University of Kwazulu-Natal

10 Best Note Taking Apps In 2025 Free Paid Clickup

Bonisiwe Shabane
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10 best note taking apps in 2025 free paid clickup

Have you noticed how the best ideas always come when you’re in the middle of something? You might be working on a crucial task when inspiration strikes, sparking a solution you’ve been yearning for. The other day, I was working on our blog strategy when a brilliant idea (or so I thought) about improving search rankings popped into my head. Of course, I wanted to hold on to it. But there’s only so much I can remember. I rely on note-taking apps to capture and revisit these floating thoughts once I finish what’s at hand.

These apps act as a second brain, helping me turn stray ideas into action items. Based on my experience and the testing done by our team at ClickUp, I’ve compiled a list that includes both free and paid alternatives. I hope this helps you find the note-taking list app you want. Digital alternatives that will help you stay organized across devices Taking notes with pen and paper works just fine for some, but if you have a smartphone or tablet, using an app designed for note-taking can truly change the way you get things done. Here are 10 of the best to consider, whether you're using a Windows or Mac computer, an Android device, iOS, Chrome OS, or another operating system.

Works with most popular platforms and devices. Text notes only; no images or other media. Have you noticed how the best ideas always come when you’re in the middle of something? You might be working on a crucial project when you get an idea that leads to a solution you’ve been looking for all along. While I was working on our blog strategy the other day, I had a brilliant idea—or so I thought—to boost search engine rankings. Naturally, I desired to keep it.

However, there is a limit to how much I can recall. I rely on note-taking apps to capture and revisit these floating thoughts once I finish what’s at hand. These apps act as a second brain, helping me turn stray ideas into action items. I have compiled a list of free and paid alternatives based on my experience and the testing carried out by our ClickUp team. I hope this helps you find the app you want for keeping a list of notes. Prioritize features that enhance productivity and complement your professional routine when choosing an app.

In order to feel more productive and less burdened by the information I need to remember, I am particular about how I work and the numerous routes I take. Here are some key aspects to consider: Features for organization: Note apps with powerful search capabilities, folders, tags, and organizational tools make it simple to organize and retrieve notes (this is extremely important to... It helps me comprehend how my work is interconnected with other priorities or ideas. Capabilities for integration: To streamline your workflow—again, crucial for my personal and professional productivity—check that your note-taking app seamlessly integrates with other tools you frequently use, such as calendar apps, project management software, and... I’ll often save my notes from Kindle to push to my project management app as something I’d want to reference, and usually, when I read something on the web, I’ll want to add a... Ease of use: Look for an app with an intuitive interface that makes it simple to add, edit, organize, and retrieve notes quickly AI assistance: Look for note-taking apps with AI capabilities that can...

(This has had the biggest impact on my note-taking. Previously, I would spend time summarizing my poorly written rough notes, but now I let AI do that, saving me a ton of time. I can now start with my polished notes right away.) Access across devices: Choose an app that syncs across all of your devices so you can access your notes from anywhere, whether you’re at... I was able to narrow down the numerous note-taking apps on the market and select the best ones for you thanks to these essential features. The Top 10 Apps for Taking Notes We’ve compiled a list of apps that aren’t just popular with professionals but can also be used by students, freelancers, business owners, and office workers. Let’s start with the in-house favorite.

Over the past few years, ClickUp has been my go-to note-taking app for good reason. I use ClickUp Docs to jot down notes and tasks and build my knowledge base and wikis. I can easily assign tasks and work with other team members in real time thanks to this. Rich text formatting options, such as bullet points, checklists, banners, headings, highlights, and code blocks, let me customize my documents and make particular sections of my notes stand out (a bonus for visual learners!). You can also add and embed multimedia elements to Docs. Finding the right note-taking app can make a big difference in how you organize your life, whether you’re in school, at work, or just keeping track of personal ideas.

Some people may need a simple way to jot down their thoughts, while others may want only the best note taking app that can be used across all their devices. This guide highlights 10 of the best note-taking apps for students, professionals, iPad owners, iOS and Android users. We tested 21 different apps, including every major windows app and mobile option, and narrowed them to the ones that performed best for speed, layout, and reliability. Each note taking application here gives you the tools you need to help you organize projects, class notes, and work tasks. Many support cloud storage, allow you to handwrite or doodle, and include stuff like rich text editing, AI features, and integration with Microsoft Teams or Google Drive for action items, collaboration, and project management. Microsoft OneNote is a flexible note-taking app and one of the best app choices for students and professionals.

A favorite app of many a diligent note-taker, it combines typed notes, images, and sketches, making it a great way to take notes and keep them organized. Hello! It looks like your message didn’t come through. How can I assist you today? In an era marked by rapid technological evolution, the way we capture, organize, and retrieve information has transformed dramatically. From academic pursuits and professional projects to personal journaling and creative brainstorming, note-taking has become an indispensable part of our daily lives.

