21 Best Note-Taking Apps for Students in 2025!

As a student, struggling to keep up with lectures and all the other information flying your way is no mean feat. Frantically scribbling down notes on loose papers only to lose them is not something anybody enjoys! The good news is that we live in the digital age, where there’s an app for just about everything, including note taking applications. Well, we've scoured the web for the best note taking apps for students in 2025. Whether you're looking for simple sticky-note-style apps for taking notes or a database-driven powerhouse, we've got you covered. So, buckle up, and let's discover the best apps for making notes for students in 2025!

Key Features of an Ideal Note-Taking App

There are several note taking apps in the market. Some are the best note taking applications, while others just claim to be. This brings us to the question - what makes the best apps for making notes? A truly good note taking app combines multiple features to enhance productivity and organisation. So, here are a few criteria that make the best note taking app.

1. A clean, intuitive interface for quick note creation and easy navigation.
2. Cross-platform synchronisation for seamless access across devices.
3. Ability to organise notes through tags, folders, or notebooks.
4. Advanced search functionality.
5. Options for customization.
6. Integration with other productivity tools and support for various media types.  
7. Robust security measures, including end-to-end encryption.

The Best Note Taking Apps at a Glance

Before diving into the best apps for making notes in detail, let’s first take a quick look at some of the best note taking apps, highlighting their key features.

Top 21 Best Free Note Taking Apps for Students

Our brains process an overwhelming amount of information daily, making it essential to find the right note-taking apps that can help capture, organise, and streamline this influx effectively. For instance, a good app can turn chaotic lecture notes into structured summaries or transform scattered thoughts into actionable plans. As we grow in a digital age, below is the list of some of the best note taking apps for students:

1. Simplenote

Platforms: iOS & Android
Price: Free
USP: Real-time and embed multimedia for dynamic presentations.
Rating: 4.2/5 (G2) & 4.3/5 (Capterra)
Review: “Great, minimalistic interface. A tool for taking notes needs to be simple, not cluttered with pointless, fussy options. This app delivers perfectly.”

When it comes to complex interface and puzzling navigation, you are likely to hit the uninstall button for a class notes app. Simplenote, the best note taking app, tackles this problem as it lives up to its name. With its no-frills design, you can easily create to-do lists & ideas and take important notes. Some features that make it the best note taking app for students: it can be anywhere across all your devices. With this app for note making, you can add tags for easy bifurcation & navigation, go back in time and see any changes, and publish your notes online.

Pros: Minimalistic design & free
Cons: Limited features compared to competitors

2. Standard Notes

Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Mac, Windows, & Web
Price: Free for basic features. Upgrade to Core Plan for $29/year
USP: Converts handwritten notes into searchable text.
Rating: 3.9/5 (G2) & 4.5/5 (Capterra)
Review: “Cross-compatibility is flawless. Firing it up and taking quick notes is super simple, as is the editor.”

If a secure and private note-taking app is what you're looking for, Standard Notes is the way to go! It’s the best note taking app for students that prioritises security, offers powerful search, and encrypts all notes by default. As the best study notes app available, Standard Notes' free version surpasses other apps' premium versions regarding features you can access. Its feature of letting you revisit older versions of your notes or recover accidental edits makes it our favourite app for study notes. 

Pros: High security & powerful search
Cons: Limited features in the free version

3. Apple Notes

Platforms: iOS, MacOS, & Web
Price: Free
USP: creating well-organized, visually appealing class notes with seamless syncing
Rating: 4.8/5 (App Store)
Review: “I love this app so very much, and I find it very useful. I also like to schedule my daily plans and last-minute trips. I feel like this app is my getaway to a world of writing.”

Also known as Notes or iCloud Notes, Apple Notes is easily one of the best note-taking apps for students. It is available for free to all Apple device users. One unique feature that makes Apple Notes the best apps for making notes for iPad for school or college is its ability to edit notes from any device with a browser through an iCloud account, eliminating the need for a separate file-sharing service.

Pros: Free for Apple users, edit from any device
Cons: Limited to the Apple ecosystem

4. Freeform 

Platforms: iOS, Mac, & iPad
Price: Free
USP: In-depth research projects with Markdown-based linking and offline access.
Rating: 4.6/5 (App Store)
Review: “I have only had PowerPoint in Microsoft 365 for five months. However, thanks to Freeform, it has made my science fair project for the next school year easier.”

An app developed exclusively for Apple product users, FreeForm has impressed students with its user-friendly interface. Students can do it all, from projects to recording audio and embedding videos. If apps are not your thing, you can always look for the best study websites for students, which are easy to understand and resourceful.

