Note-Taking Apps

Contents

1. 01WelcomeWhat these tools do, how many we grade and what to know before choosing
2. 02Our top threeThe three we'd look at first, and who each one suits
3. 03What they costWhat paid plans start at, the best buy at each budget and the free plans
4. 04The gradesThe highest graded, and how the whole category does on each subject
5. 05Keep or make?Which are worth paying for, and which you could make yourself
6. 06Every toolAll of them, best graded first, with what each costs
7. 07Quick answersThe questions people ask when choosing, each answered in a line or two
8. 08About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it

ToolGPA put this guide together from each tool’s own pages, their app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on the Note-Taking Apps page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 18, 2026.

From quick capture to linked knowledge bases: places to think, write and find things again.

Before you choose, here are 7 things to know about note-taking apps, worked out from every one we grade.

1. 1

   We grade 148 note-taking apps

   124 of them are free or have a free plan, and 21 more let you try before paying. Everything in this guide comes from their own pages and our grades.

2. 2

   Paid plans start at $5.83 a month in the middle

   From $0.83 (Freenotes) to $16.42 (Talknotes), going by what each one's paid plans start at.

3. 3

   Best value: Goodnotes, Simplenote and Apple Notes

   Nothing on our chart scores higher than these without costing more.

4. 4

   55 of 148 have iPhone and Android apps

   56 run in a web browser and 75 have a Windows app. Check the one you need before you fall for anything.

5. 5

   The middle GPA is 2.8

   41 score 3.0 or higher. The highest is Microsoft OneNote, at 3.8.

6. 6

   Best free option: Microsoft OneNote

   Microsoft OneNote has the highest GPA of the free ones, 3.8. Microsoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes.

7. 7

   120 worth keeping, 0 you could make

   By our keep-or-make rules, 120 do something you couldn't reasonably build yourself, 0 are simple enough to make with an AI app builder, and 28 are a close call.

Part 02 · Top three

Our top three

The three we'd look at first, and who each one suits

The three note-taking apps we'd look at first. First place suits the most people; second and third are the best picks for the people it leaves out. Each has an Insider's Guide of its own.

1. 1st

   

   3.2GPA

   Notion

   Free plan · from $10/mo

   For: Most people, and anyone who shares notes with a team

   Notion keeps notes, a wiki and databases in one workspace that runs in a browser and as Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android apps. The free plan gives one person unlimited pages, and paid plans start at $10 per member a month, billed yearly. Its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.8 from about 90,000 ratings. Know the limits: there is no Linux desktop app, file uploads on the free plan stop at 5 MB, and most of the AI features need the Business plan.

   The Notion Insider’s Guide

2. 2nd

   

   3.6GPA

   Obsidian

   Free plan · from $4/mo

   For: People who want their notes as files they own

   Obsidian stores notes as plain Markdown files on your own device, and the app is free with no sign-up on Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android. Links between notes, a graph view and community plugins are what people build on. It is second because the convenience costs extra or takes work: there is no web app, and syncing through Obsidian is a paid add-on from $4 per user a month, billed annually. Reviewers also mention a learning curve and a weaker phone app.

   The Obsidian Insider’s Guide

3. 3rd

   

   3.8GPA

   Microsoft OneNote

   Free plan · from $9.99/mo

   For: A free notebook on almost any device

   OneNote is free to use on the web, Windows, Mac, iPhone and Android. It takes typed, handwritten and scanned notes, and its iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 from more than a million ratings. It is third because it leans on a Microsoft account: storage is the 5 GB shared with OneDrive and Outlook.com, only the Windows app can keep notebooks on a local drive, and there is no Linux app.

   The Microsoft OneNote Insider’s Guide

Going by our grades, Goodnotes, Simplenote and Apple Notes give the most for the money among note-taking apps: no tool on this chart scores higher without costing more.

Paid plans start at a middle price of $5.83 a month across the 67 that charge, from $0.83 (Freenotes) to $16.42 (Talknotes). 36 more cost nothing at all.

27 of the 103 score above the category's average while starting at or below its middle price. 9 cost more than the middle price and score below the average.

Every tool gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. Here are the 12 highest graded note-taking apps, then how the whole category does on each subject.

Tool	Value	Free	Features	Ease	Platforms	GPA
Microsoft OneNote	A	B	A	A	A	3.8
Goodnotes	A	C	A	A	A	3.6
Joplin	A	A	A	C	A	3.6
Obsidian	A	A	A	B	B	3.6
Apple Notes	A	A	B	A	C	3.4
Drafts	A	A	B	A	C	3.4
Notability	A	C	B	A	A	3.4
Simplenote	A	A	C	A	B	3.4
Twos	C	A	A	B	A	3.4
Zoho Notebook	A	C	B	A	A	3.4
Google Keep	A	A	C	B	B	3.2
Linwood Butterfly	A	A	C	B	B	3.2

Some software does something you couldn’t reasonably build yourself. Some is simple enough that an AI app builder could make the core of it in an afternoon. Here’s where note-taking apps land, by the same rules for every tool.

