I’ve tried writing on my iPad Pro using the Notes app. I’ve tried writing on my iPad Pro using Notability, the app recommended by Apple. I’ve tried writing on my iPad Pro using Evernote, the app that everyone on the internet recommends.
And you know what?
They all suck.
Seriously, they do. Yes, I can write in them, but when it comes to formatting and sharing, they’re useless. They’re clunky, and they feel like they were designed by someone with no idea how a writer actually works. They make me want to go back to Microsoft Word—and that’s saying a LOT.
Best Apps For Note Taking Ipad Pro
The best note-taking apps for the iPad Pro make it simple and easy to create and manage documents.
Although Apple provides its own Notes app with iPadOS, this is only intended to provide a simple and basic functionality. Luckily, there are other notepad applications developed specifically for use on the iPad Pro which further develop and improve on this functionality – and here are a few of the best note-taking app for iPad devices around today.
This is not least because the iPad Pro has long been promoted as a useful business tool in itself, so third-party software can extend its use and application for a specific range of business purposes, which coincidentally can also provide value and purpose for general consumers.
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A particular track that the best note-taking apps take is to harness the strong multimedia features that the iPad can offer, so you don’t just have to work with text but can also add in images, video, and audio.
Of course, all these apps work across the range of iPads(opens in new tab) as well – so here’s or pick of the best note-taking apps for the iPad.
We also feature the best iPad Pro deals and sales available right now.
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Website screenshot of Notability
(Image credit: Ginger Labs)
- Notability
The Swiss army knife of note-taking apps
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE(OPENS IN NEW TAB)
REASONS TO BUY
+Annotate PDFs
+Work with multiple input formats
+Share notes via the cloud
REASONS TO AVOID
-Higher cost
Notability(opens in new tab) from Ginger Labs, is an excellent, general purpose note-taking app for the iOS platform. It has won multiple awards over the last several years.
This app allows the user to combine multiple inputs, including typing, sketching, handwriting and photos, in a single place. It also supports annotating PDFs. Notes can be shared via email, and cloud-based services including AirDrop, Google Drive and Dropbox.
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Website screenshot of Evernote
(Image credit: Evernote)
- Evernote
Note-taking app with cross-platform support
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE(OPENS IN NEW TAB)
REASONS TO BUY
+Free version
+Lots of features
+Also supports Android
REASONS TO AVOID
-Need premium version for collaboration
For those looking for a note-taking platform that works with their iPad Pro, but also Android devices, Evernote(opens in new tab) straddles the two mobile platforms with ease.
Evernote is a great app to collect multiple inputs, including images, text notes, recorded messages, and clippings of web pages – all in one file for storage and collaboration. They can then be accessed via the iPad Pro, Android, or a PC though the web browser interface for ease of workflow. Also, a further boon is that the notes are searchable.
The iOS app is free, and offers in-app purchases. However, the free product is restricted to syncing only two devices, and uploads are limited to just 60MB per month. Step up to the Premium tier to sync all your devices, gain a more generous 10GB of uploads in a month, as well as the additional features of live chat support, and offline access to your notes. Alternatively, for collaborations, there’s a business plan with increased limits and additional features.
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Website screenshot of GoodNotes
(Image credit: GoodNotes)
- GoodNotes
The note app that focuses on handwriting
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE(OPENS IN NEW TAB)
REASONS TO BUY
+Flexible digital note-taking
+Handwriting to text conversion
+Searchable handwritten notes
REASONS TO AVOID
-No free tier
Those who want to use their iPad Pro to easily take handwritten notes should check out GoodNotes (opens in new tab). With the focus on handwriting, this app makes it easy to enter complex mathematics and chemical formulas that can border on the impossible via a traditional keyboard.
The GoodNotes approach can also be used to annotate PDFs, plus you can search handwritten notes and convert handwriting into text. The notes are also synced via iCloud, and can be backed up to your choice of cloud providers, including Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box.
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Website screenshot of Nebo
(Image credit: Nebo)
- Nebo
The advanced note-taking app
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE(OPENS IN NEW TAB)
REASONS TO BUY
+Affordable price
+Handles more complex documents
+Exports to multiple formats
REASONS TO AVOID
-Requires an official Apple Pencil
For note-takers with needs that go beyond the basic, Nebo(opens in new tab) can handle the challenge. While plenty of note-taking apps allow text to be entered, Nebo can also easily structure notes, allowing you to add paragraphs, titles and bullet lists for organization.
It also handles ‘rich content,’ such as diagrams, sketches (with different colors and pen widths), flow charts, and formulas, letting you integrate them into the document. Once completed, documents can be exported in a variety of formats, including Word, PDF, and even HTML.