Pros: Versatile, integrates with other Apple apps.
Cons: Limited to Apple devices

5. Bear

Platforms: iOS & Mac
Price: Free; upgrade to Pro for $1.49/month
USP: Great for students juggling multiple subjects due to its robust organisation and search features.
Rating: 4.7/5 (App Store)
Review: “Bear is really handy, and it has just enough features. I can clip from any webpage, I can hashtag my notes for easier sorting, and I especially like the security feature.”

Bear blends word processing and note-taking to create an irresistible combo that allows users to enjoy the best of both worlds. The best note taking app with powerful Markdown capabilities and a great writing experience, Bear's organisational system is simple, using tags and nested hierarchy, and it has an archive feature to save notes. Not only is it the best note-taking app for students, but it is also perfect for those with a penchant for creativity. Bear never lets you forget any ideas or inspiration you stumble upon! Being the best study notes app on Mac, it offers a clean look and additional features in its premium version.

Pros: Simple organisation & secure
Cons: Available only on iOS & MacOS

6. Mem

Platforms: iOS
Price: Free; subscription plans start from $8 monthly
USP: Brainstorming and connecting ideas in a nonlinear manner, perfect for essays and research
Rating: 4.4/5 (App Store)
Review: “Perfect for drafts and making quick notes, and even better, you can save your ideas that pop up on the go.”

Mem is a super AI and the best note taking app for students in the market. It has integrated the potential of artificial intelligence for taking notes through AI-driven building features. This best note keeping app delivers unique functions like smart search, which saves time in looking for notes based on their history, goals, and theme of search. Keeping AI at its prime, this best apps for making notes lets you save links and sync emails. You can use the calendar, which brings everything in one place, so you don't have to switch through tabs anymore!

Pros: Sync emails & integrated calendar
Cons: Subscription required for advanced features

7. Agenda Notes

Platforms: iOS
Price: Free & subscription plans
USP: Highly secure, making it great for keeping sensitive academic notes safe.
Rating: 4.7/5 (App Store)
Review: “Agenda's versatility makes it perfect for deploying & repurposing content so it becomes useful at your fingertips.”

Agenda Notes, one of the best apps for notes making, has cracked the code to keep your productivity or organising train on track. With a unique focus on chronological events, you can assign dates or link your calendar in Agenda Notes. One feature that makes it one of the most downloaded and best apps for making notes for students is its timely reminders. Agenda Notes has also won the Apple Design award because of its intricate, fun, and pop design that landscapes the feeling of being motivated!

Pros: Award-winning design & timely reminders
Cons: Subscription for full features

8. Noteful

Platforms: iOS & Web
Price: Free
USP: Great for formatting notes and creating structured content like essays and presentations
Rating: 4.7/5 (App Store)
Review: “Incredible, Noteful checks all the boxes and adds stuff I wouldn't have thought of!!.”

As a student, getting a seamless experience while taking notes, either in class or for other purposes, is vital. Interestingly, Noteful checks all the boxes of being at the top among the best note-taking apps for students. You can import PDFs along with your Microsoft Office documents in the app before your exams. This best note taking app also provides you with strong editing capabilities and to audio record your notes. Apart from functioning as a note-taking app, there are various study planning apps for students that can further help you ace your exams.

Pros: Strong editing & audio recording 
Cons: Limited to iOS

9. Goodnotes

Platforms: iOS, Windows, Android, & Mac
Price: Free
USP: Perfect for students who prefer handwritten notes but want digital copies for easy access and editing.
Rating: 4.8/5 (App Store)
Review: “Honestly, I really love using this app! It is very well thought out, and I can use it for many different kinds of workflows.”

Next on our list of the best apps for making notes is Goodnotes. It has reimagined the task of taking notes for students and emerged as a powerful note app for students. As one of the best apps for making notes for students to have on their phones or laptops, it offers features like none other. AI writing experience and on-the-go access to PDFs and other documents are some of the many incredible features that make Goodnotes the best app for making notes. 

Pros: Customisable, intuitive interface
Cons: Available only on specific platforms

10. Google Keep

Platforms: Android, iOS, Web, & Chrome
Price: Free for 15GB of storage across all Google apps
USP: Ideal for quick to-do lists, reminders, and syncing with other Google tools
Rating: 4.1/5
Review: “I love this app. It's very simple to use. I especially like how I can verbally update my list through Google Home and it's super convenient.”

