What are the best note taking software?

The “best” note‑taking software depends on what you’re doing (quick notes, study, PKM/“second brain,” handwriting, collaboration) and which devices you use. Here are the top options by use case so you can pick quickly.

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### 1. Best all‑round, cross‑platform workhorse: **Microsoft OneNote**

- Free, powerful, and available on Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web.[2]

- Notebook → section → page structure is great for courses, projects, and long‑term archives.[3]

- Excellent stylus/handwriting support on tablets and good with e‑ink devices.[2]

Choose OneNote if you want a *general‑purpose notebook* that works on almost any device and supports both typing and inking well.[2][3]

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### 2. Best for “second brain” / knowledge management: **Notion** and **Logseq**

- **Notion**

- All‑in‑one: notes, databases, tasks, wikis.[3]

- Great for teams, templates, and building custom systems (like PARA, GTD).

- Best if you’re okay with some setup to get a highly structured system.

- **Logseq**

- Outliner + graph‑based note‑taking with backlinks for knowledge graphs.[3]

- Local‑first, markdown‑based, popular among privacy‑minded and power users.

Pick these if you want your notes to function like a *personal wiki / second brain* rather than just a notebook.[3]

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### 3. Best for handwritten notes & PDFs (students, iPad users): **Notability** and **Goodnotes**

- Both are top‑rated iPad apps focused on handwriting, Apple Pencil support, and annotating PDFs.[6]

- Support audio recording synced to your handwriting (particularly strong in Notability).[6]

Use these if you mainly write by hand on a tablet and annotate lecture slides or PDFs.[6]

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### 4. Best “just works” default notes: **Apple Notes** and **Google Keep**

- **Apple Notes**

- Built into iOS/macOS; fast, simple, and well integrated with system sharing and Siri.[3]

- Good enough for most casual note‑taking if you live in Apple’s ecosystem.[3]

- **Google Keep**

- Sticky‑note style cards, great for quick lists, reminders, and voice notes.[1][3]

- Very lightweight; syncs across Android, web, and ChromeOS.[1]

Choose these if you want *minimal friction* for quick, disposable notes and reminders.[1][3]

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### 5. Best for traditional note app with cross‑platform sync: **Evernote**

- Long‑standing app with rich text, web clipper, tags, and good search across platforms.[1][3][4]

- Still solid if you like its classic notebook + tag paradigm, though it’s no longer as clearly dominant.

A good fit if you want a mature, feature‑rich notes database and don’t mind a more traditional UI.[1][3][4]

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### 6. Best open‑source / privacy‑focused options: **Joplin**

- Open‑source note app with markdown support, end‑to‑end encryption, and cross‑platform sync via services you choose.[2]

- Great if you care about owning your data and avoiding proprietary lock‑in.

Pick Joplin if privacy and control matter more than slick UI.[2]

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### 7. Best for writers & markdown fans: **Bear**

- macOS/iOS‑only, beautiful interface, markdown‑first, and tag‑based organization.[6]

- Excellent for clean writing and quick retrieval via tags and search.[6]

Ideal if you’re on Apple devices and like distraction‑free, markdown‑style writing.[6]

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### How to choose quickly

Ask yourself:

1. **Which devices do you use most?**

- All platforms, including Windows/Android/e‑ink → **OneNote**, **Joplin**.[2]

- Apple‑only → **Apple Notes**, **Bear**, **Notability**, **Goodnotes**.[3][6]

2. **How do you mostly take notes?**

- Typing, long‑form, mixed media → **OneNote**, **Evernote**, **Notion**.[1][2][3]

- Handwriting & PDFs → **Notability**, **Goodnotes**, **OneNote** on tablet.[2][6]

3. **What’s your primary goal?**

- Quick capture & reminders → **Google Keep**, **Apple Notes**.[1][3]

- Deep knowledge system / “second brain” → **Notion**, **Logseq**.[3]

- Privacy & open‑source → **Joplin**, **Logseq**.[2][3]

If you tell me your devices (Windows/Mac, Android/iOS), budget, and whether you type or handwrite more, I can narrow this down to 1–2 specific recommendations and a suggested setup.