Taking notes is significant in our daily study and work as we rely on it to record some important information captured from another source. Nowadays, note taking is no longer confined to papers. The iPad devices supporting Apple Pencil (e.g., iPad Pro, iPad Air, iPad mini, and 9.7-inch iPad) give users far faster and smoother handwriting experience than taking notes on paper. In order to better meet the needs of users, there is a slew of useful note-taking apps launched on the App Store. It is somewhat tedious work to pick out the one that suits you most by trying all these apps one by one. Thus, for your reference, we list 8 best free note taking apps for the iPad & Apple Pencil in this article.
- Go Further With OneNote. OneNote is a powerful tool. Pairing it with the Bullet Journal system is a smart way to organize your notes and schedule. One of the best parts of this system is combining OneNote with Outlook to get reminders for tasks and events.
- Features Of The OneNote App for iPad July 20, 2018 iPad No Comments For the last few months, I have entrusted OneNote both from home and at work, as I track both my personal thoughts and receipts.
1. Microsoft OneNote
Use OneNote on iOS so you can connect to and work with your notes no matter where you are. Learn more at the OneNote Help Center: https://support.office.com/.
With a rating of 4.7 on the App Store from over 291.2K users, Microsoft OneNote is undoubtedly the best iPad note taking app you're looking for. This application is most often used on the laptop or desktop. But actually, it is more suitable for tablets supporting the stylus like iPads with Apple Pencil. OneNote is like a three-ring binder with labels which allows the users to create notes directly or collect pages from other sources. Even better, you can shift these pages within the spring binder. You can also add comments, process texts, draw pictures, and embed multimedia audio or web links in these pages.
The most prominent part of this app is its built-in searching feature which enables you to search for the embedded text in images, comments, and audio files. In addition, you can make a checklist in OneNote to track your daily errands in the best possible way.
2. Notability
Notability is another one of the best note taking apps for iPad with Apple Pencil, which provides different ways to take notes and capture thoughts. Notability users can annotate texts or PDFs, write drafts, record the audio, take remarks by typing, drawing, handwriting, recording, or photographing. And users can drag and drop texts, pictures, web pages, and more files from other apps into Notability. Moreover, you can process two notes at the same time. You can also freely switch between notes as well as drag and drop texts or pictures between notes.
The information you've captured in this application can be converted to PDF version and locked with a Face ID or Touch ID in view of your privacy. With iCloud, your notes in Notability are available on your iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
3. Evernote
When it comes to the best note taking apps, Evernote must be on the list. It has long been the leader among various note-taking and syncing apps. This cloud-based tool offers unlimited storage for you to take notes and synchronize the notes in near real-time across your devices. Based on these two features, Evernote is not enough to be a leader among the crowd of note taking apps. But it has outstanding organizational functions. Besides grouping your notes into notebooks, this application also supports to tag notes, crosslink notes, save the attachment to notes, and embed checklists. The notes you take can be the typed text, handwritten notes, image, web page, PDF, sketches, videos, and many more types. One more highlight of this note taking app is that it enables multiple users to edit the same shared notebook together and achieve team collaboration.
4. Bear
As one of the best note taking apps for iPad, iPhone, and Mac, Bear is thoughtfully designed. While it has a minimalistic and straightforward interface, it is rich-featured as well. Bear supports sketching and draw with the Apple Pencil or another third-party stylus. It also supports the Markdown, a syntax that allows users to add links and format the text before exporting notes to the content management system. You can add mufti-word tags in a quote, which helps to organize and archive your notes quicker and more convenient. The notes you take using Bear app can be shared and exported in different formats, including HTML, PDF, OCX, MD, JPG, etc. and synced reliably with cloud services.
5. Notes
There is no doubt that the note taking app best suits your iPad with Apple Pencil is the one that Apple has built-in: Apple Notes. Since the release of iOS 9, Apple Notes has definitely become a fantastic note-taking system. It has an intuitive and precise interface. This application supports inline scanning, handwriting, text searching, and annotation. But it won't let you tag or customize your notes for the organization. And you cannot sync the created notebooks anywhere except for iCloud. Moreover, linking your notes together is quite difficult in Apple Notes. But if you just want to jot down some important points, notes, or simple ideas, Apple Notes would be a perfect choice for you.
Sometimes the notes you've taken in the Apple Notes app may be deleted or lost by accident; you can always use Jihosoft iPhone Data Recovery to help you retrieve your iPad notes.
6. Notebook – Take Notes, Sync
Notebook is a completely free note taking app for iPad, and it is also ad-free. It has a fairly clean and straightforward user interface. The unique card-based design makes this application stand out in numerous note taking apps. Different cards have different colors, which makes it easier to sort and view multiple categories of notes. Notebook has custom book covers as well as various ways to take notes. You can type text, add files, create checklists, record audio, capture moments, or handwrite notes with fingers or Apple Pencil. The notes you take in this application can be saved in your cloud service so that you never lose them. And each notebook and note can be locked with a passcode or Touch ID, so you don't need to worry about your privacy.
