Best notes app for windows

Microsoft Windows has a plethora of note-taking apps that streamline the process of jotting down ideas, creating to-do lists, and otherwise organizing your day. Note-taking apps make it easy to jot down ideas, record meeting minutes, and make notes during lectures. Whether you’re an engineer working on a project, a student taking notes in a lecture, or a secretary taking down key points from a call, you can benefit greatly from using these tools. In this article, we will discuss the best and most free note-taking apps for Windows.

What Is a Note-Taking App?

Note-taking applications serve as viable substitutes for the conventional practice of using pen and paper to record information. 

While some people can get by just fine with a pen and paper, the note-taking apps designed for smartphones and tablets provide a wide range of features that can revolutionize the way you do business. 

Some note-taking apps will handle everything for you, so you don’t even need to write the documentation by hand.

You can find a note-taking app that suits your preferred method. There is a plethora of apps for taking notes, whether you like a minimalistic interface with gesture-based functionality or a more robust set of tools for managing your many notes. 

With alternatives for nearly every OS, including Windows, Mac, iOS, Android, Chrome OS, and others, you can choose the best software to boost your productivity regardless of the computer you happen to be using.

What Makes the Best Notes App for Windows?

You want a reliable and easy-to-use note-taking app that can match your specific demands on Windows. After all, you’ll want an app that works no matter where you are to keep your data in order.

However, it might be challenging to figure out which app is truly the best fit for you due to the abundance of possibilities. That’s why it’s so important to zero in on a program with just the right mix of features, effectiveness, and cost.

Keep in mind that there is no silver bullet for taking notes, and no single tool can handle every task. The best note-taking apps for Windows, however, should provide users with a number of helpful tools. 

Remember these crucial points before you get started:

#1. Convenience 

Note-taking apps in today’s fast-paced world need to be user-friendly and simple to use to keep up. 

Although there are other apps out there, pen and paper remain the primary competitors. In other words, an app will not succeed if it cannot replace a notepad in terms of ease of use. 

Not only that, but the software can’t leave you battling with a poor user experience and needs to have excellent editing and sorting features. 

#2. Organizational Skills

Assigning different types of notes to distinct folders is made easy with a top-notch note-taking app. 

You should have the option to maintain anonymity, upload relevant files, streamline communication, and compile all of your notes in one convenient location. In addition to taking notes, it should also allow you to annotate them, attach files, and even save them as PDFs.

#3. Universal Device Compatibility

The most obvious advantage of using a notes app rather than a physical notebook is that you can access your notes from anywhere, at any time, and on any device. Your notes are always just a click away, whether you’re sitting at your desk, at home, or in the air. 

Additionally, a superior note-taking app allows you to view your notes from any of your devices. 

#4. Cost-Effective

Getting the most out of your money can be done by purchasing a high-quality note-taking app. Not only do the best note-taking apps for Windows provide free versions for users to check out, but the premium versions also include a plethora of helpful features that more than makeup for the low cost. 

You may take your note-taking to the next level with the advanced features and functionalities available in the paid version of note-taking apps. 

#5. Secures Users’ Confidentiality

Since your notes could contain private information, you should investigate the app’s policies on user anonymity and data storage.

One of the best note-taking apps for Windows out there places a premium on user security and privacy by encrypting all data sent and received during the syncing process. 

By encrypting your notes using a password that is never sent to the app, you can rest assured that all of your data will remain completely secure.

You can rest easy knowing that your notes are protected from any outside interference thanks to these cutting-edge security features.

Does Windows Have a Note-Taking App?

Yes, Windows does have a built-in note-taking app called Microsoft OneNote. OneNote allows users to create text, image, audio, and video notes. It offers features like organization into notebooks, sections, and pages, making it versatile for various note-taking needs. 

Additionally, Windows 10 also comes with a Sticky Notes app, which allows users to create quick notes and reminders that can be placed on the desktop. Both applications are useful tools for jotting down ideas, making to-do lists, and keeping track of important information on Windows devices.

Overview of the Best Note-Taking Apps For Windows

How you plan to use a Windows note-taking app is a major factor in deciding which one is the best. It’s vital to think about your needs before investing in note-taking software because most note-taking apps provide a lot of functionality options that may be perfectly matched to your needs or may be superfluous. By showcasing features that you could find useful, the following list might help you determine which note-taking apps for Windows are best for you:

#1. Notion

Notion is a powerful Windows app that allows for extensive customization of notes thanks to its database-driven architecture. It has facilities for including media in your notes and a template engine for quickly creating new note templates. Notion’s dynamic tables can be used as editable and collapsible databases. You can use keyboard shortcuts and UI components to format text while writing in Markdown using the hybrid editor.

