Best software · Productivity
9 Best Note-Taking Apps of 2026
This list is for office workers, managers, consultants and freelancers choosing an app to capture meeting notes, ideas and reference material on a phone and find it again on a laptop. We compared documented features, sync limits and published US prices from each vendor's own pages; we did not run hands-on tests. Scores weigh features at 40%, ease of use at 30% and value at 30%, and the overall score decides the order.
By the Mojolin research desk · Updated November 12, 2026 · 9 tools compared · Prices checked on vendor pages, latest November 12, 2026
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
Mojolin is self-funded How we score
Notion ranks first because one workspace covers quick notes, linked databases, team wikis and a calendar, and the free plan is usable for individuals. Obsidian is the pick for private, long-lived notes: files stay on your device in open formats and the app is free, with Sync at $4 per user per month billed annually. Microsoft OneNote is the natural choice for companies on Microsoft 365, and Apple Notes is the simplest free option for people who only use iPhone, iPad and Mac. Capacities and Craft suit people who want structured notes with tasks and calendars, Evernote remains strong for web clipping and scanned documents, Bear is the cleanest Markdown writer on Apple devices, and Google Keep is the fastest free way to jot lists on Android and the web.
Top picks
Comparison table
| # | Tool | Pricing | Score | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  Notion | teams that keep notes, wikis and projects together | See vendor pricing (USD check pending); free plan available, paid plans are Plus, Business and Enterprise | 8.8 |
| 2 |  Obsidian | people who want private notes they fully own | App is free; Sync $4 per user per month billed annually ($5 monthly); Publish $8 per site per month billed annually; optional Commercial license $50 per user per year | 8.7 |
| 3 |  Microsoft OneNote | companies that run on Microsoft 365 | OneNote is free; Microsoft 365 Personal with OneNote desktop and Copilot is $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year (introductory offers may apply) | 8.6 |
| 4 |  Apple Notes | people who only use Apple devices | Free on Apple devices with 5 GB of iCloud storage; iCloud+ storage from $0.99 per month for 50 GB | 8.5 |
| 5 |  Capacities | knowledge workers building a structured second brain | Basic is free; Pro $9.99 per month billed monthly (16% less billed yearly); Believer from $12.49 per month | 8.4 |
| 6 |  Evernote | people who clip the web and scan paperwork | See vendor pricing (USD check pending); Free plan available, paid plans are Starter, Advanced, Flexible and Unlimited | 8.3 |
| 7 |  Craft | small teams that write and publish polished docs | Free Starter plan; Team $5 per member per month with a 3-member minimum; Plus and Family plans shown in local currency from this location | 8.2 |
| 8 |  Bear | writers on Mac, iPhone and iPad | Free to download; Bear Pro $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, with a 7-day free trial | 8.1 |
| 9 |  Google Keep | quick lists and reminders on Android and the web | Free with a Google Account, which includes up to 15 GB of storage shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos; Google Workspace plans for business use | 8.0 |
Scoring weights
Every tool gets three editorial scores out of 10, from vendor documentation, product pages and the published price. The overall score is the weighted average below, the same method on every list. Full method
The full ranking
Rank 1 · Best overall
Notion
An all-in-one workspace for notes, docs, databases, forms and calendars, with built-in AI on paid plans.
notion.com8.8
out of 10
Best for: teams that keep notes, wikis and projects together
Notion works as a note app for people whose notes turn into plans. A page can hold a quick meeting note, then link to a database of projects with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties, and the free plan already includes databases, basic forms, basic sites and Notion Calendar for connecting several calendars. Plus adds charts from database data, custom sites, collaborative blocks and connections to Slack and Google Drive. Business is where the AI work tools sit: Notion Agent completes multi-step tasks using context from Notion and connected apps, AI Meeting Notes records meetings without a bot, and Enterprise Search looks across tools like Slack and GitHub. Business also brings SAML SSO and private teamspaces. The trade-off is weight: Notion asks you to build some structure, and quick capture on a phone is slower than in Google Keep or Apple Notes. We could not confirm USD prices from our location because the pricing page showed euros, so check the current figure on notion.com before you buy.
Standout feature
Notion is the only app here where the free plan turns notes into linked databases with subtasks and dependencies.
