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All iPads Which app to take notes?

definitive

definitive

macrumors 68020
Original poster
Aug 4, 2008
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I'll be buying an iPad (probably the new Mini) in the near future, and one of the main features I'm looking to use it for is to take notes to avoid having to use notepads and pieces of paper when I need to quickly write something down that's work related.

What is a good app which will allow me to do just that in combination with the pencil?
 
Good Notes 5 since it is still a one-shot purchase
Notability changed to subscription although there is a free limited version
But still when they were both one-purchase I would prefer to use good notes all the time
 
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For me CollaNote, it's free and feature-packed.
apps.apple.com

‎CollaNote: Note, Journal & PDF

‎CollaNote : Most powerful Note-Taking App, PDF Reader and Annotator, Whiteboard, Digital Planner - All in one - Best handwriting experience with low latency powered by remarkable vector ink engine. - Smart Dark Mode: Better for your eyes to take note and read PDFs in the dark. Write once, you no…
apps.apple.com
 
I am using OneNote for a very long time for work now. The benefit for me is, that there are Windows and Mac versions as well. So what I basically do is to write down notes or small sketches on my iPad and drag or move them via OneNote for Windows into Word or other documents where I need the information.
I also think that this has become my workflow because of two main reasons: we have office 365 anyways at work and we only use Windows or Linux machines. On the latter the Web-Version of OneNote can be used.
So for me, flexibility of the platform was key to my decision.
 
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If you need to work at all concurrently with a Windows environment and handwriting to text conversion isn't important, I really like OneNote. Very powerful with ability to imbed docs (eg. PDFs; PowerPoints); nice handwriting response/smoothing; and seamless integration with Office 365. Downside is it's OCR is avg.

I also use GoodNotes, but solely for marking up/reviewing docs; signing docs and producing PDFs. I find it's handwriting too rough. Makes me look messy, when my handwriting really isn't.

Been paper-free for 3 years, first with an iPad 6 + original pencil, and now 11" iPad Pro and pencil 2.
 
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Apple’s notes app, Goodnotes and OneNote are certainly the most popular ones as far as I know but I also use Nebo relatively often to log large pieces of text for my journal- then export it to Day One as plain text. Nebo’s handwriting recognition is working very well for my rather messy handwriting.
 
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Phil-from-Hamburg said:
I am using OneNote for a very long time for work now. The benefit for me is, that there are Windows and Mac versions as well. So what I basically do is to write down notes or small sketches on my iPad and drag or move them via OneNote for Windows into Word or other documents where I need the information.
I also think that this has become my workflow because of two main reasons: we have office 365 anyways at work and we only use Windows or Linux machines. On the latter the Web-Version of OneNote can be used.
So for me, flexibility of the platform was key to my decision.
Click to expand...
Yeah, OneNote is my heavy lifting note taking app. I use it at work all the time but the fact it can sync to my iOS devices and my home computer makes it the most flexible of anything I've tried.
 
I use Apple's Notes app for basic things and Notability for class notes/handwriting. I also use PDF Expert for annotation PDFs.
 
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I like apples own notes with the quick note feature and tagging they added

before, I usually went to Notability
 
0089294 said:
How about taking notes on a MAC + Android ?
Click to expand...
I need to have my notes available across multiple platforms (Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Chrome OS, and Linux).

For handwritten notes: Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote.
For plain text notes: Google Keep
For (text notes with optional Markdown): Joplin
For brainstorming: SimpleMind Pro
 
sracer said:
I need to have my notes available across multiple platforms (Windows, Mac OS, Android, iOS, Chrome OS, and Linux).

For handwritten notes: Google Keep and Microsoft OneNote.
For plain text notes: Google Keep
For (text notes with optional Markdown): Joplin
For brainstorming: SimpleMind Pro
Click to expand...
i use keep rn but its not even available as an app on mac (and on ipad either am i wrong )

im afraid google may drop keep support altogether ,what do u say
 
0089294 said:
i use keep rn but its not even available as an app on mac (and on ipad either am i wrong )

im afraid google may drop keep support altogether ,what do u say
Click to expand...
Google Keep is available as a native app on the iPad. Keep can be used as a desktop app as well... it doesn't have to sit in a browser window.

Google is not going to drop support for Keep. It is an integral part of their productivity suite. They recently added some functionality to it to enhance it.
 
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ericwn said:
Apple’s notes app, Goodnotes and OneNote are certainly the most popular ones as far as I know but I also use Nebo relatively often to log large pieces of text for my journal- then export it to Day One as plain text. Nebo’s handwriting recognition is working very well for my rather messy handwriting.
Click to expand...
I always feel paying for ongoing subscription is especially dumb. I would adwise everyone to not be a fool, and go with a single purchace apps. Also a vote for Apples notes app. Quite good.
 
Notability, best featured, most features, most templates, no write as you go handwriting recognition
Nebo (my script) easiest to learn, excellent handwriting recognition, not as featured, few templates
 
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0089294 said:
i use keep rn but its not even available as an app on mac (and on ipad either am i wrong )

im afraid google may drop keep support altogether ,what do u say
Click to expand...
Here's my Google Keep....

Google Keep.png
 
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definitive said:
I'll be buying an iPad (probably the new Mini) in the near future, and one of the main features I'm looking to use it for is to take notes to avoid having to use notepads and pieces of paper when I need to quickly write something down that's work related.

What is a good app which will allow me to do just that in combination with the pencil?
Click to expand...
Bought the mini 6 and pencil to do just that for home use. Have had the device almost 2 weeks and using Apple Notes. Need the notes to sync with PC, iPhone, and larger iPad. Many good youtube videos for tips and tutorials. App is not fancy but very functional.
 
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