Great note-taking apps should be suitable for lots of different purposes and people, not just a small subset of a small subset. Even with these criteria in place, we still looked at close to 40 different apps. Here are our favorites. The best note-taking apps. Evernote for the ultimate digital notebook. Microsoft OneNote for a free note-taking app. Microsoft OneNote is a fantastic, versatile note-taking tool. One of its best features-at least if you're using the Windows version-is page templates. With OneNote templates, you can have a consistent look for all the pages in your notebooks, and can easily replicate notes for things like meeting notes and project overviews.
Content comes in all shapes and forms. As part of the daily work routine, we deal with documents, tasks, contacts (people) and events. For each type of content, we have a place to store and organize it in SharePoint. For documents – we have a document library, for events – we have Outlook calendar, for tasks – Tasks Web part or Planner and for Contacts – Contacts web part. And then we usually have “everything else” category – which does not fit the profile of any of the content above. That category could include informal notes, drafts, knowledge base, wiki, etc.
Luckily, there is a tool to handle and store that ”everything else” category, and that tool is called OneNote. Let me explain what this is all about and why you might want to look into this tool and make it THE tool of choice for your organization.
What is OneNote?
OneNote is Microsoft’s digital note-taking application. It is available for free on Windows PCs and is also included as part of SharePoint/Office 365 subscription.
What makes OneNote special?
Here are the reasons, that, in my opinion, make OneNote a standout tool.
Reason 1: Familiar interface
OneNote employs a familiar interface that is already part of other MS Office tools, like Word, Excel, PowerPoint. It has a horizontal ribbon across the top, where you can access all the commands and common operations.
Reason 2: Logical hierarchy
OneNote follows a “paper” notebook approach for organizing and storing notes electronically. Just like with the regular, paper-based notebook, where you have different pages and sections, OneNote follows the same exact terminology and methodology. Within OneNote, you can create:
Pages
Pages would be your regular pages in a notebook. For example, you could create a page for each meeting, where agenda and meeting minutes would be stored.
Sections
Pages are then organized into sections. A section is how you would typically break down your paper notebook, right? So you can have a section for Meetings, a section for Project Issues, Business requirements, etc.
Notebooks
Pages and Sections make up a single Notebook. Of course, you can create many different notebooks. For example, you can create a Notebook for each project.
Reason 3: Part of SharePoint Sites and Office 365 Groups
I will admit that I never thought much of OneNote until it became a default staple of SharePoint and Office 365. That’s right, every time you create a new SharePoint site, OneNote notebook is included by default (it resides in the Site Assets library). And there is usually a link from Quick Launch navigation as well.
Likewise, every time you create an Office 365 Group, OneNote is also included by default and is accessed via prominent link/navigation.
That also includes Office 365 Groups assets like Planner and Teams.
So, in summary, you can no longer escape OneNote – it is everywhere! 🙂 By being a default component of SharePoint and making it easily accessible, OneNote is a no-brainer when it comes to quick note-taking while working with other types of content.
Reason 4: Integration with Outlook
OneNote has a pretty cool integration with Outlook. You can pull meeting details into OneNote from Outlook. Likewise, you can embed notes into your Appointment invite with just a click of a button. No more attachments and users asking to send them an Agenda!
Reason 5: Mobile-friendly
Just like SharePoint, OneDrive, and other MS Office tools, OneNote also has a mobile app. This makes OneNote easily accessible from the “field,” where there is no time to create formal documents.
Reason 6: Online editing
Like the rest of MS Office tools, OneNote can be edited in the browser. That means that you do not need to download the file or even have OneNote installed if you want to make quick OneNote changes “on the fly”.
How organizations use OneNote
The beauty about OneNote is that due to its nature (informal note taking), it can be used in a variety of different ways. Here are a few examples I have seen from my experience:
Project Meeting artifacts
OneNote is great for Project Management. As a matter of fact, I even blogged about OneNote being used extensively in the field of project management. You can use OneNote pages to communicate meeting agendas, meeting minutes, project status.
Company or Department Wiki
I have seen a lot of organizations utilizing OneNote to build a company Wiki! Yes, you can use SharePoint pages to build a company Wiki, but OneNote allows for all sorts of fancy editing one might find hard to accomplish with SharePoint pages (ability to insert and format tables, videos, images, etc.). Moreover, a structured format using pages and sections allows you to build a pretty structured knowledge base with native ways to organize information into logical buckets. On top of that, OneNote Notebook is fully searchable, which means that users can search by any keyword! So this makes OneNote a great candidate for a company or department Wiki.