Nebo is available for multiple platforms, including Windows 10, Android, and of course iOS.
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Website screenshot of Whink
(Image credit: Apple)
- Whink
The gel ink pen approach to notes
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE(OPENS IN NEW TAB)
REASONS TO BUY
+Mimics a gel pen on paper
+Perfect geometric shapes
+Affordable
REASONS TO AVOID
-No cloud integration
Whink(opens in new tab) is an iOS app that is equally at home taking notes via handwriting, as it is with text. Whether you prefer to write with a stylus, type text, or draw with a finger, Whink makes the process as simple as using real paper.
Other media can be added and incorporated including photos, diagrams with colors and “perfect geometric shapes”. Documents can also be marked up, and it supports multi-tasking so notes can be taken while reading another document (we have witnessed folks walking around with two tablets to accomplish this feat when it is not supported).
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Website screenshot of Apalon Notepad+
(Image credit: Apalon)
- Notepad+
TODAY’S BEST DEALS
VISIT SITE(OPENS IN NEW TAB)
REASONS TO BUY
+Type or use handwriting
+Color and image options
+Works with multiple file formats
Notepad+(opens in new tab) provides a digital notepad for you to do pretty much anything you’d like to that you would in a normal blank notepad. There’s the ability to type notes, of course, as well as make lists, but you can also use it for sketching as well as adding images.
There are also additional features, not least for annotating other files, such as PDF files, as well as files from Excel, Keynote, and Numbers. A drag-and-drop function allows images from other apps to be copied into your notes, regardless of the file format used.
There are a wide range of formatting options that take Notepad+ away from standard note-taking software, with the ability to use different fonts, colors, and highlighting, as well as support for handwriting.
Icons and smileys can also be added to notes, and you can add text next to them. A zoom feature allows you to change perspective if you need to move in closer or further away, which can be especially useful when using images.
Notepad+ is available in 12 different languages.
Also consider these note-taking apps
The success of the iPad and iPad Pro mean there are a lot of apps available for similar functions, and note taking is no different. Different apps focus on different areas, such as just text, rich text editing, including images, sketching images, and even integration with other platforms. We’ll consider additional options which take the simple idea of making notes and expand on it:
Notes Plus(opens in new tab) allows you to make handwritten notes and then convert them into text files which you can then export to other file formats, such as PDF. Alternatively, you can import PDF and .doc files. Integration options include Dropbox, Google Drive, and Evernote.
Zoho Notebook(opens in new tab) is a powerful app for taking notes, editing text documents (such as Word or PDF files), adding images or creating sketches, spreadsheets, and even including audio recordings – all in the same note file. This makes it particularly versatile, and all saved files are synced your devices in the cloud. Even better it’s free, and there are no ads.
OneNote(opens in new tab) may be a Microsoft production, but it’s a full-featured digital notepad for the iPad Pro and other iOS devices. Aside from the fact that it has a lot of functionality – and it’s free – it also integrates with Microsoft Office, which could be a big plus for a lot of people.
PDF Expert(opens in new tab) isn’t anywhere near as comprehensive as the above programs for working with text. Instead, it’s focused only on working with PDF files, not least annotating, highlighting, or signing them. It’s only a simple feature-set, but PDF Expert does it well. It’s frequently cited as the best app for working specifically with PDF files.
Additionally, you might like to take a look at the best free iPad apps.
best note-taking app for ipad free
An iPad paired with an Apple Pencil is a powerful duo for digital note-taking. The App Store is filled with great software for handwritten notes, but they come at a price.
There are also plenty of apps out there that will give you a taste of their potential for free but keep major features locked until you pay a premium price.
However, we’ve rounded up a couple of apps for handwritten notes that are completely free to use. No timed trials, distracting ads, or in-app purchases are needed.
- Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote on the iPad
Microsoft OneNote is the classic notebook app available from Microsoft. It’s free to use and packed with useful productivity features. This is a choice you can’t go wrong with, especially if you are already using other Microsoft applications.
In this app, your notes are organized on the sidebar by Notebooks, Sections, and Pages. You can also create sub-notebooks and sub-pages, making it very easy to stay organized. It’s also straightforward to switch from one page to another with the convenient sidebar.
You to add text, insert files, draw, change paper styles, record audio, and much more. It comes with a pressure-sensitive pen tool and a highlighter, both of which you can completely customize the colors for. There are even some glitter options for the pens.
One of our favorite underrated pros to note-taking with OneNote is the ability to save an unlimited amount of favorite pens and highlighters to the toolbar. It also lets you choose from six stylus orientations to better suit your writing style.
