What note taking offers the best features for the price?

For overall **features per dollar**, the standouts are **Microsoft OneNote** (totally free, very powerful) and, if you’re on Apple devices and like handwriting/PDF markup, **Notedrafts** (about **$5 lifetime** with features similar to much pricier apps). OneNote is best if you want maximum capability at zero cost; Notedrafts is best if you want a Goodnotes‑style handwriting app at a one‑time bargain price.

Here’s how the value proposition breaks down:

### 1. Best overall value: Microsoft OneNote (free)

- **Price:** Free to download and use; you only pay if you need extra OneDrive storage or broader Microsoft 365 features.[2][3]

- **Key features for the price:**

- Free‑form canvas: click or write anywhere on the page, mix text, handwriting, and images.[2]

- Strong handwriting support on tablets, with audio recording and playback linked to notes.[3]

- Full notebook/section/page structure, search, tags, and cross‑platform sync (Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, web).[2]

- **Why it’s great “for the price”:** Reviewers frequently call OneNote **“the best free note-taking app”** and say it’s in contention for best overall note app even ignoring price.[2][3] You get a level of organization and power that many paid apps charge for.

Choose **OneNote** if:

- You want the most capability without paying.

- You use multiple platforms (Windows + mobile, etc.).

- You need both typing and inking, with good organization.

### 2. Best low‑cost handwriting & PDF app: Notedrafts (~$5 lifetime, iOS/iPadOS)

- **Price:** Pay‑what‑you‑want upgrade, starting at **$4.99 one time** for “Pro,” which unlocks full functionality after 3 free notes.[1]

- **What you get:**

- Writing experience comparable to **Apple Notes** and feature set similar to **Goodnotes** and **Notability**.[1]

- Advanced pens and tools (regular, monoline, fountain pen, pencil, highlighter, watercolor, crayon) with configurable size and color.[1]

- Excellent zoom for writing in small spaces and annotating crowded PDFs or lecture slides.[1]

- Cloud sync and an interface described as “incredibly easy to use.”[1]

- **Why it’s strong on value:** A reviewer who tested many paid apps says this **$5 lifetime app “beats every paid one I tried”** and “doesn’t miss out on any major features” of the big players, at a fraction of their cost.[1] Comparable apps often charge subscriptions or higher one‑time fees.[2][3]

Choose **Notedrafts** if:

- You’re on iPhone/iPad and primarily use handwriting and PDF annotation.

- You want a Goodnotes/Notability‑class app but dislike subscriptions.

- You’re okay with Apple‑only support.

### 3. Other high‑value options (when you factor in price)

Depending on your ecosystem and style, these can also be “best for the price” in their category:

- **Apple Notes (free for Apple users)**

- Built into iOS/macOS, fast and deeply integrated; syncs via iCloud with 5 GB free across all Apple services.[2]

- Great for basic to intermediate note‑taking if you’re fully in the Apple ecosystem.[2]

- **Google Keep (free with Google account)**

- Simple, sticky‑note style, tightly integrated with Google Workspace, with 15 GB shared storage across Google services.[2]

- Excellent for quick notes, lists, and reminders rather than complex knowledge management.[2]

- **Obsidian (free for personal use, optional paid sync/publish)**

- Designed for **power users** with local Markdown files, backlinks, and knowledge graph views.[2]

- Very strong for long‑term knowledge management if you’re willing to learn it; the free tier is already powerful.[2]

- **Notion (free for personal use)**

- Extremely feature‑rich, with databases, wikis, and collaboration tools.[2]

- Great value if you need both notes and project management in one place.[2]

- **Goodnotes (paid, but cheaper than many peers)**

- On iPad, reviewers often rate Goodnotes as a leader in **AI features** (question‑answering on your notes, diagram generation, math help) plus whiteboard‑style pages and study cards.[3]

- Its pricing (around a few dollars per year or a modest lifetime fee in some regions) is considered “more affordable than a lot of other notes apps,” though still more than Notedrafts.[2]

### Quick recommendations by scenario

- **Zero budget, general use, cross‑platform:** **OneNote**.[2][3]

- **Zero budget, simple notes on Apple or Google:** **Apple Notes** or **Google Keep**.[2]

- **Best bang‑for‑buck handwriting/PDF (iPad/iPhone):** **Notedrafts** first, **Goodnotes** if you really want advanced AI and extras.[1][2][3]

- **Power users building a knowledge base:** **Obsidian** (free, local, extensible).[2]

- **Team collaboration with notes + tasks:** **Notion** (excellent free personal tier).[2]

If you describe your devices (Windows/Mac/iPad/Android) and whether you prefer typing, handwriting, or both, I can narrow this down to 1–2 “best value” picks tailored to you.