Use cases
Team leads
Keep meeting notes linked to a project database
Outcome: Decisions and tasks in one place
Operations staff
Build a team wiki with private teamspaces
Outcome: One source for processes and policies
Freelancers
Track client notes and deliverables on the free plan
Outcome: Organized work without a subscription
Key features
- Databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties on every plan
- Notion Calendar connects multiple calendars to notes and tasks
- Forms and published sites for sharing pages on the web
- Charts, custom sites and Slack and Google Drive connections on Plus
- Notion Agent, AI Meeting Notes and SAML SSO on Business
Pros
- Free plan includes databases, basic forms, basic sites and Notion Calendar
- One workspace covers personal notes, team wikis and project tracking
- AI Meeting Notes on Business records meetings without a bot
Cons
- USD prices could not be confirmed from this location, the page showed euros
- Notion Agent, AI Meeting Notes and SSO require the Business plan
- Heavy AI use needs extra credits at $10 per 1,000 monthly credits
Rank 2 · Runner-up
Obsidian
A free, local-first note app that stores notes on your device in open file formats, with optional paid Sync and Publish.
obsidian.md8.7
out of 10
Best for: people who want private notes they fully own
Obsidian takes the opposite approach to cloud workspaces: notes are files stored on your own device, in open formats, and the app is free without limits and without a sign-up. That makes it a strong pick for workers who keep long-lived reference notes, research or journals and want them readable in ten years. Linking between notes builds a personal wiki, the graph view shows how ideas connect, and Canvas gives an infinite board for diagrams and brainstorming. Thousands of community plugins and themes let you add task lists, calendars and other tools. Sync is the main paid extra at $4 per user per month billed annually or $5 monthly, with AES-256 end-to-end encryption, version history and shared vaults. Publish puts notes on the web for $8 per site per month billed annually. The cost is setup time: a new vault is a blank folder, and teams that want real-time editing in shared pages will find Notion or Craft easier.
Standout feature
Obsidian is free without limits and keeps notes as files on your own device.
Use cases
Consultants
Keep client research in a private local vault
Outcome: Confidential notes that never leave the device unencrypted
Writers and researchers
Link sources and ideas into a personal wiki
Outcome: Connections visible in the graph view
Developers
Extend notes with community plugins
Outcome: A note system shaped to their workflow
Key features
- Notes stored privately on your device and available offline
- Links between notes plus an interactive graph view
- Canvas for brainstorming and diagrams on an infinite board
- Thousands of community plugins and themes
- Sync with AES-256 end-to-end encryption, version history and shared vaults
Pros
- Free without limits and no sign-up required
- Open file formats, so notes are never locked into the app
- No telemetry collected by the apps, according to Obsidian
Cons
- Syncing across devices through Obsidian costs $4 per user per month billed annually
- Plugins and folder structure take time to set up
- Commercial use is encouraged, not required, to buy a $50 per user per year license
Rank 3 · Also great
Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft's free digital notebook with sections, handwriting and Copilot features in Microsoft 365.
onenote.com8.6
out of 10
Best for: companies that run on Microsoft 365
OneNote is the notebook most Microsoft 365 users already have. Notes live in notebooks, and you can type, draw or take handwritten notes. Microsoft documents tools for copying text out of pictures and printouts, converting and solving math equations, password protecting notes and syncing notebooks across devices. OneNote is free to use, and the free Microsoft account includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage. Microsoft 365 Personal costs $9.99 per month or $99.99 per year and adds the OneNote desktop apps with Copilot, 1 TB of cloud storage and sign-in on 5 devices at once; Copilot in OneNote can summarize notes, rewrite text and build to-do lists and project plans. The free-form page is great for meetings and handwriting but less suited to structured databases than Notion. Microsoft has also ended support for OneNote 2016 and 2019, so older installs should move to the current app.
Standout feature
OneNote is free, and Microsoft 365 Personal at $9.99 per month adds Copilot and 1 TB of storage.
Use cases
Office staff on Microsoft 365
Keep meeting notebooks shared with colleagues
Outcome: Notes next to Outlook and Teams
Field and tablet users
Take handwritten notes with a pen
Outcome: Ink and typed text on one page
Busy managers
Ask Copilot to summarize a long notebook page
Outcome: Key points without rereading
Key features
- Notebooks that sync across devices
- Handwritten notes and drawing with a pen or finger
- Copy text from pictures and file printouts
- Convert and solve math equations
- Copilot in OneNote summarizes notes, rewrites text and creates to-do lists
Pros
- OneNote itself is free to use on the web
- Microsoft 365 Personal adds desktop apps, 1 TB of cloud storage and Copilot
- Password protection for notes
Cons
- Copilot features require a paid Microsoft 365 plan
- Free storage is limited to 5 GB of OneDrive with a Microsoft account
- Microsoft has ended support for OneNote 2016 and OneNote 2019
Rank 4
Apple Notes
The free notes app built into iPhone, iPad and Mac, synced through iCloud.
