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Science/Tech See other Science/Tech Articles Title: The best note-taking apps for class, work, and life VERGE... You might want a note-taking app as an artist, to take notes during a meeting to remember important feedback, or to jot down insights from a meaningful panel. Maybe you’re a celebrity who needs to publish a public apology to social media, and you need more space than a typical post affords. Often, we don’t give much thought to which app we’re using. It’s either the first app that’s available or the one everyone says is good. Still, there’s a small quality-of-life improvement to enjoy when you switch from a mediocre, passable note-taking app to the best one you can find. And wouldn’t it be nice to have one app that fulfills your note-taking needs so that all your notes are in one place? That’s why we looked for the simplest, easiest-to-use note-taking app that’s relatively affordable. It had to be on as many platforms as possible so you can sync notes on whatever device you might have or purchase in the future, whether that’s a Mac, PC, Android phone, or iPhone. The best note-taking app needs intuitive features and a nice-looking design. Bonus points if it has cloud storage, autosave, offline access, and voice-to-text recognition. I need to be able to search through my notes and organize them if they are really going to be of any use to me. Finally, with the recent data privacy concerns, it needs to be as secure as possible from peeping advertisers or bad actors. That said, only one of the apps featured on this list (Standard Notes) had an encryption feature. Considering all the other features, like organization, smoothness, and a design that makes you want to keep writing, here’s the best note-taking app. The best note-taking app: Google Keep Google released its note-taking app in 2013, and critics gave it mixed reviews for not having adjustable formatting and being inconvenient for storing long-form notes. Google Keep isn’t for storing long-form notes; for that, you should look toward other apps on this list. Instead, it’s the single note-taking app that lets you sync notes anywhere, including through a Chrome extension, on a webpage, and on mobile. When you log in through Gmail, everything’s synced right up. Most of the apps on this list have downloads for desktop versions, but Google Keep opens up in a webpage, meaning you can switch devices easily without delay. "Keep makes it easy to quickly add and find notes" You can add notes quickly, and the interface is both unique and intuitive to navigate. It’s easy to move notes around in the order you want and pin the ones you need to keep in view. There’s also a substantially long text preview of each note, so you can more easily figure out what a note is about before you open it. You can also doodle in plenty of colors and brushes, so it’s like having an Adobe Sketch app inside a note-taking app. The font is solid. There have been a number of improvements since its release. In 2016, Google Keep got pinned notes, so you can establish a kind of hierarchy in your notes. On mobile, you can archive notes by flicking them to the right as well as swivel notes around the page. Some have criticized Keep for not synching into Google Drive. So if you comb through your Google Drive files, you’ll see PowerPoint presentations, spreadsheets, and documents, but no notes. Google Keep works better for recording your grocery list and doodling. So in some ways, it’s a good thing those mundane notes don’t clog up your Drive. 9 Verge Score Google Keep Buy for $0.00 from Google Play Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store A good alternative: iA Writer If you have boycotted Google’s suite of apps for one reason or another or you need something that can handle long-form notes, iA Writer, which varies in cost across platforms, is a good alternative. For its one-time purchase, you get a nostalgia-inducing typewriter font, a night mode, and a smooth, easy-to-use interface with a light blue highlight that keeps the app looking distinct. You can also toggle the app icon into dark mode. One of my favorite things about iA Writer is that you can press a button on the right to exit out of typing mode, which is way easier than most note-taking apps that make you swipe up or double tap. Text previews also make plenty of sense and give you a good excerpt of what your note is about. The font is well-spaced out, and it’s satisfying to see the type spread out across the page as you jot down notes. iA Writer is on Windows for $19.99, macOS for $29.99, and iOS for $4.99. While it’s free to download on Android, you’ll need to pay $8.99 to unlock unlimited note sharing. It syncs with iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox. It loses some marks for its price tag, which is steeper than many on this list, but you get a solidly built app for your money. 