By Staff Writer: Jerri Clewis
Paper and pen notes may be one of the best routes to taking notes, especially for remembering the content, according to Science Daily. But what if you can’t find that one specific page with a note you know you wrote down? Or perhaps your class uses countless links, files, charts and tables. Maybe you want more images or even audio in your notes.
That’s where a good note-taking app comes in.
Over the years, many note-taking apps have risen to try and solve those problems. Google Keep, Notion, OneNote, Obsidian, and Evernote are just a few programs trying to revolutionize how we take notes. Each carries different pros and cons, so a person may find one more useful than the rest. If none of them suit your needs, don’t worry! There are countless apps out there.
Google Keep:
This simple and free note-taking app is great for recording day-to-day notes. Users can create notes with lists, drawings, and images, which makes it a good choice for those who like adding visual touches. Each note can also be pinned or labeled for ease of organization, but those with large-scale note-taking needs might find it cluttered.
Habitual users of Google systems will find this note-taking app especially handy. Keep can be accessed directly through Google Calendar, through a golden lightbulb icon, and the notes can also be converted to Google Docs, making it easy to share your notes between users or devices.
Notion:
A great choice for new note-takers, Notion offers several options like timelines, boards, tables, or even blank pages to hit the ground running. It also allows users to embed images and videos directly, add a table of contents, or insert math equations. Users can even use a built-in AI tool to search their notes or get help brainstorming.
One of the shining features of the app is its shareability, Notion allows users to share data with other users or apps, making it a great choice for group projects or collaborations. It has a free plan, but users may find the Plus Plan necessary since it allows for unlimited file uploads.
OneNote:
Another free option, OneNote allows users to fully customize their notes with highlights, drawings, images, links, and more. Users can also record audio, capture screens, or draw directly on the app, which college students may find handy when using online textbooks or watching recorded lectures.
OneNote also has a built-in notebook feature that can be especially handy for organizing notes by subject or need. Those notebooks can also be saved to OneDrive, keeping your notes accessible wherever or whenever.
Obsidian:
A master of customizability, Obsidian is a note-taking app with plenty of plug-ins and templates for users to make their notes exactly how they want them. New users should be prepared for a learning curve when using Obsidian since many of its best features take some mastering.
Unlike many other apps, Obsidian stores your notes as plain-text files directly on your device, meaning that, should the app ever disappear or become unavailable, your work will always be accessible through your device’s default text editor (like Notepad) or other apps like Microsoft Word. If you prefer to have your notes accessible on any device, then the app also offers a subscription for syncing.
Evernote:
One of the more recognizable and popular note-taking apps, Evernote is usable on computers or mobile devices and lets users create and organize notes into “notebooks.” The app also includes a scratchpad, website clipping, and other various features. Users can also “search” through their notes, which is always useful when looking for that one thing you know you jotted down during a lecture.
It is important to note that, as of December, Evernote has restricted users without a subscription to only 50 notes and a single notebook, making it one of the more expensive options for those who need access to more features.