15 Best Note Taking Apps That Actually Save Time in 2025

I've tested over 50 different note taking apps to find the best note taking app that actually saves time, not wastes it . After testing everything from basic text editors to AI-powered tools, I found that the right app can transform how you capture and organize information.

Whether you're a student racing to record lecture points or a professional managing project details, finding the perfect notes taking app makes a huge difference. Microsoft OneNote stands out as the best note taking app for students and professionals alike, earning its spot as the best free note taking app while competing to be the best overall . Actually, 2025 has seen major developments in this space - Granola received $43 million in funding, Notion released AI meeting notes, and OpenAI launched ChatGPT Record .

In this guide, I'll walk you through the 15 best note taking apps that deliver real value in 2025. From free options with generous storage like Google Keep's 15GB to versatile digital workspaces like Notion that help manage notes, tasks, and projects , you'll find student-friendly solutions that match your specific needs.

Microsoft OneNote

_{Image Source: Microsoft}

Microsoft OneNote stands as a digital notebook powerhouse, mimicking the feel of physical notebooks while offering digital advantages. As a part of Microsoft's productivity suite, this note-taking app delivers versatility for both academic and professional environments.

Microsoft OneNote key features

OneNote shines with its hierarchical organization system - notebooks contain sections which hold individual pages ^[1]. This structure helps maintain order even with extensive notes. Furthermore, the app supports multimedia integration, allowing you to embed images, audio recordings, videos, and files directly into notes ^[1].

The drawing and handwriting capabilities let you sketch ideas or write naturally with a stylus ^[1]. Additionally, OneNote's powerful search function finds text even within images thanks to OCR technology ^[2].

Real-time collaboration features enable multiple users to edit the same notebook simultaneously, creating a shared digital whiteboard experience ^[3]. Moreover, the web clipper extension captures online content directly to your notebooks ^[2].

Microsoft OneNote pros and cons

Pros:

• Available across all major platforms with seamless syncing ^[4]

• Completely free with generous 5GB storage ^[4]

• Freeform canvas lets you place text anywhere on the page ^[4]

• Excellent integration with Microsoft 365 applications ^[2]

Cons:

• Occasional syncing issues between devices ^[5]

• Complex interface can overwhelm new users ^[2]

• Limited formatting options compared to Word ^[1]

• Restricted offline access requires consistent internet ^[1]

Microsoft OneNote pricing

The basic OneNote app is completely free and includes 5GB of OneDrive storage ^[4]. For additional space, you can upgrade to 100GB for ₹167.92/month ^[3]. Microsoft 365 subscribers receive 1TB of storage plus the full Office suite starting at ₹589.82/month ^[3].

For AI capabilities, Copilot integration starts at ₹1,687.61/month for the Pro license, extending to ₹2,531.41/month for the full Microsoft 365 license ^[4].

Microsoft OneNote best use case

OneNote particularly excels for students who need to organize lecture notes, handouts, and research materials in one digital space ^[6]. Its ability to record audio alongside written notes makes it perfect for capturing lectures while adding personal annotations ^[6].

For professionals, OneNote serves as an ideal meeting notes tool with its audio recording and real-time collaboration features ^[3]. Project teams benefit from shared notebooks that everyone can access and edit simultaneously ^[6].

Creative professionals appreciate the freeform canvas for sketching concepts and gathering visual inspiration in organized collections ^[6]. In essence, OneNote works best for anyone who needs flexible, multimedia note organization with cross-device accessibility.

Apple Notes

_{Image Source: Apple Support}

For Apple users seeking a step-by-step note-taking solution, Apple Notes delivers a seamless experience right out of the box. Unlike other apps requiring separate downloads, this free tool comes pre-installed on all Apple devices, making it instantly accessible for students and professionals alike.

Apple Notes key features

Apple Notes boasts a clean, minimalist interface that aligns perfectly with Apple's design philosophy ^[6]. The app excels in basic organization through folders, subfolders, and tags, with Smart Folders automatically populating based on specific criteria ^[6]. Notably, these Smart Folders act like dynamic filters that transcend folder boundaries, creating a robust organization system ^[6].

The Quick Note feature enables instant note creation from anywhere on your device—simply swipe from the bottom-right corner on iPad or use the Control Center shortcut on iPhone ^[7]. Furthermore, Apple Notes includes powerful search capabilities with built-in optical character recognition (OCR) that locates text even within images and scanned documents ^[8].

