably already have the Apple Notes app installed.

It is one of the easiest ways to take notes, but there are other ways to use the app than just note-taking. It can also handle other types of media, like images, checklists, and sketches.

"I freely admit to Notes being a complete lifesaver for me on more than one occasion," shares Troy Portillo, Director of Operations of Studypool . "In business, you can have unexpected conversations and need to be able to remember pertinent information. Having Notes has helped me save very important information easily during those unexpected conversations."

It also works with handwritten notes or scanned documents that you need to keep at the ready. You can lock your notes with passwords or use the built-in scanner to scan paper documents. With the app based on iCloud, you can access your notes on any of your Apple devices.

"It's easy to use, easy to save, and it's already included on your iPhone," says Portillo. "Wins all around."

Also: How to lock an Apple Note to keep prying eyes out of your ideas

What is the best note-taking app?

The best note-taking app for iPad is Notability and for several reasons. It works with the different types of media that you want to add to your notes, plus you can organize all of your notes into neat notebooks that are easy to access. Notability is also free to use, but you can upgrade for a minimal fee should you want access to the bonus features.

Below is a look at the standard features and rating of the best note-taking apps we chose:

Which note-taking app is right for you?

It really depends on what you're looking for and what features are most important to you. After a while, all the different iPad note-taking apps can begin to blur together, so here are some expert recommendations to help you make the right note app choice for your iPad.

How did we choose these note-taking apps?

There are some features we considered when searching for the best note-taking apps.

Interface: We looked for note apps that offer a clean, streamlined interface that is not too cluttered or distracting from your work.
Tools: When it comes time to write, you want to be sure that there are the right tools to help you get the job done. We looked at features like the type of writing, dictation, presentation, and editing tools available with each of the best note-taking apps.
Security : Security and file backup are critical when choosing the best note-taking app for iPad. Many notes contain sensitive information, so you want to be sure that your files will not be lost and are also secure from any prying eyes.
Cost: Budget is critical, so we considered how much each app costs and what each purchase gives you.

When choosing iPad's best note-taking app for you, think about how you plan to use the app and which features are essential to your needs.

Why should I use a note-taking app for iPad?

Note-taking apps offer far more than you may expect. In addition to storing your notes and bright ideas, there are also many other support features, including converting handwriting to digital notes, templates to choose from, and even adding different forms of media like video and audio.

And they're great for organizing ideas on the go. Whether you're scribbling your own ideas or collaborating with friends or colleagues, you'll have a central hub to access your notes easily.

What is the highest-rated note-taking app for iPad?

GoodNotes 5 receives the highest rating from the App Store on our list, earning a 4.8 average rating. However, Notability and Nebo also receive high ratings on the App Store.

Ratings were one of the main drivers in choosing the best note-taking apps. And some of the ones we offer allow you to test drive them for free.

Does iPad have a free note-taking app?

It is absolutely possible to use a free note-taking app for iPad. The best free iPad note-taking app is Apple Notes, since it comes pre-installed and could not be easier to use. However, there are other options like Microsoft OneNote, Loose Leaf , and Freeform .

Are there alternative note-taking apps worth considering?

While searching for the best note-taking apps, we came across other apps that may work for your needs. Here are a few other note-taking apps to look into:

ZDNET Recommends

The best ipad models: expert tested, 10 ipad tips and settings every apple newbie and pro needs to know, the best vpns for iphone and ipad: expert tested.

Why use a note-taking app on your apple devices?

I used to carry around a physical notebook and a stack of papers wherever I went. It was really troublesome and inefficient. Then I found out about the Good notes, which lets you write notes on your iPad using the Apple Pencil as if you’re writing on real paper.

The app has made my life so much easier and more organized. I no longer have to carry around a physical notebook and a stack of papers. I can just take my iPad and the Apple Pencil with me and I’m good to go.

It is user-friendly, easy to navigate and has a lot of helpful features like the handwriting recognition and the integration with Dropbox or Google Drive. The handwriting recognition is really accurate and it makes searching for my digital notes so much easier.

I no longer have to go through a stack of papers to find the one I’m looking for.

And I can access goodnotes online anytime, anywhere: using the integration with Dropbox or Google Drive I have full access to my digital planner from anywhere and on any apple devices. I can just pull up my notes on my laptop or my phone and I’m good to go.

My good note review– Overall, the goodnote for iPad is an amazing productivity tool for note taking and I would highly recommend it to anyone who is looking for a digital notebook solution. It has made my life so much easier and more organized. Look over all my specs below and give it a try (or, check my goodnotes tutorials on the youtube).

Starting April 2022, Goodnotes 5 is free to download and try it from the Appstore. And you’ll be able to create 3 digital notebooks to use. You can also import any of my FREE goodnotes planner templates (free account needed before downloading.)

Note-taking is for you if…

Note-taking is not for everyone. But it’s an excellent option if you’re often taking personal notes, family notes, work notes or, lecture notes … and you want to:

stop carrying around so many heavy paper notebooks
have all your notes and documents neatly organized and always with you
take notes by hand (so you can remember them better), yet easily erase mistakes without leaving marks
search and find what you wrote
share your notes with family and colleagues

What CAN you do with Goodnotes 5

Whether you’re creating default digital notebooks or annotating imported PDF documents, you can use this note-taking app to:

write your plans inside your best digital planner
organize your thoughts inside a digital diary
write meeting notes using a simple meeting note template or a ready-to-use digital meeting planner
enjoy a quick access to your daily to-do list
scribble and share your project notes during ZOOM calls (share your iPad screen for everyone to see)
create a workout planner and track your fitness progress on all your devices
keep track of your meals inside a meal planner or meal diary

What you CAN’T do with Goodnotes 5

Using the Good notes5 app for digital note-taking is like writing on a paper notebook inside your tablet. So there are some limitations like:

✘ it does NOT sync with Google Calendar ✘ it does NOT sync with Outlook Appointments ✘ it does NOT send reminders ✘ it does NOT create links between notebook’s pages. (I know! A lot of us asked goodnotes the “link to another page” feature, but it’s just not there yet)

Digital Planner for iPad: Tools & Steps to Take Notes on iPad in 2023

10 Best practices

#1. organize your notes in folders.

Now it’s easy to organize your notes. Just create as many folders and subfolders as you need, then move digital notebooks between them.

And you can choose to display all folders and digital planners as lists or as a grid for a comfortable experience.

To create a folder tap the + New > Folder > Name the Folder > DONE

To move a folder tap the Arrow (next to the folder’s name) > Move > Select a Location > Move

#2. Open digital planners in tabs or side by side

By far, this is one of the favorite features to have when working with the same digital planner every day. You’ll found it extremely helpful to have all these digital notebooks open in tabs and ready to use while taking notes on multiple documents at a time.

Plus, Goodnotes app has made multi-tasking easy: you can read an article on one side, and write digital notes on the other. Or easily drag and drop information from one note to another.

Digital planner for Goodnotes. Drag and drop in Goodnotes 5 app using Multi-tasking for iOS - digital planners

#3. Get organized inside a Notebook (using the Outlines)

Want a better structure for your digital planner? Then look it’s time to use the Outlines section to create chapters and easily navigate your notes. Here’s how you do it:

Go to the page you want to mark as the chapter’s first page
Then tap the 4 rectangle icon in the top toolbar > the Thumbnails window will open
Locate the chapter’s first page and click the small arrow beneath its thumbnail
Tap Add Page to Outline
Enter the title for this page, exactly as you want it to appear in the Outlines tab
Go to Outlines and see all the defined chapters

#4. Search your handwriting effortlessly

Using the fantastic Search function , no matter how many digital notes and PDF files you have stored inside your library, you can quickly find the note you’re looking for, by searching a relevant keyword – whether handwritten or typed. If you’re in love with fancy fonts, learn how to install custom fonts on the iPad before using them Goodnotes.

OPTION 1: Search the Entire Library of Notebooks

For every Library Search , you’ll get organized results based on “Titles,” “PDFs,” “Document Outlines,” “Typed Notes,” and “Written Notes.” Plus, searching on Goodnotes only takes a few seconds (not minutes, like in other note-taking apps).

To search in your entire Library go to the main Dashboard and in the bottom bar tap the Search > type the Term > hit Search (in the keyboard)

OPTION 2: Search inside a Digital Notebook

To search inside a digital notebook only, open the notebook and on the top navigation tap the Search icon > type the Term > tap the page where the term was found.

#5. Annotate PDFs with ease

You can easily import a PDF document and start taking notes in seconds (assuming you have a good WiFi connection). To import a PDF file, go to Goodnotes 5 Dashboard, and tap +New > Import > locate the PDF file > hit Select

If you don’t have a PDF planner to try, download my goodnotes planner templates FREE to try today.

Once you’ve imported the PDF file in Goodnotes 5 app it will open in the Editing mode , which means that you can start adding notes straight away. Tap the Pen icon in the toolbar twice and select your Pen Style (I love the Ball Pen). If you want to type your notes, tap on the Text icon and tap anywhere on the screen to start typing your notes.

While you’re in the Editing Mode you can also:

Erase your handwritten text
Highlight any text on the page
Move images, or text around (using the lasso tool)
Add digital stickers or photos

HOWEVER, you can’t use the hyperlinks while you are in the Editing Mode .

To use the hyperlinks you must switch to the Viewing Mode by tapping the small icon with a Crossed Pen from the top right side of the toolbar.

This picture below shows you how the Toolbar looks in the VIEWING MODE (when you can click on the hyperlinks):

#6. Navigate digital planners using the hyperlinks

I’ll say this again, if your digital notebook has hyperlinks, you’ll need to switch to the Viewing mode to use them. To do so, just tap once the Crossed Pen icon in the top right side of the Toolbar. While this requires some extra tapping and may disrupt the note-taking process, it can be useful in some cases to prevent clicking on hyperlinks while writing. I know it may feel frustrating, but that’s how the Goodnotes 5 work. This is one of the main reasons why I use the Noteshelf app for my daily digital notes.

This picture below shows you how the Toolbar looks in the EDITING MODE (when you can’t click on the hyperlinks) when I am using my Life-Work Outline Planner .

And while I show you more about Goodnotes, make sure you also check these 10 best goodnotes templates to take better notes at work.

#7. Use templates to organize daily, good notes

Goodnotes 5 comes with a set of basic templates for portrait and landscape notebooks. Just go to Template Librar y and choose from various covers and paper templates, from the graph, dotted, and lined paper, to weekly planners. Plus, you can easily add your custom templates to create the notebook you want.

To access the Template Library go to the main Goodnotes 5 Dashboard and hit the Gear icon > Notebook Templates .

In my BESTSELLER Digital Planners , I have also included a fantastic collection of digital templates to enhance the planning experience. The advantages of using these built-in template pages (instead of the basic Goodnotes templates) is that:

you’ll still see the right side navigation on the template page too (just like in your entire digital planner)
you won’t mess up the monthly tabs hyperlinks when copy-pasting a built-in template to a new location.

Here’s just an image of my Planning Templates included in the Life-Work Outline Planner, however there are so many more page templates available inside. So if you want to try them, download my FREE Digital Planners for Goodnotes (digital notebooks samples) and get started today.

BTW, if you scroll to point #9 you’ll see the steps to copy and paste a built-in template from the EXTRA section to your preferred location.

#8. Add, move or delete pages easily

Goodnotes 5 is a great app when it comes to managing digital notebook pages without losing your mind and your work!

You can easily add pages, move or delete one or multiple pages at once, duplicate pages, change a page template or rotate a page without changing the whole document.

To edit pages, go to the 4 rectangle icon > Thumbnails and start playing around.

#9. Copy-paste pages without messing up the hyperlinks

You can also copy-paste one or multiple pages in a new location. It is handy when you’re using built-in templates inside a digital planner.

With the Copy-Paste function , you can copy a template page and paste it ANYWERE inside the planner, without messing up the right-side monthly tabs’ hyperlinks.

To quickly copy a page go to that page and select the 3 Dots icon > Copy page .

To paste that page go to the new location and tap the + icon > Paste Page .

#10. Easily share your notes

You’ll love to hear that, you can export editable or flattened PDF files , images or .goodnotes formats . This comes in very handy when you’ll need to share your good notes. You’ll be able to export one page, multiple pages or the entire document and share it with your clients, colleagues, friends or family members.

What’s also amazing about Goodnotes is that you can share a link to your notebook, so you and your colleagues can collaborate in real time.