apple.com8.5
out of 10
Best for: people who only use Apple devices
Apple Notes is already on every iPhone, iPad and Mac, and for many workers it is enough. Apple's user guides cover Quick Notes for capturing a thought from anywhere, drawings and handwriting, recording and transcribing audio, scanning text and documents, working with PDFs, and organizing with folders, tags and Smart Folders. Notes can be locked, shared for collaboration, exported or printed, and Math Notes solves arithmetic and expressions inline as soon as you type an equals sign. Sync runs through iCloud, which includes 5 GB free; iCloud+ starts at $0.99 per month for 50 GB if attachments and backups fill the free space. The limits are scope and platform: there are no databases, backlinks or templates for building a larger knowledge base, and Apple's guides only cover its own devices, so anyone with a Windows work laptop or an Android phone should pick OneNote, Evernote or Google Keep instead.
Standout feature
Apple Notes costs nothing on Apple devices and records, transcribes and scans inside a note.
Use cases
iPhone users
Record and transcribe a quick meeting
Outcome: Searchable notes with no extra app
Field workers
Scan receipts and documents into a note
Outcome: Paperwork filed on the spot
Mac and iPad users
Sort notes with tags and Smart Folders
Outcome: Organized notes without manual filing
Key features
- Quick Notes for capturing a thought from anywhere on the device
- Record and transcribe audio inside a note
- Scan text and documents with the camera
- Tags and Smart Folders for organizing notes
- Lock notes and share notes to collaborate with others
Pros
- No extra cost, it is built into iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Math Notes solves expressions as soon as you type an equals sign
- Drawings, handwriting, PDFs and scans all live in the same note
Cons
- Apple's Notes guides cover only iPhone, iPad and Mac
- Free iCloud storage is 5 GB, shared with backups and photos
- No databases or linked pages for larger knowledge bases
Rank 5
Capacities
An object-based note app that sorts notes into types such as people, books and meetings, with a free plan and AI on Pro.
capacities.io8.4
out of 10
Best for: knowledge workers building a structured second brain
Capacities organizes notes as objects rather than loose pages: a meeting, a person, a book or a project is its own type with its own properties, and notes link these objects together. The free Basic plan is generous, with unlimited spaces, objects, blocks and custom object types, sync across all devices, offline support, full-text search and full import and export. You can also save content into it from WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter or email. Pro costs $9.99 per month billed monthly, or 16% less billed yearly, and adds an AI assistant, whiteboards, task management, smart queries, calendar integration, Readwise and Kindle import, version history and a public API. Regular AI users need the Plus add-on for a larger budget at $8.33 per month billed annually. Capacities says it is the daily tool of more than 50,000 active knowledge workers. The object model takes some learning, and teams that need shared workspaces with permissions will find Notion or Craft a closer fit.
Standout feature
Capacities Basic is free with unlimited objects and custom object types.
Use cases
Account managers
Keep a person object for each client with linked meeting notes
Outcome: Full client history in one place
Researchers
Import Kindle and Readwise highlights on Pro
Outcome: Reading notes connected to projects
Busy professionals
Forward ideas from WhatsApp or email
Outcome: Capture without opening the app
Key features
- Unlimited spaces, objects, blocks and custom object types on Basic
- Sync across all devices with offline support
- Save content from WhatsApp, Telegram, Twitter or email
- Pro adds AI assistant, whiteboards, task management and smart queries
- Pro adds calendar integration, Readwise and Kindle import and a public API
Pros
- Free Basic plan includes unlimited objects and full import and export
- Notes are typed objects, so meetings, people and projects stay organized
- Pro free trial in the app without a credit card
Cons
- Basic media uploads are capped at 5 GB, then 100 MB per month
- Tasks, whiteboards and calendar integration need Pro
- Regular AI use needs the Plus add-on at $8.33 per month billed annually
Rank 6
Evernote
A long-running note app with web clipping, document scanning, tasks, calendar and AI search across iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac.
evernote.com8.3
out of 10
Best for: people who clip the web and scan paperwork
Evernote is still one of the most complete note apps for capturing material from many sources. It lists apps for iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac, and pairs notes with a Web Clipper, document scanning, tasks with dates and reminders, and Evernote Calendar, which connects Google or Microsoft calendars. Advanced search supports Boolean, geographic and filtered queries, and the newer AI features include an AI Assistant that works from a chat, semantic search for related notes, AI Transcribe for meetings and AI editing. Evernote also lets you use your notes from Claude, ChatGPT and other MCP-compatible tools. The weak spot is the free plan: 50 notes, 1 notebook, 20 tags and sync on 1 device. Starter raises that to 1,000 notes, 20 notebooks and 3 devices, and Advanced removes the caps. We could not confirm USD prices because the compare page did not display them from our location, so check evernote.com before you subscribe.