There are drawbacks to thinking in this way. It’s not the easiest word processor to use because of all the formatting options available thanks to the block architecture. There is also no offline functionality, so you’ll need an active Internet connection to use it.

#2. Google Keep

The note-taking app Google Keep is included in your Google account at no extra cost. You can sync your notes and to-do lists across all of your devices.

By setting reminders for things like going grocery shopping, going to a party, or seeing friends in the city, Google Keep simplifies task management. 

Making a new note requires next to no effort. When you launch the app, all it takes is one tap or click to get started writing. This quickness is really satisfying, and it comes in handy when you need to jot down some notes quickly or save several of them. 

Not only can you set reminders based on the time of day, but also on where you are. Imagine being alerted when you pick up your soiled laundry from the laundromat. With the task list in Google Keep synced with Google Calendar, planning your schedule is a breeze. 

Google’s interconnected services allow it to predict your needs and promptly send you reminders.

The Keep mobile app also includes speech-to-text transcription, which is useful for recording your voice. While not the best dictation software, it is accurate enough to save you time and effort in transcription. Furthermore, the original recording can be re-checked at any time for accuracy.

#3. Hive

If you’re a user of Hive, Hive Notes is a fantastic way to combine your meetings with your to-do list, taking your standard meeting notes to a whole new level. In Hive Notes, you may link a note to an event on your Google or Outlook calendar, delegate action items to participants, and then quickly distribute the meeting’s notes to everyone, whether or not they were present. You won’t find a better app for taking notes on your phone.

Thanks to the synchronization between your calendar and Hive Notes, you’ll get a reminder in Hive five minutes before the meeting begins, urging you to start taking notes. Hive also has a “notebook” style setup, allowing you to add numerous entries to the same note if the meeting is recurring. Meeting attendees can use Hive Notes to participate in real-time, Google Docs-style, and add their thoughts to the document as it is being discussed.

The ability to use Hive Notes’ extensive features without leaving your Zoom sessions is one of the app’s most interesting features. Taking notes in a group is now possible within Zoom meetings without leaving the app or switching to another window, thanks to Hive Notes for Zoom. It’s a whole new way to conduct online meetings, with the ability to instantly communicate with everyone involved, take notes, and assign tasks all from within the Zoom platform.

#4. Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft’s OneNote is a free, feature-rich app for taking notes on Windows or mobile devices. In a conference, you can use your phone to quickly jot down some notes since you’re allowed to use an infinite number of devices for this purpose. Alternatively, you can use your computer to jot down notes while at work. OneNote is unique among note-taking apps in that it does not cost anything extra to access these features. It’s also novel in that you can position text boxes wherever you like on the display.

Despite all of OneNote’s features, the app is terribly disorganized. You can’t organize your notes by date or size because there aren’t any sorting capabilities. Some users have complained about the interface’s general awkwardness, and the fact that it can be time-consuming to locate a previously saved note due to a lack of labelling has contributed to this perception. While OneNote’s digital notebooks and dividers are helpful, untidy notes are still possible.

#5. Typora

For highly adaptable notes, the Typora app is hard to beat. This app requires payment; however, there is a free 14-day trial available so you can determine if it meets your needs. The Markdown editor is a hybrid, so you may format text as you type. As an added bonus, there is a “focus mode” that reduces the visibility of any information that is irrelevant to your present task. Typora’s extensive library of CSS-editable themes makes it easy to create a site that looks exactly how you want it to.

Also, its lack of local storage, which limits it to being merely a Markdown editor, is one of its major limitations. The alternative is to copy the files to your personal computer, which may not be as convenient depending on the situation. You’ll have to stick to using it on your Windows desktop, as it doesn’t support mobile devices in any way.

#6. Simplenote

When it comes to apps for taking notes, simplicity and ease of use are usually the most helpful. It has a simple, straightforward user interface that facilitates note-taking and the subsequent retrieval of previously made notes. It provides a decent range of features, including automatic synchronization and a web app in case you can’t get the downloadable app on your device. You can quickly find specific notes with Simplenote’s powerful tagging and search features. It also has backups in case you accidentally delete a note.

The lack of complex elements is the primary drawback of this style. You can’t utilize the Markdown markup, you can’t embed media, and there is very little protection. Since there is no cost associated with using this app, some users still choose it over others that offer more bells and whistles.