• 120

  Keep it

  It does something you could not reasonably make for yourself, or it costs nothing.

• 28

  Your call

  You could make the core of it, and you would give something up.

• 0

  You could make this

  What it does is the kind of thing an AI app builder makes well, and it charges every month.

Every note-taking app we grade, with its GPA and what it costs. Each one has a page of its own on toolgpa.com, with its Insider’s Guide.

1. 1Microsoft OneNoteFree plan · from $9.99/mo3.8
2. 2GoodnotesFree plan · from $11.99/yr3.6
3. 3JoplinFree plan · from €2.40/mo3.6
4. 4ObsidianFree plan · from $4/mo3.6
5. 5Apple NotesFree3.4
6. 6DraftsFree plan · from $1.99/mo3.4
7. 7NotabilityFree plan · from $14.99/yr3.4
8. 8SimplenoteFree3.4
9. 9TwosFree plan · from $3.33/mo3.4
10. 10Zoho NotebookFree plan · from $1.67/mo3.4
11. 11Google KeepFree plan · from $7/mo3.2
12. 12Linwood ButterflyFree3.2
13. 13MyScript NotesFree plan · from $1.993.2
14. 14NoteGenFree3.2
15. 15NotesnookFree plan · from $1.99/mo3.2
16. 16NotionFree plan · from $10/mo3.2
17. 17RemNoteFree plan · from $8/mo3.2
18. 18Samsung NotesFree3.2
19. 19Stylus Labs WriteFree plan · from $8.99 one-time3.2
20. 20Bangle.ioFree3.0
21. 21Beaver NotesFree3.0
22. 22CollaNoteFree plan · from $13.90 one-time3.0
23. 23CraftFree plan · from $96/yr3.0
24. 24DynalistFree plan · from $7.99/mo3.0
25. 25FSNotesFree plan · from $4.99 one-time3.0
26. 26FUTO NotesFree3.0
27. 27HeynoteFree3.0
28. 28LogseqFree plan · from $5/mo3.0
29. 29Mimiri NotesFree plan · from $1.20/mo3.0
30. 30MindForgerFree3.0
31. 31NotebooksFree trial · from $17.99 one-time3.0
32. 32NotePlusFree plan · from $29 one-time3.0
33. 33NotezillaFree plan · from $19.95/yr3.0
34. 34QOwnNotesFree3.0
35. 35RnoteFree3.0
36. 36SaberFree plan · from $5/mo3.0
37. 37SiYuanFree plan · from $64 one-time3.0
38. 38Tangent NotesFree3.0
39. 39Trilium NotesFree3.0
40. 40ZavalaFree3.0
41. 41ZimFree3.0
42. 42AgendaFree plan · from $39.99/yr2.8
43. 43AmplenoteFree plan · from $7.99/mo2.8
44. 44CherryTreeFree2.8
45. 45FabricFree plan · from $8/mo2.8
46. 46Fossify NotesFree2.8
47. 47FreenotesFree plan · from $1.992.8
48. 48JottyFree2.8
49. 49KeyNote NFFree2.8
50. 50KilonotesFree plan · from $1.99/mo2.8
51. 51MarknoteFree2.8
52. 52MarkorFree2.8
53. 53MemosFree2.8
54. 54NotallyXFree2.8
55. 55NoteCase ProFree plan · from $5 one-time2.8
56. 56NoteDiscoveryFree2.8
57. 57NotefulFree plan · from $6.99 one-time2.8
58. 58Notes WriterFree plan · from $1.992.8
59. 59NoteshelfFree plan · from $7.99 one-time2.8
60. 60OctarineFree plan · from $79 one-time2.8
61. 61QuillpadFree2.8
62. 62SilverBulletFree plan · from $50/yr2.8
63. 63Simple Sticky NotesFree2.8
64. 64Standard NotesFree plan · from $90/yr2.8
65. 65StickierFree plan · from $4.99 one-time2.8
66. 66StickiesFree2.8
67. 67StrflowFree plan · from $1.49/mo2.8
68. 68Tana OutlinerFree plan · from $8/mo2.8
69. 69TheBrainFree plan · from $15/mo2.8
70. 70TiddlyWikiFree2.8
71. 71TolariaFree2.8
72. 72TreeSheetsFree2.8
73. 73UpNoteFree plan · from $1.99/mo2.8
74. 74VNoteFree2.8
75. 75WorkflowyFree plan · from $6.99/mo2.8
76. 76Xournal++Free2.8
77. 77AFFiNEFree plan · from $6.75/mo2.6
78. 78AnytypeFree plan · from $4/mo2.6
79. 79AudioPenFree plan · from $33/mo2.6
80. 80BearFree plan · from $2.99/mo2.6