BTW, if you’re looking for a top-quality digital planner to help you lead your team to results, you’ll love my WORK Digital Planner Goodnotes Templates . The planner comes with a wealth of features to help you get the most out of your planning, including:

-Task Management

-Set and track goals

-Undated pages for easy re-use

-Notes section for projects or meetings

-Add images, PDFs, and more

Moreover, the Outline Planner Digital Planners are perfect for anyone who wants to get the most out of their planning. You will LOVE them!

goodnotes template free digital planners

7 Best Goodnotes features to love

Settings flexibility – in Goodnotes 5 I can opt for top/bottom toolbar that can improve my digital handwriting experience. I do however like the default option with the top editing toolbar.
Easy to work with images/stickers once you add them to the Elements tool (a much loved goodnotes widget). This way you can create your own elements and use them with ease.
Easy drag & drop text, photos from other apps into Goodnotes 5 with Multitasking
Great handwriting experience – great sizes and color choices for the ink, and highlighter. Also, I can easily customize them with my own colors and stroke thickness.
Advanced lasso tool – This works very well! I can move the selection around the page, copy it, delete it, resize it or rotate it! For the handwritten content I can also change the pen color or convert it to text.
The eraser tool works super smooth – it can delete parts of the stroke, the entire stroke or the highlighter only, giving me so much more flexibility when taking notes
Presentation Mode available – this is a killer feature when you need to present in front of an audience. Just mirror your screen and you’re good to go. I did not use this feature yet, but I hope I’ll have the chance to use it soon. To use this feature just tap the Share icon and choose to Collaborate , Export your pages or, enter a Presentation Mode .

download free 2022 digital planner goodnotes

7 Reasons NOT to LIKE Goodnotes 5 (and why I’ve chosen Noteshelf )

You can’t add links to pages – Being able to add a link from one particular note (like the client’s name) to another page inside your notebook (like the client’s profile page or project’s page) may be excellent. Still, Goodnotes has not yet implemented this feature.
POOR Performance and speed – This is the main reason I do not use Goodnotes 5 as my main note-taking app. You may experience Goodnotes 5 as being laggy or slow; files do not import correctly, and the app crashed on files bigger than 7-10MB (so pay attention if you’re using a lot of images or stickers).
Requires a considerable storage space on my iPad – Definitely, Goodnotes 5 app has a lot to improve in this chapter. It easily exceeds 1 GB of storage. Since I like to keep my digital planners and notebooks inside the app for 1-2 years, keeping the storage size as decent as possible is necessary.
Unproductive and less intuitive toolbar layout – If you wish for a simpler and more organized toolbar, Goodnotes 5 may not be for you. I suggest to try Noteshelf app instead.
Not so easy to bookmark and label a page – This is a very useful feature whenever I need to bookmark a client profile page, or a particular meeting. However, in Goodnotes 5 app there is no straight forward and efficient way to do this. You can bookmark a page (add to Favorites), but you can’t label that bookmark. A workaround would be to go to Thumbnails or Favorites tab, click on the small arrow on the bottom left of a page thumbnail, and tap Add Page to Outline . You will be prompted to add a page title and you’ll find this new labeled page inside the Outlines tab.
DOES NOT HAVE the Record and playback audio – This is a killer feature that GoodNotes 5 does NOT have. Would have been so useful to audio record my meetings or skype discussion while talking notes on my dedicated Digital Clients Book. Hopefully the team will include this into a feature app update. If this feature is essential for you, try Notability app instead.
DOES NOT recognize dates links, emails and phone numbers so I CAN’T add events to the calendar, call a phone number or write an email.
Goodnotes insert table – wouldn’t it be easier to have a way to create tables vs using the shape draw too? For now, you can create a table in a Microsoft app for example, and then just copy / paste to goodnotes from there
Goodnotes hyperlink to another page – this is a much desired feature that is not yet (or ever) implemented. If you want to add a hyperlink to another page inside your notebook, try and use Zoomnotes instead
How to create an index in goodnotes – since you can’t add links, you can’t create index pages either. What you can do it use the Outline Feature to put your chapter titles for a bit more quicker access.
goodnotes 5-2 page view – at the moment you can only see one page at a time, however, would be very helpful to be able to see 2 pages at a time. For now you can use the split screen feature, although my idea is to see 2 consecutive pages from the same notebook, and not pages from different notebooks
Go Back / Go to Page buttons – I got used to these 2 buttons when working in Goodnotes 4 (“Go Back” no longer exist in Goodnotes 5 app – such a pity!) so I could see how massively useful they are! If there is one NEW feature that I would like to see implemented in Goodnotes 5 that would be the “Go Back” Button
At the moment Goodnotes 5 is for iOS only; A good notes 5 windows or android friendly app is NOT available

If I convinced you try one of the best note-taking apps for iPad, then go and download it from the App Store (you can also find it by searching for “good notes 5 windows” in a Safari window).

GoodNotes Pricing: FREE to try

Recently Goodnotes have switched to a FREE trial model.

So you can get started with 3 free notebooks, then go limitless and unlock the full GoodNotes experience whenever you want.

EXTRA goodies…

Once you decide on using Goodnotes 5, you can go even farther. Because, handwriting is a lovely experience with the right tools! And writing with the Apple Pencil or Stylus (check my article on Apple Pencil vs Stylus + 3 Best iPad Stylus options ) is as close as it gets to writing on paper. Yet, there’re extra things you can do to make your experience even better:

apply a paperlike screen protector
use the cleaning kit to keep the screen clean
use a paperlike pencil grips to keep a good grip on the pen.

UNLOCK the Freebies Vault

Once you get familiar with Goodnotes app, go ahead and claim a free account in my FREEBIES Vault. You’ll get to download 17+ FREE goodnotes planner templates to play with. Bonus: you’ll also be able to try my bestsellers.

Lastly, make sure you’re using lag-free digital planners (optimized PDF planners) to avoid the lag when writing or scrolling the pages.

If you want to dive in straight away, check my premium digital planners in the shop:

More on digital planners

(and some info about the outline planners best templates).

Digital notebooks are ready to use PDF files (with/without hyperlinks) or JPEG images (use them to build a digital planner yourself) imported into a note-taking app like Noteshelf, GoodNotes, or Notability. You can use it on any tablet that you can write on, but the iPad Pro + Apple Pencil combo is the most loved by far.

The winning digital planners are PDF templates designed to plug in and play inside PDF annotation apps such as Noteshelf, GoodNotes, and Notability (available for iOS devices) and XODO PDF (for Android devices). They also include convenient indexes with super-smart hyperlinks to navigate to any date, week, or month, and other sections in your planner. The best digital planners must be small-sized PDF files (less than 8 MB), high-quality layout, and intuitive navigation.

This type of digital templates work with any app that supports PDF annotations. Noteshelf, Goodnotes, and Notability offer the best handwriting experience for digital planning, but these are for iOS only. For Android, you can try XODO PDF, yet the experience is not the best.

You can: if you are using Goodnotes or Noteshelf, you can sync the digital planner across devices using iCloud. But an iPad digital planner it’s not 100% iPhone friendly. Writing on the phone can be a bit painful since the design is not adaptable, and your handwriting will not be super visible. However if you have a bigger iPhone (I use an iPhone 11) you can still comfortable check your plans on it.

You can use Noteshelf, Goodnotes 5 and Notability for iOS. I have chosen Noteshelf, just like many of my clients. Here’s what one of my clients said: “I started off using Noteshelf initially before ever using Goodnotes. Neither app is perfect but there are three things I like better about Noteshelf: 1) the ability to lock down an image layer for inserted planner widgets. I can erase writing and move stickers around without moving the base image. 2) I can copy the setup (highlighter, text, stickers) that I want on each page and paste to another and it will place it in the EXACT same location without realignment which is time consuming in Goodnotes and 3) squared off highlighter. I dislike Goodnotes’ rounded highlighter. AND….I almost forgot to mention one of my favorite features! You can save numerous fonts and text styles as favorites so that you can easily change between them. I have thirteen favorites. Goodnotes does not handle text well.”

No. This type of PDF planner template does not come with such a feature. This feature needs to be implemented by the annotations apps (Goodnotes, Noteshelf) in order to work. So, at the moment, the digital planners do NOT sync with Google Calendar, any other calendar, or the Outlook.

If you are NOT a Vault member, and buy a single version of a planner you will get the download links in the THANK YOU page and in the order confirmation email. However, during the checkout you have the option to create an account (or login to your account if you already have one) so all your download links will be stored in the Downloads area on My Account page .

After you have downloaded the digital template in the On My iPad / Downloads folder, go and open the app and import the planner from the Downloads folder using the add new functions: – in Goodnotes tap: New+ > Import – in Noteshelf tap: + > Import Document – in Notability tap: Import > Files

Once you have downloaded the planner on your iPad, you won’t need Wi-Fi to use it. However, if you are using the iCloud to sync across devices, the planner will only sync when you have a Wi-Fi connection.

When you get the OUTLINE PLANNER , you can choose between: – Sunday Start calendar planners that use a standard time – Monday Start calendar planners that use a military clock So just make sure that you choose the best option for you.

You must be in the viewing mode to use the hyperlinks and switch to editing mode when you want to write. There is a pen icon inside a circle in the top right corner of the navigation that you need to tap to switch between the two modes.

Yes, all 2023 digital planners have tutorial pages included. You will learn how to navigate the planner with hyperlinks, how to fill in the pages, and how to contact me. Just open your 2023 digital planner, go to EXTRA section and look for the “Tutorial” section on the bottom left of the page.

All 2023 digital planners use a smart system of hyperlinks: – the main VERTICAL navigation – placed on the right side of the screen ON ALL PAGES, allows you to access the Calendar, 2023 Master plan, Master to do, all twelve Monthly pages, and seven special sections. – the secondary HORIZONTAL navigation – placed on the top right of the screen ON DATED PAGES ONLY, allows you navigate between inter-connected dated pages (eg: connects the same day’s: daily planning page, daily journaling page, and daily meeting notes page) – the yearly calendar page – also has links to any weekly or daily planning page inside the planner – the monthly planning pages – have links to weekly or daily planning page from that month – the weekly planning pages – have links to all seven daily planning and daily notes pages from that week – the monthly habits and workout trackers – have links to planning weeks and days from that month – the weekly meal plan pages – have links to all seven daily planning pages from that week

Inside a digital planner, you can always duplicate the monthly planning pages to track different subjects. The vertical navigation’s monthly tabs will still get you to the 1st planning page of that month. Then you can flip the page to see the extra monthly page too. Another thought will be to fit all activities inside one monthly calendar page and use color codes to differentiate them.

You can, but be careful what you delete since it will also delete the hyperlinks to those pages. You can’t undo it once deleted. I suggest to duplicate the planner and try to delete these pages from the clone version first. If you like the result, you can then implement this action inside the original digital planner too.

In Goodnotes 5, Notability or Noteshelf you can move pages by drag and dropping their thumbnails. However, the planner has too many pages, so I recommend to copy a page (or template) and place it in a new location inside the planner.

Go to that day’s notes page and duplicate that exact page. Plus, if you need more space for your notes or daily plans, go to the EXTRA templates section, copy a Notes page and paste it after the planning page.

There is no fast way to add that meeting other than to copy & paste the text to the next week’s slot using the dotted rectangle or lasso tool . In Noteshelf, if you tap on the dotted rectangle and hit Paste, the text will be pasted in the same location on the page.

Locking an image is only possible in Noteshelf (at the moment). To do so, tap & hold the image until an editing menu bar will appear. Tap Lock , and you’ve done it.

Sure. Any PDF annotations app has a “ Type tool ” that you could use. Just import the planner inside your PDF annotations app and start typing.

Yes, in the 2023 digital planner, ALL DAILY PAGES are DATED and inter-connected. So from a weekly page, you can go to the DAILY planning page, or DAILY meeting page, or DAILY Journaling page for the same day (eg: Monday, June 23). Plus, using the “heart” or “meeting” icons you can switch between these inter-linked pages easily. And YES I have already added day names (eg: Monday) to each dated daily page.

Unfortunately, Notability, Goodnotes, and Noteshelf do not have this feature (so far), but I hope they will soon add this to their apps. Playing with bookmarks/tags can help you reach another location in your planner. Or, add a note (like “client name”) on the new page and use the search function to find it.

All dated digital planners need to be purchased every year. The undated planners are the ones that can be bought once and used many times. But you will need to add the dates to the pages.

While Goodnotes, Noteshelf or Notability are paid apps, there are some free alternatives as well. The two alternatives I recommend are: XODO PDF and CollaNote.

If you’re starting with digital planners, try the FREEBIES Vault and download 17+ full digital planners, stickers and digital covers, You’ll also get samples for the Outline Planner, the Meeting Book, the People Book, the Project Book and a few more bestsellers.

When you’ll want to share a PDF copy of your planner you can use the SHARE option (the rectangle with an arrow pointing up) and export your planner as PDF format. If your planner uses hyperlinks and you want to keep them working, just make sure your PDF file is Editable, before exporting it.

Starting in 2023, all dated planners will be available in the Vault once the Vault doors open on September 7th. Planners will also be added to my public shop as individual purchases 5-6 weeks later, and to Etsy 8-9 weeks later.

You have two options: get a single digital planner (buy any version all year round) or, join the Vault to get them ALL (the BUY BUTTON will be active every year between Sep 7th-Oct 7th.)