#7. Dropbox Paper

Dropbox Paper is an app for iOS, Windows, and Android that encourages group note-taking in the cloud. When working in groups on a project or other endeavour, Dropbox Paper makes it simple to exchange notes, ideas, and media. Integration with other popular apps is also possible to further facilitate teamwork. You may also use mobile folders to categorize your notes in this mode.

For groups who are already familiar with Dropbox, Paper is a great addition. Without a Dropbox account, you probably won’t be able to use all of Dropbox Paper’s features. There may be better alternatives if your team isn’t accustomed to using this method or isn’t willing to pay for a Dropbox account.

#8. Evernote

Keeping yourself organized and on top of your game is easy with the help of Evernote, the best cross-platform note-taking tool. Organize your ideas, important information, photos, and web clippings into clearly labelled online notepads with reminders for easy retrieval. 

Evernote is a helpful tool for professionals and students who wish to organize their information more efficiently because it allows team members to easily access shared notes and automatically syncs with all their devices. 

With Evernote’s streamlined note-taking interface and handy add-ons like checkboxes and highlighting, you’ll have everything you need in one convenient place. 

#9. Clover

Clover is another option to assist with taking notes more easily. The app can serve as a digital notepad, consolidating features like a to-do list, calendar, whiteboard, and task manager. So that your coworkers may engage with content from YouTube, Figma, SoundCloud, and more, the solution provides potent features like an endless canvas, presentation settings, and the opportunity to embed rich media into your notes.

Clover’s free plan allows for up to three guests and 50MB uploads and is accessible via Mac, Windows, iPad, iPhone, and the web. The base monthly cost of Clover Pro, which includes unlimited users and monthly uploads of 10GB, is $6.

#10. Microsoft 365

One more platform that supports taking notes is Microsoft 365. Because it is hosted in the cloud, the most recent version of Microsoft 365 can be accessed from any device with an Internet browser. Many advanced features in popular applications like Word are available while using Microsoft 365 for note-taking. The need to transfer notes to a word processor is eliminated. The synchronization of documents between devices with embedded notes is also included.

Furthermore, the primary drawback of using Microsoft 365 is that it can be a pricey alternative if you don’t already have this software suite. This is especially true if your sole intention in using it is to abstain from doing so. For simple note-taking, there may be more cost-effective and budget-friendly alternatives. However, it does offer a wide range of other features and functionalities that make it worth its price.

#11. Slite

Slite is a Windows app for taking notes that prioritizes Markdown editing. You can take as many personal notes as you like with the free version, and you can share up to 50 of those with others each month. Quickly formatted text and media can be added to your notes with the Markdown editor. You can also switch to a table of contents view to locate specific sections of your notes.

Slite’s note organization features, such as channels and collections, have their drawbacks. For instance, channels only allow you to order items by their creation date, but you can nest collections as many times as you wish. In addition, the app’s user interface isn’t always friendly, which might make using it an unpleasant experience. Pages and notes can be slow to load via the UI.

What Is the Difference Between Evernote and Onenote?

Evernote and OneNote are both popular note-taking applications, but they have different features and approaches to organizing information. Evernote focuses on simplicity and quick note-taking. It allows users to create notes, organize them into notebooks, and tag them for easy retrieval. Evernote is known for its powerful search capabilities, making it easy to find specific notes or information within notes.

On the other hand, OneNote, developed by Microsoft, offers a more structured approach. It resembles a digital notebook, allowing users to create notebooks, sections, and pages. OneNote provides greater flexibility in organizing content, allowing users to add text, drawings, audio, and even handwritten notes. It seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft products, making it a preferred choice for users within the Microsoft ecosystem.

Ultimately, the choice between Evernote and OneNote depends on personal preference and specific use cases. Evernote is favoured for its simplicity and robust search, while OneNote is appreciated for its versatility and integration capabilities.

Here are some free note-taking apps for Windows you might want to consider:

#1. Workflowy

Workflowy is a cross between a note-taking app and a project management tool, but it excels at the former. The concept of an outline is taken to its logical conclusion in Workflowy. Instead of making individual note cards like you would in a notepad, Workflowy builds out an outline from the ground up, giving your notes a natural hierarchy.

Workflowy provides a great deal of adaptability. Managers have the same tools that novelists do: the ability to generate fast tasks and checklists to distribute to employees.

Afterward, further classification options become available upon the addition of tags.

