The Best Note Taking Apps For 2026 Pcmag Middle East

Bonisiwe Shabane

-Dec 29, 2025, 9:35 AM

the best note taking apps for 2026 pcmag middle east

Everyone needs to write things down from time to time. Note-taking apps let you do just that, and they seamlessly sync your memos across all your other devices. However, their real advantage lies in how they help you organize and find information. The best apps offer multiple structuring options, including folders or notebooks, as well as effective tagging and search features. In short, a good note-taking app is like having a personal internet where you can easily look up anything about your life. We've been testing note-taking apps for more than a decade, and our top picks include the extremely capable Microsoft OneNote and the open-source Joplin.

But these aren't the only apps worth checking out, so read on for more of our top picks. Even as a free app, OneNote stands out. It has every feature you could want, from organizational structure to cross-platform syncing, voice notes, and OCR. It also comes with the best web clipping tool we've seen. OneNote is the first application most people should consider when looking for a note-taking app. It's a no-brainer if you subscribe to any Microsoft 365 plan.

People who don't want to pay: Oftentimes, free apps lack significant features compared with paid services, but Microsoft OneNote is an exception. The only major things you give up by not paying are the ability to store files locally on Windows and additional storage space. Most people: Note-taking is a personal activity, so no single app will work for everyone; however, Microsoft OneNote is flexible enough to suit practically anyone. It offers apps for every major operating system, features an intuitive design, and boasts a plethora of features. The open-source Joplin is as close to a perfect note-taking app as you can get if you're looking for something relatively simple. It's completely free and stores your notes locally on your computer if you choose—though you can also pay to use Joplin's cloud storage.

Notes you take in Joplin are yours in the same way that notes you take in a paper notebook are. This approach, until recently, had a downside: a lack of collaboration tools. That's changed, as Joplin now offers notebook sharing for those willing to pay a fee. Note taking is one of those universal but intensely personal things. Everyone has a .css-19a5n3-Link{all:unset;box-sizing:border-box;-webkit-text-decoration:underline;text-decoration:underline;cursor:pointer;-webkit-transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;transition:all 300ms ease-in-out;outline-offset:1px;-webkit-text-fill-color:currentColor;outline:1px solid transparent;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:hover{outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='ocean']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='white']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']{color:var(--zds-text-link, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:hover{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #2b2358);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='primary']:focus{color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);outline-color:var(--zds-text-link-hover, #3d4592);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:hover{color:var(--zds-gray-warm-5, #a8a5a0);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-color='secondary']:focus{color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);outline-color:var(--zds-brand-almost-white, #fffdf9);}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='inherit']{font-weight:inherit;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='normal']{font-weight:400;}.css-19a5n3-Link[data-weight='bold']{font-weight:700;}note-taking method of some kind, whether it's as simple... For some people, notes are just text, maybe with a few headings and bullets; for others, they're essentially scrapbooks with elaborate doodles and images.

But however you take notes, there's an app out there that can handle all your weird quirks, obscure preferences, and note-taking needs. You just might need to look for it. But first, the big caveat. You can write notes anywhere: on the back of a napkin, envelope, important bill, or even in a notebook. It's kind of similar with apps: you can stick notes into pretty much any old app, even if it's not really designed for them. Example: Google Docs isn't a great notes app, but I have notes about this article you're reading now in the Google Doc I'm working from.

So for this list, I didn't look at every app that could be used to take notes, every app I've personally used to take notes, or even every business collaboration tool that claimed it... I also only really considered general-purpose personal note-taking apps. Even with all these criteria in place, I still tested over 50 different note apps for taking notes online. Here are the best note-taking apps I could find. Looking for the best note-taking apps in 2026? Notion is the best overall for flexibility and organization.

PlanWiz offers the most powerful free features with template-based planning, while GoodNotes and Notability deliver the best handwriting experience on iPad. Whether you’re a student managing lectures, a professional managing complex projects, or someone who just wants to capture ideas quickly, the right note-taking app transforms how you work. This comprehensive guide compares 15 apps with real testing data, detailed feature breakdowns, and honest recommendations to help you choose the perfect tool, free or paid, for your specific needs. To ensure accurate, reliable, and unbiased recommendations, I conducted extensive and systematic testing across a wide range of criteria, including functionality, performance, usability, cross-device compatibility, collaboration features, offline access, and real-world workflows, covering both... All apps were tested under real-world conditions to see how they perform in daily workflows. We focused on both speed and reliability, tracking how well each app handled notes, media, and syncing across devices.

This approach ensured that our recommendations reflect practical usage, not just feature lists. The guide will answer all your questions about knowledge base with useful resources. There are over 25 core alternatives to Microsoft OneNote. However, the question is: do you still use OneNote in 2026, or are you looking for the best OneNote alternatives? Documentation in 2025 is already driving product development, onboarding, customer support, internal wikis, compliance, team efficiency, and so many other processes. In 2026, documentation will become a core operational asset.