The Vault is a cozy space with my collection of premium digital planners (37+ so far). Customers buy the 1-year access pass every year, in September. Access to the Vault is limited . The Vault opens between Sep. 7th to Oct. 7th every year. No exceptions. In the first 48 hours EVERYONE can enter the vault for the crazy price of $47 (instead of $97). However, existing customers can claim the discount anytime in the first 7 days after launch. Read more about Vault related questions here.

2 responses to “GoodNotes App Ultimate Guide – Take good notes on iPad (FREE Goodnotes templates)”

I use Goodnotes 5 and I have multiple notebooks. In one of the notebooks, The pages icon (4 rectangle) has a number next to it (like a notification) but when I click on it I can’t figure out what it corresponds to. Any ideas?

Hi, Goodnotes 5 is having a lot of glitches ever since the Goodnotes 6 was released. So I assume that is one of them. Best option would be to upgrade both the Goodnotes app and the iOS.

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Are you using the iPad's full creative potential? With its sleek design and smooth touchscreen, you can use the Apple Pencil Stylus , or even your finger, to quickly make a to-do list, capture your thoughts, doodle, compose documents , or sign a PDF.

The iPad's built-in Apple Notes app has many features, including scanning, attachments, and photos. But if you're curious about what else is out there, here's a look at some of the best iPad note-taking apps. Some can even turn your handwritten notes into text that others can read, no matter how sloppy.

This list covers iPad and iPad Pro apps that can help you convert your stray bits of paper into a digital folder to help you stay focused and organized and never lose an important idea again.

Notebook: Create Organized, Artistic Notes and Notebooks

This free app is ad-free.

No way to customize the interface or background colors.

If you're looking for a way to organize your memories, ideas, and essential information on your iPad with beautiful individual notebooks, look no further than Notebook by Zoho. Fill your notebook with sketches, audio, files, and notes, and then organize them with Notebook's built-in Smart, Recipe, Video, or Link Cards. Add PDFs, word documents, and spreadsheets, and check stuff off your checklist as you work through tasks. Take handwritten notes with your finger or Apple Pencil.

Price : Free

Nebo Note-taking: Use Your Apple Pencil to Create Notes and Random Doodles

Ability to convert notes into digital documents.

Copy and paste fully editable diagrams to PowerPoint.

Only compatible with the Apple Pencil.

If you want to use it with other devices, each device needs a separate license.

With its highly responsive handwriting recognition, Nebo lets you take electronic notes as quickly as you can write. Move lines of text to create space for insertions, and the app converts your handwritten words into titles, paragraphs, and bullet points alongside your diagrams and doodles. Export as text, PDF, HTML, or Word (.docx).

Price : $7.99

MetaMoJi Note: Embellish Your Notes With Sketches

Easy to type notes and quickly switch to a stylus, along with the ability to cut and paste between documents.

Handwriting recognition module is an in-app purchase.

Can be difficult to take notes quickly, with a lag in loading new pages.

MetaMoJi Note by MetaMoJi Note Corp allows you to customize your iPad notes, pages, and backgrounds and add your own sketches and notes quickly. Your handwritten notes can be cut and pasted on the note background. With superior palm resistance when using the stylus, you can mark up PDF files and re-save them as PDFs to share. The efficient tagging system allows the same note to be stored in several folders simultaneously. Create anywhere with a finger or stylus.

Price : The lite version is free. The premium is $7.99 per month or $29.99 per year.

Agenda: Track Your Notes With a Timeline

Provides a complete timeline of past, present and future notes to track progress against deadlines.

Agenda has no handwriting support. Image insertion and attaching files is also not available.

Instead of compiling a static collection of notes, Agenda by Momenta B.V. lets you stamp a date on each note to create an interactive timeline. Agenda also allows you to tag, create lists, and put notes directly on your calendar. Notes can be shared as PDFs and other formats. Not compatible with Apple Pencil.

Price : Free; Premium is $9.99

Transom Note-Taker for Writers: The Tools You Need to Finally Finish That Novel

Fluid, no-frills app that makes it easy to quickly capture thoughts as inspiration strikes.

Currently, there is no way to add categories of notes, making it difficult to tag and sort notes, by character and by chapter.

Capture your thoughts when inspiration strikes with Transom by VoidMedia. Created explicitly for novelists and writers, Transom can let you tag your iPad notes by character or setting and the piece's name. You can export your notes as a PDF and provide iCloud backup. It's not compatible with Apple Pencil.

Notes Plus: Convert Your Scribbles to Text

Background audio recording.

Saves each page in the document as a separate document. Has trouble with larger documents.

With the ability to support 52 languages, Notes Plus can convert your handwriting to text, no matter how sloppy. With no lag in writing, Notes Plus recognizes when your palm is resting on the iPad and includes left-handed support. You can also import PDFs, DOC files, and images and then export your notes as PDFs or images to Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and email. Supports Wacom, Adonit, and Apple Pencil.

Price : $9.99

Note Taker HD: Flexibility in Typed, Handwritten Notes & Diagrams

An eraser and multi-level undo and re-do buttons let you correct mistakes. The eraser works by dragging your finger over the ink to "erase."

Layering several layers of text and diagrams makes it hard to select a buried image. No way to underline, bold or italic text.

With its ability to zoom in and out on a page by pinching, Note Taker HD, by Software Garden, allows you to type or handwrite notes and annotate PDF pages on your iPad. The app also comes with more than 60 customizable shapes and lets you insert images and crop them within your notes. It allows you to write in large letters and automatically inserts and resizes text to fit on the screen. Just keep writing, and Note Taker HD keeps adding your new text. Compatible with finger and stylus.

Price : $4.99

Drafts: Customizable Notes

The customizable extended row above the keyboard can quickly convert, manipulate, and transform your to-do lists, notes, messages, and emails.

Process your drafts quickly using unique features like Link Mode, Arrange Mode, and Focus Mode.

Pro version is a monthly subscription and not a one-time fee.

Drafts, by Agile Tortoise, offers a fast way to take notes and lets you turn them into text messages, emails, or posts to social media. Think first, create your "draft," edit it, and send it to another app. It integrates with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch to type on the go. It does not support a stylus.

Price : Free, with Pro version $1.99 per month/$19.99 per year

GoodNotes 6: Protect Your Thoughts, Ideas & Files

Ability to use GoodNotes as a digital whiteboard, just choose which part of the page to display.

No ability to create subfolders, and no option to continue to scroll or swipe to create a new page.

With its searchable handwriting recognition feature, GoodNotes 6, by Time Based Technology Limited, ensures your iPad notes are preserved and retrievable. Privacy and password protected, this note-taking app includes backup and syncs between iCloud for iPhone and iPad. Import images and PDFs and annotate PDFs to sign forms. Works with finger or Stylus.

Price : Free trial; full version $9.99

Simple Notes - Noted Memo: Dictate Your Notes and Save Time

Syncs easily and quickly between the iPhone and iPad, making Simple Notes a great collaboration tool.

Not compatible with Bluetooth keyboard, and no copy and paste.

Simple Notes, by Elias Sleiman, will collect your iPad notes whether you type them or speak them. Your voice recording is saved so that you can retrieve and listen later. Other features include changing your notes' color, font, and size and supporting enhanced categorization features—no stylus support.

Price: Free; Pro version $9.99

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How to start taking notes with Goodnotes 6 on your iPad

Learn how to use all the new AI-powered features in Goodnotes 6, which really come alive on the iPad.

An Apple iPad running Goodnotes 6. There is an Apple Pencil magnetically attached to the top of the iPad.

Tools & requirements

Quick steps, step by step guide, final thoughts.

These days, apps of all shapes and sizes are putting artificial intelligence (AI) to use. Popular note-taking app Goodnotes is no different, and Goodnotes 6 comes with a slate of AI-enhanced features that make writing and doodling an absolute breeze.

Many of these features really come alive on the iPad. That’s because the developer has used AI to boost not just your typed notes, but those written using an Apple Pencil. It can learn your handwriting, then recognize spelling mistakes and even autocomplete words you haven’t yet finished – and do so in your own style.

There are plenty of other good reasons to give Goodnotes 6 a try. It now comes with an extra set of math tools that can convert your handwritten equations into text, show you where you’ve made a mistake, and more. As well as that, the developer has packed in new quality-of-life features and a marketplace full of courses to help you learn within the app itself.

In this guide, we’ll show you how to get to grips with the new features in Goodnotes 6 on iPad. Many of them still work on iPhone and Mac, and as the app is a universal purchase, you can also use it on any of these other platforms.

Goodnotes 6
An iPad that can run iPadOS 15.4 or later
An Apple Pencil (optional)
Type a row of text, highlight it, then tap the star button on the resulting pop-up. This lets you use AI to manipulate the text.
When writing using an Apple Pencil, Goodnotes 6 can check your spelling and autocomplete your handwritten words.
Goodnotes 6 is able to convert handwritten equations to text and check your math when using an Apple Pencil.
Instead of using the eraser tool, try scribbling through writing using an Apple Pencil. This is a quick way to erase text without breaking your flow.

1. Try the new AI tools

A handwritten note made in Goodnotes 6 on iPad using an Apple Pencil.

AI is a major focus of Goodnotes 6. It’s found in the AI Typing feature, its ability to spellcheck your handwriting, and much more.

Highlight a row of text you have typed , then tap the stars button (this button also appears in the toolbar near the top of the app). You can now fix grammar and spelling mistakes, paraphrase your text, change its tone (to professional, friendly or confident), or make it longer or shorter. Note that this only works with words written using a keyboard (on-screen or hardware), not with handwritten text.

Goodnotes uses AI to spellcheck your handwriting. After writing something with an Apple Pencil, you might notice some words are underlined in red. Tap any word that is , then tap a spelling suggestion to change the word. The inserted word will match your handwriting.

Word Complete predicts what you’re writing and can finish words for you, including matching your handwriting. Tap the Pen Tool, then go to Writing Aids and enable Word Complete. Now start writing using your Apple Pencil. After you’ve written enough letters, a pop-up appears with full-word suggestions. Tap one to fill the rest of the word.

Word Complete is an experimental feature and as such is being rolled out gradually. If the autocomplete pop-up doesn’t appear for you, try fully quitting the app and reopening it. If you still don’t see it, the feature might not have been rolled out to you yet.

2. Math conversion and correction

Goodnotes 6 on iPad being used for mathetmatical equations.

Goodnotes 6 has a new feature that turns handwritten equations into standard fonts. The app can also correct mathematical equations you have got wrong.

To get started, write out an equation, then select it with the lasso tool . Tap the selection and choose Convert > Math (you might need to tap the right arrow first if it’s not in the first set of options). You can now copy the equation as an image. Or copy the original handwriting by tapping Edit > ... > Copy Handwriting .

You can use the app’s math assistance by downloading a math course. Go to Goodnotes 6’s main screen (it has the Documents heading) and tap the sidebar button in the top-left corner. Now go to Marketplace > Education . Pick a course, start it and progress through it until you get to a practice area.

When you first launch a practice session, a pop-up will appear letting you know that you are using AI Math Assistance.

Now write out an equation in the scratch area of the course (it is marked like lined paper). You’ll see what you’ve written shown as regular text in the top-left corner of the scratch area.

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If you’ve made a mistake, your equation will be underlined in red. Tap the red line to see where you went wrong.

You can now delete the mistake and correct it from within the pop-up. Alternatively, you can get back to editing, erase the line and rewrite it again using your handwriting, at which point Goodnotes will be able to recheck your equation.

3. More new features

There are plenty of other interesting new features to try in Goodnotes 6. Here are a few of them.

Normally, you would use the erase tool to remove something you’ve written in Goodnotes with an Apple Pencil. In Goodnotes 6, you can erase writing by simply scribbling through it .

The Marketplace mentioned above is a new feature. It lets you download courses that you can take right inside the app. Some cost an additional fee, but many are free.

The Marketplace includes Interactive Exam Practice, which can help you get ready for upcoming exams in a range of topics.

The AI tools and features in Goodnotes 6 can help on any platform, but their integration with handwritten work makes them especially potent on iPad. Now, you can have spelling mistakes corrected in your own handwriting, saving you the trouble of having to erase and rewrite them.

Since Goodnotes 6 is a universal app, you just need one purchase to unlock it on iPad, iPhone and Mac. That makes it easy to start your notes on one platform and pick up where you left off on another.

Alex Blake has been fooling around with computers since the early 1990s, and since that time he's learned a thing or two about tech. No more than two things, though. That's all his brain can hold. As well as TechRadar, Alex writes for iMore, Digital Trends and Creative Bloq, among others. He was previously commissioning editor at MacFormat magazine. That means he mostly covers the world of Apple and its latest products, but also Windows, computer peripherals, mobile apps, and much more beyond. When not writing, you can find him hiking the English countryside and gaming on his PC.

