Introduction
A note-taking app can be a game-changing tool that can significantly boost your productivity — so if you're not using one currently, you're missing out.
Pen and paper might be sufficient for some people, but note-taking apps made for smartphones and tablets provide many functions that can completely change how you work.
What's more, some note-taking apps can even write the entire documentation for you without requiring you to write even a single word.
Whatever form of note-taking you like, there is an app to meet your specific needs. There's no shortage of note-taking apps, whether you want a simple yet elegant design with intuitive gesture-based functionality or advanced organization options that allow you to easily organize multiple stuff.
And, with options available on practically every operating system, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome OS and others, you can discover the perfect software to increase your productivity no matter which device you use.
Here are the six best note-taking apps of 2023 for you to choose from.
6 Best note taking apps of 2023
- Scribe: Best for AI-powered process documentation
- Google Keep: Best note-taking app for Google power users
- Notion: Best for team collaboration
- Microsoft OneNote: Best for Microsoft 365 apps users
- Evernote: Best note organizer app
- Apple Notes: Best option for Apple users
What differentiates the "best note-taking apps" from the rest?
When choosing a note-taking app that meets your needs, you're probably looking for dependability and convenience of use. After all, you need an app you can rely on to keep your vital information organized regardless of where you are.
However, with endless options available, it can be difficult to determine which app is genuinely the best match for you. That's why it's critical to find an app that provides the ideal blend of functionality, efficiency and affordability.
It's crucial to remember that there is no one-size-fits-all solution for note-taking and no tool can perform all of the heavy jobs for you.
However, the finest note-taking apps should give users crucial features that enhance their experience.
Before you begin, keep these essential aspects in mind.
1. Ease of use
Every second matters in today's fast-paced world — hence note-taking apps must be quick and easy to use.
The main competition, though, is not with other apps but with the traditional pen and paper. That is, if an app cannot provide the same convenience as writing on a notepad, it will fail.
And that's not all; the app must also shine in its editing and sorting capabilities and avoid leaving you struggling with a bad user experience.
2. Capability to organize
An excellent note-taking app makes organizing different kinds of notes into categories and subfolders simple and convenient.
You should be able to keep your information private, attach files, communicate more easily and save all your notes in one place. It should also let you add comments, attach files and even download PDF versions of notes.
3. Compatibility across devices
The flexibility to access your notes from any location, at any time and on any device is the biggest benefit of utilizing a notes app over a real notebook. You can easily access your notes anywhere you are — at work, on the couch, or even on a plane.
Moreover, a top-notch note-taking app gives you access to all the data in your notes across multiple devices.
4. Supports various note formats
One crucial feature is — other than text, it supports various note formats such as clipped Web pages, scanned documents, images, videos, audio, etc.
5. Cost-effective.
Investing in a high-quality note-taking app ensures you get the most bang for your dollar. Not only do the top note-taking apps offer free versions for users to try out, but their paid versions also include an extensive list of useful features that justify the affordable pricing.
A subscription edition of a note-taking app will provide you with access to many sophisticated features and functionalities that will help you take your note-taking to the next level.
6. Ensures user's privacy
Considering that your notes may contain sensitive personal information that must be kept private, you need to consider the privacy policy of the note organizer app you're using.
A leading note-taking app prioritizes your privacy and security by providing end-to-end encryption for its syncing functions.
This ensures that all your information is kept entirely private by encrypting your notes with a password never transferred to the app.
With such cutting-edge security measures in place, you can ensure that your notes are totally secure and shielded from unauthorized access.
Best note-taking apps of 2023
1. Scribe: Best for AI-powered process documentation
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Compatibility: iOS, Windows Web, Chrome, Edge
Pricing:
- Free plan available
- Starts from $12/month
Imagine you're documenting a complex workflow. You have screenshots all over your desktop and are striving to compile them into a logical step-by-step guide. You've tried using Google Docs, but it's too time-consuming. This is where Scribe comes into play.
You can automate your documentation process using Scribe, an AI-based process documentation tool that writes how-to guides for you.
All you have to do is:
- Enable the screenshot Chrome extension.
- Follow the steps.
Scribe will work in the background, automatically creating a guide complete with text and screenshots in a matter of seconds.
You can share your Scribes with a single click or integrate them into an existing tool or wiki to construct a strong SOP program.
That's not all, though.
You may go a step further and write comprehensive user manuals with Scribe Pages. Pages enable you to blend Scribes with text, video, photos and more in a bigger process document.
Imagine being able to produce thorough user manuals in a quarter of the usual time. That is Scribe's strength.
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And since it can be integrated with hundreds of tools you already use, such as Notion, Airtable, ClickUp, HubSpot and more, you can't find a better way to automate your documentation generation.
Go for Scribe if you want to:
- Eliminate the hassle of manual documentation.
- Automate the entire documentation generation.
