Discover the Best 7 Notetaking Solutions Tailored to Your iPad Experience

TheiPad’s built-inApple Notes app has many features, including scanning, attachments, and photos. But if you’re curious about what else is out there, this list covers iPad andiPad Pro apps that can help convert handwritten notes into text others can read, stay organized, and never lose an important idea again.

Here’s a look at some of the best iPad note-taking apps.

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Create Organized, Artistic Notes and Notebooks: Notebook

What We Like

• This free app is ad-free.
• Add everything from audio to recipes.
• Tagging for organization.

What We Don’t Like

• Limited customization with free version.
• More notebook covers and storage with subscription.

If you’re looking for a way to organize your memories, ideas, and essential information on your iPad with beautiful individual notebooks, look no further than Zoho’s Notebook.

Fill your notebook with sketches, audio, files, and notes, and then organize them with Notebook’s built-in Smart, Recipe, Video, or Link Cards. Add PDFs, word documents, and spreadsheets, and check stuff off your checklist as you work through tasks. You can also take handwritten notes with​ an Apple Pencil.

Price : Free; Pro and Personal plan available

Download Notebook

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Use Your Apple Pencil to Create Notes and Random Doodles: Nebo

What We Like

• Ability to convert notes into digital documents.
• Copy and paste editable diagrams to PowerPoint.

What We Don’t Like

• Only compatible with the Apple Pencil.
• Each device used needs separate license.

With its highly responsive handwriting recognition, Nebo lets you take electronic notes as quickly as you can write.

Move lines of text to create space for insertions, and the app converts your handwritten words into ​titles, paragraphs, and bullet points alongside your diagrams and doodles. Export as text, PDF, HTML, or Word (.docx).

Price : Free; paid plans available

Download Nebo

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Track Your Notes With a Timeline: Agenda

What We Like

• Combines calendar and note-taking.
• Offers detailed timeline for easy deadline tracking.
• Share notes as PDFs.

What We Don’t Like

• No handwriting support.
• Privacy features require subscription.
• Custom colors available with Premium version only.

Instead of compiling a static collection of notes, Agenda by Momenta B.V. lets you stamp a date on each note to create an interactive timeline. Agenda also allows you to tag, create lists, and put notes directly on your calendar.

Share notes as PDFs and other formats, including the Agenda file type, for easy collaboration (with a Premium account). While most of Agenda’s features come with a free, lifetime account, a one-time fee for the Premium membership will get you bonuses like note collaboration, authentication protection, and color customization.

Price : Free; Premium version available

Download Agenda

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The Tools You Need to Finally Finish That Novel: Transom

What We Like

• Fluid, no-frills app.
• Easy to quickly jot down ideas.
• Export notes in several formats.
• Tags and project organization.

What We Don’t Like

• Lacks image support.
• Tagging system isn’t as detailed as others.

Capture your thoughts when inspiration strikes with Transom by VoidMedia. Created explicitly for novelists and writers, Transom can let you tag your iPad notes by character or setting and the piece’s name.

You can export your notes as a PDF, CSV, or Rich-Text Formate (RTF) file to include in aniCloud backup. However, this streamlined app doesn’t support the Apple Pencil or uploading images.

Price : Free, in-app purchases

Download Transom

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Convert Your Scribbles to Text: Notes Plus

What We Like

• Background audio recording.
• Supports 52 languages.
• Converts handwriting to text.
• Import and export in various formats.
• Supports styluses.

What We Don’t Like

• Saves each page in the document as a separate document.
• Has trouble with larger documents.
• No free version.

With the ability to support 52 languages, Notes Plus can convert your handwriting to text, no matter how sloppy. With no lag in writing, Notes Plus recognizes when your palm is resting on the iPad and includes left-handed support.

You can also import PDFs, DOC files, and images and then export your notes as PDFs or images to Dropbox, Google Drive, Evernote, and email. Notes Plus also supports various stylus models, including Wacom, Adonit, and Apple Pencil.

Price : $12.99

Download Notes Plus

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Customizable Notes: Drafts

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What We Like

• Process drafts quickly with features like Link Mode.
• Incredible customization power.
• Convert to-do lists, notes, messages, and emails.
• Handwriting recognition.

What We Don’t Like

• Pro version necessary for advanced customization.
• No stylus support.

Drafts, by Agile Tortoise, offers a fast way to take notes and lets you turn them into text messages, emails, or posts to social media. Think first, create your “draft,” edit it, and send it to another app.

This app integrates with iPhone, iPad, and Apple Watch to type on the go. It does not support a stylus. Also, like other alternatives, the Pro version opens up a lot more customization power, including editing actions and themes and custom tagging.

Price : Free; monthly and Pro version memberships

Download Drafts

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Protect Your Thoughts, Ideas, Files: GoodNotes 6

What We Like

• Ability to use GoodNotes as a digital whiteboard.
• Notes are protected.
• Stylus support.

What We Don’t Like

• No ability to create subfolders.
• No continuous scroll or swipe to create a new page.

With its searchable handwriting recognition feature, GoodNotes 6, by Time Based Technology Limited, ensures your iPad notes are preserved and retrievable.

Privacy and password protected, this note-taking app includes backup and syncs between iCloud for iPhone and iPad. Import images and PDFs and annotate PDFs to sign forms. This app also works with finger or Stylus inputs.

Price : Free trial; full version $9.99

Download GoodNotes 6

Our 10 Favorite Note Taking Apps of 2024

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