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13 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad for 2024

Feb 15, 2024

By Lindsay Armstrong

13 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad for 2024

If you’re a serious notetaker, you know that just having an iPad and an Apple Pencil isn’t enough.

The app you use for notetaking can have a huge impact on the quality of your notes.

But there are hundreds of apps to choose from, and not all apps are created equal.

Today, we’re going to take a closer look at 13 of the best notetaking apps in the App Store.

Let’s dive in.

Notetaking: Handwritten or typed?

While there’s no “correct” way to write your notes, one of the things you’ll have to decide early on is whether you should handwrite or type them.

Based on the research we’ve seen, data suggest that taking notes by hand is better than using a laptop . As with pen and paper, handwriting is slower, but it gives your mind more time to absorb what you’re writing. While keyboarding is more efficient, for many notetakers, notes created in this way simply lack the sticking power that comes with using traditional methods.

With that in mind, most of the apps below are designed for handwriting your digital notes using your iPad and your Apple Pencil .

While some apps on our list have some keyboard-based functionality — like Nebo and Apple Notes — we’re looking at these apps through the lens of notetakers planning to handwrite their notes.

But however you choose to do it, keep in mind that taking notes is essential when you’re trying to learn something. Creating effective notes has been proven to enhance recall and improve study sessions, resulting in greater academic success.

Find the best app and notetaking system that works for you and stick to it!

#caption#Image: Deniz Kurtoglu / Paperlike

#alt#A title card for the Notability app.

With thousands of positive reviews, Notability has certainly proven its worth to notetakers over the years.

This app is most well-known for its audio syncing feature, which allows you to record audio and sync it with handwritten notes while you write, but other apps like Goodnotes have caught on and added this feature, too. However, Notability also recently introduced audio transcripts, which include time-stamped text of your recordings.

#caption# The Notability interface makes navigation simple and easy. Switch between folders/sections using the left sidebar. Select a note by tapping on it. Create a new note by tapping on the + New button in the top right. (Image: Notability / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt# A screenshot picturing the Notability user interface featuring a selection of folders on the left sidebar and a collection of notes on the right selection interface.

To set itself apart, Notability also boasts some unique features. Multi-note support gives users the ability to open two notes and arrange them in the app for comparison or multitasking. The new Pencil tool provides the app with added versatility, allowing users to draw and sketch.

By combining multitasking tools and technologies like handwriting recognition and math conversion, Notability makes it easier than ever to take notes during classes, meetings, conferences, and everything in between.

In late 2021, Notability switched from a one-time purchase app to a free plan with a premium subscription option called Notability Plus. If you’re looking for an awesome app that doesn’t require an up-front cash investment, Notability is a great option to consider.

Coolest features

Multi-note support allows you to easily compare and work on multiple documents at one time.
Favorite presets make it simple to create and save your favorite tool colors for fast and easy reuse.
Math conversion (premium only) allows you to convert handwritten calculations into common mathematical expressions.
Pencil tool allows for drawing and sketching, with pressure sensitivity and tilt-activated shading.

Main limitations

No iCloud syncing or backups on the free plan creates some risk for notetakers who don’t upgrade.
Limited note edits on the free plan (resets monthly) means that hardcore notetakers could find themselves unable to continue taking notes without an upgrade.
Limited organizational tools force users into a style of note-keeping that may feel restricted or insufficient.

Important details

Pricing: Free plan available; $14.99 per year for the premium plan.
Reviews: Notability is currently rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on the App Store with 286,000+ reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
Links: Download app / View website .

#alt#A title card for the Goodnotes 6 app.

Goodnotes 6

Goodnotes is a powerhouse for notetakers everywhere. The app comes with everything you need to take notes, write music, mark up PDFs, and more.

One of the biggest differentiators between Goodnotes and other competitors is its abundance of organizational tools. By default, Goodnotes allows you to create Notebooks and store everything within them. This is a fundamental difference from a tool like Notability or Apple Notes, where your ability to organize is somewhat constrained by the software.

#alt# A screenshot picturing the Goodnotes interface, featuring various folders and notebooks.

Of course, Goodnotes doesn’t stop there. The app offers a powerful search function, onboard handwriting recognition , AI-powered tools, and much more. You can use these features to annotate and mark up your imported documents. The app also syncs with iCloud and third-party storage so that you can keep your notes with you at all times.

So, what’s the downside?

While there aren’t a ton of cons to Goodnotes, the lack of a favorites toolbar is a common feature that is (sadly) missing here.

Notebook creation tools provide an unparalleled level of customization for notebooks and notes.
Infinite, nested storage enables users to store folders within folders and create an organizational structure that suits their needs.
Favorites section allows you to locate any note, document, or page in seconds from a single location.
Text conversion is clunky and difficult to deal with. It works well, but converting handwritten text to typed text is a tedious process.
Lack of a favorites toolbar means that you’ll need to reformat your tools each time you select or change them. While the app saves some settings, like pen width and color, resetting your tools still feels more involved than it should be.
Pricing: Limited free plan available; $9.99/year subscription or $29.99 one-time purchase from the App Store for the full version.
Reviews: Goodnotes 6 app currently has 4.7 stars derived from a total of 238,000+ reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. Beta version for Windows and Android.

Goodnotes is most often compared against Notability, and the two apps have had a friendly rivalry for years. Read our in-depth comparison of both apps.

#alt#A title card for the Apple Notes app.

Apple Notes

Believe it or not, Apple Notes has been around since the early days of digital notetaking. The app launched with the first version of iOS, way back in 2007. Originally, it was a mobile version of the Notes app that has been (and continues to be) a staple on the Mac operating system.

Why does all that matter? Because the Notes app is older than any other app on our list, and its longevity makes it clear that it isn’t going anywhere.

As a notetaking app, Apple Notes has come a long way. Like most of the other notetaking apps, it comes with the usual tools (pens, highlighters, etc.), and they’re all arranged in a toolbar that can be moved around on the screen for added workspace customization.

But, while Apple Notes might seem a bit bland, it has a few unique features that will surprise you.

#caption#While text and handwriting can coexist in Apple Notes, they’re given distinct sections on the note. Notice how the lines separating the handwriting from the text runs the entire length of the note. (Image: Apple Notes / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot picturing a note created in Apple Notes. The top and bottom parts of the typed text are separated by a handwritten sentence.

You can open a Quick Note on your iPhone or iPad without even opening the Notes app. This allows you to quickly jot down a thought, save content from the web or another app, and more.

Once you’re done, Quick Notes will appear in their own folder in the app so that they’re easy to find later.

Apple Notes is also one of the few notetaking apps that is set up to create tables and interactive checklists .

But even though this app has a lot of things going for it, Apple Notes isn’t as robust as some of the other apps. The app lacks audio recording features (but you can dictate your notes). It also treats PDFs and other imported files as attachments instead of integrating them into your notes, meaning that editing is limited to annotation and markup.

On the other hand, as part of the Apple ecosystem, you can trust that Apple Notes works on any version of iOS, and on any iOS device, whether you have an iPad Pro or iPad mini. You’ll also find native software for Apple Notes on macOS and watchOS, so you can get notes on your Mac and Apple Watch.

Overall, Apple Notes lacks the flexibility that you’ll see with most of the other notetaking apps listed here, but it’s still a formidable tool, especially for occasional notetakers.

Natively supports handwriting and typing on the same page using various inputs, including fingers, on-screen keyboard, Apple Pencil, and Apple Keyboard.
Allows shading when drawing with the Apple Pencil. Tilt your Apple Pencil to enable shading. You can also press more firmly to create a more intense shading effect.
Recognizes handwritten phone numbers, dates, addresses, and other data. Will enable other options for recognized text, like scheduling events or calling phone numbers directly from the Notes app.
Native iCloud syncing across all Apple devices.
Lacks many customization features, including the ability to create templates or create deeply nested organizational structures.
No onboard syncing for non-iCloud storage. While it’s possible to do this with a little work if you want to back up your notes to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch.
Limited PDF annotation and markup capabilities force you to conduct these tasks elsewhere — typically using the Markup tool inside the file or image itself.
Pricing: Free!
Reviews: Apple Notes is currently rated at 4.8 stars with 214,000+ reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.

#alt#A title card for the LiquidText app.

Unlike traditional notetaking apps, which offer a blank page for you to jot down notes, LiquidText is more of a study and research tool designed to help you parse PDFs and other documents.

It works like this: When you open a file in LiquidText, the document is imported into a digital workspace. In the workspace, your document takes up half of the screen, and the workspace takes the other half.

#caption#With LiquidText, you’ll be able to draw connections between nodes on your mindmap, access multiple documents simultaneously, and compile research in a free-form workspace. (Image: LiquidText / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot picturing the LiquidText interface, including a written article on the left, along with a window allowing for the selection of multiple documents. A mind map of notes and excerpts is located on the right side of the screen.

As you read your document, you can highlight and mark up your text as you would in any other notetaking app.

You can also grab snippets of text and pull them to the opposite side of the screen. As you do this, LiquidText will transform these excerpts into small cards that you can move around the workspace.

As you gather data from your document, you can consolidate it into groups, draw lines and make connections between those details, and much more.

While this approach to notetaking is more research-based, it’s definitely a game-changer for anyone looking to parse documents for key details and insights, as LiquidText offers a battery of tools that you won’t find in most other apps.

Infinite workspace allows for a tidy collection of excerpts, comments, and handwritten notes.
Adding multiple documents to a single workspace allows users to create projects centered around a theme or idea and assists in consolidating associated research.
Importing web pages as PDFs is quick and easy thanks to the built-in web browser.
Ability to squeeze and expand documents during research makes critical details much easier to parse and compare.
Snippets and text can easily be lost inside the workspace. Because the workspace is infinite, it’s possible to misplace or forget your snippets if you don’t stay organized.
Workspace often feels cramped, no matter how you choose to set it up.
Not a great fit for everyone. If you aren’t doing major research projects, this app probably isn’t for you.
Pricing: Free plan available; $29.99 for Pro (one-time purchase per platform); $9.99/month for LIVE; $174.99/year for LIVE Unlimited.
Note: LIVE & LIVE Unlimited are both cloud-based subscriptions, and the subscription covers LiquidText on all devices.
Reviews: LiquidText is currently rated at 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 6,000 reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad, Mac, and Windows 10.
Links: Download app / View website .

#alt#A title card for the MarginNote 3 app.

MarginNote 3

The second of the two research tools on our list, MarginNote is similar to LiquidText (featured above) in how it functions and operates.

MarginNote opens your document into a digital workspace where you can highlight and annotate PDFs or select excerpts from the text.

However, where LiquidText focuses on taking handwritten notes and marking up the document (all of which is possible in MarginNote), this software also allows for clipping notes, creating flashcards or mindmaps, and building study outlines.

#caption#MarginNote provides clean, clear connection lines for your mind map, allows for handwritten notes, and much more. (Image: MarginNote 3 / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot picturing the MarginNote 3 interface, including a written article on the right and a mind map of notes and excerpts on the left.

One of the key differentiators in MarginNotes is that much of the mind-mapping generation can be done in a way that looks clean and crisp, with straight lines and blocks that feel sharp and organized.

MarginNote also allows you to compile a single set of notes from multiple sources or files, so if you have several books in a series or several documents where you should combine notes, MarginNote makes it easy to simplify that process.

While this app probably isn’t a replacement for an outright notetaking app like Notability or Goodnotes, it’s a great study tool for students who need to comb through a large number of documents and keep everything organized at the same time.

All notes can be edited and annotated, so you can add context to excerpts as you set them aside.
Flashcard review helps you quickly review notes and study for exams.
Auto Add to MindMap tool allows you to organize excerpts without a ton of dragging and dropping.
Different viewing modes and setups can get confusing. Though useful, it’s easy to get lost during navigation and find yourself struggling to pick up where you left off.
Overabundance of features makes for a steep learning curve.
Auto mind mapping tool can be difficult to set up. The mind map is based on the table of contents, so some forethought is required in how you structure your notes.
Pricing: Free (reader-only) version available; $12.99 for full version.
Upgrades: OCR Pro for $1/month or $9.50/year.
Reviews: MarginNote 3 is currently rated at 4.7 of 5 stars with 4,800 reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
Links: Download app / View website

LiquidText and MarginNote 3 are the top PDF annotation and research apps. Check out our comparison of the two here .

#alt#A title card for the Nebo app.

Where apps like Goodnotes and Notability emphasize (and mostly stick to) the idea of handwritten notes, Nebo tries to marry the concept of handwriting and text together within its notebooks.

As with other apps on the market, you can draw freely using Note pages (formerly Freeform), but the app’s Document pages (formerly Regular) are where it really begins to shine.

All Document pages are lined sheets, and users have the option to write using an Apple Pencil or a keyboard. If you choose to handwrite your content, Nebo shows how it’s interpreting your handwriting to text in real time.

#caption#Note how the handwritten text has already been pre-converted in the upper left corner of the text box. While you can keep the text in a handwritten format, Nebo gives you a clear indication that it understood what you wrote. (Image: Nebo / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot of the Nebo interface featuring handwritten and typed text.

