OneNote is a free cross-platform note-taking app from Microsoft, and it is among the forerunners in note-taking apps, giving Evernote some competition. OneNote is completely free, so thatâs one less thing to worry about. Since itâs capable of all Evernote can do, without the. The best Android note-taking app for most people Google Keep (free) Google's note-taking app has come a long way since its awkward 2013 debut. These days, Keep is a well-rounded yet exceptionally. Apr 10, 2020 Itâs a solid and the best note-taking app for iPhone and Mac users. Spark Mail App: Best Email App to Stay Productive. By Herby Jasmin. With iOS 11, Notes is not the yellow pad we were used to anymore. It has become powerful. Now you can add photos and videos to your notes. It allows you to add sketch too.
Evernote was one of the first-party apps to follow the mobile route on the App Store. For the last few years, the company has been in the news for all the wrong reasons. Hiking prices, limiting free account to only two devices, and then came the controversial decision to view the customer data. Thankfully it was reversed after a few days of backlash.
âWrite is a modern note taking app with a stunning interface. NOTE: iCloud sync between iOS and Mac version of Write is currently broken. I have no definite date on a fix for this. Dropbox sync should be working just fine. You might be a writer, student, blogger or just a simple person who likes. By far the most expensive app in this selection, Notepad+ Pro provides a much more traditional-feeling digital equivalent to taking notes with pen and paper and is best used with an Apple Pencil.
Among those incidents, San-Francisco based startup, Notion emerged as a viable option. With its unique style at note-taking, templates, and clean design, it quickly became choice for those looking for Evernote alternatives. The recently released âimport from Evernoteâ tool made the switch even easy.
In this post, we will compare Evernote to Notion to see if the new kid in town is as good as they say or is it yet another âGrass is greener on the other sideâ situation.
Cross-Platform Availability
Digital microscope software. Evernote is available on Android, iOS, Apple Watch, Mac and Windows. Every app is a native one specifically designed for a particular platform.
Notion is also available on iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac. Notion has carried over the UI elements from iOS to Android, so it doesnât feel native at all. No need to worry about accessing your notes on any platform.
App Size
Evernote weights around 126MB while Notion is surprisingly tenth of size at 12.6MB.
Download Evernote for iOSDownload Notion for iOS
Also on Guiding Tech6 Best Evernote Alternatives on AndroidRead MoreUser Interface
Evernoteâs years of experience becomes apparent here. The app is fluid and animations are a joy to use. All the relevant options rest at the bottom. The swiping gesture takes you to the all notes section. The app is well-made. One has to be really picky to find a reason to complain.
As you may know, the app follows the physical cabinet concept with the organization via Notebooks and Tags.
Notion, on the other hand, looks and feels outdated. Itâs still using hamburger menu and the options like undo and share options are uncomfortably at the top. The app isnât using the usual bottom bar menus for note-taking options, which is strange.
Taking Notes
Note-taking capabilities are the prime aspect of any Notes app. That's where the differences between the two surface. Evernote has included every possible way to add new notes. You can write notes, add images, recordings, tag files, and even draw with the available options.
Evernote also lets you choose from the available templates. The selection is undoubtedly rich, and Iâm sure you will find the relevant template to start the note.
Notionâs approach is different here. It treats every sentence as a block. The advantage here is, the software can let you customize every block separately, and you can also move those blocks in notes with the drag and drop function.
The ability to add images, links, files, and templates have a unique take. You can add those from a little arrow from any block. You can integrate anything from there. And thatâs why Notion was quite popular among power users and reviewers.
Also on Guiding TechEvernote vs Simplenote: Which One to UseRead MoreDesktop App and Extension
Both Notion and Evernote have a desktop app available for Windows and Mac. The functionalities match their mobile counterparts. I found the use of Notionâs templates a bit refined on desktop apps.
Evernote extension is available on Chrome, Edge, Firefox, and every other Chromium-based browser. Notion recently added extension support for Chrome browser.
Other Functions
Searching a note is as essential as creating notes for these apps. And Evernote shines at finding notes. Type a keyword and it will pull up all the relevant information from the piles of Notes. I found Notionâs search a bit janky sometimes.
Other functionalities include dark theme support and organization via Notebooks. Notion also lets you add a relevant cover photo on top of every note, which is a nice touch.
Widget Support
Evernote supports a widget function on iOS. You can add a widget and start writing notes from the My Feed menu. Unfortunately, Notion doesnât offer any quick way to add new notes.
Sharing
Sharing is where Evernote shines. You can add the other person's Evernote account to send the note quickly. Also, one can send a simple note using any of the social media. There is no lock-in here.
Notion only lets you send the note to the other Notion member. For those out of Notion's world, you need to generate a shareable link and then send a note using that.
Pricing
Evernote offers two types of premium offerings. The Basic one is limited to 60MB of data, and the functionalities are also bare-bones. The full-featured set comes in Premium offer which costs $70 per year.
Notion is free to use for the first 1000 blocks, which should be enough for a casual user. After that, the app costs $4 per month.