Beyond basic text, the app supports:

• Interactive checklists with automatic item reordering

• Document scanning directly within notes

• Drawing and handwriting with Apple Pencil

• Audio recording with transcription (in iOS 18)

Apple Notes pros and cons

Pros:

• Completely free with no in-app purchases ^[8]

• Seamless synchronization across Apple devices ^[6]

• Note locking with Face ID or password protection ^[8]

• Real-time collaboration on shared notes ^[8]

Cons:

• Limited cross-platform accessibility (no native app for Windows/Android) ^[6]

• Basic collaboration features compared to alternatives ^[6]

• No zoom feature for handwritten notes ^[7]

• Organization becomes challenging with extensive notes ^[5]

Apple Notes pricing

Apple Notes is entirely free for all Apple users ^[2]. However, notes are stored in iCloud, which offers 5GB of free storage shared across all Apple services ^[3]. Once exceeded, storage plans start at ₹83.54/month for 50GB, increasing to ₹842.96/month for 2TB ^[3].

Apple Notes best use case

This student-friendly app works best for Apple device owners who need quick, reliable note capture. It excels for lecture notes, where students can combine typed text, handwriting, and audio recordings in one place. The app particularly shines for users deeply integrated into the Apple ecosystem who value simplicity over complex features ^[2].

First-time note-takers appreciate its intuitive design, consequently making Apple Notes ideal for those who want to focus on content rather than learning complicated interfaces. For collaborative projects, the real-time editing features enable team members to work together efficiently ^[6].

Google Keep

_{Image Source: Google Workspace}

Google Keep stands out as the digital equivalent of colorful sticky notes, offering a refreshingly simple approach to quick note-taking. This free note-taking app from Google emphasizes speed and accessibility over complex features.

Google Keep key features

Firstly, Google Keep excels in quick note capture with various formats including text notes, lists, images, and audio recordings. The voice memo feature automatically transcribes recordings into searchable text ^[9]. Meanwhile, its optical character recognition (OCR) technology extracts text from images ^[10], making it perfect for capturing handwritten notes or printed documents.

Organization in Keep revolves around color coding, labels, and pinning important notes. Users can create up to 50 labels to categorize their notes ^[9] and filter by colors or content type for easy retrieval. Additionally, Keep offers both time-based and location-based reminders ^[11], ensuring you never forget important tasks.

Integration with Google Workspace is another strength, allowing users to copy notes directly to Google Docs ^[11] or access Keep from Gmail and other Google services. Notes sync instantly across all devices, enabling offline work that updates once reconnected ^[11].

Google Keep pros and cons

Pros:

• Completely free with 15GB of storage shared across Google services ^[1]

• Intuitive interface that prioritizes speed and simplicity ^[10]

• Seamless synchronization across all devices ^[11]

• Excellent collaboration features for shared lists and notes ^[9]

Cons:

• No text formatting options (bold, italics, etc.) ^[1]

• Character limit of 20,000 per note ^[1]

• Limited organizational structure compared to competitors ^[10]

• Lacks integration with Google Calendar and Tasks ^[1]

Google Keep pricing

Google Keep is entirely free to use ^[10]. It shares the 15GB free storage allocation from your Google account ^[1]. For additional storage, Business Starter plans begin at ₹506.28 per user monthly, while personal plans start at ₹167.92 monthly for 100GB ^[1].

Google Keep best use case

Above all, Google Keep works best as a digital scratch pad for ephemeral notes and quick ideas ^[12]. It's ideal for students needing to jot down brief lecture points or create interactive checklists for assignments. The app particularly shines for grocery lists, quick reminders, and daily to-dos that don't require extensive organization.

For collaborative student projects, Keep enables real-time list sharing, making it perfect for group assignments and brainstorming sessions. Despite its simplicity, this student-friendly app serves as an excellent companion to more robust note-taking solutions when quick capture matters most.

Notion

_{Image Source: Notion}

Notion transforms the traditional note-taking experience into a versatile digital workspace where blocks of content become powerful building blocks for any project. Originally designed as a simple note-taking tool, it has evolved into a comprehensive project management solution for students, freelancers, and teams alike.