Workflowy’s new mobile apps make it an attractive proposition.

In addition, until you hit 250 tasks each month, using the Workflowy note-taking app is completely free. You can add more items by upgrading to the pro edition, which costs $4.99 per month and includes limitless lists and items.

#2. Ulysses

Ulysses combines the features of a word processor and a note-keeping app. It is a cross-platform app for Macs that facilitates the transformation of rough drafts into polished final products. Taking notes in plain text mode allows you to easily switch to a different layout before exporting.

It also includes writing objectives and access to other materials, such as a PDF. Many people choose to use it due to its pleasant aesthetic.

#3. GoodNotes

GoodNotes is a social app that combines the best features of digital paper. It is a global platform where students may find others taking the same courses as them and share course materials.

Community is a freemium feature that lets users share their documents with others and build an online presence.

While the community feature is fantastic for bringing people together, the note-taking tools are either lacking or inferior to those of Notability. For up to three notebooks, GoodNotes is completely free. There is a one-time cost of $8.99 for access to the unlimited plan.

#4. Obsidian

Obsidian is a free Windows app that uses Markdown for note-taking and organization. The software was designed with human cognition in mind, specifically with the brain’s capacity to generate and maintain associations in mind. Users are able to centralize their notes in one place, and a robust method for linking papers together via backlinks is provided, allowing users to build a knowledge network.

In addition, Obsidian provides a free tier for individual users. The cheapest paid plan we provide is $25 per month. Read also: OBSIDIAN VS NOTION: Which Note-Taking App Is Better?

#5. Milanote

Milanote caters to those with an artistic bent who enjoy the process of free association and the resulting novel ideas. In contrast to a two-dimensional word processor, this one functions more like a visual pinboard, allowing you to arrange sections of text, images, and other objects by dragging and dropping them into different locations. 

Milanote includes all the standard features of a note-taking app in addition to its adaptable user interface. 

You may test out Milanote without spending a dime thanks to their generous free tier. When you upgrade to the Professional Pro plan, you’ll have infinite storage for your notes.

Why Use Onenote Instead of Word?

Since OneNote and Word are designed for distinct tasks, picking one over the other is ultimately a matter of personal preference. OneNote is a digital note-taking app that lets its users take notes, make digital notebooks, and arrange their notes however they like. It’s a fantastic tool for creative problem-solving, group brainstorming, and visual collaboration.

Word, on the other hand, is a program for making written documents like essays, reports, and letters. With its extensive styling options, it’s perfect for making professional-looking, well-organized documents.

Therefore, OneNote is an excellent option if you require an app to jot down thoughts, doodle, or organize information in a less structured manner. Word is the better choice if you need to create a formal document with precise margins and font specifications.

What Are the Disadvantages of Microsoft Onenote?

There are many advantages to using Microsoft OneNote, but there may also be some drawbacks. Here are some things to remember:

• Organization: With a growing amount of data in a notebook, it might be challenging to maintain track of notes and information despite the many organizational features provided by OneNote. It could be difficult for certain users to track down specific notes or data.
• Discords in synchronization: Syncing between devices and operating systems is crucial to the functioning of OneNote, although it can be sluggish or fail entirely at times. Notes and data may become out-of-date on some devices as a result.
• Inadequate alternatives for formatting: There are a few formatting options available in One Note. Compared to other programs like Microsoft Word, they have fewer features. The lack of formatting options may irritate users.
• Problems with compatibility: Since OneNote comes from Microsoft, it might not work perfectly with non-Microsoft hardware or applications. This can make it tough to work with those who don’t utilize Microsoft software.

Even though OneNote has a lot of useful features, it may not be the best option for some people. Users should carefully consider their needs and preferences before deciding if One Note is the right tool for them.

Bottom Line

In conclusion, Windows note-taking apps can greatly improve efficiency and order. They provide useful capabilities for students, professionals, and artists alike, such as digital notebooks, cloud synchronization, and collaborative editing. These programs provide for extensive data management due to their capacity to store text, photos, and files. 

Additionally, several apps now have handwriting detection and stylus input, making digital note-taking feel more like its analogue counterpart. Their search features make it easier to find what you need, which saves you time and energy. 

Task management is improved with the incorporation of reminders and to-do lists. With all these positive effects in mind, it’s clear that Windows note-taking programs are well worth the investment.

Frequently Asked Question

Is it OK to take notes on a computer?

Yes, taking notes in class by typing them on a computer instead of writing them with a pen and paper has many advantages, including the fact that you can access them from any device and that you save time.