You can also mix and match your handwriting and typed text or just convert your handwriting to text. This adds an extra layer of flexibility to Nebo that you won’t really see in other apps.

With the free version, you’ll just have access to the basics, including a limited number of notebooks that you can create. However, you can get a dictionary, convert PDFs, and share your content out in various formats by purchasing the appropriate upgrade pack for a relatively low cost.

It’s also worth pointing out that Nebo is cross-platform compatible, which makes it unique for users who are looking for one of the best iPad note apps that can exist outside of the Apple ecosystem.

Combining handwriting and typed text is an interesting concept that is hinted at in other apps, but Nebo really takes ownership of this feature.
Handwriting and math conversions are second to none, and both features are included at no additional charge.
Having both freeform and lined pages allow you to work in a way that suits you best.
The ability to edit typed text using a stylus adds extra flexibility when editing, revising, or reformatting your text.
Lack of templates, layouts, and other custom formats that you see in apps like Goodnotes, Notability, or Noteshelf .
Formatting can be a pain. While you can adjust text placement by dragging boxes around, fiddling with the indent tools to position text correctly inside the box (or on the page) can be tedious.
Note pages feel subpar compared to competitors. If you’re focused purely on handwriting, this app falls a little short in its feature set.
Pricing: Free version available; $4.99 for Essentials Pack; $4.99 for Connect Pack; $4.99 for PDF Pack.
Note: Packs are sold individually or can be purchased as a bundle for $8.99.
Reviews: Nebo is currently rated at 4.7 of 5 stars with 29,000+ reviews.
Platform: Available on iPad, Mac, Windows, and Android.

#alt#A title card for the CollaNote app.

In many respects, CollaNote is still a work in progress that has gained a massive following in recent years. The app provides a rock-solid notetaking experience with simple and intuitive tools that look good and feel great to use.

Inside the notetaking interface, you’ll find a vast array of pen types and brushes, as well as a few extra goodies.

#caption#In CollaNote, pressure sensitivity is enabled by default, so your text will shrink and grow as you write based on how hard you press your Apple Pencil against the screen. Converted text is framed within a text box and can be adjusted to taste. (Image: CollaNote / Screenshot by Scott Summers / Paperlike)

#alt#A screenshot of the CollaNote interface featuring a combination of handwritten and typed text.

Just like Apple Notes and Notability, CollaNote actively distinguishes between a pen and a pencil, both of which provide a completely different writing experience.

Interestingly, this app provides the largest and most varied selection of unique pens and brushes when compared to other notetaking apps — including major players like Goodnotes and Notability. From vector pens to art and 3D brushes, you’ll have every tool you need to make your notes come to life.

This app also offers tools like the color fill tool to add color quickly and the curve tool to help when creating curved lines (great for charts and graphs).

For text boxes, the app makes it easy to add text and provides layering options that allow you to place your text over other objects.

You can even create flashcards to help you study.

And did we mention that you can collaborate with other CollaNote users by creating an account? It’s that simple.

Even though CollaNote currently lacks some of the features you’d see in more mature apps, it’s well on its way to becoming a major player in the notetaking space.

Robust notetaking toolkit gives you everything you’ll need to take great notes, including a pencil, a vast array of pens and brushes, a color fill tool, a curved line tool, and more.
Collaboration features make it easy to work with other notetakers to generate a group or shared note. An account is required, and notes are stored in your account, not with CollaNote’s servers.
Importing PDFs, images, and other multimedia is fast and easy. With the exception of PDFs, media files reside within a note and are not imported as standalone objects.
Limited to iPadOS and iOS only. While this app does back up to iCloud, it currently offers no platform compatibility with Mac, Windows, or Android.
User interface is an acquired taste. The blocky windows and multiple toggles give the app a unique feel, but it may not be for everyone.
Folders and notes lack customization features and fine-tuning that you see in apps like Goodnotes.
Rigid organizational structure limits how you can format and organize your content.
Pricing: Free version available; $11.90 one-time purchase from the App Store for Premium.
Reviews: CollaNote is currently rated at 4.8 stars with 12,000+ reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad and iPhone only.

#alt#A title card for the Noteshelf app.

Noteshelf is a great compromise between Goodnotes and Notability. You’ll find all the tools you need to take great notes on your Apple, Android, or Windows devices.

The interface provides a streamlined experience that’s easy to navigate, with plenty of customization features — from page templates and notebook covers to different pen types and the colors and sizing of your tools.

It even has a customizable toolbar that allows you to add or remove tools so that it only displays the ones that you like to use.

Noteshelf also offers one of the best interfaces when it comes to magnification. When you need to write smaller text or you want a closeup of your existing notes, the Zoom Box makes it easy to do. It’s highly customizable, and it loads the tool interface on the magnification bar, so you can quickly switch to what you need.

#alt#A screenshot picturing the pen interface and three example lines at varying thicknesses of the ball, fountain, felt, and pencil styles.

Like Notability, Noteshelf features audio recording that you can attach to your notes. While it doesn’t sync with your text, being able to listen to a playback of a lecture or presentation can be extremely helpful.

The sheer amount of organizational capabilities, Focus mode, Noteshelf AI, and advanced customization all make this app perfect for users who take massive amounts of notes.

Advanced customization options, such as a variety of page templates, notebook covers, and tools, allow you to get creative with your notes.
Zoom Box has the tool interface in the magnification bar so that switching between tools is quick and easy while working in this mode.
Customizable Toolbar allows you to pick and choose what tools you want to see on your toolbar and leaves the rest out, so it’s exactly what you need.
Multi-device compatibility allows you to use this app on all Mac devices (including Apple Watch), Windows, and Android devices.
Free version limits how many notes you can take. You only get three notebooks to use on the free version, which likely isn’t enough for serious notetakers. Also, Noteshelf doesn’t offer any free trial on Android or Windows, so you can’t try it before buying it.
Moving notes isn’t a simple process, making reorganizing your notes a bit of a pain.
Not cross-platform compatible. While there are Android, Windows, and iOS versions of this app, the three don’t talk to one another. You can hand off your notes between various Apple products (iPad, iPhone, Watch), but you won’t be able to send your notes from your iPad over to your Android tablet or PC.
Pricing: One-time fee of $9.99.
Reviews: Noteshelf 3 currently has 4.1 out of 5 stars on the App Store, but is relatively new with only 196 reviews .
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Apple Watch, Windows, and Android.

#alt#A title card for the Evernote app.

If you’re a productivity geek, Evernote is the perfect notetaking app for you. Not only does it have a dedicated section for taking notes, but it also incorporates different sections that’ll help you be more productive, such as a Tasks section for to-do lists and more.

The home dashboard is fully customizable (with an Evernote Premium Plan), so you can organize all your information in a way that makes the most sense for you.

When you’re taking notes, you can choose from more than fifty templates . You’ll find a range of options for work, school, and personal categories.

#caption#Evernote’s structure keeps your notes neat and organized, separating text and handwritten notes. (Image: Evernote / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of a typed note with a handwritten section separated into its own box below in Evernote.

Evernote offers a rigid notetaking structure that makes it easy to get your thoughts on the page. Formatting is similar to Word or Google Docs, which doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility, but it does keep your notes neat and tidy.

Unfortunately, this means that you can’t really mix handwriting and text. Like Apple Notes, it’ll keep these sections separate from each other. That’s because it’s not really meant for handwriting in general. You’ll have to enter Sketch Mode to draw or write, and once you’re finished, Evernote converts your work into an image to add to your note.

The app also has plenty of great features that’ll help you be more efficient, including an excellent web clipper (desktop only), audio recording features , and PDF markup tools .

With cross-platform compatibility and the ability to sync across devices in real time, Evernote can help you create the ultimate task management and productivity system.

Dedicated task section helps you keep on top of your to-do lists.
Structured formatting feels familiar thanks to its similarity to word-processing programs and also keeps your notes neat and organized.
Robust web clipper allows you to capture information from your desktop for later use.
Cross-platform compatibility and real-time syncing allow you to work anywhere, anytime.
Sketch mode is the only place you can handwrite, which can be annoying if you don’t like typing out your notes.
Ability to connect to Calendar and add reminders to your task lists is locked behind a subscription.
Only being able to sync two devices on the free plan means you’ll have to pick what platforms you prefer if you don’t want to pay for a subscription.
Pricing: Limited free plan; $14.99/month or $129.99/year for the Personal plan; Professional plans available.
Reviews: Evernote currently has 4.4 out of 5 stars on the App Store with 54,000+ reviews.
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, and Android.

#alt#A title card for the Microsoft OneNote app.

Microsoft OneNote

Wildly popular and completely free, OneNote is the go-to app for tens of thousands of users interested in taking effective notes.

Like Evernote, this app is geared more toward keyboard-based notetaking, but its handwriting component works beautifully and doesn’t make you switch modes or move to a different section to write. You’ll just hit the Draw tab at the top of the screen to access your writing tools.

OneNote only has one pen type, but you can change the size and color to fit your needs.

And this is what makes OneNote truly unique.

This app’s Ink Color Selector is one of a kind, offering both solid and specialty options, like galaxy, marble, and glitter colors.

#caption#OneNote’s ink colors are completely unique, with options like glitter, marble, and galaxy colors. (Image: OneNote / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of the OneNote Ink Color Selector to showcase the unique color options.

OneNote also includes features like a Math Assistant and audio recording that are great for students and a web clipper to capture content from the internet and video recording, which is completely unique to this app (Desktop or Windows app only).

Its onboard organization tools make it a great option for storage, especially for users already integrated with other Microsoft products like OneDrive, Word, Excel, etc.

Ink Color Selector unlike any other app allows you to really get creative by choosing from options like galaxy, marble, and glitter colors.
Math Assistant can solve equations for you, making it great for students or anyone who works with a lot of math equations.
Free version with complete access to all its features. Subscriptions only necessary for storage purposes.
Automatically opens to the last screen used, which can be annoying if you’d like to start a new note or find a different note.
Only backs up to its own servers. You can’t create a backup to any other cloud service.
Only 5GB of storage included on the free plan, which might not be enough if you plan to take a lot of notes.
Pricing : Free! (Note: You can get 100GB of storage for $1.99/month or purchase Microsoft 365 Personal with 1TB of storage and all integrations for $6.99/month.)
Reviews : OneNote currently has 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 851,000 reviews.
Platform : Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, and Android.
Links : Download app / View website.

Evernote and Microsoft OneNote are the leading apps for productivity. Take a look at our comparison article here .

#alt#A title card for the Zoho Notebook app.

Zoho Notebook

Similar to both Evernote and OneNote, Zoho Notebook is available on a variety of platforms and seamlessly syncs across your devices using its own cloud service. It was awarded Best App of the Year in the App Store in 2016 and has risen in popularity since then.

But as a notetaking app, it takes a different approach than most of the other available apps in this space. It has an aesthetically pleasing UI, and the available covers for your Notebooks are works of art.

Individual notes inside the Notebooks are called Cards, and they look like little (brightly colored) sticky notes. You can change the background color on every note, making it easier to visually differentiate between topics.

#caption#Zoho Notebook turns your notes into different types of cards that look a bit like Post-it Notes. (Image: Zoho Notebook / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of the All Notes section in the Zoho Notebook app, which shows all the notes on little cards that look like Post-it Notes.

On top of that, Zoho Notebook offers different Card types (Checklist, Audio, Sketch, and more) to match your notetaking needs.

Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, but the Smart Card is a really neat feature worth mentioning. When you want to save content from the internet or another app, Smart Cards automatically take that information and format it into a beautifully designed Card.

Unfortunately, this is another app that’s geared towards typed text, and you can really only handwrite or draw when you open a Sketch Card. Even the Text Card isn’t super customizable - you can’t even change the font or text size.

But, you can password protect your notes, share, and collaborate with others in real time, which are excellent features in any notetaking app.

Beautiful UI and artwork make this app one of the most aesthetically pleasing.
Post-it Note appearance and colors allow users to easily differentiate between individual notes.
Smart Cards automatically format saved content, keeping these notes nice and neat.
Lack of search capabilities in the free version can make it difficult to find your notes, especially if you have a lot of them.
Limited notecard sizes and storage on the free version mean that if you plan to take a lot of notes, you’ll need to upgrade.
Limited tools for handwriting and customization for typed text make it more difficult to get creative with your notes.
Pricing: Limited free version; $2.49/month or $24.99/year for the full version .
Reviews: Zoho Notebook currently has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 22,000+ ratings.
Platform: Available on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux.

#alt#A title card for the Pencil Paper Notebook: Penbook app.

Pencil Paper Notebook: Penbook

If you’re looking for a notetaking app that’ll really let you get creative and customize your notes, Penbook might be the answer.

Like Zoho Notebook, this app offers a variety of beautiful Notebook covers, but it doesn’t stop there. With Penbook, you can choose from over 1,000 customization options!