8.5 Verge Score iA Writer Buy for $19.99 from iA (Windows) Buy for $29.99 from Mac App Store Buy for $0.00 from Google Play Other options The apps on this list are either built for crafting long-form scripts on mobile or recording idle shower thoughts. Some of the most well-known brands have been relegated to the bottom of the list because they’re not as user-friendly and have fallen behind the times. Two of my favorite word-processing apps are on this list instead of the top picks because they’re simply not compatible with all major operating systems. Whether it’s for their minimalistic look, security, compatibility with other apps you’re already using, or something more intangible that attracts you to these apps, these are all decent options. 8 Verge Score Literature & Latte Scrivener Good Stuff Beautiful interface Dark mode Corkboard for organizing notes Bad Stuff Expensive price tag Only on iOS, macOS, and Windows; an Android app is in development Complex interface Buy for $45.00 from Literature & Latte Store (Mac) Buy for $45.00 from Literature & Latte Store (Windows) Buy for $19.99 from iOS App Store 8 Verge Score Ulysses GmbH Ulysses Good Stuff Several different themes Expansive keyboard Set word count goals Sleek design Bad Stuff Expensive subscription model iOS Notes lookalike iOS and macOS only Buy for $39.99 from Mac App Store Buy for $39.99 from iOS App Store 7.7 Verge Score Standard Notes Good Stuff Basic, straightforward app Minimalist Allows encryption Passcode or fingerprint lock Bad Stuff Interface is similar to iOS Notes No way to sort or pin notes Buy for $0.00 from Standard Notes (Windows/Mac/Linux) Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store Buy for $0.00 from Google Play 7.5 Verge Score Zoho Notebook Good Stuff New notes appear in a different color You can doodle and sketch Good-looking notebook icons inside the app Bad Stuff Zoho on Windows is only in beta Text preview cuts off awkwardly You have to make an account on desktop Buy for $0.00 from Google Play Buy for $0.00 from Mac App Store Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store 7.5 Verge Score Automattic Simplenote Good Stuff Minimalist Loads quickly Bad Stuff Sign up through WordPress Search function isn’t intuitive Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store Buy for $0.00 from Mac App Store Buy for $0.00 from Google Play 7 Verge Score Google Docs Good Stuff Easy to share documents Formatting features Bad Stuff Tough to manage basic note-taking Need to download Google Drive for additional features Buy for $0.00 from Google Play Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store 6.8 Verge Score Microsoft Word Good Stuff Many formatting features Ideal for longer text Automatic spell check Bad Stuff Dated look Loads slowly Not designed for short notes on mobile Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store Buy for $0.00 from Google PLay 6.5 Verge Score Microsoft OneNote Good Stuff Doodling Voice to text Bold, italics, underlining are available Bad Stuff Need a Microsoft account Loads slowly You have to go through multiple pages until you can create a new note Buy for $0.00 from Microsoft Buy for $0.00 from Mac App Store Buy for $0.00 from Google Play 6.5 Verge Score Shiny Frog Bear Good Stuff Cute mascot Tons of formatting features in free version Doodling and sketching Bad Stuff Only on iOS and macOS Costs $1.49 per month to sync notes on all devices 6 Verge Score Evernote Good Stuff Simple interface You can set reminders Sharing options Bad Stuff Free version of Evernote lacks basic functions You need to pay $69.99 a year to access docs offline Evernote previously had privacy issues Buy for $0.00 from Microsoft App Store Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store Buy for $0.00 from Google Play 6 Verge Score Notion Labs Notion Good Stuff Traveling and planning templates Works on iOS, Android, macOS, and Windows Dark mode Bad Stuff Asks you what industry you work in Time-consuming to use templates Tries to do too many things in one app Buy for $0.00 from Google Play Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store 5.5 Verge Score Apple Notes (iOS) Good Stuff Built-in on iOS, and Android has a third-party clone You can access notes on desktop through iCloud.com Formatting features Search feature works Bad Stuff iCloud.com loads slowly Text previews are short and vague Missing a lot of features like dark mode and universal syncing 5 Verge Score Dropbox Paper Good Stuff Large title fonts Bad Stuff Once you sign up, it spams you with emails Templates blend in with actual notes You have to tap into the app more than three times to start adding or writing a note Buy for $0.00 from Google Play Buy for $0.00 from iOS App Store Vox Media has affiliate partnerships. These do not influence editorial content, though Vox Media may earn commissions for products purchased via affiliate links. For more information, see our ethics policy. Post Comment Private Reply Ignore Thread Top • Page Up • Full Thread • Page Down • Bottom/Latest
#1. To: Tatarewicz (#0)
Just go to www.openoffice.org/ and get an entire suite of applications for free.
“The most dangerous man to any government is the man who is able to think things out... without regard to the prevailing superstitions and taboos. Almost inevitably he comes to the conclusion that the government he lives under is dishonest, insane, intolerable.” ~ H. L. Mencken
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