Notion key features

At its core, Notion uses a block-based structure where each piece of content (text, images, to-do items, or embedded files) becomes a building block for your pages ^[8]. This student-friendly system lets you organize information hierarchically using pages and sub-pages. Indeed, the app excels with its powerful database capabilities that offer multiple views—Kanban boards, calendars, tables, and timelines—all perfect for tracking assignments or research projects ^[13].

Notion's flexibility extends to real-time collaboration, allowing teams to edit documents simultaneously. Plus, its customization options let you design personal dashboards for everything from lecture notes to thesis planning. The recent addition of Notion AI helps automate tasks from building databases to updating content across workspaces ^[14].

Notion pros and cons

Pros:

• Extremely flexible customization options for personalized workflows ^[3]

• Generous free plan with unlimited blocks for individuals ^[15]

• Seamless integration with tools like Slack, GitHub, and Google Drive ^[16]

• Real-time collaboration capabilities for group projects ^[3]

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve due to extensive features ^[3]

• Performance issues with large data sets ^[3]

• Limited offline functionality ^[15]

• Mobile app less intuitive than desktop version ^[3]

Notion pricing

Notion offers a four-tiered pricing model:

• Free: Unlimited blocks for individual use, 10 guest collaborators, 5MB file uploads ^[8]

• Plus: ₹843.80/month/user (annual billing), unlimited file uploads, 100 guest collaborators ^[8]

• Business: ₹1,265.71/month/user (annual billing), advanced permissions, 90-day page history ^[8]

• Enterprise: Custom pricing, SCIM & SAML single sign-on, dedicated support ^[8]

Notion best use case

Essentially, Notion works best for students managing complex projects requiring both organization and collaboration. Its database structure makes it ideal for research projects, thesis planning, and building personal knowledge systems. Creative students particularly benefit from its portfolio-building capabilities and flexible canvas ^[16].

For academic teamwork, Notion creates a centralized workspace where group members can collaborate on assignments, share resources, and track progress. The ability to create custom templates also helps students develop consistent study systems for exam preparation.

Obsidian

_{Image Source: obsidian.md}

Obsidian revolutionizes note-taking with its privacy-first approach, storing all your notes locally as markdown files on your device. This student-friendly app builds a secure personal knowledge base that's accessible even offline, making it perfect for research projects and study materials.

Obsidian key features

Obsidian's standout feature is its bidirectional linking system that connects related ideas, creating an interactive knowledge graph that visually maps relationships between your notes ^[2]. The recently added Canvas feature provides a limitless playground for visual thinking, perfect for brainstorming complex projects ^[2].

Customization stands as another strength—with thousands of community plugins and themes, you can shape the app to match your specific study needs ^[2]. Alongside this flexibility, Obsidian stores notes in open file formats, ensuring you're never locked into their ecosystem ^[2].

Obsidian pros and cons

Pros:

• Complete privacy with local storage of all notes ^[7]

• Powerful organizational capabilities through bidirectional linking ^[7]

• Works entirely offline, perfect for unreliable campus Wi-Fi ^[7]

• Blazing fast performance even with large note collections ^[7]

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve for beginners ^[7]

• Markdown formatting requires adaptation ^[7]

• Limited mobile functionality compared to desktop ^[7]

• Extensive customization can lead to "tinkering" instead of studying ^[7]

Obsidian pricing

Obsidian offers a surprisingly generous pricing model:

• Core app: Completely free for personal use ^[17]

• Sync Standard: ₹337.52/month billed annually (1GB storage) ^[18]

• Sync Plus: ₹675.04/month billed annually (10GB storage) ^[18]

• Publish: ₹675.04/site/month billed annually ^[17]

Students and educators receive a 40% discount on paid services ^[17].

Obsidian best use case

Primarily, Obsidian excels for students building comprehensive study systems across different subjects. Its linking capabilities help connect concepts between classes—linking psychology notes to philosophy essays creates meaningful connections that enhance understanding ^[7].

Research-focused students benefit most from Obsidian's ability to create a personalized wiki of knowledge that grows throughout their academic career. The app specifically shines for long-term projects like theses where seeing connections between research materials generates valuable insights.

Joplin

_{Image Source: Joplin}

As an open-source champion in the note-taking realm, Joplin puts data privacy first while delivering robust features for students who value both security and flexibility. This student-friendly app stores notes in Markdown format, giving you complete ownership of your academic information.