Similar Articles

1. How To Take a Screenshot on a Dell Computer (Quick Guide)
2. How to Take a Screenshot on iPhone 2023, Explained (+ Free Tips)
3. TOP NEW INSTAGRAM UPDATES YOU NEED TO KNOW 2023
4. NOTES RECEIVABLE: Definition, Format, Examples & More
5. Budget Apps for Couples: Top 8 in 2023

Reference

• zapier.com
• clickup.com
• uk.indeed.com
• hive.com

Everyone takes notes. Research is pointless, after all, if you’re not storing your discoveries somewhere. It doesn’t matter if you’re writing a dissertation on the non-linear nature of time or just researching which camping spoon to buy—you need somewhere to record your findings in order to reference them later.

But note taking is a very personal thing. Some people are content to take all of their notes in a paper notebook, or in an app that lives in their web browser. Dedicated Windows users, however, are going to want a dedicated Windows application for the job. That’s why the best note-taking apps may or may not be the best note-taking apps for Windows specifically: as a Windows user, you have specific needs.

I spent time testing all sorts of note-taking apps for Windows, and these are the ones that fit those needs best for most people.

The best note-taking apps for Windows

• OneNote for most people

• Obsidian for customization

• Simplenote for simplicity

• Joplin for an open source option

What makes the best notes app for Windows?

How we evaluate and test apps

All of our best apps roundups are written by humans who’ve spent much of their careers using, testing, and writing about software. We spend dozens of hours researching and testing apps, using each app as it’s intended to be used and evaluating it against the criteria we set for the category. We’re never paid for placement in our articles from any app or for links to any site—we value the trust readers put in us to offer authentic evaluations of the categories and apps we review. For more details on our process, read the full rundown of how we select apps to feature on the Zapier blog.

I’ve been a technology journalist for a decade and a half, meaning I’m frequently researching applications and interviewing creators, experts, and academics. I would be lost without a good note-taking system, which means I have opinions about the system that works best for me.

I also know that note-taking is an intensely personal thing—everyone is going to have preferences. Still, there are a few things that I think the best Windows note-taking apps need to do in order to be considered for a list like this. The best note-taking app for Windows should do the following:

• Make it quick to add new notes. You don’t want to fuss around when inspiration strikes. Creating a new note should be as simple as opening the app and clicking a button or, even better, using a keyboard shortcut.

• Help you organize your notes. A sprawling list of notes you’ve taken isn’t helpful. You need to be able to sort your notes in flexible ways, including not just folders but also tags, internal links, and note hierarchies.

• Offer a fast and useful search feature. The best organizational system in the world doesn’t mean you won’t occasionally have to search, so it’s important to be able to search the contents of all your notes—not just the current note and not just the note titles.

• Balance ease of use with power. It’s ok for a note-taking app to be harder to use than a paper notebook, but the user needs to get something in exchange for the complexity. The best apps balance this well, either by being easy to use or by offering features that are useful enough to warrant their learning curve.

• Sync with other platforms. Sometimes you’re going to want to add a note on your phone or read through notes on your tablet. I only considered apps that offer some kind of syncing ability.

• Are an actual Windows app. Some tools offer a «Windows app» that’s really just the web version in a dedicated window. Such apps might work for some people, but for this list, I tried to only consider apps that truly fit in on Windows and offer at least some offline functionality.

I considered around twenty Windows note-taking apps and tested the best options. Based on that experience, here are the four note-taking apps that, in my opinion, best address the needs of Windows users.

The best Windows note-taking apps at a glance

	Best for	Stand-out feature	Pricing
OneNote	Most people	Flexible organization and blank canvas feel	Free; additional storage available with Microsoft 365 subscription
Obsidian	Customization	Highly customizable with add-ons and internal linking	Free for individual use; commercial use requires a license
Simplenote	Simplicity	Quick and straightforward note-taking	Free
Joplin	Open source option	Local storage with syncing options	Free; Joplin Cloud subscription available

---

The best Windows note-taking app for most people

Microsoft OneNote (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Web)

If you want a note-taking app that feels at home on Windows, offers a generous free version, and has just about every feature you can imagine, it’s hard to top Microsoft’s own OneNote. If you know how to use other Office apps, like Word or Excel, everything about OneNote will feel familiar to you. 

It’s very easy to open the app and just start typing—and you can do so anywhere on the page. It’s like a blank canvas: add text, images, and even doodles anywhere you want.