User Feedback/Informal Requirements/Wish Lists
OneNote can also become a great tool to gather, say, business requirement for software or wish list items/feedback from users. Until you have a formal document in place, OneNote can also become a “dumping ground” for users to come in and type in whatever they want. Might be a quick way to gather some input from users without setting up complicated surveys or structure.
OneNote is a note-taking app from the powerhouse Microsoft that was created in 2003. Microsoft OneNote allows users to make and keep notes of important information in various digital formats. Available for Android, iOs, Windows, and Linux, the app is very accessible and considered as one of the most used note-taking apps. OneNote also has the sync feature that allows accessing and saving notes on multiple devices. Users can also record audio and video notes and customize their notes with images and sketches.
Notezilla
Notezilla is an easy-to-use sticky note web application that is available for both mobile phones and windows. It is a paid app that gives you a free 30-day trial to test before you purchase the full version. Notezilla uses cloud storage that helps you access your saved notes on any computer or smartphone. It also allows you to share your notes with anyone. The simple and user-friendly interface of the app gives the user the best sticky notes application experience.
EVERNOTE
Evernote is a web-based application that allows users to create and save notes. It is available for Windows, iOS, Android, and Blackberry. Evernote uses account synchronization which helps users to log in and access notes from multiple devices with one account. The feature that makes Evernote stand out among other note applications is that it allows you to save your notes with voice recordings. Evernote is a paid app but it also offers a free version that allows up to 60 MB of data per month
Remember the Milk
Remember the milk is one of the oldest and most versatile to-do list apps. It is easy to use and provides a number of options that help you in completing your daily tasks. RTM provides integration with the calendar that allows you to set tasks or reminders for upcoming days. The app also allows you to share your list of tasks with anyone and assign the tasks to someone else. RTM provides smart options for your to-do lists that help you to be more productive.
Simplenote
Simplenote is a free note-taking app. It is available for Android, iOs, and Windows. The app is simple to use and is one of the most used note-taking apps. Simplenote was developed by Automaticc, the company known for the website WordPress.com. Simplenote provides tons of features that allow users to keep and add new notes. It also offers an excellent search system that allows the users to search for a specific note. The simple design, easy-to-use interface provides a great experience for new users.
TODOIST
Todoist is a to-do list app for iOs and Android. It is a useful app with a variety of features that help businesses to keep track of their tasks and enhance productivity. It allows you to sync and share your lists across multiple devices. Packed with Smart and AI-powered features, Todoist allows users to set reminders and also helps in suggesting an ideal date. The user-friendly interface of the app allows users to add new tasks while also keeping track of their ongoing tasks.
WORKFLOWY
On the surface, Workflowy is an app that is designed to make notes and checklists. It has a number of features that allow users to plan and organize their tasks. The app provides features to collaborate and share your notes with anyone. Workflowy is available for almost every platform including Windows, Android, iOS, and Linux. Workflowy is a powerful app for personal and professional uses and allows management of necessary information that helps in keeping track of tasks on daily basis.
NoteLedge
NoteLedge helps you create and organize your notes. It is one of the best note-taking apps that allows you to make and continue editing your notes. NoteLedge provides options for saving your notes in different formats like video, images, text, etc. It also has the option of saving notes in your handwriting. NoteLedge is a great app for keeping a diary, making a list of your to-do tasks, organizing facts, and more. Moreover, the app is available on multiple platforms for free.
ASANA
Asana is an app designed to improve collaboration project and team management. It helps to keep all the important tasks in one place which makes it easier to organize and keep track. Asana allows users to create deadlines for a project, assign work to other team members, create new tasks, and much more. It is very to use and a very useful app for completing projects as a team. It is available for multiple platforms including Android, iOS, and Windows.
CintaNotes
CintaNotes is one of the most used note-taking windows applications. It allows users to take notes and organize them as they like. CintaNotes can help you to take notes anywhere from the web. It allows capturing text quickly and save it as notes. CintaNotes is a great app to manage your important information in form of notes. The simple interface of the app makes it easier for new and experienced users to manage their notes and make new ones.
TRELLO
Trello allows you to create lists of all your essential information in a bulletin board form. It helps you in keeping track of all your personal or professional information and organize them as you like. Trello is a powerful feature-packed application that is heavily recommended for collaborative projects. It provides smart options that help you in project management. It is compared with the best apps of its category in terms of collaboration. Trello is available on both the Apple App Store and Play Store and is also accessible on web browsers.