Also on Guiding Tech#notesClick here to see our notes articles pageWorth the Switching Hustle?
After my two weeks of usage with both software, I have to say, Evernote still got it. For a first-time user, I would suggest going with Notion as its approach is modern and note styling looks better than Evernote. While for those thinking to switch from Evernote, I would advise to try out Notion for at least a week.
Next up: Apple Notes is a capable offering from Apple on iOS. But unfortunately, itâs not available on other platforms. Microsoft OneNote is a viable option for those looking for an alternative. Read the comparison below to find out more.
The above article may contain affiliate links which help support Guiding Tech. However, it does not affect our editorial integrity. The content remains unbiased and authentic. Note Taking App On MacRead NextApple Notes vs Microsoft OneNote: Which App WinsAlso See#notes #productivityDid You Know
Notion, the productivity app, was founded in 2013.
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From that random idea that needs to be jotted down, to making complex notes and mind maps, in todayâs day and age, itâs better to stick to a note taking application, rather than relying on physical pen and paper.
In our previous article, we saw some of the best note taking apps for Windows, and in this one, we have got you covered with our list of the best note taking apps for Mac.
Best Note Taking Apps for Mac1. Apple NotesMac Note Taking Software
The stock Notes app that comes with Mac OS itself, is actually not that bad. It comes with basic note taking functionalities like formatting, lists, checkboxes, drag and dropping pictures/files. While it doesnât offer anything out of the box, where Apple Notes shines is how fast it is to open and get started with a new note. Also it syncs immediately and effortlessly with the Notes app on your iPhone and iPad. We highly suggest you first checking out this app which already comes with your Mac, before buying or installing another note taking app.
Pros:
â Very fast and simple to use â Comes pre-installed â Sync with notes app on iPhone and iPad
Cons:
â Not ideal for handwritten notes or drawings â No charts, graph support â Works only within the Apple Ecosystem
Bottom Line: If you are someone who needs to take notes on your computer very rarely, might be for a grocery list or quick information, youâll get by easily using the stock Notes app. Apple Notes does offer all the basic functionalities you might need and best of all, you donât even need to install another app.
Price: Free
Link: Use Apple Notes on iCloud here
2. Evernote
Chances are you have heard of Evernote, as it is one of the most popular note taking apps available on almost all platforms. Evernote offers some great ways to keep all your notes perfectly organised. You start off your note by creating/selecting a particular notebook and all your notes are kept organised in these notebooks. You also have a tags to classify all your stuff, and it basically works like a File Cabinet.
In terms of features, it is a beast and it has almost any and every feature youâd want in a note taking app including pie charts and bar graphs to searching text in a picture. We also strongly recommend trying Evernote with its Web-clipper companion which makes taking notes/clips form the web so easy, you can never go back. But all this does come at a price, which makes Evernote a little on the bulkier and slower side.
Wd my cloud ex2 ultra desktop app mac. Pros:
â Feature packed to the brim â Available on all platforms â Easy organisation of notes
Cons:
â Heavy app and takes time to start up â Costly
Read: Donât Like Their New Pricing, Try These 8 Best Free Evernote Alternatives
Bottom Line: Well, if you are someone who has to take loads of notes and are also looking to keep them organised in the best way possible, Evernote is a really good investment.
Price: Free(Basic), $34.99/Year(Plus), $69.99/Year(Premium)
Link: Download Evernote from here
3. Unclutter
Software to record mac camera. Unclutter is a neat tool which can increase your productivity by many folds. The app works almost like Sticky Notes; you can access it very quickly from any window you are working on. Just go to the top of your screen and scroll down, Unclutter should appear with its three windows: the first being the Clipboard, second being Files and the last being the Notes section.
Creating a note is pretty fast, just make Unclutter appear and start with your new note or even copy directly from the clipboard or even a file. Click on the â+â to take another note and you can also see all your notes or search through them.
But do keep in mind that the notes you can take are pretty limited to text only and the absence of formatting and checkbox lists might be. Ideal breaker for some.
Pros:
â Easy access, one swipe away â Pretty fast â Comes with a Clipboard as well as a file holder
Cons:
â Supports only text notes â No organisation â No sync, only on Mac OS
Bottom Line: Unclutter is a very cool app where you can take notes in a jiffy, so weâd recommend this app for someone who is looking to take some quick text notes while working on their computer and doesnât need any fancy formatting or feature.
Price: $9.99 (Free Trial available)
Link: Get Unclutter here
4. BoostNote
Next on our list, we have a note taking app specifically designed for programmers. BoostNote started out as a open source project and has gained a lot of popularity among the programming community over the years.
What this app basically allows you to do is store your code or code snippets as notes. You can access quickly or even take notes in markdown. Once you open the app, you can select if you want to create a markdown note or create a code snippet. And when I said it is meant for developers, I meant it. BoostNote supports code syntax highlighting in more than a hundred languages and it is also very easy to keep all your notes organised.