Organization is also flexible in OneNote. You can create as many notebooks as you want, then break those notebooks into sections, shown as a tab in the interface. You can also create sub-pages, giving you another way to organize notes. The search feature allows you to find things when organization doesn’t work, and it can even search inside documents that you attach to your notes.

There are free OneNote apps for every major platform, and syncing is made easy thanks to OneDrive. Note that, for the best experience, you should download the «OneNote» app. Windows 10 came with an app called «OneNote for Windows 10,» which offers a stripped-down user interface and is missing key features.

With OneNote’s Zapier integration, you can automate OneNote to eliminate the hassle of moving information between apps. For example, Zapier can automatically create new notes in OneNote whenever you have a new task, note, or calendar event in another app.

Microsoft OneNote pricing: Free. Notes are stored in Microsoft OneDrive, which offers 5GB of free storage. For more storage space, you’ll need a Microsoft 365 subscription, which starts at $69.99/year for 1TB of storage and access to all Microsoft Office applications, including Word, Excel, and PowerPoint.

The best Windows note-taking app for customization

Obsidian (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS)

Obsidian is, by far, the most customizable note-taking app a Windows user could ask for. The app, which organizes notes as text documents in a folder on your computer, allows you to manage your notes in nested folders. 

You can also add tags to any note and also create internal links between notes. Think of it as a personal wiki. This is great for connecting ideas and projects, and there’s even an optional graph view that can visually show you how all of your notes are connected.

Everything about this app is lightning fast, including creating a note and searching your personal library of notes, which is stored entirely on your local hard drive. 

The real highlight here, though, is the add-on ecosystem. There are hundreds of tools you can add to Obsidian to make it do just about anything, from offering a Kanban board to embedding videos to integrating with ChatGPT. Check out Obsidian if you have a specific idea of how your ideal note-taking app should work—you can probably create that system with the right add-ons.

Obsidian is offered for all major platforms, and there’s an optional paid syncing feature, or you can sync files yourself using practically any cloud storage app.

Obsidian pricing: Free for individual use. Commercial use requires a $50/user/year license.

The best Windows note-taking app for simplicity

Simplenote (Windows, macOS, Android, iOS, Linux)

Customization and other features are all well and good, but what if you just want something you can open and quickly add a note? 

Simplenote is what you’re looking for. From Automattic, the company behind WordPress, Tumblr, and the Day One journal app, Simplenote is exactly what it claims to be: a simple place to put your notes. There’s no support for images, or any attachments, and organization is limited to tags. It’s quick to write a note, though, and there is complete search.

Simplenote is the closest thing to Apple Notes you can get on a PC—though it’s less feature-rich—and it’s easy to sync between devices thanks to apps on every other major platform. Even better, it’s completely free, even with syncing.

Simplenote pricing: Free

The best open source Windows note-taking app

Joplin (Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS)

Notes are intensely personal, and I understand if you don’t want to trust them all to a company that has its own agenda. Joplin is a free and open source application, which among other things, means that all of your notes live on your computer under your control.

You don’t need an account to get started: just download the app and start typing. If you want to sync, you’ve got options: you can pay for Joplin Cloud, and practically any cloud storage app will work. Dropbox, OneDrive, or the open source Nextcloud are all supported, and you can enable end-to-end encryption if you don’t want third-party services to have access. 

The interface is that of a traditional note-taking app, with notebooks and notes organized in the left column. You can also organize notes using tags, if you want, and you can clip articles from the web using the web clipper. The main editor is in Markdown, but there’s an optional rich text editor if you prefer. There’s also support for opening notes in external apps, if you have a favorite Markdown editor. 

I recommend Joplin if you find Obsidian too complex but still want notes stored locally on your computer. It’s a nice compromise.

Joplin pricing: Free. Joplin Cloud, the official syncing service, starts at 4.79€/month with 10GB of storage space. 

Do you need a Windows note-taking app?

It’s possible none of these solutions will be quite right for you, given how personal note-taking is—and there are other options. 

• You could stick to the Sticky Notes app that comes with Windows.

• You could just use a series of Word documents.

• If you’re taking notes mostly as a journal, you could use a journaling app.

• You could go with a web app—sometimes it’s more important that it works how you want it to, even if it’s not a native app.