Again, the question arises: is a note-taking tool enough, or does your team need a knowledge base tool that can document at scale? According to a report by Forrester Consulting, 47% of businesses reported higher customer satisfaction from digital document processes. Knowledge base tools helped them strengthen data security and make signing and sharing information easier. This article talks about why teams in 2026 are looking for alternatives to Microsoft OneNote, shares insights on the top OneNote alternatives, and helps you list down the correct knowledge base for your team... Home » AI Tools » 9 Best AI Note Taking Apps (2026) – AI For Meetings, Students, Notes In 2026, balancing back-to-back meetings, lectures, and side hustles is the norm—and it’s exhausting.

Even the most organized minds can struggle to keep up. That’s where AI note-taking tools step in! It offers a smarter way to capture and organize information. Traditional note-taking methods are outdated: scattered folders, forgotten tasks, and endless hours of wasted transcribing recordings. Today’s AI-powered apps do more than just take notes. They summarize meetings, extract action items, integrate with your favorite tools, and even provide multilingual translations.

To make your choice easier, this article features the Top 9 AI Note-taking Apps in 2026. After months of hands-on testing, I’ve curated this list with a focus on ease of use, affordability, and smart integrations that truly enhance productivity. Ready to ditch chaotic notebooks for good? Let’s explore your future workflow upgrade. Everyone needs to write things down from time to time. Note-taking apps let you do just that, and they seamlessly sync your memos across all your other devices.

However, their real advantage lies in how they help you organize and find information. The best apps offer multiple structuring options, including folders or notebooks, as well as effective tagging and search features. In short, a good note-taking app is like having a personal internet where you can easily look up anything about your life. We've been testing note-taking apps for more than a decade, and our top picks include the extremely capable Microsoft OneNote and the open-source Joplin. But these aren't the only apps worth checking out, so read on for more of our top picks. With a fine-grained organizational structure, a generous free version, and an abundance of features, OneNote is a superbly versatile and complete note-taking app.

Joplin is the ideal note-taking app for users who value simplicity, local storage capabilities, and dedicated apps on every major platform. Evernote is a powerful note-taking app with advanced AI features, best-in-class tools for jotting down your thoughts, and an exceptionally clear design, though it comes at a premium price. Obsidian is a highly adaptable and free note-taking app for power users who don't need collaboration features. Note-taking apps are software solutions that allow users to capture, organize, and manage notes, ideas, and information in a digital format. These apps typically include features like text formatting, tagging, multimedia support (images, audio, and video), cloud synchronization for cross-device access, and search functionality. Some note-taking apps also offer collaboration features, allowing multiple users to work on the same notes in real-time.

These tools are widely used for personal note-taking, meeting minutes, research, and project management. Compare and read user reviews of the best Note-Taking apps in the Middle East currently available using the table below. This list is updated regularly. You seem to have CSS turned off. Please don't fill out this field. You seem to have CSS turned off.

Please don't fill out this field. Click URL instructions: Right-click on the ad, choose "Copy Link", then paste here → (This may not be possible with some types of ads) Do you take a lot of notes? Whether it's daily to-do lists, notes for class, or just jotting down thoughts, we've found the best digital notebooks to keep them organized. Sure, you could just open your Notes app, but physically writing something down helps you remember and learn more. It also feels nice to stop typing for a minute and get a sensation of analog, while still digitally storing it.

There are E Ink tablets, smart pens, and notebooks made to save digital files of your handwritten notes or drawings. You can save files as PDFs, images, and Word docs, or transcribe them to a text file in Google Docs to make all your notes searchable. Some of these devices can record, too, which is great for lectures and interviews. Our favorite model is the reMarkable Paper Pro ($629), which has a fantastic color screen (an option not every notebook has), a great paper-like writing experience, a gentle front light, and a nice range... My personal favorite is the Amazon Kindle Scribe (2nd Gen) ($400), which has great battery life and works well for readers and casual notetakers who don't need a ton of cloud support or capabilities. If you usually write to-do lists, you might find the reMarkable Paper Pro Move ($449) is your best bet, with a smaller size but all the features of our top pick.

If your notes need an upgrade, we recommend giving these a try. If you're looking for true paper options, don't miss our Paper Planners guide, and if you're looking for more home office upgrades, catch our guides to the Best Work-From-Home Gear, Best Computer Monitors, and... Updated December 2025: The Boox Note Air4 C is now a pick, and we've added notes on the Kindle Scribe Colorsoft, the 3rd Gen Kindle Scribe, and the Montblanc Digital Paper to Honorable Mentions. The reMarkable Paper Pro has everything we like about the reMarkable 2—a matte screen feels like paper, quick and responsive writing experience, and a great battery life—and adds a few cool new features like... It's got an 10.8-inch screen, making it an extra inch and a half bigger than the reMarkable 2. It's especially handy if you're taking notes or writing down ideas somewhere a little dark, like a dimmed classroom or on a late flight.

The Best Note Taking Apps For 2026 Pcmag Middle East

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