If you primarily use Google applications for your work, you will worship Google Keep, which tops this list for being the best note taking app for students. It is a cross-platform note-taking app with a simple interface that works well with other Google tools. Students can also categorise their notes by adding up to 50 tags and highlighting them using colours, enabling them to study effectively. Also, Google Keep has become the best note taking app for students because of its uncluttered look and zero complex menus.

Pros: Simple interface & free for 15GB storage
Cons: Basic features

11. Dropbox Paper

Platforms: iOS, Android, & Web
Price: Free
USP: Perfect for creating study schedules and combining text, tables, and Kanban boards in one space.
Rating: 4.0/5
Review: “Paper is great for imagining what the final article is going to look like.”

One of the revolutionary and best study notes apps, it has some of the best features. Dropbox Paper allows you to send large files, embed YouTube videos, and edit PDFs, among many other features. Two of the exceptional features of Dropbox Paper, one of the best apps for making notes, are electronic signatures and the ability to scan receipts, pictures, documents, and much more.

Pros: Easy file sharing & electronic signatures
Cons: Limited formatting options

12. Notion

Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, & Web
Price: Free
USP: Distraction-free, minimalist app for quick notes.
Rating: 3.6/5
Review: “Simply Incredible! This note-taking app does it all, literally. The file and webpage embeds are very useful. The templates and tutorials are brief but to the point so that you are not lost in the sea of possibilities.”

If you're looking for the best note taking apps for college students for collaboration purposes, look no further! The notion is one of the best apps for making notes, database-driven school and university note taking apps, offering flexible pages with a template engine. The tables function like databases, nested hierarchical organisation, and a hybrid editor allowing Markdown and UI formatting. These aspects make Notion one of the must-have apps for students, and it is ranked as the best note taking app for students using Android.

Pros: Flexible pages & infinite recursion
Cons: Complex to navigate in the initial phases

13. Obsidian

Platforms: Android, iOS, macOS, Windows, & Linux
Price: Free (for personal and educational use)
USP: Great for visual learners who benefit from organising ideas.
Rating: 4.5/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “It's surprisingly customisable for a mobile app; it even has a plugin system.”

Known as one of the best note-taking apps for students, Obsidian is a must-have for power note-takers. It is based on Markdown and a local file/folder structure, making it simple and accessible to all users. The study notes app is highly customisable, allowing users with technical skills to create plugins and turn features on and off to suit their needs. Plus, Obsidian can be accessible offline without an account.

Pros: Highly customisable & offline access
Cons: The steep learning curve for beginners

14. Roam Research

Platforms: iOS, Mac, Linux, Windows, & Android
Price: $15/month (after a 31-day free trial)
USP: Open-source and free, perfect for students on a budget needing cloud sync and Markdown support.
Rating: 3/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “Love that it's finally out. Great interface; love the quick capture and easy switching to the graph.”

Roam Research is also the best note taking app for students, and it works with Windows and Linux, among other platforms. One feature that makes it one of the best apps for notes making is its feature of linking between notes instead of folders and tags. It has strong support for Markdown and encourages daily journaling, making it one of the best apps for making notes, for Windows and Linux. Following a bi-directional approach, this app is not your everyday study notes app and lets you switch back and forth through your ideas smoothly and fluidly.

Pros: Powerful linking supports daily journaling
Cons: Expensive subscription

15. Evernote

Platforms: Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Web
Price: $7.99/month
USP: Great for organising multimedia notes with audio, drawings, and photos for diverse subjects.
Rating: 4.4/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “The app is really good for note-taking! Organisation is also very easy in it, and you can even link to another note in one.”

Evernote is multi-platform, and one of the best apps for making notes. The best note taking app for students, it is suitable for processing handwritten notes and clipping articles from the web. It is the best note taking app for students because Evernote can hold multiple file formats, including PDFs and PowerPoints, and offers a scanner for mobile and a web clipper for browsers. Students can receive a 50% discount on Premium for a year. Using Evernote when preparing for exams like the TOEFL can reduce your stress dramatically! Its easy note organisation feature makes it to the list of the best note-taking apps for students. 

Pros: Multi-format support & strong organisation
Cons: Subscription cost

16. Nebo

Platforms: iOS, Windows, & Android
Price: Free
USP: Perfect for Apple ecosystem users to keep all notes synced and easily accessible.
Rating: 4.7/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “I've used this in my training courses for years. I take notes quickly and it transcribes everything to perfectly readable text.”

Apart from being one of the top note taking apps, Nebo is also one of the most revolutionary study notes apps. With Nebo, you can take notes in your handwriting, and this best note taking app for students will convert them into text! From AI-powered handwriting to editing via pen gestures, it is the best note taking app for students, providing a seamless experience for users.