Standout feature
Evernote combines a Web Clipper, document scanning and Boolean search across iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac.
Use cases
Researchers
Clip articles with the Web Clipper
Outcome: Sources saved and searchable
Small business owners
Scan receipts and contracts
Outcome: Paperwork searchable on any device
Managers
Transcribe meetings with AI Transcribe
Outcome: Summaries and transcripts in the notebook
Key features
- Apps for iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac
- Web Clipper and document scanning
- Tasks with dates and reminders plus Evernote Calendar
- AI Assistant, semantic search and AI Transcribe for meetings
- Connect notes to Claude, ChatGPT and other MCP-compatible AI tools
Pros
- Covers every major platform, including Windows and Android
- Advanced search with Boolean, geographic and filtered searches
- Connects Google and Microsoft Outlook calendars
Cons
- Free plan is limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook and 1 device
- Starter caps you at 1,000 notes and 3 devices
- USD prices were not shown on the compare page from this location
Rank 7
Craft
A polished app for notes, docs, tasks, daily notes and whiteboards, with publishing and team spaces.
craft.do8.2
out of 10
Best for: small teams that write and publish polished docs
Craft is built for people who want their notes to look good enough to share. One app covers docs, tasks with schedules and reminders, a calendar with daily notes, whiteboards, tags and natural-language smart search, with real-time sync across devices and offline editing. Every plan exports to PDF, Markdown, Word and PNG and can publish unlimited pages; paid plans add password protection, email access, expiry dates and custom domains for published pages. Craft also connects to Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other tools through MCP. The free Starter plan is a fair trial but tight for daily work: 1,500 blocks, 1 GB of storage, 25 MB uploads, 7 days of version history and about 20 lifetime AI sessions. The Team plan costs $5 per member per month with a 3-member minimum and adds 25 shared team spaces with roles and permissions. The Plus plan for individuals was shown only in local currency from our location.
Standout feature
Craft's Team plan is $5 per member per month with 25 shared team spaces.
Use cases
Small agencies
Share client briefs as published pages
Outcome: Polished docs without a separate site tool
Product managers
Plan the day with daily notes and scheduled tasks
Outcome: Notes and to-dos on one calendar
Writers
Export drafts to Word or Markdown
Outcome: Clean handoff to editors
Key features
- Docs, tasks, calendar, whiteboards and daily notes in one app
- Real-time sync across devices with offline access and editing
- Natural-language smart search across your space
- Unlimited published pages with password protection on paid plans
- MCP connections for Claude, ChatGPT, Cursor and other AI tools
Pros
- Free Starter plan includes tasks, calendar, daily notes and smart search
- Exports to PDF, Markdown, Word (.docx) and PNG on every plan
- Team plan includes 25 shared team spaces with roles and permissions
Cons
- Free plan stops at 1,500 blocks and 1 GB of storage
- Team plan needs at least 3 members
- Free plan includes only about 20 lifetime AI sessions
Rank 8
Bear
A Markdown note app for Mac, iPhone and iPad with themes and an affordable Pro subscription.
bear.app8.1
out of 10
Best for: writers on Mac, iPhone and iPad
Bear is a Markdown writing app for Mac, iPhone and iPad that organizes notes with tags, including custom TagCons icons. It is free to download, but most people who use more than one device will want Bear Pro, because iCloud sync across devices is a Pro feature. Pro also adds note encryption and app lock, export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG and ePub, more than 28 themes, 15 app icons, and OCR search for text inside PDFs and images. Bear Pro costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year, includes a 7-day free trial, and one subscription covers every device signed into the same Apple ID. That makes it one of the cheapest paid options on this list. The limits are clear: Bear runs only on Apple devices, has no team workspace or shared databases, and is aimed at writing rather than project tracking. Windows and Android users should look at Obsidian or Evernote.
Standout feature
Bear Pro adds iCloud sync, note encryption and OCR search for $2.99 per month.