There are page templates for every category, even super niche options for chemists, developers, and musicians. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can change the font, the background and accent colors, and decide how many pages to add to your notebook (don’t worry, you can always add more later!).

#caption#Penbook has over 1,000 customization options for your notes, including page templates for any topic. (Image: Penbook / Screenshot by Lindsay Armstrong / Paperlike)

#alt#Image of the note creation page in the Penbook app showcasing all the different customization options.

The best part?

You can mix and match templates throughout your notebooks, and each page could be something completely different.

If you’re too overwhelmed with all the options, you can choose from a variety of pre-made “Editions” that Penbook has already put together for you.

While the tools are pretty basic (Pen, Pencil, Highlighter), you can change the line thickness and color on each, and you can even customize or use hex codes to get the perfect shade. Once you have what you need, you can add up to six custom tools to your toolbar for easy access in the future.

Unfortunately, navigation throughout the app isn’t as intuitive as we’d like, and there’s a bit of a learning curve when you get started. While the app does offer a user manual, it’s pretty long and involved, and there aren’t any video tutorials or quick guides to help you get going.

Highly customizable, with thousands of different ways to set up and personalize your notes.
Pre-made “Editions” help you skip the Notebook creation process so you can get right to taking notes.
Live Paper automatically fills in the date and time when you create new pages, which can be handy for schedules, journals, and more.
Free version is basically just a free trial, as you only get a single Notebook.
Navigation isn’t intuitive, so it takes some time to learn how to use the app.
Lack of organizational features makes it more difficult to find and keep track of your notes.
Pricing: Free version available; $14.99/yr or $49.99/lifetime for the full version.
Reviews: Penbook currently has 4.6 out of 5 stars with 30,000+ ratings.
Platform: Available for iPhone and iPad.

#alt#A title card for the ZoomNotes app.

ZoomNotes provides an infinite whiteboard, making it a great choice for visual notetakers.

As you might expect from the name, ZoomNotes offers the most impressive zoom range. It’s practically endless, making it easy to sketch out your thoughts and ideas without worrying about running out of room.

When you zoom in to get a better look or make adjustments or additions to your notes, the full view stays on your screen off to the right, allowing you to see the bigger picture while you work.

#caption#ZoomNotes allows you to create a page within a page as a sticky note, PDF document, and more. (Image: ZoomNotes)

#alt#A screenshot from ZoomNotes showing the different types of sub-documents available, such as a sticky note.

Another feature that sets this app apart is the ability to create a page within a page. These sub-pages can be separate notes, like a mind map of your full notes, a sticky note with key concepts or reminders, or even a full PDF document that relates to your notes.

ZoomNotes goes the extra mile by adding linked sound recording, unlimited paper sizes/styles, Bookmarks, and more. It’s easy to completely customize your notes, especially with eight different pen types and unlimited color options.

It syncs to iCloud and even integrates with your Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders, so you can easily manage your checklists and schedule. Importing, exporting, and sharing features round out this app, making it competitive with apps like Notability and Goodnotes.

Infinite canvas provides endless room to write, draw, or sketch your notes and ideas.
Incredible zoom range makes taking visual notes like mind mapping or sketchnoting super easy.
Sub-pages allow you to create a page within a page. You can add PDFs, sticky notes, and more.
Integrates with other apps like Apple Reminders & Apple Calendar .
UI is a bit clunky and not as user-friendly as most of the other apps.
Limited tools on the free version make it hard to customize your notes the way you’d like.
Too many features make it overwhelming and difficult to learn.
Pricing: ZoomNotes Lite is free; $7.99 one-time purchase for the full version on the App Store.
Reviews: ZoomNotes is currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on the App Store with just 762 reviews .
Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

Other cool apps

Even though we’ve mostly covered handwriting applications for notetakers, there are some other cool apps out there that you might want to consider.

Many of these apps incorporate handwriting in some way, even if it's not their primary function.

Agenda . This is a notetaking tool that uses your calendar as a way to tie your note to a fixed point in time. Notes are attached to projects and can be assigned to a specific date so that you regularly refer back to them. As you use the app and tag notes with data, those notes become recurring tasks on your agenda until you mark them as complete. It’s an innovative way to combine notetaking and task management.
Freeform . Apple recently added this app to its extensive list of apps that come pre-installed on all Apple devices. It’s a digital whiteboard where you can add images, text, handwriting, and more. Whether you’re sitting down for a brainstorming session or you’ve got some ideas to map out, this app can help you do it. It's even fun for practicing digital hand lettering and calligraphy . While Freeform is the perfect app to get creative and express yourself visually, you may want to stick to Apple Notes or one of the others mentioned for serious notetaking.
Penultimate . If you’re an Evernote user, you might already know about this app. Penultimate is Evernote’s writing application. Notes you create here can be moved directly into Evernote and stored with other notes that you take inside the app. Compared to other apps on our list, Penultimate lacks several major features, but its connection to Evernote makes it worth a mention.
PDF Expert . Need to annotate or edit a PDF? As a PDF editor, PDF Expert gives you total control over your PDF documents. You can mark them up, edit them, convert files, take notes, and much more. The app requires a subscription and can be a bit pricey, but it’s one of the most capable PDF tools out there.
ThinkSpace . While you can use other notetaking apps to create mind maps, ThinkSpace is specifically designed to help you manage this task. Create quick notes, organize them in a spatial way, add visuals, and more. If you’re more of a visual notetaker, ThinkSpace is a great addition to your toolkit.

#caption#Image: Paperlike

#alt#Image of an iPad with a drawing of the word “hello” on it, laying on a lined sheet of paper with an Apple Pencil.

Use Paperlike to make the best notetaking apps for iPad even better

Without a doubt, having the right app can make the difference between success and failure when studying for the next exam or jotting down quick notes in a meeting.

Most of the apps on our list are free apps, so you can try them out and create simple notes and docs (handwritten or otherwise) with absolutely no risk.

If you’re planning to use the Apple Pencil or a similar stylus to take notes on your iPad, don’t forget to pick up a Paperlike so that you can improve your notetaking experience.

Paperlike transforms your screen from slippery glass into something that feels just like a real notepad or notebook so that you can scribble and jot notes with ease.

You can also make your iPad look and feel like your favorite notebook with our Folio Case and reduce hand cramping by using our Pencil Grips .

Download an awesome app, pick up one of our Screen Protectors , and set yourself up for notetaking success.

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New Apple Pencil Pro features come to the Goodnotes iPad note-taking app including support for its squeeze and barrel roll gestures

New tool, new features.

When Apple announced the new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air last week it also announced new accessories as well. One of them, the Apple Pencil Pro , builds on previous iterations and adds two new features; a squeeze gesture and barrel roll. Now, a new update to Goodnotes is bringing support for both to the popular note-taking app.

The two gestures will both be supported by the latest Goodnotes app on all compatible iPad Pro and iPad Air tablets (the two new models, then) so long as they're using the Apple Pencil Pro and running iPadOS 17.5 or later. If you just got your new tablet, you'll need to install that update yourself — they come with iPadOS 17.4 installed out of the box.

Installing the update will be well worth it though, with both the squeeze gesture and barrel roll being big additions and ones that you're definitely going to want to take for a spin.

Goodnotes announced the new features via a blog post that detailed what users can expect when they use their new tablet and stylus.

Starting with the squeeze gesture, users will be able to quickly switch between tools, access common commands, and more while using the barrel roll feature — tilting the Apple Pencil Pro during use — will allow the Goodnotes fountain pen to "feel even more like the real thing, with its ink flow responding dynamically to the rotation of Apple Pencil Pro."

These are all good things, and the new barrel roll-powered Dynamic Ink feature could make a huge difference for big handwritten note-takers.

Be sure to get the latest version of Goodnotes and take the new features for a try yourself, they really do sound great.

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Goodnotes for iPad updated with Apple Pencil Pro support

Along with the launch of the new M2 iPad Air and M4 iPad Pro , Apple has also introduced a new Apple Pencil Pro that has the same design as the Apple Pencil 2, but features new sensors and Find My support. The company has added new APIs to iPadOS so that developers can take advantage of these new features, and Goodnotes is one of the first apps to do just that.

Goodnotes now works with Apple Pencil Pro

As announced by the Goodnotes developers , the latest version of the app introduces support for the Apple Pencil Pro . When using Goodnotes on the iPad with the new Apple Pencil, users can press the accessory to open a custom contextual menu that provides easy access to different tools and color options.

“Toolbar feel a bit too far up the page? With just a squeeze, you can summon the Palette menu which will immediately appear wherever your pen tip is. Switch seamlessly between different tools, like pen and highlighter, or adjust stroke color and thickness without lifting your palm off the screen,” the developers explain.

There’s also a new Dynamic Ink for the fountain pen, which uses the new Apple Pencil Pro sensors to respond to rotation, emulating the behavior of a real fountain pen. “Roll the barrel of Apple Pencil Pro to exactly exercise precise control over stroke thickness and shape.”

Even if you don’t have a new iPad with Apple Pencil Pro , the latest version of Goodnotes for iPadOS introduces a preview stroke feature that works with Apple Pencil Hover.

You can download Goodnotes for free on the App Store. Make sure you have the latest version of the app installed to get access to all the new features.

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GoodNotes is Apple’s 2022 iPad App of the Year!

Dear GoodNotes users,

On this momentous occasion of winning Apple’s 2022 iPad App of the Year, I’d like to thank you for your support all these years. I still remember vividly the first few days when GoodNotes was launched on the App Store. I was so surprised that people actually loved the app and that they even recommended it to their friends. Today, 99% of our downloads are still through word of mouth thanks to all of you spreading the word!

I originally created GoodNotes to help me go paperless when I was studying math in college more than twelve years ago. I never would have thought that we’d have 19 million users around the world today. Since 2011, we have been focused on bringing handwriting to the iPad and reimagining the pen and paper experience, and that focus remains true today and for our future.

Like many others’, our journey has been filled with ups and downs, moments of joy, and moments of challenges, but there has always been one force that has kept us going — support and enthusiasm from you, our users.

One such moment in the early days was when I found out our App Store was filled with an unusually large number of one star reviews. It was clear to me that someone was buying those fake reviews to damage our reputation. I mentioned the incident on our Twitter, and suddenly those one star reviews were completely flooded by five star reviews from our genuine users. I almost wept, and from that moment on, I developed a strong sense of obligation to not let our users down.

Since the 2015 launch of the Apple Pencil, which vastly improved handwriting on the iPad, our team has been growing together with our user base. Many of you have shared your feedback and suggestions, and some of you have even met and worked with us together to improve GoodNotes. We are always thrilled to see your beautiful notes and creativity on social media and other channels. Your love and passion motivate our team and myself to go to work every day.

When people ask me for advice, I always tell them that, if you are genuinely trying to do your best to build something great, others will feel your passion and want to either help you or join you. Thank you once again for all your support — rest assured that we will continue to make GoodNotes even better for you.

Your sincerely, Steven Chan

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On my ipad when i try to import from onedrive into an app like good notes I get an error message saying “content unavailable. The folder contents could not be displayed because you don’t have permission to see its contentsTry again”.

I am also unable to open a file from one drive in another app and when in a file and I click on the 3 dots labelled more to try and do this I get no options appear in the tab on the left that pops up. This was all working fine last week.

I have rest ipad, updated IOS and checked i have most recent version of OneDrive app. I have also put my Apple ID onto another iPad and the same problem persists! It’s infuriating!

Hoping someone can help please!

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The iPad Pro Is More Ready Than Ever to Be the Mac I've Been Waiting For

Commentary: I've been saying for years that the iPad Pro should be more like a MacBook. And guess what? We're almost there.

Nearly 20 years writing about tech, and over a decade reviewing wearable tech, VR, and AR products and apps

iPad Pro and keyboard case on a wooden table

The iPad Pro and its new display are lovely. But this tech begs for better software and a deeper OS.

For at least 10 years , I've wanted an iPad that could be my full-time computer. That feeling is stronger than ever since Apple released its fast, beautiful and capable new iPads. So, Apple, please make it happen.

I'm writing on an iPad Pro now. I work on my iPad. Many people do. It's got a great keyboard and trackpad case. A nice, vivid OLED display. Of course it's a computer. But I know I'll inevitably drift back to my MacBook Air at some point. Maybe later today when I file this story or resolve some notes in Google Drive. My workflow will shift back.

Why does this happen? Put a MacBook and an iPad Pro with its Magic Keyboard side by side, and you have, by all appearances, two laptops in parallel evolution. They're so similar looking at first glance that you may not even know which is which.

There are some differences between them. The MacBook has a rear hinge between its keyboard and screen, no touchscreen and more ports. The iPad snaps into a floating-back keyboard case, has a single port and has a touchscreen. But in terms of hardware, I'm having a harder time telling you the differences. They both have Apple M-series processors: the M2 and M4, respectively. They both have landscape-oriented front cameras for video chats. Aren't I looking at two flavors of the same thing?