Pros: Converts handwriting to text & pen gestures
Cons: Limited free version features

17. Typora

Platforms: Linux, Mac, & Windows
Price: $14.99 (one-time purchase)
USP: Fantastic for collaborative projects, integrating drawings, videos, and audio seamlessly.
Rating: 3/5‍ (Google Play Store)
Review: “When opening the app, the first thing you'll notice is how simple it is. And this is what sets Typora apart from most writing and Markdown tools.”

Typora is a highly customisable hybrid Markdown editor and the best note taking app for students. It works on all major operating systems and offers users a seamless reading and writing experience. We think it’s the best app for making notes in class because of its Focus Mode, Table of Contents, and multiple themes. You can organise your files using the file tree panel and import files in PDF format to optimise search. Paired with a language-learning app, Typora can be your BFF for learning a foreign language, making it the best note taking app for students.

Pros: Clean interface & support multiple formats
Cons: Requires purchase

18. Microsoft OneNote

Platforms: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, & Web
Price: Free
USP: Great for students who need privacy for personal or academic notes with easy organization.
Rating: 4.7/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “Pretty powerful notes app. Lots of editing options and instant syncing across all devices.”

Microsoft OneNote is the best free note taking app for Android tablets or any other device. It is a cross-platform app for study notes with all the features of Evernote. It offers a free-form text box and drawing capability. Microsoft OneNote also allows users to pick from various templates for every imaginable purpose, including e-books and University-focused templates. Some OneNote tips and tricks will enhance your experience, making it one of the good notes apps for students.

Pros: Free & extensive editing options
Cons: Can be overwhelming for new users

19. Milanote

Platforms: iOS, Android
Price: Subscription plan
USP: AI-powered search and syncing, ideal for students managing large amounts of content.
Rating: 3.7/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “I like the approach of this phone app in that it does not try to replicate the capabilities of the desktop/iPad app.”

Milanote is an innovative and the best note taking app for students, as it goes beyond traditional text-based notes for students. A visually rich interface allows users to create dynamic visual boards to capture and organise your ideas, inspirations, and projects. This best note taking app for students allows you to add images, videos, links, and notes to boards. It’s even a perfect match for creative professionals, designers, and teams collaborating on visual projects. Milanote is a versatile and best note taking app for students that empowers them to turn their ideas into visually engaging and well-organised notes.

Pros: Rich visual experience & good for creatives
Cons: Subscription plan required

20. Joplin

Platforms: Android, iOS, Linux, Windows, macOS
Price: Free 
USP: Excellent for time-based projects or assignments, linking notes directly to a calendar. 
Rating: 4/5 (Google Play Store)
Review: “I love that it's open-source and free. You can sync with Dropbox or OneDrive.” 

If you are looking for open-source, subscription-free apps to make notes on your laptop and phone, Joplin is the right choice for you. You will enjoy its clean interface to organise notes with ease. Plus, Markdown support helps you format and highlight like a pro, along with several plugins. Joplin is not only the best note taking app for students but also keeps your notes private. You can collaborate with your friends after classes and access notes anywhere.

Pros: Open-source & syncs with cloud services
Cons: Basic interface

21. Zoho Notebook

Platforms: iOS, Android, Windows
Price: Free & paid subscription plan
USP: Great for taking handwritten lecture notes and importing PDFs for seamless annotation.
Rating: 4/5 (Google Play Store)

Review: “Perfect note-taking app. There are lots of customisation options - choosing notebook covers, extensive text formatting, and the ability to create different types of notes (written, to-do list, audio, drawn, photo, video, and file attachment).”

Last on our list is Zoho Notebook, the best note taking app for students. It is thoughtfully designed to arrange your thoughts and put them in an organised manner. Zoho Notebook’s 168.8 MB capacity is a good way to collaborate, manage & organise your notes. Zoho also paves its way as one of the best reminder apps, as you can set alarms. It is also the best note taking app for uni students, owing to its tags to help you sort similar notes in one place.

Pros: Extensive text formatting & multimedia support
Cons: Large app size

With so many options, you're sure to find the perfect note taking app that suits your quirky personality and meets all your jotting needs. Be it your university classes or online study courses for upgrading your skills; these best note taking apps can be a great tool to navigate your academic needs. So pick one (or more!) to include in your student starter pack and start scribbling your next big idea or simply jot down your grocery list. Plus, don’t forget to check out the amber app if you want to make big savings on flight bookings or forex cards. Happy note taking!