Best Note-Taking Apps
Last updated: 2026-07-11 · 8 tools compared
Note-taking and knowledge management tools compared — Notion, Evernote, Obsidian, and more.
Our Top Picks
Notion
⭐ 4.5/5Notes, databases, wikis, project management in one. Free plan covers individuals. Best for teams that want everything together.
Obsidian
⭐ 4.4/5Local-first, markdown-based, bidirectional links. Free for personal use. Best for power users who want a second brain.
Bear
⭐ 4.2/5Beautiful, minimalist note app for Apple devices. Markdown-based, tag organisation. Pro plan $2.99/mo for sync.
Evernote
⭐ 4/5The original note-taking app. Strong web clipper, document scanning, handwriting search. Best for individual note hoarders.
OneNote
⭐ 4/5Free with Microsoft 365. Notebook-style organisation, ink support, cross-platform. Best for Windows/Office users.
Roam Research
⭐ 4/5Bidirectional links and block-level referencing. Built for academic research and networked thought. No free plan.
Apple Notes
⭐ 3.9/5Free on all Apple devices. Simple, fast, good for basic notes. Limited organisation and no cross-platform.
Google Keep
⭐ 3.8/5Fastest note capture — sticky note style, voice notes, image extraction. Free with Google account. Limited organisation.
How We Ranked These
We compared 8 note-taking tools across features, pricing, ease of use, support, and integrations. Rankings are based on hands-on testing, official product data, and real user feedback. We update these rankings regularly as products evolve.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best note-taking tool?
Based on our analysis, Notion is the top pick for most users, with a 4.5/5 rating and pricing from $0/mo (Free). Notes, databases, wikis, project management in one. Free plan covers individuals. Best for teams that want everything together.
Are there free note-taking tools?
Yes, several tools offer free plans. Notion has a free tier that works well for beginners and small projects.
How did we choose the best note-taking tools?
We evaluated each tool based on features, pricing, ease of use, customer support, integration availability, and real user reviews. Our rankings are updated regularly based on the latest product data.