Use cases
Writers and bloggers
Draft articles in Markdown and export to DOCX or HTML
Outcome: Clean drafts ready to publish
Mac and iPhone users
Sync notes through iCloud with Bear Pro
Outcome: The same notes on every Apple device
Privacy-minded professionals
Encrypt sensitive notes
Outcome: Private notes behind a lock
Key features
- Markdown editor for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- iCloud sync across all devices on the same Apple ID with Bear Pro
- Encrypt individual notes and lock Bear
- Export to PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG and ePub with Pro
- OCR search for text inside PDFs and images
Pros
- Bear Pro costs $2.99 per month or $29.99 per year
- One subscription covers every device on the same Apple ID
- 28+ themes and 15 app icons with Pro
Cons
- Available only for Mac, iPhone and iPad
- iCloud sync between devices requires Bear Pro
- No team workspaces or shared databases
Rank 9
Google Keep
Google's free app for quick notes, lists, photos, drawings and audio that syncs across phone, computer and smartwatch.
keep.google.com8.0
out of 10
Best for: quick lists and reminders on Android and the web
Google Keep is the quickest way to get a thought out of your head on Android or in a browser. Notes can hold text, lists, photos, drawings and audio, and Google says everything syncs in real time across phone, computer and smartwatch. You find notes again by search, color codes, labels, pins and filters, can set reminders on deadlines, and keep editing offline with changes syncing once you reconnect. Shared notes support real-time editing with colleagues or family, and Keep opens from the apps panel inside Google Workspace apps, with an export to Google Docs when a note grows into a document. It costs nothing with a Google Account, which includes up to 15 GB of storage shared across Gmail, Drive and Photos. Keep is deliberately simple: there are no folders, linked pages or databases, so it works best as an inbox for lists and quick ideas, paired with a deeper app for long-term notes.
Standout feature
Google Keep is free and syncs notes in real time across phone, computer and smartwatch.
Use cases
Google Workspace users
Add a note from the apps panel in Workspace apps
Outcome: Ideas captured without switching apps
Busy parents and workers
Share a checklist and edit it together
Outcome: Everyone sees updates in real time
Android users
Set reminders on quick notes
Outcome: Deadlines that are not forgotten
Key features
- Notes, lists, photos, drawings and audio
- Real-time sync across phone, computer and smartwatch
- Color codes, labels, pins and filters for finding notes
- Reminders on notes and offline editing
- Export notes to Google Docs and add notes from other Workspace apps
Pros
- Free with any Google Account
- Real-time collaborative editing on shared notes
- Opens from the apps panel inside Google Workspace apps
Cons
- Storage is shared with Gmail, Drive and Photos
- No folders, linked pages or databases for long documents
- Business administration requires a Google Workspace plan
Frequently asked questions
+What is the best note-taking app in 2026?
Notion is the best note-taking app for most workers in 2026, scoring 8.8 in our comparison. Its free plan includes databases, forms and Notion Calendar, and Obsidian (8.7) and Microsoft OneNote (8.6) are the closest alternatives.
+What is the best free note-taking app?
Obsidian is the best free note-taking app if you want depth, because Obsidian says the app is free without limits. Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote are also free, and Apple Notes is free on iPhone, iPad and Mac with 5 GB of iCloud storage.
+Which note-taking app works on both iPhone and Windows?
Microsoft OneNote, Evernote and Notion all work on iPhone and Windows. Evernote lists apps for iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac, while Apple Notes and Bear are documented only for Apple devices.
+Is Obsidian better than Notion?
Obsidian is better for private, personal notes and Notion is better for teams. Obsidian stores notes on your device in open file formats and is free, while Notion adds shared workspaces, databases and, on Business, Notion Agent and AI Meeting Notes.
+How much does Obsidian Sync cost?
Obsidian Sync costs $4 per user per month billed annually, or $5 billed monthly. It includes AES-256 end-to-end encryption, version history and shared vaults, and students, faculty and nonprofit staff get 40% off.
+Is Evernote still free?
Yes, Evernote still has a Free plan, but it is limited to 50 notes, 1 notebook and sync on 1 device. Paid plans start with Starter, which allows 1,000 notes and 3 devices, and Evernote offers a 7-day free trial.
+What is the cheapest paid note-taking app?
Bear Pro at $2.99 per month is the cheapest paid note app subscription on this list, as of November 2026. Obsidian Sync is $4 per user per month billed annually, and Craft Team is $5 per member per month with a 3-member minimum.
About this list
Updated November 12, 2026 by the Mojolin research desk. Mojolin is self-funded
Questions or corrections: editorial@mojolin.com
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