Joplin key features

Joplin's standout attribute is its "offline first" approach, ensuring all your study materials remain accessible without internet connectivity ^[6]. The app secures your notes through end-to-end encryption when syncing with various cloud services including Dropbox, OneDrive, and Nextcloud ^[6].

Organization happens through notebooks containing searchable notes that can be copied, tagged, and modified ^[6]. Additionally, Joplin offers a web clipper for Firefox and Chrome that saves webpages and screenshots directly to your notebooks ^[6].

Besides text notes, Joplin supports:

• Math formulas and Mermaid diagrams for technical subjects

• Customization via plugins and themes

• Full text search across all platforms

• Cross-platform availability (Windows, Linux, macOS, Android, iOS)

Joplin pros and cons

Pros:

• Complete data privacy with local storage and optional E2EE

• Free and open-source with no ads or tracking

• Excellent Evernote import capability

• Highly customizable interface

Cons:

• Steeper learning curve for beginners

• Mobile features require plugins

• Less polished interface than commercial alternatives

• Collaboration features limited to paid plans

Joplin pricing

Joplin's core application is completely free ^[5]. For cloud synchronization, Joplin Cloud offers three tiers:

• Basic: €2.99/month (approximately ₹275) with 2GB storage, 10MB per note ^[19]

• Pro: €5.99/month (approximately ₹550) with 30GB storage, 200MB per note ^[19]

• Teams: €7.99/month (approximately ₹735) with 50GB storage, team collaboration ^[19]

Students and educators receive a 50% education discount ^[19].

Joplin best use case

Joplin excels for privacy-conscious students building personal knowledge systems. Its markdown support and organization tools make it ideal for research projects requiring secure storage of confidential information. The app particularly shines for technical students needing to document code snippets, mathematical equations, and diagrams within a single system.

Zoho Notebook

_{Image Source: Cloudwards}

Zoho Notebook stands out with its beautifully designed note cards and innovative gesture controls, making it one of the most visually appealing options for students seeking a student-friendly note-taking solution.

Zoho Notebook key features

The app's defining characteristic is its diverse note card types—text, checklists, audio, photos, sketches, files, and smart cards—each optimized for different content types ^[20]. Organization becomes effortless through notebooks with customizable covers, tags, and the unique ability to stack related cards by simply pinching them together ^[21].

Beyond basic notes, Zoho Notebook offers Whiteboards for brainstorming, Noteboards for Kanban-style project management, and document scanning capabilities ^[20]. Search functionality extends to finding text within images and PDFs, while cross-device synchronization ensures your notes remain accessible everywhere ^[22].

Zoho Notebook pros and cons

Pros:

• Completely free Essential plan with 2GB storage ^[23]

• Beautifully designed interface with intuitive gesture controls ^[24]

• Strong privacy focus—no ads or data monetization ^[22]

• Seamless synchronization across unlimited devices ^[22]

Cons:

• Limited text formatting options compared to alternatives ^[10]

• Occasional performance slowdowns with image-heavy notes ^[10]

• Reminders sometimes fail to trigger properly ^[25]

• Less robust export capabilities ^[10]

Zoho Notebook pricing

Zoho offers three distinct pricing tiers:

• Essential: Free with 2GB storage and basic features ^[23]

• Pro: ₹167.92/month with 100GB storage and advanced features ^[23]

• Business: ₹421.06/month with 1TB storage and team collaboration tools ^[26]

Zoho Notebook best use case

The app works exceptionally well for students managing daily schedules, lecture recordings, and collaborative projects ^[20]. Its simplicity suits first-time note-takers, yet the gesture-based navigation provides enough depth for power users. Furthermore, creative students benefit from its multimedia support and visually engaging organization system that transforms scattered thoughts into actionable knowledge ^[20].

Bit.ai

_{Image Source: Bit.ai}

Bit.ai transforms collaborative note-taking into a smart, organized workspace where students can create interactive documents with embedded media and file attachments.

Bit.ai key features

Bit.ai offers a powerful AI suite including AI Writer, Doc Builder, and Translator to automate content creation ^[27]. The student-friendly platform provides unlimited workspaces with hierarchical organization through folders and subfolders ^[11]. What makes it stand out is its ability to integrate with over 100 applications including cloud storage, presentations, and social media platforms ^[9]. For collaborative projects, Bit.ai enables real-time co-editing with inline comments and push notifications ^[1].