As we advance into 2025, the landscape of note-taking applications continues to evolve, driven by innovations in artificial intelligence, seamless integrations, and user-centric features. Choosing the right note-taking app is crucial—not only for efficiency but also for fostering productivity, creativity, and organization. Whether you’re a student, a professional, an entrepreneur, or someone who simply loves jotting down ideas, understanding the features, strengths, and limitations of current leading apps can help you make an informed decision. This comprehensive guide explores the best note-taking apps available in 2025, analyzing their capabilities, unique features, pricing models, and use-case scenarios. Historically, note-taking was a manual task—pen on paper, scratch pads, or typewriters. The digital revolution introduced simple text editors, then advanced word processors, and eventually specialized note-taking platforms.

Early applications such as Microsoft OneNote and Evernote laid the groundwork by offering easy-to-use digital notebooks with features like multimedia support and cloud synchronization. Over the years, the integration of AI, machine learning, and cross-platform functionalities has propelled note-taking apps into sophisticated tools capable of intelligent organization, voice recognition, real-time collaboration, and enhanced multimedia experiences. The convergence of these features aims to emulate the natural thought process, making digital note-taking more intuitive and efficient. We use cookies to provide the best site experience. Juggling dozens of daily tasks and next-big-thing ideas isn’t easy. Especially when combined with an enormous amount of constantly incoming queries, feedback, and corrections on what’s already been done.

It’s the same challenge every time — be you a self-employed working on your own small projects, or a business owner looking for a solution to boost team productivity. But in the ocean of free note-taking apps (where most of the features are still locked till you pay) how to choose the right tool for your project and your most comfortable workflow? Let’s take a closer look at the best note-taking software that significantly helps to stay focused, interactive, and productive. Here’s the list of the 8 best note-taking apps in 2023 to help you have all the paramount thoughts, tasks, and ideas at hand and optimized. List of the best note taking tools for you to consider: In today’s digital world, taking notes efficiently is essential for students, professionals, and creatives.

With so many note-taking apps available, choosing the right one can be overwhelming. Whether you need a simple note-taking app for quick memos or an advanced tool for organizing projects, we’ve got you covered! ✅ The best note-taking apps for students, professionals & teams✅ Top features & benefits of each app✅ Pros & cons comparison✅ Which app is best for you? Best for: Organizing projects, databases & structured notes✅ Pros:✔️ Fully customizable with templates✔️ Great for personal & team collaboration✔️ Works as a planner, task manager & note-taker Best for: Business professionals & long-term note organization✅ Pros:✔️ Tagging & folder system for easy organization✔️ AI-powered search (OCR for handwritten notes & PDFs)✔️ Syncs across multiple devices In our fast-paced digital world, the need to capture thoughts, ideas, and information efficiently has never been greater.

Whether you’re a student juggling lecture notes, a professional managing projects, or someone who loves to jot down their thoughts, having the right note-taking app can make all the difference. As we step into 2025, let’s explore the best note-taking apps that are revolutionizing the way we organize our lives. Gone are the days when note-taking meant scribbling in a notebook or on sticky notes. The digital age has ushered in an era of powerful note-taking apps that offer features like voice recognition, cloud synchronization, and even AI-powered organization. As technology advances, these apps have become indispensable tools, helping us manage information more effectively than ever before. Evernote has been a staple in the note-taking world for years, and in 2025, it continues to impress.

With its robust set of features, Evernote allows users to take notes in various formats—text, images, audio, and even hand-drawn sketches. The app’s integration with third-party services like Google Drive and Slack makes it a perfect choice for professionals. Plus, its AI-driven search functionality ensures you can find your notes in the blink of an eye. Microsoft OneNote remains a favorite, especially among students and professionals who are already embedded in the Microsoft ecosystem. Its flexibility in organizing notes into notebooks, sections, and pages is unparalleled. OneNote’s collaborative features also make it an excellent choice for team projects.

In 2025, the app continues to offer seamless integration with other Microsoft Office applications, enhancing productivity across the board. Notion has taken the productivity world by storm, and for a good reason. More than just a note-taking app, Notion serves as an all-in-one workspace that combines notes, tasks, databases, and project management. Its customizable interface allows users to tailor their workspace to their exact needs. Whether you’re planning a personal project or managing a team, Notion’s versatility is unmatched in 2025. Evernote truly is awesome, but it’s web clipper has had repeated issues over the years, as well as image display in notes (pics come out strange in the desktop versions sometimes).

Most annoying: the note-size limit is extremely bad. As a “premium” subscriber, I expect larger note-size limits. The greatest thing I love about Evernote is the ease of which I can scrawl a note on regular paper, take a pic, and (if I wrote legibly) be able to search that text. Mind blowingly cool. Very very useful for songwriting or creative writing. Whilst Google Keep doesn’t have a Windows desktop client you can create a shortcut to the Chrome App version that runs within Chrome if you have it installed.

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