7. GoodNotes
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GoodNotes is a decent note-taking app for you to take handwritten notes on your iPad with Apple Pencil. This application has a notebook-like shape and provides various customizable ink and paper choices, which gives you the feel of writing with an actual pen. The remarkable feature of GoodNotes is not limited to handwriting. This note taking app for Apple Pencil also supports to type texts, import pictures, or capture moments. It is a powerful PDF tool which lets you handwrite comments in the PDF file and create PDF files. Similar to other apps, the notes you take in GoodNotes can be searched via OCR and synced via iCloud and other cloud services.
Conclusion
Above all are 7 best note taking apps for iPad with Apple Pencil we pick out for your reference. Most of them also work well on the iPhone. All these apps are aimed at providing users with a seamless note-taking experience. Do you have a general understanding of these note taking apps for iPad with Apple Pencil? Have you decided on anyone to install on your iPad? Please tell us in the comment section. If you have some more iPad note taking apps, please also share them with us.
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New Articles
Do you love the tactile experience of taking notes on paper but prefer the organization features of digital note-taking apps? We do, too.
And until recently, the best compromise we'd found was taking notes on paper and then scanning them into an app like Evernote.
While this approach worked, it wasn't as seamless as we wanted. So for a while now, we've been experimenting with ways of taking handwritten notes with an iPad. And we're excited to share that we've finally found a method that combines the best parts of writing by hand with the best parts of digital note-taking.
The key is to use a quality stylus, a screen protector that mimics paper, and, most importantly, the right note-taking app.
In this post, we'll show you six of the best note-taking apps for the iPad. With a bit of practice, these apps will give you all the benefits of writing by hand without sacrificing the convenience of digital organization.
Note: All of the apps below work for both the iPad Pro and Classic, though the Pro's larger screen size makes note-taking easier.
1. Notability
If we had to recommend just one iPad note-taking app, it would be Notability. The app offers a delightful writing experience, yet it also makes it easy to embed images, annotate PDFs, and even record voice memos.
Sketching and drawing in Notability is easy and downright delightful. Being able to doodle and quickly sketch out illustrations is one of our favorite things about taking notes on paper. Notability does an excellent job of emulating this experience, while also allowing you to do things you can't do on paper such as resizing and moving your drawings.
In addition, Notability includes a variety of flexible layout options. This allows you to, for instance, have a slide or reference material open on one side of the page while you take notes on the other.
And beyond the layout of individual pages, you can also organize your notes using digital 'Dividers' (which is perfect if you're used to taking notes in a physical binder).
Finally, Notability gives you plenty of options for exporting and sharing your notes, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and AirDrop.
Price: $8.99
Check out the video below to see Notability in action:
2. Noteshelf
Noteshelf was our favorite note-taking app for the iPad before we discovered Notability, and it's still a superb option.
It has many of the features we love in Notability, including the option to annotate PDFs and multitask with the iPad's split screen. You can also record voice notes to go along with your handwritten notes, which is perfect for recapping a lecture or meeting at a later date.
If you speak/write multiple languages, you'll also be pleased to know that Noteshelf can recognize handwriting in 65 different languages. This makes it a powerful tool whether you're taking a language class or learning a language on your own.
7. GoodNotes
Onenote For Ipad Help
GoodNotes is a decent note-taking app for you to take handwritten notes on your iPad with Apple Pencil. This application has a notebook-like shape and provides various customizable ink and paper choices, which gives you the feel of writing with an actual pen. The remarkable feature of GoodNotes is not limited to handwriting. This note taking app for Apple Pencil also supports to type texts, import pictures, or capture moments. It is a powerful PDF tool which lets you handwrite comments in the PDF file and create PDF files. Similar to other apps, the notes you take in GoodNotes can be searched via OCR and synced via iCloud and other cloud services.
Conclusion
Above all are 7 best note taking apps for iPad with Apple Pencil we pick out for your reference. Most of them also work well on the iPhone. All these apps are aimed at providing users with a seamless note-taking experience. Do you have a general understanding of these note taking apps for iPad with Apple Pencil? Have you decided on anyone to install on your iPad? Please tell us in the comment section. If you have some more iPad note taking apps, please also share them with us.
Related Articles
New Articles
Do you love the tactile experience of taking notes on paper but prefer the organization features of digital note-taking apps? We do, too.
And until recently, the best compromise we'd found was taking notes on paper and then scanning them into an app like Evernote.
While this approach worked, it wasn't as seamless as we wanted. So for a while now, we've been experimenting with ways of taking handwritten notes with an iPad. And we're excited to share that we've finally found a method that combines the best parts of writing by hand with the best parts of digital note-taking.
The key is to use a quality stylus, a screen protector that mimics paper, and, most importantly, the right note-taking app.