RELATED:
Little-Known Microsoft OneNote Features You Will Love
OneNote integrates all types of content—text, drawings, PDFs, and more—together on one page. And it does it well. Your notes also sync across devices, making it easy to switch from writing out notes on your iPad to typing them on your computer.
With all the features this app has, it will meet the productivity needs of most people. It’s also a great app for students who want to annotate PDFs and want to take a good combination of typed and handwritten notes.
Download: Microsoft OneNote (Free)
- CollaNote
CollaNote on the iPad
This app offers a great deal of note-taking functionality for free, which is hard to believe. CollaNote is one of the best free alternatives to popular digital note-taking apps such as Goodnotes and Notability.
CollaNote comes with the classic pen, pencil, highlighter, lasso, and eraser set. The colors are completely customizable and you’re able to add pen color, and thickness combinations to your favorites for easy switching.
Additionally, there are a couple of other handy tools like a laser pointer, adjustable ruler, stickers, and even voice notes that sync with the time you started writing. There are dozens of templates to choose from, ranging from paper types to cute pages for digital bullet journaling.
CollaNote’s biggest advantage is its ability to facilitate collaboration on notes with other users. You can even create public documents that serve as “rooms”. If you collaborate on a note with others, you can merge everyone’s notes, saving time during note-taking.
The only drawback about CollaNote is that its text tool is not as easy to use. Adding text takes you to a separate screen to first type out all your text, or by default, write it out with your Apple Pencil.
After you’re done, it will appear on the note page for you to adjust. It’s not the most fluid process, but the rest of the app’s features make up for it. It’s the ultimate choice if you want most of your notes to be handwritten and need more productivity features.
Download: CollaNote (Free)
RELATED:
The Best Apps For The Apple Pencil
- Notebook by Zoho
Notebook App on the iPad
Notebook is a great app if you want to blend typed notes with the occasional hand-drawn diagram or handwritten note. You have complete customization for the colors of a pencil, pen, and highlighter tool. In fact, the pencil tool offers one of the most realistic pencil experiences on a digital app.
A few neat features include the ability to lock specific notes and set a password to be able to open them. You can also scan documents and directly annotate them. Note that the document scanner on Notebook is very similar to taking a picture.
The only real downside to Notebook is that handwritten notes are kept completely separate from other types of notes, even when they’re both on the same page. This makes this app really useful when you only want to handwrite notes, or when you just need to insert an occasional hand-drawn diagram on a page of text notes.
Download: Notebook – Take Notes, Sync (Free)
- Loose Leaf
Loose Leaf on the iPad
Loose Leaf is a hidden gem of an app, and it operates exactly as the name suggests. There are no notebooks, only stacks of loose-leaf sketches and notes. The app is designed to really feel like you’re working on loose pieces of paper.
The iPad has a lot of features that require two-finger gestures, such as closing loose-leaf stacks, flipping pages, and deleting notes, especially when the device already has so many gestures. Once you get the hang of it, the movements will feel like second nature.
The pen and marker tools are completely pressure-sensitive with no manual way to adjust the thickness. Unfortunately, you only get five choices of primary colors, but that could be more than enough depending on your needs.
Some unique features about this app are the Scissor tool in place of the Lasso tool and an asymmetry tool to have your drawings mirrored. It also comes with useful page styles, including a blank music score and a blank to-do list.
This is the perfect choice if you’re looking for a simple app to sketch out ideas on.
Download: Loose Leaf (Free)
- Apple Notes
apple notes
Last but certainly not least, is Apple Notes. This default app for note-taking is packed with hidden features, so don’t underestimate its functionality. With this note-taking app, you can take notes and handwrite them, sync them across multiple devices, and even use the Apple Pencil to handwrite with.
The Notes app has all the basic tools such as the pen, highlighter, pencil, and eraser available through Markup. It also comes with a lasso tool and an adjustable ruler, and the ability to customize your own colors.
It also has an Auto-Minimize option, which moves the toolbar out of sight when you start writing. You can even change the paper style from a few different options.
Another useful feature that Notes have is the ability to scan documents. You can even use your phone camera to do it and have it immediately added to the note on your iPad. The scanned documents on a note are kept as attachments, so you won’t be able to mark them up with the pen, but it’s still handy to have your information in one place.
Choose the App That’s Right for You
Now you know that there are a few completely free options available to take good digital notes without any surprises. Download one, or all five, of them and give it a try to see how they meet your productivity needs.
Whether you’re taking notes for class, sketching out ideas, or digital bullet-journalling, a good app for handwritten notes is just what you need.
Conclusion
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