"Don't put MacOS on an iPad," some shout. iPadOS is fine, don't change what makes iPads great. "iPad Pros should be Macs already," others yell. Microsoft's Surface Pro has existed for years with full Windows on it, and Apple is still making us buy two expensive machines when we could just have one.

I'm here to argue, why can't we have both?

It's not crazy to want an iPad to be a Mac. With its keyboard on, it's like I'm looking at something with a long trunk, thick legs and big ears. But there are many voices -- including Apple's -- telling me it's not an elephant.

Let iPads be iPads

I'm not here to say an iPad should never be an iPad. My kids use iPads. My wife uses an iPad. My mom uses an iPad. My nephews and niece have iPads. Everyone loves iPads. They're fine. And for sure, Apple shouldn't mess with that. The iPad runs tons of apps well, it's versatile, it's familiar, it's portable and it's an easy device for people who aren't techie. It's a good portable TV, game console, browser, sketchpad and even a light work machine.

Keep that. Let the iPad keep getting better as chips improve, and apps can do more with AI and everything else. All that sounds great. They're clearly on that road already, and that's why Apple sells a fair amount of them each year -- iPads earn Apple an amount that hovers close to what the company earns from Macs.

MacBook Air and iPad Pro with keyboard case side by side, both in black

The MacBook Air M2 (left) and iPad Pro 2024 (right). They keep converging. Let them complete the journey.

But also, let them be Macs (or close enough)

Now, here's the other part: For iPad Pro models in particular, they should be Macs, too.

"Macs as well, Scott? Do you mean dual-boot?" Maybe that's a thought in your head right now.

I don't know. All I do know is I want to press a button on that Magic Keyboard, and have my iPad experience suddenly transform into something indistinguishable from a Mac, or at least so close to it that it's the same thing.

Is that confusing? I don't think so. It's only a refinement to what Apple already has with Stage Manager . Right now, a tap of an icon (hidden in a pull-down menu) brings up a multitasking mode where multiple apps can be resized and layered on the iPad screen plus a connected external monitor. But that multitasking mode allows a maximum of four apps, no matter how powerful or large the iPad model is, as well as four more apps on a connected monitor, no matter how large it is. App positions can be flexed in size, but not as freely as on a Mac.

I want full freedom and lots of apps. I also want Mac apps, which could be enabled somehow if Apple figured it out. The Mac runs iOS apps, and Mac and iPad Pro models now have the same processors. The iPad Pro actually has a next-gen M-series chip (and a better display and front-facing camera).

I also want a browser that feels exactly like the Mac. Not sort of similar; the same. I need my workflows in-browser to work, and for them to work with other browser types, too.

MacOS doesn't support touchscreens, you say? Who cares? I work on the iPad Pro with a Magic Keyboard connected 95% of the time, and when I do, I'm almost never touching the screen. The iPad is already adapted to work with trackpads and keyboards, so what's the difference if I'm running a Mac app instead?

Putting a touchscreen on a Mac is a harder proposition because, yes, MacOS isn't touchscreen-ready. But you can run a keyboard- and trackpad-ready Mac app on an iPad, right? I want that Mac or Mac-like mode to feel seamless and become my Pro Mode. And for anyone who wants the familiar iPad feel again? Just press that button and switch back.

Also, improve my keyboard and Pencil life

Even if you're not on board with making the iPad Pro feel more like a Mac at times, surely you can agree Apple hasn't made living with both the Pencil Pro and Magic Keyboard feel seamless. The iPad Pro in keyboard-connected mode is very much like a laptop in form, but it's not a fun device to suddenly and spontaneously use with a Pencil.

If I want to write notes, or sketch, or use the Pencil to navigate, reaching up to the floating iPad display as it rests on the Magic Keyboard is awkward. It's a bit wobbly and too elevated. I want to bring the iPad down to a lower angle, resting over the keyboard, so I can settle down and draw. The Magic Keyboard doesn't bend that way, or even go into a folio mode, forcing me to pop the iPad out and hold it instead.

Why hasn't Apple solved this geometry yet? I expected the new Magic Keyboard would fold in a new direction to allow Pencil and keyboard flows to feel more… well, magical. There's still time to figure this out with the next version, and if Apple ever does make a touchscreen Mac, it'll be well worth figuring out.

I'd make my iPad Pro my Mac if I could, consolidate before the next Vision

As I said in my iPad Pro review, that device and its hardware could and should easily be my everyday computer, saving me from buying a MacBook. Apple, of course, says you can already do that. Some people do. Or, Apple suggests, you could buy both and use them together.

But why not have both in one? Cynically, I expect it's because Apple wants us to buy two devices instead of one. If that's the case, it seems ridiculous. Apple is already angling for us to consider other future products like the Vision Pro , which promises to be a computer that connects with our Macs (and hopefully, someday, iPads and iPhones). I'd be more likely to consider higher-end alternative accessories or peripherals if Apple weren't already trying to sell me two different types of increasingly similar (but not identical) computers in the iPad Pro and Mac. All these computers can get expensive, fast.

Microsoft's recent AI-infused Surface lineup keeps underlining to me that, yes, tablets and laptops can run the same software. Microsoft never figured out a good OS for mobile and tablets. And so, for better or worse, it continues using Windows across the board. Apple, however, could have it both ways. The mobile and tablet software is solid, but iPads need a dose of that desktop OS, too.

The future of Apple's computer lineup is simple, to me, and it has been for years and years: iPads and Macs need to fuse, or become so cross-compatible that they're truly interchangeable. They're closer than ever right now in 2024, but as WWDC approaches with promises of new device-transforming software (and lots of AI), I hope Apple will make the leap, at last, to let high-end iPads double as Macs. And, like always, I'm not expecting much to happen.

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All the AI Features Apple Is Planning to Roll Out This Year

A s the rest of the tech world scrambles to add as many AI features as possible to every product and service imaginable, Apple has kept quiet. In the eighteen months since OpenAI changed the game with the launch of ChatGPT, Apple has yet to roll out any substantial AI features to the iPhone, iPad, or Mac, even as Microsoft, Google, and Meta have seemed focused on nothing else.

But if the rumors are to be believed, that's changing this year, as Apple is expected to release new AI features for iOS 18 and macOS 15 at WWDC in June . There have been murmurs about the trillion-dollar company's AI plans for months now, and the hints keep on coming. According to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman , who has a reputable track record of reporting on Apple rumors, the company is planning an AI approach that isn't quite as flashy as some of the competition's efforts. Instead, Apple will roll out AI features that integrate with the apps iPhone and Mac users already know and use, such as Photos, Notes, and Safari. The initiative is known as "Project Greymatter."

As a bit of an AI skeptic, I like this plan. It allows Apple to enter into the AI space while offering AI-powered features people might actually use, rather than wasting resources on "revolutionary" AI capabilities that most users will ignore once the novelty wears off.

How Apple plans to power its AI features

Whatever Apple ends up announcing this year, its AI features will need to be powered by...something. Your iPhone or Mac likely already has an NPU (neural processing unit), which is a part of the hardware specifically designed for running AI tasks. (Apple already does have some AI features, including Live Text , which uses the NPU to handle processing.) The company made a big deal about the NPU in the M4 chip in the new iPad Pros , which, once added to the new line of Macs, will likely power many of Apple's upcoming AI features.

However, not all features are ideal for on-device processing, especially for older iPhones and Macs. Gurman predicts that most of Apple's features will be able to run locally on devices made in roughly the last year. If your iPhone, iPad, or Mac is pretty new, the hardware should keep up. However, for older devices, or any features that are particularly power hungry, Apple is planning to outsource that processing power to the cloud.

Apple has reportedly been in talks with both OpenAI and Google to lease those companies' cloud-based AI processing to run some of its new features, but it's not clear whether (or when) those deals will materialize. Gurman says Apple plans to run some cloud-based features from server farms with M2 Ultra chips. If Apple can manage to handle their cloud processing on their own, I'm sure they'd prefer that to signing a deal with a competitor. We'll likely see how Apple's grand AI plan is coming together at WWDC.

Speaking of plans, here are the AI features Apple is rumored to be revealing in June:

Generative AI emojis

Emojis are a huge part of any iOS or macOS update (we may have already seen a handful of new emojis heading for a future version of iOS 18 and macOS 15). However, Gurman suggests Apple is working on a feature that will create a unique emoji with generative AI based on what you're currently typing. That sounds genuinely fun and useful, if done well. While there are a ton of emoji to choose from already, if nothing fits your particular mood, perhaps an icon created from whatever you're actively talking about with a friend will be a better choice. Over on Android, users have had " Emoji Kitchen, " which lets you combine certain emoji to create something brand new, for a few years now. Apple seems poised to offer an effective iteration on that idea.

Siri, powered by AI

I don't know about you, but I've never been too thrilled with Siri. The smart assistant frequently fails to follow through on my requests, whether because it misunderstands my query, or just ignores me altogether. For some reason, it's especially bad on macOS, to the point where I don't bother trying to use Siri at all on my MacBook. If Apple can find to supercharge Siri with AI, or at least make it reliable , that sounds great to me.

We learned about the possibility of Apple integrating AI with Siri earlier this month , based on info leaked to The New York Times by an unnamed source. Gurman's recent report suggests Apple is planning on making interactions with Siri "more natural-sounding," and while it's possible the company will outsource that work to Google or OpenAI, Gurman says the company wants to use its own in-house large language models (LLM). There may even be a specialized AI Siri in the the works for the Apple Watch.

That doesn't mean Apple is turning Siri into a chatbot—at least not according to Gurman, who reports that Apple wants to find a partner that can provide a chatbot for the company's platforms in time for WWDC, without Apple having to build one itself. Right now, it appears the company has sided with OpenAI over Google, so we may see ChatGPT on the iPhone this year.

Intelligent Search in Safari

Earlier this month, we learned Apple has at least one AI feature planned for Safari: Intelligent Search . This feature reportedly scans any given web page and highlights keywords and phrases in order to build a generative AI summary of this site. While Gurman says Apple is working on improved Safari web search, we don't know too much more about how Intelligent Search will work just yet.

AI in Spotlight search

Speaking of better search, Apple may use AI to make on-device searched in Spotlight more useful. The feature always gives me mixed results, so I'd love if generative AI could not only speed up my searches, but also return more relevant results.

AI-powered accessibility features

Apple recently announced a handful of new accessibility features coming "later this year," which is almost certainly code for "coming in iOS 18 and macOS 15." While not all of these features are powered by AI, at least two that are seem really interesting. First, Apple is using AI to allow users to control their iPhone and iPad with just their eyes, without the need for external hardware. There's also "Listen for Atypical Speech," which uses on-device AI to learn and identify your particular speech patterns.

Automatic replies to messages

As of last year, iOS and macOS will suggest words and phrases as you type, to help you finish your sentences faster. (This feature is not to be confused with the three predictive text options in Messages that have been around for years now.) With iOS 18 and macOS 15, Apple may roll out automatic replies as well. This means that when you receive an email or a text message, the app may suggest a full reply based on whatever you're responding to. Soon, we may all be communicating with single button taps. (Hmm, do I want to tap the response that says "Sounds good: I'll meet you there," or "Sorry, I can't. Raincheck!")

Voice Memo transcription

This one would be a great use of AI: Apple already transcribes voice messages sent in the Messages app (quite quickly, in my experience), so utilizing AI to transcribe recordings you make in Voice Memos only makes sense.

Smart recaps

Gurman says one of Apple's big focuses is "smart recaps," or AI-generated summaries of information you may have missed while not looking at your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, including notifications, messages, web pages, articles, notes, and more. iOS already has a notification summary feature, but these smart recaps sound more involved.

Photo retouching

We don't know too much about this feature, but Gurman also says Apple is working on ways to use AI for photo retouching. The company has already built an AI image editor that takes in natural language prompts to perform edits; it's possible it will incorporate some of those features into an AI photo "enhancer" for the Photos app on iOS and macOS.

All the AI Features Apple Is Planning to Roll Out This Year

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Notes reimagined‪.‬, time base technology limited.