In this post, we'll show you six of the best note-taking apps for the iPad. With a bit of practice, these apps will give you all the benefits of writing by hand without sacrificing the convenience of digital organization.
Note: All of the apps below work for both the iPad Pro and Classic, though the Pro's larger screen size makes note-taking easier.
1. Notability
If we had to recommend just one iPad note-taking app, it would be Notability. The app offers a delightful writing experience, yet it also makes it easy to embed images, annotate PDFs, and even record voice memos.
Sketching and drawing in Notability is easy and downright delightful. Being able to doodle and quickly sketch out illustrations is one of our favorite things about taking notes on paper. Notability does an excellent job of emulating this experience, while also allowing you to do things you can't do on paper such as resizing and moving your drawings.
In addition, Notability includes a variety of flexible layout options. This allows you to, for instance, have a slide or reference material open on one side of the page while you take notes on the other.
And beyond the layout of individual pages, you can also organize your notes using digital 'Dividers' (which is perfect if you're used to taking notes in a physical binder).
Finally, Notability gives you plenty of options for exporting and sharing your notes, including Google Drive, Dropbox, and AirDrop.
Price: $8.99
Check out the video below to see Notability in action:
2. Noteshelf
Noteshelf was our favorite note-taking app for the iPad before we discovered Notability, and it's still a superb option.
It has many of the features we love in Notability, including the option to annotate PDFs and multitask with the iPad's split screen. You can also record voice notes to go along with your handwritten notes, which is perfect for recapping a lecture or meeting at a later date.
If you speak/write multiple languages, you'll also be pleased to know that Noteshelf can recognize handwriting in 65 different languages. This makes it a powerful tool whether you're taking a language class or learning a language on your own.
Finally, Noteshelf lets you export your notes to iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, and Evernote. The option to export to Evernote is noticeably missing from Notability, making Noteshelf our top pick for serious Evernote users.
Apple Watch users will also benefit from the app's ability to record voice notes using the Noteshelf Apple Watch app.
Price: $9.99
3. GoodNotes 5
Up next, we have GoodNotes 5. This app has everything you want for taking notes, including the ability to switch between typing and writing. Plus, you can choose from several built-in note layouts and templates, as well as import your own.
Notably, GoodNotes 5 lets you adjust the sensitivity and palm recognition of the pen to match your writing style. This is perfect if you're like me and tend to press very hard when writing.
Finally, GoodNotes 5 includes a 'Presentation Mode' that lets you turn your iPad into a digital whiteboard. Using either AirPlay or an HDMI cable, you can project what you're writing onto a larger screen while still being able to see the GoodNotes interface on your iPad. This is handy whether you're giving a class presentation or pitching a business idea.
Price: $7.99
Want to learn how to take better notes? Check out our guide to the best note-taking systems.
4. Apple Notes
We couldn't discuss iPad note-taking apps without mentioning Apple Notes. The app comes free with macOS/iOS devices, and it does a great job of letting you type or take notes by hand. The app's drawing features are also solid, making it easy to add sketches and illustrations to your notes.
Aside from being free, the biggest advantage of Apple Notes is its deep integration with iOS. If you use iCloud and other Apple devices, you can effortlessly switch between taking notes on your iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
Plus, everything you create is automatically backed up to iCloud, and you can even create voice notes using Siri while you're on the go.
Price: Free
5. Penultimate
Developed by Evernote, Penultimate is designed to be the go-to note-taking app for Evernote users. It has all the standard note-taking features you want, including a variety of layouts and the ability to search your handwritten notes with optical character recognition.
If you already use Evernote, then you can seamlessly add Penultimate to your workflow. Once you sign into the app with your Evernote account, all your notes will automatically sync to the Evernote notebook of your choice.
While the additional writing features of Noteshelf still make it our preferred note-taking app to use with Evernote, Penultimate remains a solid choice (especially if you're looking for a free app). Omnifocus for web.
Price: Free
6. Microsoft OneNote
Odds are, you've used (or at least have access to) Microsoft OneNote at work or school. But did you know that the OneNote iPad app allows you to take handwritten notes?
OneNote lets you write notes either on a blank page or a layout that emulates a sheet of lined paper. The general setup of the app mimics a physical binder, allowing you to organize your notes by topic.
OneNote for iPad also offers a variety of multimedia features. You can type text, insert graphics, and even include voice recordings. You can also search notes for specific words and view your notes across devices. And everything you create in OneNote is automatically backed up to OneDrive.
If you're already a serious Microsoft app user, then OneNote will integrate seamlessly into your workflow.
Price: Free (with a Microsoft Account)
Start Taking Notes With Your iPad Today
I hope this article has shown you the exciting options you have for taking notes with your iPad. It's now easier than ever to get the benefits of writing on paper without sacrificing the organization features of digital apps.
Of course, to benefit from taking notes, you need to make it a habit. If you're looking to build the habit of taking notes (or another productive habit), you'll love our latest course.
Click the button below to learn how you can take it (and thousands of other classes) for free:
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