Best Note-Taking Apps in 2026
Capture ideas, organize knowledge, and build your second brain with the right note-taking tool.
By Toolradar Editorial Team · Updated
Notion is best for collaborative teams and those who want notes, docs, and databases in one tool. Obsidian excels for personal knowledge management with its linked-note approach. Apple Notes is surprisingly powerful for Apple users wanting simplicity. For legacy Evernote users, consider switching to Notion or Obsidian—Evernote has fallen behind.
Note-taking apps have evolved from simple text editors into powerful knowledge management systems. Today's tools offer backlinks, databases, AI assistance, and collaboration features that would've seemed like science fiction a decade ago. But this power comes with complexity—and the 'best' app depends entirely on how you think and work. This guide cuts through the feature marketing to focus on what actually matters for different types of thinkers and workflows.
What Are Modern Note-Taking Apps?
Modern note-taking apps go far beyond storing text. They're personal knowledge bases that help you capture, connect, and retrieve information. Key innovations include bidirectional linking (connecting notes that reference each other), block-based editing (treating paragraphs as movable units), and database views (organizing notes like spreadsheet rows). The best apps become extensions of your thinking process.
Why Your Choice of Note App Matters
Your notes are your external brain—where ideas develop and knowledge compounds over time. The wrong tool creates friction that discourages note-taking entirely. The right tool makes capturing and connecting ideas so natural that your note system becomes genuinely valuable. Switching apps later is painful, as years of notes become trapped in proprietary formats. Choose carefully from the start.
Key Features to Look For
Access notes on phone, tablet, and computer
Format text, embed images, files, and links
Find any note instantly with full-text search
Folders, tags, or links to structure notes
Work without internet connection
See which notes reference the current one
Consistent formats for recurring note types
Share and co-edit notes with others
Summarize, search, or write with AI assistance
How to Choose a Note-Taking App
Evaluation Checklist
Pricing Overview
Notion (personal, unlimited), Obsidian (personal, local files), Apple Notes (with iCloud)
Notion Plus ($10/user), Obsidian Sync ($5/mo add-on), Evernote Personal ($14.99/mo)
Notion Business ($18/user), Obsidian Commercial ($50/user/yr), Evernote Teams ($24.99/user/mo)
Top Picks
Based on features, user feedback, and value for money.
Teams and individuals wanting notes, docs, wikis, and databases in one tool
Knowledge workers building personal knowledge bases with full data ownership
Apple ecosystem users wanting simple, fast, reliable note-taking
Mistakes to Avoid
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Spending weeks building a 'perfect' Notion system before taking a single useful note — start with a blank page and add structure only when you have 50+ notes
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Paying $14.99/mo for Evernote Personal when Notion (free) and Obsidian (free) offer more features — Evernote's value proposition has collapsed since 2022
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Choosing Obsidian for team collaboration — it's designed for personal knowledge management; for teams, use Notion ($10/user/mo) or Confluence
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Not testing mobile capture speed — you'll capture 50% of ideas on your phone; if it takes >5 seconds to open and start typing, ideas are lost
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Importing 10,000 Evernote notes into a new app and never organizing them — migrate actively-used notes first (typically <200), archive the rest
Expert Tips
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Use Obsidian (free) for personal knowledge, Notion (free) for team docs — this combination covers 100% of note-taking needs at $0/month
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Set up a daily note template in Obsidian or Notion — daily notes become an effortless habit that captures meetings, ideas, and tasks automatically
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Export your notes to Markdown annually regardless of tool — Obsidian stores as Markdown natively; Notion requires manual export; Apple Notes needs third-party tools
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For Apple users: start with Apple Notes (free, zero setup) and only switch to Obsidian or Notion when you hit organization limits — most people never need more
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Test your search with deliberate retrieval — after 30 days, try to find 5 specific notes from memory; if you can't find them in <10 seconds, your organization system needs work
Red Flags to Watch For
- !No standard file format export — Notion uses its own format internally; exporting to Markdown loses database views and some formatting; this is real vendor lock-in
- !The app requires internet to access your own notes — Notion is unusable offline; if you take notes in meetings, airplanes, or areas with poor connectivity, this is a dealbreaker
- !Pricing jumps sharply at team size thresholds — Notion Plus is $10/user/mo for a team; at 20 users that's $200/mo just for note-taking
- !The free tier is a feature-gated trial, not a real plan — Evernote's free tier is so restricted (60MB/mo upload, 2 devices) that it's essentially a demo
The Bottom Line
Notion (free personal, $10/user/mo for teams) is the most versatile choice for collaborative teams and structured thinkers. Obsidian (free, local Markdown files) is best for personal knowledge management with full data ownership. Apple Notes (free) is perfect for Apple users who want zero-friction simplicity. Skip Evernote ($14.99/mo) — both Notion and Obsidian offer more for less.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is Evernote still worth using?
Evernote has struggled with pricing changes and feature stagnation. While it still works, most users are better served by Notion (for versatility) or Obsidian (for personal notes). Migration is relatively straightforward from Evernote to both.
What's the difference between folder-based and link-based organization?
Folder-based (like Apple Notes) puts each note in one place. Link-based (like Obsidian) lets notes exist independently and connects them through references. Links work better for interconnected knowledge; folders work better for distinct categories.
Should I worry about AI features in note apps?
AI can help summarize and search notes, but it's not essential. Focus on core note-taking quality first. AI features are a nice addition but shouldn't be the deciding factor for most users.
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