iPad is not just a tablet; it is much more than that. It can be a perfect replacement for your laptop and PC but only if you know the right apps to use. You can write notes on iPad but to make them organised, you’ll need a note-taking app. There are many apps for writing notes on iPad but we’ve listed the best ones for you.
You could be looking for a simple note-taking app to capture quick ideas or may be something with lots of features like tags and formatting options in which case we have got everything covered here.
The apps listed below offer different features and pricing structures so make sure to read each of them carefully before choosing the one that suits your needs best.
Best Apps For Writing Notes On Ipad
TABLE OF CONTENTS
Do you love the tactile experience of taking notes on paper but prefer the organizational features of digital note-taking apps? We do, too.
And until recently, the best compromise we’d found was taking notes on paper and 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 (except for app #5, discussed below).
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 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: $11.99 / year
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
Up next, we have GoodNotes. This app has everything you want for taking notes, including the ability to switch between typing and writing. You can choose from several built-in note layouts and templates, as well as import your own.
Notably, GoodNotes 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 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 with Siri while you’re on the go.
Price: Free
5. Notion
Unlike the other apps we discuss in this article, Notion isn’t meant to mimic the experience of handwriting. It is our favorite note-taking app overall, however, so we had to include it.
At its core, Notion is a graphical programming language that lets you build tools. These tools can be as simple as a to-do list or as complex as a project management system for an entire company.
Or, of course, a system for managing all of your notes across subjects.
As you can see in the screenshot above, Notion gives you many options for formatting and laying out your notes. You’ll find all the standard options from any word processing software.
But you’ll also find some features missing in other note-taking apps, including the ability to comment on specific lines of your text.
Where things get interesting, though, is how Notion lets you organize your notes. Any page you create within Notion can be nested inside of another page, allowing for large hierarchies of information. You can also embed and link to other notes within pages, making Notion ideal for building a personal knowledge database.
Price: FreeNotion – All-in-One Workspace
Notion is one of the most flexible and powerful apps I’ve ever used. It can be a note-taking app, but there’s also a database feature with multiple views (including Trello-style kanban boards and calendars) the ability to make anything into a template, and great collaboration features. At CIG, we use it for all of our team documentation, and I also manage every YouTube video I make with it.
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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)
best note taking app for ipad with apple pencil
The iPad, whether you have the latest regular iPad, Air, mini, or Pro model, is great for taking notes at work or school. That’s because all of these iPads have support for the Apple Pencil (version depends on your iPad model), allowing you to take handwritten notes and even sketch things out when necessary with ease. But to do that, you also need the best note apps for Apple Pencil. Here are some of our favorites.
Best note-taking apps:
Notes GoodNotes Notability Microsoft OneNote PDF Expert Nebo Noteshelf Whink Zoomnotes
Apple Notes
Apple Notes Screen
Source: Apple
Believe it or not, the built-in Notes app on your iPhone and iPad can do more than just type notes and dictation. You can also add handwritten notes, sketches, and drawings in the Notes app. Just start a new note and select the drawing tool, and write or sketch away! Apple has native text recognition search and in-line scanning and annotation support too. It’s definitely limited compared with third-party apps since it primarily uses iCloud, but it’s better than nothing and it should already be on your iPad (and iPhone).
Apple Notes Icon
Notes
The built-in Notes app has built-in handwriting and sketching features that work nicely with Apple Pencil.
Free at App Store
GoodNotes
Goodnotes 5 Screens
Source: Time Base Technology Limited
If you’re a power user when it comes to note-taking, GoodNotes is one of the best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil. GoodNotes is packed with plenty of robust features, including handwriting and sketching with Apple Pencil. You can choose from a massive selection of digital paper types to suit any need you have: lined, graph, design, music notation, and more. If that’s not enough, you can also upload your own custom template too, and there are different cover styles for digital notebooks that you can write or sketch on for further personalization.
When it comes to actual handwriting, GoodNotes also excels. It supports writing and drawing with your Apple Pencil or even a third-party stylus option. There is built-in handwriting search recognition, text conversion, and more. This is a powerful and comprehensive note-taking app that works great on iPad with Apple Pencil.
Goodnotes 5 Icon
GoodNotes
GoodNotes is a powerful and robust note-taking app that works great with Apple Pencil.
$8 at App Store
Notability
Notability Screens
Source: Ginger Labs
Another great option for best note-taking apps for iPad and Apple Pencil, which most of us use here at iMore, is Notability. Like GoodNotes, it is a powerful app but it is a tad easier to use for most people. It has tools for handwriting, drawing, annotating PDFs, making shapes, highlighting, moving objects around the page, adding audio notes, integration with photos and web clips, and so much more. For handwritten notes and sketches, there are plenty of paper styles, like grids. You can share your digital notebooks with third-party syncing services like Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, and even print them out with ease.
It may seem a little overwhelming at first but Notability does have a friendly tutorial to help guide you through the basics of using the app on the first launch.
Notability Icon
Notability
Notability is a robust and feature-rich note-taking app for pretty much everything, including handwritten notes and sketches.
