rabbit.reviews

The Best Note Taking Apps

Updated April 2026·Experts: PCMag, Tom's Guide

Best OverallMicrosoft OneNote

Microsoft OneNote

OneNote wins because it's free, powerful, and works for everyone from students to executives. If you're not sure what you need, start here.

What holds up

  • Completely free with no premium tier required
  • Highly flexible, supports text, images, audio, and freehand drawing
  • Deep integration with Microsoft 365 and Copilot AI
  • Works across all major platforms

What to know

  • Interface can feel cluttered compared to minimalist alternatives
  • AI features require Microsoft 365 subscription
  • Less suited for Markdown-heavy or developer workflows
What people say
OneNote is the first application most people should consider when looking for a note-taking app.
PCMag
Read the full breakdown →
Best for Power UsersObsidian

Obsidian

If you're the type who builds a second brain and links ideas together, Obsidian is in a class of its own. The community around it is massive and the plugin ecosystem is unmatched.

What holds up

  • Notes stored locally as plain Markdown files, you own your data forever
  • Powerful bi-directional linking and graph view for connecting ideas
  • Massive plugin ecosystem for customization
  • Free for personal use

What to know

  • Steep learning curve for non-technical users
  • Sync across devices requires paid Obsidian Sync or third-party solution
  • No built-in collaboration features
What people say
Obsidian is popular with people who like linking notes and building a personal knowledge base.
Reddit user
Read the full breakdown →
Best for CollaborationNotion

Notion

Notion is overkill for simple note-taking, but if you want a hub for your entire work life, nothing else comes close. Just be ready for a learning curve.

What holds up

  • Extremely versatile, notes, databases, wikis, and project management in one app
  • Excellent AI integration for summarizing and generating content
  • Strong collaboration and sharing features
  • Generous free tier for personal use

What to know

  • Overly complicated for users who just want simple notes
  • Does not work offline reliably
  • Can become slow with large workspaces
What people say
Notion is a good note-taking app for collaborating and is packed with features, including excellent AI integration, but it's overly complicated and doesn't work offline.
PCMag
Read the full breakdown →
Best for PrivacyJoplin

Joplin

Joplin is the rare app that's both free and genuinely privacy-respecting. If you've ever felt uneasy about your notes sitting in a corporate cloud, this is your answer.

What holds up

  • Fully open-source and free with no subscription
  • Notes stored locally by default, complete data ownership
  • Supports Markdown with a clean editor
  • Optional sync via your own cloud (Nextcloud, Dropbox, etc.)

What to know

  • Interface is functional but not polished compared to commercial apps
  • No built-in collaboration features
  • Mobile apps are less refined than desktop
What people say
The privacy-respecting Joplin gives you complete ownership of your notes by storing them locally on your device by default.
PCMag
Read the full breakdown →
Best for Quick CaptureGoogle Keep

Google Keep

Keep is what you use when you just need to write something down right now. It's not a knowledge base, but for quick capture and reminders it beats everything else on speed.

What holds up

  • Extremely fast and simple, minimal learning curve
  • Supports text, checklists, audio recordings, and photos
  • Free with seamless Google account integration
  • Color-coded notes and labels for basic organization

What to know

  • Limited formatting and organizational features
  • Not suitable for long-form or structured notes
  • No offline-first or privacy-focused storage options
What people say
Where many note keeping services focus on rich feature sets, Google Keep tries to do the opposite, aiming for a fairly simple cloud-based note taking app that still supports a wide variety of inputs such as text notes, checklists, audio and photos.
Tom's Guide
Read the full breakdown →