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Replace your paper notebooks and reimagine digital note-taking with Goodnotes. Introducing Goodnotes 6! *Existing Goodnotes users can continue to use Goodnotes 5 indefinitely or upgrade to Goodnotes 6. Either way, your notes are safe!* Digital notebooks. Unlimited notebooks for the price of one physical one. ■ Combine both handwriting and typed text on one page, alongside images, stickers, diagrams and doodles. ■ Create digital notebooks with customizable paper templates, including Blank Paper, Ruled Paper, Cornell Paper, Checklists, Planners, and more. ■ Navigate long documents with ease. PDF tables of contents are automatically imported; otherwise create custom outlines yourself. ■ Backup all your notes to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive and use iCloud to sync across iPad, iPhone, and Mac so your notes are always safe. ■ Edit your writing by resizing it, changing the color of your text, or moving it to another spot on the page. For students: Ace your exams with ease ■ Record audio notes that are magically synced to the moment you write, perfect for lectures or presentations. ■ Search and instantly find any of your notes from any of your classes. ■ Study and practice straight from your notes with Study Sets — flashcards built on active recall and spaced repetition. ■ Use AI to summarize, shorten, change the tone of your words, and otherwise perfect your typed text. For planners: Let your creativity flow and create notes you can’t stop looking at ■ Customize the size and color of your paper templates to create the template you want. ■ Add, create, or import your stickers, stamps, washi tapes, images, and more to reuse again and again. For professionals: Increase productivity at work ■ Present your notes, slides, and content directly from Goodnotes when you connect your device via AirPlay or HDMI to an external screen. ■ Use Laser Pointer on your Mac to guide your audience’s attention during your presentation. ■ Export your notes to email, print, or share them anywhere as PDFs. ■ Send a link to your notebooks to work on the same notes directly, perfect for asynchronous work or collaborative brainstorming. ■ Import documents by emailing them to your custom Goodnotes email. For the price of one paper notebook, get unlimited digital notebooks that are backed up, synced across your devices, and searchable for an entire year. Try Goodnotes today. Privacy policy: https://www.goodnotes.com/privacy-policy Terms and Conditions: https://www.goodnotes.com/terms-and-conditions

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Good notes helps me in taking various notes. I am a teacher. I have to keep many notes for lecture preparations so it helps me a lot. A few things come to my mind 1. If I write, suppose, a 200 pages note in good notes and in such a big file, suppose I have to scroll fast from Fifth page to 160th page how can I do that? Is there any fast scrolling option in good notes? 2. I have to use alphabets and Numbers in my typing all together,can we do it more easily or switch between numbers and alphabets? how can I use them in my chemistry notes while writing ? Because on the keyboard I don’t find numbers when alphabets are visible and when Numbers are visible alphabets are not visible, can we have some other keyboard available. 3. Sometimes, I use these good note (handwritten) files, as my reference, in PDF format in my mobile but page numbers cannot be generated or automatically page numbering is not given in good notes, if it is possible please let me know how to give Page-numbers in file. Thanks.

Genuine suggestions

Hello! I have been using your app since 2 years. I have found some basic features that are lacking in the app. I would request you to give preference to those rather than AI features as it’ll take time for AI to get that efficient that it can significantly help us. Some of those features are: 1. 2 page view of pdfs. It gives us a feel that we’re reading a book. It helps in creating a visual memory of the document. 2. Text to voice feature. Even though Apple devices have an inbuilt feature, we need to select the text every time. Something like the feature offered by moon reader would be of great help. 3. Infinite page. As offered by one note. Sometimes the flowcharts or mindmaps need much more space than one page. 4. Hide the text through an opaque tape. It helps in revision of the notes. It can be made transparent through a touch. 5. If possible we should get an option to choose if we want eraser to come up on double tapping the pencil or a highlighter. Sometimes shifting between highlighter is needed than an eraser. Also sometimes we need to shift between 2 colours of highlighters or pens. Thanx.

Good but need some major improvements

Although i have been using Good notes from last 1.5 yrs now and i found it to be the only best apk even more than notability for your every work may it be note-taking, reading books, writing or whatever. But overall of all these i would like to suggest some major improvements like 1) It is not able to read all pdf files. Sometimes images are missing from the original files that i uploaded to goodnotes apk like in case of uploading books. 2) Their should be an option of auto font conversion for whatever i write during taking notes or making comments. 3) like when we are reading books which has no place left with text and we find something important to write there, so there should be an option for noting down like just tapping and then a notepad like thing comes up, u note ur points and then it sticks there for future reference. 4) Since being a Medical Doctor student i need to make a lot of diagrams and colouring those is a tedious task. So their should be an option to just fill them with colour of choice in one go.

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6 best note-taking apps for an Apple iPad
GoodNotes Homepage
GoodNotes vs Notability

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iPad notes 📝 incredible Goodnotes 5🔥
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iPad note taking 🤯✍️ apple pencil & goodnotes app
iPad Note-taking
✏️💎 Ghi Chú Cùng Chi Trên Ứng Dụng CollaNote • My Aesthetic Notes #collanote #lvmaichi

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Goodnotes
Try Goodnotes today. Reimagine note-taking. You have to try it to believe it. iOS. Android. Windows. Web. Discover Goodnotes 6, the AI note-taking app loved by millions around the world.
‎Goodnotes 6 on the App Store
Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots, and learn more about Goodnotes 6. Download Goodnotes 6 and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac OS X 12.3 or later.
Features
Goodnotes 6 integrates the newest technology to push the boundaries of what you've always imagined note-taking to be. In addition to AI-powered note-taking features, it includes highly requested features like the ability to change the colors of folders and customize templates. Think of Goodnotes 6 as a new generation of Goodnotes.
‎Goodnotes 6 on the App Store
Download Goodnotes 6 and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac OS X 12.3 or later. ‎Replace your paper notebooks and reimagine digital note-taking with Goodnotes. Introducing Goodnotes 6! ... Best handwriting note app I have used I started using an ipad full time in 2017 for fieldwork - once the Apple Notes app acquired a scaleable ...
The 8 best note-taking apps for iPad in 2024
OneNote is nearly perfect as an iPad note-taking app for those who use Windows or Android devices alongside their iPad. Many of the other apps on this list are also cross-platform, but OneNote will feel most familiar to diehard Windows users. And as of 2024, it includes support for Apple Pencil handwriting as well.
‎iPad App of the Year: Goodnotes 6
And when the app transitioned to a free-to-try model this year, it became a favorite of even more students, journalers, artists, educators, and visionaries. GoodNotes ' realistic drawing tools and best-in-class Apple Pencil support helped us turn our notes into works of art. The joy lies in the exceptional handwriting experience with Apple ...
[GoodNotes 5] Getting started with GoodNotes 5
What is GoodNotes 5? GoodNotes 5 is a note-taking app that lets you take handwritten notes in digital notebooks and annotate imported PDF documents. The app aims to help you lead a paperless life. All your notes and documents are neatly organized in GoodNotes so that you won't ever lose anything again. Messy desks, paper jams in printers ...
How to Take Notes on the iPad
GoodNotes won Apple's 2022 best iPad app of the year award. OneNote, Notability, and Noteshelf are also well-reviewed note-taking apps. How do I sync notes between iPhone to iPad. With synced notes you can access your documents on any device and keep them up-to-date automatically. Here are the steps to sync notes between your iPhone and iPad ...
Goodnotes 6 Review: The Best Note-Taking App for iPad?
Goodnotes 6 also offers so-called AI-assisted writing. This allows the app to learn and generate text according to your handwriting. This feature is far from perfect but is actually a pretty good idea. This is practical, for example, when you've written handwritten notes, and the app detects a spelling mistake.
The best note-taking apps for iPad of 2024: Digitize your notes
Best iPad note-taking app for businesses. Evernote features: Up to 20GB monthly uploads | 200MB max note size | Google integration. Evernote is a fully-loaded powerhouse for the serious note-taker ...
Best iPad Pro notetaking app of 2024
Evernote is a great app to collect multiple inputs, including images, text notes, recorded messages, and clippings of web pages - all in one file for storage and collaboration. They can then be ...
GoodNotes App Ultimate Guide
At the moment Goodnotes 5 is for iOS only; A good notes 5 windows or android friendly app is NOT available; If I convinced you try one of the best note-taking apps for iPad, then go and download it from the App Store (you can also find it by searching for "good notes 5 windows" in a Safari window). GoodNotes Pricing: FREE to try
The 11 Best Note-Taking Apps for iPad and iPad Pro in 2024
Capture your thoughts when inspiration strikes with Transom by VoidMedia. Created explicitly for novelists and writers, Transom can let you tag your iPad notes by character or setting and the piece's name. You can export your notes as a PDF and provide iCloud backup. It's not compatible with Apple Pencil. Price: Free.
How to start taking notes with Goodnotes 6 on your iPad
Quick steps. Type a row of text, highlight it, then tap the star button on the resulting pop-up. This lets you use AI to manipulate the text. When writing using an Apple Pencil, Goodnotes 6 can ...
13 Best Notetaking Apps for iPad for 2024
Reviews: Goodnotes 6 app currently has 4.7 stars derived from a total of 238,000+ reviews. Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. Beta version for Windows and Android. Links: Download app / View website. Goodnotes is most often compared against Notability, and the two apps have had a friendly rivalry for years.
‎Goodnotes 6 on the App Store
Download Goodnotes 6 and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac OS X 12.3 or later. ‎Replace your paper notebooks and reimagine digital note-taking with Goodnotes. Introducing Goodnotes 6! *Existing Goodnotes users can continue to use Goodnotes 5 indefinitely or upgrade to Goodnotes 6. ... This app absolutely blows all other note ...
Features
Get the Mac app at no extra cost, so you can always view your latest notes, wherever you prefer. ... GoodNotes lets you drag and drop almost anything. ... Available on the iPad, Mac, and iPhone. Download now and unlock on all platforms.
GoodNotes
Join the exclusive notes-sharing community. Study smarter together. Sign-up now to get an invite. Discover the note-taking app loved by students, digital planners, notetakers all over the world. See why GoodNotes is the Editors' Choice on the App Store.
New Apple Pencil Pro features come to the Goodnotes iPad note ...
When Apple announced the new M4 iPad Pro and M2 iPad Air last week it also announced new accessories as well. One of them, the Apple Pencil Pro, builds on previous iterations and adds two new features; a squeeze gesture and barrel roll. Now, a new update to Goodnotes is bringing support for both to the popular note-taking app.
Best iPad note-taking app comparison: Goodnotes, Notability, and
Goodnotes excels in customization and advanced features like AI writing aids, priced at $29.99 or $9.99/year; Notability offers unique audio recording synchronization for $14.99/year; Collanote stands out with free, ad-free collaboration and audio features, plus high user ratings (4.9/5).
Goodnotes for iPad updated with Apple Pencil Pro support
Goodnotes now works with Apple Pencil Pro. As announced by the Goodnotes developers, the latest version of the app introduces support for the Apple Pencil Pro. When using Goodnotes on the iPad ...
GoodNotes is Apple's 2022 iPad App of the Year!
Dear GoodNotes users, On this momentous occasion of winning Apple's 2022 iPad App of the Year, I'd like to thank you for your support all these years. I still remember vividly the first few days when GoodNotes was launched on the App Store. I was so surprised that people actually loved the app and that they even recommended it to their friends.
‎GoodNotes 5 Does It All : App Store Story
APP. OF THE. DAY. Take smart notes and mark up PDFs in the same place. Notes Reimagined. With GoodNotes 5, note-taking doesn't have to be boring. Create custom notebooks where you can type (or handwrite) brainstorms, highlight documents and PDFs, and create interactive presentations. What we love: GoodNotes gives you total creative freedom.
One drive app on iPad
I am also unable to open a file from one drive in another app and when in a file and I click on the 3 dots labelled more to try and do this I get no options appear in the tab on the left that pops up. This was all working fine last week. I have rest ipad, updated IOS and checked i have most recent version of OneDrive app.
Your iPhone's Notes App Is a Secret Weapon for Private Conversations
new features in iOS 17.5 how to easily view and copy Wi-Fi passwords on your iPhone or iPad. On your iPhone, launch the Notes app, and tap the. Compose. button on the bottom right to create a new ...
‎Goodnotes 6 on the App Store
Read reviews, compare customer ratings, see screenshots and learn more about Goodnotes 6. Download Goodnotes 6 and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch or Mac OS X 12.3 or later. ... (maybe used will now be more appropriate) goodnotes as my main tool at work. It was a wonderful app that allowed me to keep track of ideas and projects ...
Have the new Apple Pencil Pro for your iPad Pro or Air? Start with
Apple's latest iPad Air and iPad Pro 2024 officially hit the market last week and got most of the attention, but there's also a new, souped-up Apple Pencil around - the $129 Apple Pencil Pro ...
The iPad Pro Is More Ready Than Ever to Be the Mac I've Been ...
The iPad Pro and its new display are lovely. But this tech begs for better software and a deeper OS. For at least 10 years, I've wanted an iPad that could be my full-time computer. That feeling is ...
All the AI Features Apple Is Planning to Roll Out This Year
Instead, Apple will roll out AI features that integrate with the apps iPhone and Mac users already know and use, such as Photos, Notes, and Safari. The initiative is known as "Project Greymatter."
‎Goodnotes 6 on the App Store
Download Goodnotes 6 and enjoy it on your iPhone, iPad, iPod touch, or Mac OS X 12.3 or later. ‎Replace your paper notebooks and reimagine digital note-taking with Goodnotes. ... Good app Good notes helps me in taking various notes. ... Although i have been using Good notes from last 1.5 yrs now and i found it to be the only best apk even ...