- Answer your teammates' "How do I…?" instantly.
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2. Google Keep: Best note-taking app for Google power users
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Pricing: Free
Google Keep is a free note-taking tool that comes with your Google account. It lets you take notes and manage your to-do lists while syncing across your devices.
Google Keep makes task management easier by reminding you of important tasks like buying milk, attending a party, or visiting friends in the city.
It takes no time to create a new note. Open the app and you're already writing with one click or tap. This speed feels excellent and it's useful for taking notes on the go or saving several notes quickly.
In addition to time-based reminders, you can also set location-based reminders. Just imagine getting notified as you pass the laundromat to pick up your dirty clothes. It's simple to arrange all of your events in one location thanks to Google Keep's task list's integration with Google Calendar.
Google anticipates your needs with its integrated services and sends you reminders immediately.
It has one more cool feature — when you record your voice, the Keep mobile app also offers speech-to-text transcription, a handy function. Even though it's not the best dictation program, it's precise enough to spare you the transcription effort. Additionally, you can always verify the accuracy in the original recording.
Google Keep is the ideal tool for you if:
- You need to take quick notes.
- You want to manage your daily activities and to-do lists.
- You're familiar with Google's software.
Keep offers everything you need, so don't waste your time with other note-taking apps.
3. Notion: Best for team collaboration
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Pricing:
- Free for personal users
- free trial for team users with a 1,000 block limit
- from $10/month/user for teams with unlimited blocks
Notion is ideal for you if you work in marketing or are a part of the creative economy and have a small team that requires a collaborative workspace. You can save all data — whether it takes the form of text, images, files, or databases — in one location, linked together, tagged and organized for subsequent use.
Notion provides a wide range of templates for personal journals, study trackers and other uses. It's the best app for organizing your life because it features configurable pages, task lists, kanban boards and dashboards.
The ability to swiftly check off completed tasks and reorder them as necessary makes the task list function especially useful. The versatility of Notion includes adding additional pages with subtopics, dropdown menus and Kanban boards.
The app's simple interface and beautiful emojis make it a delight to use.
Notion is absolutely best for you if:
- You want to organize your entire plan in one place.
- Needs an intuitive space for team collaboration.
- You highly rely on reference wiki.
4. Microsoft OneNote: Best for Microsoft 365 apps users
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Pricing: Free
OneNote is a flexible note-taking and productivity tool. Its cloud-based storage, whether on OneDrive or SharePoint, makes collaborating across several devices simple. OneNote allows you to save online clippings, emails and even audio recordings.
Multiple users can edit simultaneously thanks to real-time collaboration, and changes are instantly synced across all devices. To simplify file sharing, OneNote also provides interfaces with well-known platforms like Zapier, WordPress, Flickr, Evernote and more.
Choose Microsoft OneNote if:
- You already use Microsoft 365 apps and want a familiar interface.
- You prefer taking notes during meetings.
- You Need instant and real-time collaboration.
5. Evernote: Best note organizer app
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Pricing: Free plan with basic features
Evernote, the ideal cross-platform note-taking program, will help you stay organized and on top of your game. Keep track of your thoughts, crucial data, photographs and online clippings in labeled online notepads with reminders added for fast access.
With just a few clicks, your team can access your shared notes and since Evernote automatically syncs with all your devices, it's a useful tool for professionals and students who want to organize their information more effectively.
Evernote has got you covered with its simple note-taking capability and extra features like checkboxes and highlighting.
Go for Evernote if:
- Teammates' workflow is your priority.
- You have the budget to spend on a note-taking app
- Looking for advanced web-clipping features
6. Apple Notes: Best option for Apple users
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Compatibility: iOS, macOS, Web
Pricing:
- Free for 5GB of storage across all iCloud services
- starts at $0.99/month for 50GB
With free iCloud syncing and a user-friendly interface, Apple's Notes software comes pre-installed on iPads.
It has basic formatting features like checklists, lists and headings, as well as support for handwriting, written text, links, images and videos. It can be awkward to mix handwriting with typed information, though. Writing by hand necessitates creating a discrete "section" within a note, which might constrain creative activity.
Prefer Apple Notes if:
- You mostly use Apple products.
- You prefer handwritten notes.
- You want simple device syncing.
Increase your productivity with the best note-taking apps of 2023
Though they can be time-consuming and difficult, process documentation and note-taking are crucial for professional and personal growth.
Thankfully, there are effective tools to make them simple and effective.
Using Scribe to automate your process documentation is a terrific way to save time and concentrate on more crucial activities.
Additionally, leveraging one of the six top note-taking apps of 2023 can help you get the most out of the data you gather while taking notes. These tools are worth considering whether you are a student, a professional, or just trying to increase your productivity.
So don't be afraid to give them a shot and see how they can enhance your growth. Sign up for Scribe today for free!
