Introduction
A good note-taking app is the difference between remembering something and losing it forever. The best ones capture ideas in seconds, sync across all your devices, and let you find any note instantly — whether it is a shopping list, a meeting note, or a whole project plan.
This guide compares the best note-taking apps for Android and iPhone. We look at speed, organisation, sync, offline use, and price, so you can find the one that fits how your brain works.
How to Choose a Note App
Ask what you take notes for. Quick reminders and lists need a fast, simple app like Google Keep. Long documents and research need structure, which is where Notion or OneNote wins. Handwriting and sketches need Apple Notes or Samsung Notes. And if you want your notes to last decades and stay fully under your control, Obsidian is the answer.
Also check sync: a note app that only lives on one device is a trap. Every app below syncs across devices, but some charge for it.
1. Google Keep — Best for Quick Notes
Google Keep is the fastest note app you will ever use. Open it, type, done — your note is saved and synced to your Google account instantly. It handles checklists, voice notes, photo notes, reminders, labels and colours, all in a simple card interface.
It is perfect for shopping lists, quick ideas, and reminders. The search is excellent, and it works on Android, iPhone and the web.
Keep is too simple for long documents or complex projects — there are no folders, no tables, no real formatting. But for capturing thoughts quickly, nothing beats it.
Best for: quick notes, lists and reminders. Price: free.
2. Evernote — Best for Organised Notes
Evernote is the classic note-taking app, built for people who keep everything. It organises notes into notebooks and stacks, supports rich formatting, attachments, web clipping, document scanning, and powerful search — including searching text inside images and PDFs.
It is the best choice if you collect research, save articles, scan documents, and want one searchable archive of everything. The free version limits you to 50 notes and one notebook, which is tight; the paid version removes all limits.
Evernote's free plan has become very limited, and the app is heavier than Keep or Apple Notes. But for serious note collectors, it is still the most complete option.
Best for: a searchable archive of everything. Price: free (limited); subscription for full use.
3. Notion — Best for Notes Plus Projects
Notion is more than a note app — it is a workspace. You can take notes, build databases, plan projects, track habits, and organise your whole life in one place, with pages inside pages and templates for almost everything.
It is the best choice if your notes connect to projects, tasks or a knowledge base. The free version is generous for personal use, and the template community is huge.
Notion is overkill for quick notes, and it needs an internet connection for the best experience (offline support is limited). But if you want one app for notes, tasks and planning, Notion replaces three apps at once.
Best for: notes, projects and planning in one app. Price: free for personal use; paid plans for teams.
4. Microsoft OneNote — Best Free Full-Featured Notes
OneNote is Microsoft's note app, and the most generous free option for serious note-taking. It offers notebooks, sections and pages like a real binder, freeform canvas (type anywhere), handwriting, audio recording synced to your notes, and excellent web clipping.
It syncs through OneDrive across Android, iPhone, Windows and Mac, and the free version has no meaningful limits — you get 5 GB of OneDrive storage free, which is plenty for notes.
OneNote can feel slow and heavy compared with Keep, and its interface is busy. But for a free, full-featured note app, it is the best value on this list.
Best for: free, full-featured notes with handwriting. Price: free; more storage with Microsoft 365.
5. Obsidian — Best for a Personal Knowledge Base
Obsidian is different from every other app here: your notes are plain Markdown files stored on your device, and the app builds a web of links between them. You can see how your ideas connect in a visual graph, which makes it the best tool for building a personal knowledge base over years.
It is free for personal use, works fully offline, and your notes are yours forever — no lock-in, no subscription required for the core app. Sync across devices and publishing cost extra, but the core app is free.
Obsidian has a learning curve and is overkill for shopping lists. But if you take notes for learning, writing or research, it is the most powerful and future-proof choice.
Best for: a long-term personal knowledge base. Price: free for personal use; Sync is paid.
6. Apple Notes — Best for iPhone Users
Apple Notes is built into every iPhone, iPad and Mac, and it has quietly become excellent. It supports checklists, tables, handwriting, document scanning, locked notes, folders, tags, and collaboration — all free, with iCloud sync.
It is the best choice if you live in the Apple ecosystem: it is fast, it works offline, and it integrates with everything else on your phone. Handwriting with Apple Pencil on iPad is the best in its class.
Apple Notes is Apple-only, so it is a poor choice if you also use Android or Windows. For Apple-only users, though, there is no reason to install anything else.
Best for: iPhone, iPad and Mac users. Price: free, built in.
7. Samsung Notes — Best for Samsung Users
Samsung Notes is the best note app for Samsung phones and tablets, especially with the S Pen. It handles handwriting, sketches, voice notes, PDFs, and handwriting-to-text conversion beautifully.
It syncs through Samsung Cloud and works well across Samsung devices. The free version is complete — no subscription, no limits that matter.
Like Apple Notes, it is tied to its ecosystem. But if you use a Samsung phone or Galaxy Tab, it is already installed and it is excellent.
Best for: Samsung phone and tablet users. Price: free, built in.
Comparison Table
| App | Best for | Offline | Sync | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Google Keep | Quick notes | Yes | Google account | Free |
| Evernote | Organised archive | Yes | Evernote account | Free, subscription |
| Notion | Notes + projects | Limited | Notion account | Free, paid |
| OneNote | Full features free | Yes | OneDrive | Free |
| Obsidian | Knowledge base | Yes | Local files | Free, Sync paid |
| Apple Notes | Apple users | Yes | iCloud | Free |
| Samsung Notes | Samsung users | Yes | Samsung Cloud | Free |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the best free note-taking app? Google Keep for quick notes, Microsoft OneNote for full-featured notes, and Apple Notes if you use iPhone. All three are completely free.
Which note app is best for students? OneNote or Notion. OneNote is best for lecture notes with handwriting and audio; Notion is best for organising courses, assignments and projects in one place.
Can I use a note app offline? Yes — Keep, OneNote, Obsidian, Apple Notes and Samsung Notes all work offline and sync when you are back online. Notion's offline support is limited.
Is Obsidian really free? Yes, for personal use. The core app, including the link graph and plugins, is free. You only pay if you want official Sync or Publish services.
Download
Get these note apps free from the official stores:
- Google Keep — Google Play · App Store
- Evernote — Google Play · App Store
- Notion — Google Play · App Store
- OneNote — Google Play · App Store
- Obsidian — Google Play · App Store
Apple Notes and Samsung Notes are built into their devices — no download needed.
Conclusion
For quick notes, use Google Keep. For serious notes and projects, use OneNote (free) or Notion (flexible). For a knowledge base that lasts, use Obsidian. And if you are on iPhone or Samsung, the built-in app is already excellent. The best note app is the one you open every day — pick the simplest one that covers your needs and stick with it. If you also want to organise your money, our guide to the best budget tracker apps covers the financial side of getting organised.