Free with IAP at App Store
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft Onenote Screens
Source: Microsoft
If you’re vested in the Microsoft Office ecosystem, then OneNote is a good option. And even if you aren’t, it still works nicely by letting you view and edit notes. With OneNote, you get a fully-featured note-taking app, complete with handwriting and sketching tools that work perfectly with Apple Pencil. This means you can handwrite important notes, sketch diagrams and ideas, and even annotate existing documents that you already have in OneNote. Other features include rich text notes, photos and audio, calendars, and more. If you need to share your notes, you can do so by sharing a link to your entire digital notebook, making it a great study tool.
Microsoft Onenote Icon
Microsoft OneNote for iPad
Microsoft OneNote is a capable note-taking app that can handle anything you throw at it, including handwritten notes.
Free with IAP at App Store
PDF Expert
Pdf Expert Screens
Source: Readdle
If your note-taking is more about annotating and marking up PDFs, then PDF Expert is a great contender, since it does so much more than Apple’s own built-in Markup extension. With PDF Expert, you can open up PDFs from iCloud or any other third-party syncing service with ease. From there, you can fill out forms, sign documents, and use tools like a digital pen, shape tool, underline, strikethrough, and highlighter to do as you please. You can even make stamps out of frequently used wording, edit the structure of the PDF document itself, and so much more.
The free version of PDF Expert allows you to read, annotate and highlight, draw, fill forms, and more. You’ll need the Pro subscription features to do things like edit original PDF text, add or edit images, sign documents, protect with a password, redact sensitive data, and more.
Pdf Expert Icon
PDF Expert
View, edit, fill out PDFs, and more with the impressive PDF Expert.
Free with IAP at App Store
MyScript Nebo
Nebo Screen
Source: MyScript
Do you enjoy handwriting notes but want it converted into regular text just to make life easier, especially if your writing is a little hard to read? Then MyScript Nebo is one to consider for handwriting conversion. With the Nebo app, you can use your Apple Pencil on your iPad to write out, by hand, anything you want. Nebo will convert on-the-fly and the conversion is also non-destructive — this means you can preserve both the handwriting and the text if it is not a perfect translation.
There are multiple digital pen tools offered in Nebo, so you can choose whatever you like best, and you can add photos and videos, diagrams, and even equations alongside your text. With Nebo, you can convert handwritten text a paragraph at a time, or as an entire notebook. You can also export as text, HTML, PDF, or Word documents. Syncing is also available through MyScript’s own service, or you can choose iCloud, Dropbox, and more.
Myscript Nebo Icon
MyScript Nebo
Convert your handwriting to text on the fly.
Free with IAP at App Store
Noteshelf
Noteshelf Screens
Source: Fluid Touch Pte. Ltd.
Noteshelf is an excellent alternative to GoodNotes and Notability, making it one of the best note apps for Apple Pencil and iPad. With Noteshelf, your notes can consist of your handwriting, as well as PDF annotation, and even recorded audio. Noteshelf claims that the experience with the app is just like writing on a notepad — smooth and fluid. There are different pen styles to work within Noteshelf, including a fountain pen that replicates the elegant experience.
You also get handwritten note conversion, allowing you to search through your notes, even if they were handwritten. And if you don’t like plain old digital paper, Noteshelf has hundreds of different paper styles and templates to choose from. This is a premium app packed with a ton of useful features and it’s easy to use.
Noteshelf Icon
Noteshelf
Replicate the feeling of writing on a notepad with Noteshelf.
$10 at App Store
Whink
Whink Screens
Source: Rama Krishna
Looking for a simple note-taking app for Apple Pencil with a sleek interface? Then Whink could help you out. With Whink, you get natural handwriting tools, just as if you are writing with a pen and paper. Whink features a gel-pen tool with natural ink colors, so it’s definitely geared towards professionalism and simplicity. You can zoom in on your notes for high precision, which is great if you want to sketch or draw.
Typing is just a tap away and Whink also has PDF and photo annotation features, shape tools, and audio recording capabilities. Sharing notes with others is easy, and you can sync everything with iCloud or other services like Dropbox. Plus, the price is a little lower than some of the other options we’ve mentioned here.
Whink Icon
Whink
Whink offers natural yet professional handwritten note tools, and the price is right.
$5 at App Store
ZoomNotes
Zoomnotes Screens
Source: Deliverance Software Ltd.
Are you the type of person who loves to sketch out ideas and thoughts on a whiteboard? Then ZoomNotes is the ideal app for you. ZoomNotes is one of the few apps out there that provides a huge zoom range so that you can handwrite notes, sketch diagrams, and ideas on a near-infinite whiteboard, right on your iPad with Apple Pencil. The range in ZoomNotes is pretty much endless when compared with the other note-taking apps, so if that’s what you’ve been looking for, then ZoomNotes is for you.
It provides eight different pen types, from gel to nib to pencil, and it has handwriting recognition so you can search all of your handwritten notes. There is also support for layers, split-screen (two views of the same document), internal linking, unlimited paper sizes and styles, and so much more. ZoomNotes is an infinite digital whiteboard, right on your iPad (and even in your pocket with iPhone).
The standout feature in ZoomNotes is definitely the zooming capabilities, which is why ZoomNotes is one of the best note apps for Apple Pencil and iPad.
Conclusion
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