Related reading:

• The best calendar apps for Windows

• The best productivity tools for Windows

• The best email clients for Windows

Choose the notes taking app the fits you best

by Milan Stanojevic

Milan has been enthusiastic about technology ever since his childhood days, and this led him to take interest in all PC-related technologies. He’s a PC enthusiast and he… read more

Updated on October 4, 2023

Are you looking for a note-taking app to use with your Windows 10 computer or device? Here are the top 10+ note-taking apps you can use on Windows 10.

Have you ever been in a situation where you just remembered something but you’ve nowhere to write it down, or you got an important piece of information but forgot to carry your notebook and pen?

A note-taking app takes the stress of forgetting your pen and paper, and lets you do everything from your tablet or laptop.

Here are the best note-taking apps you can use to jot down what you don’t want to forget anytime soon.

In this article

• Which are the best note-taking apps for PC?
• ClickUp
• Microsoft OneNote
• Notion
• Evernote
• Quip
• Sticky Notes
• Simplenote
• Scrble
• WordPad
• NotePad
• Cortana

Which are the best note-taking apps for PC?

ClickUp

Optimally organizing all your tasks is no easy job. It can get tedious and more often than not, you might feel that the tools you’re using are not meeting all of your needs.  Digitally managing your work can easily get out of hand when there are way too many notes or way too many apps involved. That’s where our first pick comes into play.

ClickUp is an emerging all-in-one productivity app with tons of useful features and over a thousand integrations. It aims to provide a very comprehensive service so that its users won’t feel the need to rely on secondary apps for some of their tasks. 

There are several ways to take notes in this app. It has its own note-taking features, plus it integrates apps like Notepad and Evernote, so you can pick your favorite tool, and also mix and match, depending on the type of your assignments. 

Other key features of the app include:

• highly customizable
• modern & accesible UI
• nested subtasks & checklists
• automation of routine tasks
• time-saving pre-made templates
• chat & comments for teamwork
• multiple progress-tracking tools

ClickUp is suitable both for teams and individual work. It has a free version that offers an impressive set of features for individual users. It also comes with a Premium plan which may be a better choice for teams. The paid plan has a free 30-day trial.

ClickUp

Take customizable notes & stay on top of your game with tons of features and integrations. 

Microsoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote comes with the Windows operating system and is available for free, or if you want the full Office 365, you can pay about $69 or so for it.

This app, which comes with the desktop version (OneNote) and a universal application, is fantastic for creating to-do lists, and projects and organizing your thoughts and other information.

The desktop version is meant for users of keyboards and mice, while the universal application that comes with the Windows 10 operating system is for touch devices and laptops.

Besides being a note-taking app, Microsoft OneNote also helps you do the following:

• Sync your notes across your PC and other devices
• Password protects your files and notes
• Search for typed text and handwritten notes
• Capture web pages as notes, then add these to your Notes library
• Save content from Outlook
• Organizing your notes using the tabs and sections feature, based on each notebook you keep on your computer or device
• Access your notes from all devices and your computer
• Keep audio notes
• Add to-do lists next to your notes to keep track

This is one flexible app, and what’s more, it feels like you’re writing on paper because you simply click on any part of an open page and start typing.

You can also drag and drop images and other file attachments, or add sketches, audio, and video in your notes.

⇒ Get OneNote

Notion

Taking notes has always been a task that was done with a pen and a small notebook, and that’s exactly the principle that our second pick follows.

Notion is a collaborative tool that acts, among other things, as a note-taking tool as well. Other than that, it has all the features a well-organized team may ever need, including:

• A system that helps you keep your notes organized where you can add any type of content.
• Kanban boards, tables, lists, and other tools that help you customize any workflow.
• Tools that let you turn your knowledge into easy-to-find answers.

The tool is available on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, or as a web clipper, in addition to allowing easy sync between the platforms, so you can have Notion wherever you go.

⇒ Get Notion

Evernote

This popular note-taking app is ideal for use on Windows 10 and other operating systems, as well as the web and smart devices.

Some of the tasks you can fulfill with Evernote include:

• Adding text
• Adding images, audio, and other files
• Organizing your files into notebooks
• Scanning documents such as handwritten notes, receipts, and other important documents with a simple snap of your phone’s camera
• Note-taking
• Recording audio
• Clipping web pages for later using the app’s Web Clipper – simply click the browser extension then save
• Save articles for reading later

The app comes with different plans. You can get the free Evernote app with basic features, and an allowance of 60MB of file upload monthly, or you can get the Premium plan that gives you offline notebook access, integration with your emails, file searches, and much more.

⇒ Get Evernote

Quip

This app is available for free or for $10-30 (Team plan) per month and is ideal for use on the Windows operating system, as well as on your other devices.