Bit.ai pros and cons

Pros:

• Intuitive interface with minimal learning curve ^[4]

• Advanced document tracking for monitoring engagement ^[28]

• Password protection and link expiration for secure sharing ^[27]

• Supports embedding docs directly into websites ^[29]

Cons:

• Limited to 5GB file uploads on free plan ^[30]

• AI writing features require additional subscription ^[31]

• Only 1GB storage in free version ^[30]

• Mobile app less robust than desktop version ^[31]

Bit.ai pricing

Bit.ai offers a free plan supporting 5 members and 50 documents ^[11]. Paid options include Pro (₹675.04/month/user) with 500GB storage and Business (₹1265.71/month/user) with unlimited storage ^[11]. Both paid plans include 20,000 AI words per month ^[11].

Bit.ai best use case

Bit.ai excels for student teams collaborating on research projects or creating knowledge bases. Its document tracking capabilities make it ideal for tracking group participation in academic assignments ^[4].

Miro

_{Image Source: Miro}

Miro functions as a visual collaboration platform that turns note-taking into an interactive experience on an infinite digital canvas. This student-friendly app bridges the gap between traditional office work and modern hybrid environments.

Miro key features

At the heart of Miro lies Visual Notes, an advanced text editor embedded into every board that eliminates switching between workspaces and external note-taking apps ^[32]. The infinite canvas supports multiple content types:

• Rich text formatting with highlighting, links, and checkboxes

• Pre-made templates for common formats like meeting agendas and to-do lists

• Board embedding for additional context and annotations

• Collaborative mind mapping and brainstorming tools

In addition to notes, Miro offers Kanban boards, flowcharts, and diagramming capabilities that help visualize complex ideas ^[33].

Miro pros and cons

Pros:

• Pre-built templates for various workflows ^[4]

• Real-time collaboration and note-taking ^[4]

• Infinite canvas for project work ^[4]

• Gesture-based organization with intuitive controls

Cons:

• Some integrations only available on higher-tier plans ^[4]

• Extensive flexibility may require adjustment time ^[4]

• Session expiration issues reported by some users ^[34]

• Navigating interdependent projects can be challenging ^[34]

Miro pricing

Miro offers a transparent pricing structure:

• Free: Unlimited members, 3 editable boards, 5 Talktracks ^[12]

• Starter: ₹675.04/user/month (annual billing), unlimited boards ^[12]

• Business: ₹1350.09/user/month (annual billing), advanced features ^[12]

• Enterprise: Custom pricing, advanced security and support ^[12]

Miro best use case

Primarily, Miro excels for student group projects requiring visual collaboration and brainstorming. The platform works exceptionally well for research planning, creating study maps, and organizing complex information visually ^[35]. Technical students benefit from its diagramming capabilities while creative fields appreciate the whiteboard-style collaboration space.

Hive Notes

_{Image Source: Hive}

Hive Notes tackles the challenge of messy meeting documentation by transforming how teams capture and assign action items. This student-friendly tool connects directly with your calendar events, making group project coordination significantly easier.

Hive Notes key features

Hive Notes primarily focuses on collaborative meeting documentation with real-time editing capabilities ^[4]. You can link notes directly to calendar meetings, automatically populating with relevant meeting information ^[36]. Afterward, the app sends meeting alerts with direct links to the notes ^[4]. Uniquely, Hive Notes includes a private section where you can add personal comments invisible to others ^[4]. The Zoom integration stands out, allowing you to take notes directly within your virtual meetings ^[36].

Hive Notes pros and cons

Pros:

• Efficiently turns meeting text into assignable tasks with due dates ^[4]

• Seamlessly links with calendar events for automatic meeting preparation ^[36]

• Enables real-time collaboration during meetings ^[36]

• Receives regular updates to improve functionality ^[4]

Cons:

• Limited functionality in the mobile application ^[4]

• Needs improved commenting tools ^[4]

• Less powerful than dedicated note-taking solutions

Hive Notes pricing

The basic Hive plan includes unlimited notes alongside unlimited storage, projects, and tasks ^[37]. For advanced features, Hive offers customizable pricing based on your needs.

Hive Notes best use case

Hive Notes works exceptionally well for student project teams needing to track group responsibilities. Initially created for team status meetings, it helps maintain accountability through task assignment features ^[4]. The platform especially benefits academic group projects where clear follow-up actions determine success.