Google Keep
Google keep is a note-taking app by Google. It was launched in 2013 and has managed to keep its place in the top tier of note-taking apps. Google keeps allows users to make notes, capture images, videos, text, etc. It is a feature-packed application that works efficiently in keeping your important information. Google keep also allows you to make lists that help in organizing daily tasks. It is accessible for Android phones and as a web application on Google Drive.
Microsoft To Do
Microsoft To-Do is a free to use to-do list application. Like its name, it allows users to create to-do lists of their important tasks. The app also allows users to set reminders that help in planning and managing the tasks. It also provides features for categorizing tasks by customizing each task in a unique color or a picture. The app works efficiently to keep you on track. Microsoft To-Do is available on all platforms including iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Linux.
QOwn Notes
QOwn Notes is an open-source note-taking and to-do list making app. It provides markdown support and is available for multiple platforms including Windows, Linux, and Mac. Users can sync their notes with platforms like DropBox to access them through various devices. QOwn Notes save data in plain text files and provides a number of customization options for notes. It is a very flexible web-based app that saves all your important notes and allows you to edit them as you fit.
Standard Notes
Standard notes is a note-taking application that provides encrypted security measures to keep your data safe. It is a private notes application, that is very simple to use. You can keep your important information in Standard Notes without the risk of losing it as it provides end-to-end encryption. Standard Notes is an open-source application with tons of powerful features to manage your notes. It is faster and lighter than most of the other note-taking apps. The full version of the app is available for a very low price.
Zoho Notebook
Zoho Notebook is one of the most used web-based note-taking apps. Developed by Zoho, this app allows user to keep all their important notes in one place without the risk of losing them as it provides synchronization with the cloud across multiple devices. Users can also save their notes in various formats like image, audio, video, documents, etc. Zoho Notebook allows sharing of documents and if the user wants to send just a small part of a document, the app provides the feature to make a selection from the text.
JOURNEY
Journey is a journal-keeping app that allows you to save your memories or other important information in a single app. The app is primarily designed to save your traveling memories or thoughts like a travel journal. It also allows you to sync with Google Drive that keeps your journal safe from the risk of losing and also keeps you connected across multiple devices. Journey is a great app that works as a diary, it saves your data and automatically adds dates and weathers to keep those memories forever.
JOPLIN
Joplin is a free and open-source application that is among the best note-taking applications you will find. Joplin is an outstanding alternate for Evernote, which is considered to be the best note-taking application. Providing a variety of features in a very simple interface, Joplin has gained quite a popularity over the years. Joplin allows you to create a notebook comprised of your saved notes. The notebook feature makes it easier to save a large number of notes and search for a specific note among them.
TURTL
Note Taking Tablet Onenote
Turtl is a note-taking and list-making application. Turtl organizes all your saved data however you like. The app has a strong security system that uses high-end cryptography to protect users’ data. Turtl also provides a sync feature that allows you to access the app across various devices. It also offers sharing and collaboration features that allow you to share your saved notes with anyone. Moreover, the app is completely free and is always across various platforms including Windows, Android, and Linux.
Note Taking On Onenote
Org Mode
Note Taking Onenote
Org Mode is an online platform for keeping notes, creating to-do lists, and saving other documents. It has a plain-text format and provides fast accessing. Org Mode provides a number of features including project management, text editing, etc. Org Mode is accessible from every platform and is very easy to use. It offers options such as creating tables, deadline, etc. for organizing your notes. Org Mode is a powerful app that works effectively in keeping track of all your important tasks and other information.
Wunderlist
Wunderlist is an app for making lists. It can create checklists for your individual needs or a list of tasks for your business group. Wunderlist provides all the essential features for creating lists and categorizing them in a particular order. It is a very useful application especially for collaborative projects. Furthermore, it allows users to set reminders and assign deadline for tasks. With all these features and more, Wunderlist is one of the best list making apps to help you organize your tasks.
- Provides easy accessing and organizing notes that are saved with different project names or dates.
- OneNote provides all the necessary features of a note-taking app which has kept its popularity over the years.
- Complete free.
Cornell Note Taking Onenote
- OneNote can be a little complex for new users.
- Although the Windows version of the app provides all the features, the Mac version of the app has limited features.
Note Taking Onenote Ipad
- Draw sketches
- Audio and Video notes
- Automatic save feature
- Add custom tags
- Variety of page templates.