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.

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Microsoft OneNote

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.

Key Features

OneNote shines with its hierarchical organization system - notebooks contain sections which hold individual pages. 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.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Cross-platform availability, generous free storage (5GB), freeform canvas, seamless MS 365 integration.
• Cons: Syncing issues, complex interface for beginners, limited formatting compared to Word.

Best Use Case

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

Apple Notes

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.

Key Features

Apple Notes boasts a clean, minimalist interface. It excels in basic organization through folders and Smart Folders. The Quick Note feature enables instant note creation from anywhere on your device. Furthermore, it includes powerful search capabilities with built-in OCR that locates text even within images.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Completely free, seamless Apple sync, face ID protection, real-time collaboration.
• Cons: No Windows/Android app, basic collaboration features, limited organization for large databases.

Google Keep

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.

Key Features

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. Organization revolves around color coding, labels, and pinning important notes.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Free with 15GB storage, intuitive interface, real-time sync, great for lists.
• Cons: No text formatting, character limit per note, limited structure.

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.

Key Features

At its core, Notion uses a block-based structure where each piece of content becomes a building block. 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.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Extremely flexible, generous free plan, seamless integrations, real-time collaboration.
• Cons: Steep learning curve, performance issues with large data, limited offline functionality.

Obsidian

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.

Key Features

Obsidian's standout feature is its bidirectional linking system that connects related ideas, creating an interactive knowledge graph. The recently added Canvas feature provides a limitless playground for visual thinking.

Pros and Cons

• Pros: Complete privacy, powerful linking, works offline, fast performance.
• Cons: Steep learning curve, markdown required, limited mobile functionality.

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.

Zoho Notebook

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.

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. It offers a powerful AI suite including AI Writer, Doc Builder, and Translator.

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.

Hive Notes

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.

Guru

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.

tl;dv

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.

Fireflies

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

Fathom

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

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.

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Comparison Table: Top Note Taking Apps

App Name	Key Features	Free Storage/Pricing	Best Use Case
Microsoft OneNote	Hierarchical org, multimedia, OCR	5GB free	Lecture notes & research
Apple Notes	Smart Folders, Quick Note, OCR	5GB iCloud	Quick capture (Apple ecosystem)
Google Keep	Voice memo, color coding, labels	15GB shared	Quick notes & lists
Notion	Databases, blocks, AI integration	Unlimited blocks	Complex projects & knowledge base
Obsidian	Bidirectional linking, local storage	Free core app	Comprehensive study systems
Joplin	End-to-end encryption, offline-first	Free core app	Secure academic notes
Zoho Notebook	Gesture controls, smart cards	2GB free	Daily schedules & multimedia
Bit.ai	AI suite, real-time co-editing	50 docs free	Group research projects

(Swipe table left/right on mobile)

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.

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.

Frequently Asked Questions

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.

Which note-taking app works best across multiple devices?

Google Keep is an excellent choice for cross-platform users. It offers 15GB of shared storage, real-time syncing, and works seamlessly across Android, iOS, Windows, macOS, and browsers.

What's the most customizable note-taking app?

Notion is highly customizable and ideal for managing complex projects. It offers a block-based structure, multiple view options, and database capabilities.

Are there any privacy-focused note-taking apps?

Yes, both Obsidian and Joplin prioritize user privacy. Obsidian stores notes locally on your device, while Joplin offers end-to-end encryption.

How can AI tools improve note-taking?

AI tools like Fathom and tl;dv can automatically record and transcribe lectures or meetings, allowing students to stay fully engaged during discussions without worrying about manual note-taking.