Guru

_{Image Source: eesel AI}

Guru serves as an AI-powered knowledge management platform that creates a central source of truth for teams. Unlike traditional note-taking apps, Guru focuses on making company-wide information accessible precisely when needed.

Guru key features

Guru primarily functions as a team knowledge base with AI search capabilities that connect to your existing workflow ^[38]. The platform includes browser extensions for capturing knowledge directly while browsing ^[13]. Furthermore, Guru offers verification workflows to ensure information stays current and trusted ^[3]. Its analytics suite helps track knowledge sharing effectiveness across teams ^[13].

Guru pros and cons

Pros:

• Seamless integration with messaging platforms like Slack and Microsoft Teams ^[3]

• Browser extension for capturing knowledge anywhere on the web ^[3]

• AI-powered suggestions for finding relevant information quickly ^[3]

• Dynamic cards that update across the platform automatically ^[3]

Cons:

• User interface not as customizable as alternatives ^[3]

• Search functionality sometimes slow or unreliable ^[39]

• Editor can be difficult to use for beginners ^[39]

• Organization becomes challenging with extensive content ^[39]

Guru pricing

The Self-serve plan costs ₹2109.51/seat/month with a 10-seat minimum ^[8]. When billed monthly, the price increases to ₹2531.41/seat ^[8]. Enterprise plans with dedicated success managers are available at custom rates ^[8].

Guru best use case

Guru works perfectly for student teams needing to build shared knowledge bases for research projects. Its verification system ensures study materials stay accurate, while the browser extension helps capture research findings without switching tools.

tl;dv

_{Image Source: tldv.io}

tl;dv revolutionizes meeting documentation as an AI-powered note-taking tool designed specifically for video calls. Standing for "Too Long; Didn't View," it captures meeting content so you never miss important information even when you can't attend.

tl;dv key features

tl;dv automatically records and transcribes meetings across Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams ^[16]. Its AI generates instant meeting summaries and can even translate transcripts across 30+ languages ^[16]. Primarily, tl;dv excels with its ability to timestamp important moments and create shareable clips from meetings ^[40]. The platform also offers powerful AI-driven search capabilities to locate specific information across multiple meetings ^[41].

tl;dv pros and cons

Pros:

• Generous free plan with unlimited meeting recordings and transcripts ^[14]

• AI-generated meeting notes and moment summaries

• Integration with over 5,000 work tools including Salesforce and HubSpot ^[42]

• Support for concurrent meeting recordings ^[43]

Cons:

• Limited to Zoom, Google Meet, and MS Teams ^[42]

• Occasional challenges with accent recognition

• Free plan has only 10 AI meeting notes per month ^[14]

• Mobile app functionality still developing

tl;dv pricing

tl;dv offers a remarkably generous free forever plan with unlimited recordings ^[14]. Paid plans start at ₹1,518.85/month per user for Pro and ₹3,290.84/month per user for Business (annual billing) ^[14]. Enterprise plans include privately hosted AI and dedicated customer success managers ^[14].

tl;dv best use case

Unquestionably, tl;dv works best for sales teams tracking customer conversations and handling objections effectively ^[42]. For students, it's perfect for capturing lecture content and creating shareable clips of important concepts.

Fireflies

_{Image Source: Fireflies.ai}

Fireflies serves as an AI meeting assistant that automatically records, transcribes, and analyzes voice conversations across platforms like Zoom, Microsoft Teams, and Google Meet. This student-friendly tool helps capture important meeting insights without manual note-taking.

Fireflies key features

Primarily, Fireflies offers automatic meeting recording and transcription with impressive 95% accuracy ^[44]. The platform supports over 100 languages with automatic language detection ^[44]. Currently, its AI-powered search functionality allows users to locate specific information within recordings by filtering for topics, speakers, or sentiment ^[15].

The "AskFred" feature functions as an AI chatbot that answers questions about specific meetings ^[15]. For collaborative environments, Fireflies enables creating "Soundbites" - short audio clips from recorded meetings that can be shared with team members ^[45]. Furthermore, the platform provides speaker talk-time analytics to track participation levels ^[15].