Pros:
â Supports markdown notes â Code highlighting â Plenty of syntax and UI themes â Open source â Available on all platforms
Cons:
â Bulky â Takes time to startup
Bottom Line: Well the answer is obvious, this app is a blessing for programmers as they can now manage all their code snippets and keep them organised while also not losing on the ability to take notes in markdown.
Price: Free
Link: Download Boostnote from here
5. OneNote
OneNote is a full blown note taking application from Microsoft, which has been here for a while now. And over all these years, it feels like Microsoft has almost perfected the note-taking experience.
What separates OneNote its competitors is that it using the app feels very close to taking notes on a real notebook; you can write, draw, add pictures literally anywhere on the page at any orientation, just like on a paper notebook. It also comes with a ton of features, the biggest selling point would be built in OCR reader. While you can get it for free for almost all platforms, the Mac app is huge in size and a little slow to use.
Pros:
â Feature-rich note taking app â Office integration â Notebook like experience â Completely free
Cons:
â Huge size â Can be sluggish at times
Bottom Line: If you are invested even a little in the Microsoft space, OneNote is a no brainer and even if you are not and looking for a great digital notebook, OneNote wonât disappoint.
Price: Free
Link: OneNote is available here
6. Notability
Notability is our pick as the best note taking app for students. It works exceptionally well with the Apple Pencil on the iPad to create beautiful hand-written notes and sketches. You can rotate, scale, and recolour your ideas and sketches until your notes are just how you want them. You can even markup photos and annotate PDFs and once youâre done you can easily share them through Airdrop or any other storage service.
Notability keeps all your notes neatly organised and also syncs them up between your iPad, iPhone and Mac, so you can access them anytime anywhere.
Pros:
â Great for hand-written notes and sketches â Support for pressure sensitive strokes of the Apple Pencil
Cons:
â No search tags â No support for shapes â Pricey
Bottom Line: If you have an iPad which you use to take or sketch notes, Notability works really well with the Apple Pencil and if you have the money to spend, just go for it.
A great alternative to Notability would be ZoomNotes which comes at a lower price, but offers almost all the features of Notability.
Price: $9.99
Link: Buy Notability from here
7. Journey
The next app on our list is Journey, which takes maintaining your daily notes to a whole new level. While Journey is aimed more to be a digital journal, you can still use the feature-packed text editor to take quick notes and Journey will keep them ordered by the date. You can also search through all your notes and even view them by locations. The app backs up and syncs all your notes using Google Drive and it should be imperative to say, it also does provide impressive security features to protect your privacy.
Pros:
â Keeps everything organised like a Diary â Easy note taking â Streamlined review of your notes Note Taking App For Mac Newton Iowa
Cons:
â Costly â Requires Gmail/Google Drive account
Bottom Line: Journey works best for noting down your everyday goals or writing something about your day. If you are looking to make the switch from a physical diary to a digital one, Journey might be your best bet.
Price: $16.99
Link: Download Journey from here
8. Manuscripts
With all the normal note taking apps or text editors, it gets really hard to note down or represent scientific equations, derivatives and mathematical graphs. Enter Manuscripts, a free note taking app made for scientists and scholarly writing. Describing it as just a note taking app would be an understatement as it is capable of much more from a writing a research article to penning down a book.
There are various templates which you can choose from and a plethora of import and export options including LaTeX.
Pros:
â Scientific Notes/Writing â Solid import and export formats â Citation and bibliography formatting Best Note Taking App For Mac
Cons:
â Not quick for taking simple notes
Bottom Line: Manuscripts is a capable and powerful app for when the going gets tough. Of course, it isnât for the average Joe, but rather for taking scientific notes with equations and graphs. If you are looking for more of a digital laboratory notebook with support for experiment templates along with equations and graphs, check out Findings.
Note Taking App For Mac
Price: Free
Link: Ger Manuscripts here
Best Note Taking Apps9. iThoughtsX
Last but definitely not least, we have iThoughtsX, a mind mapping tool that lets you organise your thoughts and at a glance see the whole project. Mind maps are ideal for brainstorming with means of keeping your ideas structured and nothing gets omitted out in the whole process.
Although it has a steep learning curve, itâs really easy once you get the hold of it. There are multiple templates and layouts from which you can start and thereâs an impressive amount of built-in icons and clipart images.
Pros:
â Create perfect mind maps for summarising and meeting notes â Task Management â Hand-off feature(Start your min map on one device and finish on another device)
Cons:
â Steep learning curve â Not good for other kind of notes
Bottom Line: Mind maps are especially useful for managers and developers or anyone managing a large project. So if you know you need to create mind maps, this app is for you.
Price: $49.99
Link: Get iThoughtsX here
Wrapping Up: Best Note Taking Apps for Mac
We believe that there is an app for everyone with their own particular need. So whether you are a student or programmer or businessman, we really hope that you could find at least one note taking app from this list suitable to your own needs. And that concludes our list of the top note taking applications available for the Mac. Donât forget to connect with us and tell us your favourite app from the list or if we missed yours.
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