Quip is best used for combining notes with other documents, or with spreadsheets.

Unlike other note-taking apps, Quip takes notes, then saves each of the documents or spreadsheets created therein to its own file.

It also has a search feature from which you can find documents and/or spreadsheets, and embed them into other documents within the app.

It’s a fast interface, and the ability to format your notes using different formatting options, and you can also publish your notes to the web (great for bloggers), or even save them in different formats for sharing.

For teams, Quip lets you add any team member to a document, or to a note, then you can collaborate on the document or note while changes are reflected on the sidebar to your left, so you can easily see what each team member added.

You can also have a team chat while you’re at it.

Quip’s spreadsheets work like the usual MS Excel program, allowing you to do calculations, which is a useful feature compared to other note-taking apps.

⇒ Get Quip

Sticky Notes

Remember the yellow sticky notes you use to leave a note on your fridge, or even on your laptop or PC so that you can remember stuff, or remind someone to do something?

Well, the Sticky Notes app has taken the paper out of the process and taken the place of the Post-It notes we used before technology made things easier – minus the clutter.

Sticky Notes allows you to fulfill the following tasks:

• Take notes in form of text or images on stickies, the same way you’d write them on paper sticky notes (it also comes in different sizes and colors)
• Organize your notes neatly
• Pin your notes to the Start screen
• Sync your notes to OneDrive for seamless access across your computer and other devices
• Enable flight or calendar event features to keep up with your reminders
• Write Sticky Notes using a pen (for Surface Pro users or compatible tablets)

You can get Sticky Notes for free on Windows for use with your Windows 10 computer or device.

⇒ Get Sticky Notes

Simplenote

This note taking app was recently availed for Windows, and, as its name suggests, is for simple note-taking.

Unlike other note-taking apps, Simplenote doesn’t have any complications, meaning you can only take notes, but you don’t get to add media files, clip web pages, or email integration.

There are no formatting options for your text, so it’s just like using your notepad and pen.

Simplenote lets you fulfill the following tasks though:

• Tag notes
• Pin notes for easier access
• Publish your notes with their very own URLs
• A simple interface makes for faster searches

You can get Simplenote for free for use on your Windows device or computer.

⇒ Get Simplenote

Scrble

This note-taking app is available for free use on the Windows operating system, especially for users of Microsoft Surface or touchscreen laptops.

You can choose from different backgrounds such as lined paper, black or whiteboards, and write your notes with your own finger, or a stylus pen.

The unique feature of this note-taking app is it auto-scrolls for you so you don’t have to flip a page, it simply opens up a new one for you so you can type with no interruptions.

Other tasks you can fulfill with the Scrble app include importing images, as well as importing PDF documents for annotating.

The app is available for free, or you can pay $4 and upgrade it to the full version.

⇒ Get Scrble

WordPad

This note-taking app is everything you need to write your notes the same way you would on a Word document.

It comes with formatting options such as bold, italics, underlines, and paragraph formatting such as bulleting and indentation. You can also highlight, strikethrough, and add subscripts.

It is fast, simple, very basic, and also supports graphics from such programs as Paint.

WordPad can also save or open other formats such as Open Document and Office Open XML.

NotePad

This note-taking app has been used on Windows for a long time, and it lets you write your notes on a simple canvas, with a simple toolbar to go with it.

Like Simplenote, NotePad has minimal features, but the difference is that it lets you do stuff like Find, Replace, and even insert date and time.

To find Notepad, just click Start, go to the search field, and type NotePad and you’re good to go.

It’s easy to use, simple, and fast, and you can add timestamps to your notes, and create and edit scripts, while you focus on your thoughts.

If you lost your Notepad documents in Windows 10, get them back by following this handy guide.

Cortana

Cortana may be a listening and/or search app, but this makes it versatile enough to be a note-taking app.

As Windows’ digital assistant, Cortana can not only take notes, but also keep track of your appointments, find locations, and even keep important email reminders.

Do you use any of these note-taking apps? Share with us your experience in the comments section.

If you like using apps that make you more efficient and want to see more options, check out our Productivity Hub.

We also provide a large number of handpicked software suggestions for different types of activities. If you are interested in learning more, check our Software section.

Also, leave there any other questions or suggestions you may have and we’ll be sure to check them out.

That pretty much wraps up our list of the best apps that you can use to take notes. Let us know which of the ones above you’ve chosen as your favorite by leaving a message in the comments section below.