Fireflies pros and cons

Pros:

• High transcription accuracy exceeding 95% ^[44]

• Comprehensive AI summaries including meeting overview and action items ^[15]

• Extensive integrations with CRMs like Salesforce and HubSpot ^[45]

• Real-time notes during live meetings via Chrome extension ^[44]

Cons:

• Cluttered interface with many features competing for attention ^[45]

• Limited functionality on free plan compared to alternatives ^[45]

• Video recording restricted to paid plans only ^[2]

• Occasional lags and delayed meeting joins ^[15]

Fireflies pricing

Fireflies offers four pricing tiers:

• Free: Unlimited transcription (with limits), 800 minutes storage/seat ^[2]

• Pro: ₹843.80/seat/month (annual billing), unlimited AI summaries, 8,000 minutes storage ^[2]

• Business: ₹1603.23/seat/month (annual billing), unlimited storage, video recording ^[2]

• Enterprise: ₹3290.84/seat/month, includes HIPAA compliance and SSO ^[2]

Fireflies best use case

Effectively, Fireflies works best for teams needing detailed meeting documentation and analytics. It excels for sales teams tracking customer conversations ^[46] and academic groups requiring accurate transcription of lectures or research discussions. The platform particularly benefits students collaborating on group projects who need to capture and share key insights.

Fathom

_{Image Source: Jamie AI}

Fathom functions as a shockingly accurate AI meeting assistant that helps you stay fully present in conversations by handling note-taking automatically. This student-friendly tool joins your virtual meetings to record, transcribe, and generate instant summaries.

Fathom key features

Primarily, Fathom excels with transcription in 25 languages coupled with 14 types of AI meeting summaries tailored to different workflows ^[47]. The "Ask Fathom" feature lets you search anything from past meetings using natural language queries ^[7]. For collaborative projects, Fathom automatically extracts action items and generates follow-up emails ^[48]. Beyond that, any meeting highlights can be tagged and shared instantly with teammates ^[48].

Fathom pros and cons

Pros:

• Generous free plan with unlimited recordings and storage ^[47]

• More user-friendly interface than competitors ^[49]

• Saves 6+ hours per team member weekly on follow-up work ^[50]

• Strong privacy controls (HIPAA, SOC2, GDPR compliant) ^[48]

Cons:

• No mobile app for recording on-the-go ^[47]

• Advanced features only available on higher-priced plans ^[47]

• Limited customization for different meeting types ^[47]

• Currently supports only Zoom, Teams, and Meet ^[51]

Fathom pricing

Fathom offers a truly free plan with unlimited recording and basic AI features ^[7]. The Premium plan costs ₹1603.23/month with 14 AI summary templates ^[49]. Team plans range from ₹2447.03 to ₹3290.84 per user monthly ^[49].

Fathom best use case

In reality, Fathom works exceptionally well for students recording lectures or team projects where staying engaged matters more than taking manual notes ^[17].

Tactiq

_{Image Source: Tactiq}

Tactiq transforms meeting notes with its Chrome extension that captures real-time transcriptions across Google Meet, Zoom, and Microsoft Teams without requiring a bot to join your calls ^[18].

Tactiq key features

Tactiq delivers live, speaker-specific transcripts directly in your browser ^[52]. The standout functionality is its AI-powered analysis that turns meeting content into actionable insights with just one click ^[18]. Users can generate meeting summaries, format project updates, and craft follow-up emails with extracted action items ^[18]. Beyond standard summaries, the app supports custom AI prompts that can be saved as reusable actions ^[18].

Tactiq pros and cons

Pros:

• Works directly in Chrome without software downloads ^[52]

• Supports over 50 languages for international teams ^[52]

• Excellent for capturing live meetings without distractions ^[52]

• ISO 27001 certified with SOC 2 Type II attestation ^[18]

Cons:

• Chrome-only (unavailable as mobile or desktop app) ^[52]

• Limited to 10 transcripts monthly on free plan ^[52]

• AI credits restricted on lower-tier plans ^[53]

• Works best for live meetings rather than recordings ^[52]

Tactiq pricing

• Free: INR 0/month with 5 AI credits and 10 transcripts monthly ^[52]

• Pro: INR 675.04/month/user (annual billing) with 10 AI credits ^[52]

• Team: INR 1406.62/month/user with unlimited AI credits ^[54]

• Business: INR 2460.53/month/user with data retention and SAML SSO ^[54]

Tactiq best use case

Primarily, this student-friendly app excels for Chrome users needing fast, accurate meeting documentation. Its highlight-and-tag capability makes studying recorded lectures efficient ^[52].