81. 81CapacitiesFree plan · from $9.99/mo2.6
82. 82EagleFilerFree trial · from $69.99 one-time2.6
83. 83EvernoteFree plan · from $99/yr2.6
84. 84flatnotesFree2.6
85. 85LockbookFree plan · from $2.99/mo2.6
86. 86MiaoYanFree plan · from $14.99 one-time2.6
87. 87NotenikFree2.6
88. 88NotickyFree plan · from $4.99 one-time2.6
89. 89OmniOutlinerFree trial · from $24.99 one-time2.6
90. 90Orgzly RevivedFree2.6
91. 91Quick NoteFree trial · from $12.99 one-time2.6
92. 92SideNotesFree trial · from $9.99 one-time2.6
93. 93SnipNotesFree plan · from $1.992.6
94. 94SupernotesFree plan · from £6/mo2.6
95. 95TotFree plan · from $19.99 one-time2.6
96. 96WeNoteFree plan · from $0.992.6
97. 97Zettel NotesFree plan · from $0.99 one-time2.6
98. 98ZoomNotesFree plan · from $7.99 one-time2.6
99. 99AllMyNotes OrganizerFree plan · from $34.00 one-time2.4
100. 100AntinoteFree trial · from $5 one-time2.4
101. 101AppFlowyFree plan · from $6/mo2.4
102. 102BebopFree plan · from $4.99 one-time2.4
103. 103Bike OutlinerFree plan · from $29.99 one-time2.4
104. 104BlinkoFree plan · from $5.99/mo2.4
105. 105Bundled NotesFree plan · from $2.79/mo2.4
106. 106Cloud OutlinerFree plan · from $4.992.4
107. 107ColorNoteFree plan · from $1.992.4
108. 108CrypteeFree plan · from €3/mo2.4
109. 109DEVONthinkFree trial · from $99 one-time2.4
110. 110GitJournalFree plan · from $1.99/mo2.4
111. 111GravityFrom $9.99 one-time2.4
112. 112HeptabaseFree trial · from $8.99/mo2.4
113. 113InkflowFree plan · from $12.99 one-time2.4
114. 114Inkpad NotepadFree plan · from $5/mo2.4
115. 115Keep ItFree trial · from $2.992.4
116. 116MarginNoteFree trial · from $12.99 one-time2.4
117. 117NoteeyFree plan · from $90/yr2.4
118. 118NotePlanFree trial · from $8.33/mo2.4
119. 119PenbookFree plan · from $4.992.4
120. 120RelanoteFree plan · from $4.99/mo2.4
121. 121RightNoteFree plan · from $29.95 one-time2.4
122. 122SagaFree plan · from $6/mo2.4
123. 123SublimeFree plan · from $75/yr2.4
124. 124The ArchiveFree trial · from $19.99 one-time2.4
125. 125UnderstoryFree plan · from $24.99 one-time2.4
126. 126xTilesFree plan · from $12.42/mo2.4
127. 127CleftFree plan · from $39.99/yr2.2
128. 128CoppiceFree plan · from $1.99/mo2.2
129. 129DeepNotesFree plan · from $3.99/mo2.2
130. 130FlexcilFree plan · from $8.992.2
131. 131LazyFree trial · from $6/mo2.2
132. 132LiquidTextFree plan · from $8.99/mo2.2
133. 133MinimalFree trial · from $4.99/mo2.2
134. 134NoteinFree plan · from $5.992.2
135. 135NotewiseFree plan · from $2.42/mo2.2
136. 136ReflectFree plan · from $9.99/mo2.2
137. 137BraintossFrom $2.79 one-time2.0
138. 138CurioFree plan · from $5/mo2.0
139. 139InkdropFree trial · from $8.31/mo2.0
140. 140MyInfoFree trial · from $99 one-time2.0
141. 141mymindFree plan · from $4.99/mo2.0
142. 142NotchkinFrom $4.99 one-time2.0
143. 143Roam ResearchFree trial · from $15/mo2.0
144. 144SquidFree plan · from $1.002.0
145. 145TalknotesFree trial · from $197/yr1.8
146. 146TinderboxFree trial · from $289 one-time1.8
147. 147Whisper MemosFree trial · from $5.83/mo1.8
148. 148ScrintalFree trial · from $9/mo1.6

ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.

Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.

• 3,189

  tools graded

• 94

  categories

• 426

  price changes on record

• 579

  apps priced in 12 countries