Comparison Table

Conclusion

Choosing the right note-taking app can significantly boost your academic performance and save precious study time. Throughout this guide, I've tested over 50 apps to find the best student-friendly options that actually deliver value rather than adding complexity to your workflow.

Microsoft OneNote stands out as a versatile option with its freeform canvas and generous free storage, making it perfect for capturing lecture materials. Meanwhile, Google Keep offers simplicity with its 15GB storage and excellent collaboration features for quick notes and shared lists.

For students needing more structured organization, Notion delivers incredible flexibility with its database capabilities, though it requires a steeper learning curve. Privacy-conscious students will appreciate Obsidian and Joplin with their local storage options and powerful linking capabilities.

Additionally, specialized tools like Fathom and tl;dv can transform how you capture lecture content by automatically recording and transcribing meetings, allowing you to stay fully present during class discussions.

Before selecting your note-taking app, consider your specific academic needs. Do you primarily need quick capture for ideas, or are you building a comprehensive knowledge system across multiple subjects? Will you use the app mainly on your phone during classes, or at your laptop for detailed study sessions? The best app depends entirely on your personal workflow and study habits.

Remember, the ultimate goal isn't finding the most feature-rich app, but rather identifying the tool that fits seamlessly into your existing study routine. Sometimes the simplest option works best - Google Keep might be all you need for quick class notes, while research-heavy projects might benefit from Obsidian's knowledge graph.

Start with one app that aligns with your most common note-taking scenario, then explore additional options as your needs evolve. Most importantly, don't spend more time managing your notes than actually learning from them. The right app should feel almost invisible, letting you focus on what truly matters - mastering your coursework and building valuable knowledge.

Key Takeaways

After testing over 50 note-taking apps, here are the essential insights to help you choose the right tool that actually saves time rather than wastes it:

• Microsoft OneNote emerges as the top choice for students and professionals, offering 5GB free storage, cross-platform sync, and multimedia integration perfect for lecture notes and research materials.

• Match the app to your workflow, not features - Google Keep's simplicity works best for quick capture and shared lists, while Notion excels for complex project management despite its learning curve.

• Privacy-focused students should consider Obsidian or Joplin - both offer local storage, offline functionality, and powerful linking capabilities for building comprehensive knowledge systems.

• AI-powered meeting tools like Fathom and tl;dv revolutionize lecture capture by automatically recording and transcribing content, letting you stay fully engaged during class discussions.

• Start simple and evolve gradually - begin with one app that fits your most common note-taking scenario, then explore additional tools as your academic needs grow more complex.

The best note-taking app isn't necessarily the most feature-rich one, but rather the tool that seamlessly integrates into your existing study routine. Whether you need quick capture for daily ideas or structured organization for research projects, the right choice depends entirely on your personal workflow and study habits. Remember: spend more time learning from your notes than managing them.

FAQs

Q1. What is the best free note-taking app in 2025? Microsoft OneNote stands out as the top free option, offering 5GB of storage, cross-platform syncing, and robust features like multimedia integration and OCR technology. It's particularly well-suited for students and professionals organizing lecture notes and research materials.

Q2. Which note-taking app works best across multiple devices and operating systems? For users who frequently switch between devices and operating systems, Google Keep is an excellent choice. It offers 15GB of shared storage, real-time syncing, and works seamlessly across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and web browsers.

Q3. What's the most customizable note-taking app for complex projects? Notion is highly customizable and ideal for managing complex projects. It offers a block-based structure, multiple view options, and database capabilities. While it has a steeper learning curve, it's powerful for knowledge management and collaborative work.

Q4. Are there any privacy-focused note-taking apps available? Yes, both Obsidian and Joplin prioritize user privacy. Obsidian stores notes locally on your device, while Joplin offers end-to-end encryption. These apps are great for users who want complete control over their data and prefer offline-first solutions.

Q5. How can AI-powered tools improve note-taking for students? AI-powered tools like Fathom and tl;dv can automatically record and transcribe lectures or meetings. This allows students to stay fully engaged during class discussions without worrying about manual note-taking. These tools can also generate summaries and extract key points, saving time on review and follow-up work.

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