Looking to take your note-taking game to the next level with an iPad? The right app makes recording and organizing notes effortlessly. There are several best note-taking apps for iPad in 2023.
The iPad is an amazing device for handwritten notes with the Apple Pencil. But you need a great app to truly unlock its potential for note-taking.
The best iPad note apps allow you to write, type, draw, annotate, save, and find notes quickly.
Top features include palm rejection, extensive formatting options, cloud syncing across devices, PDF annotation, Apple Pencil optimization, and more.
We’ll cover the most popular free and paid note apps for iPad. Key factors like interface, available tools, overall performance, and price help determine the best options.
Whether you want a basic notepad or advanced features for school and work, these 10 note-taking apps for iPad offer the perfect fit. Let’s dive in!
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Best Free Note-Taking Apps for iPad
Here are the best free note-taking apps for iPad:
1. Apple Notes
Apple’s built-in Notes app provides a free simple note-taking option that syncs across all your Apple devices.
Key Features:
- Create handwritten or typed notes
- Add drawings, photos, checklists
- Organize notes into folders
- Search notes by keyword
- Share notes with others
- Secure locked notes
Best for: Quick, basic note-taking tied to your iCloud account.
2. Google Keep
Google’s note app lets you capture thoughts across phones, tablets, computers, and the web.
Key Features:
- Colorful virtual sticky notes
- Set text, image, audio, and checklist reminders
- Share notes and collaborate with others
- Search by label or content
- Backs up notes automatically
Best for: Simple notes to quickly capture ideas, share, and remind yourself.
3. OneNote
Microsoft OneNote helps you take, organize, and share digital notes across devices and platforms.
Key Features:
- Type, write, record audio, or snap pics
- Insert images, videos, and documents
- Create notebooks with section tabs
- Access notes from any device
- Share notebooks for team collaboration
Best for: Longform note-taking and seamless use across the Windows/iOS ecosystem.
Best Paid Note-Taking Apps for iPad
Here are the best paid note-taking apps for iPad:
4. Notability
Notability is widely considered the best iPad note-taking app, with easy organization tools and deep Apple Pencil integration.
Key Features:
- Handwrite or type notes
- Record audio synced to notes
- Draw, annotate PDFs, add images/media
- Create folders and search notes
- Share notes via email, AirDrop
- iCloud sync across devices
Best for: Comprehensive note-taking with powerful organization and study tools.
5. GoodNotes 5
Top-rated GoodNotes 5 excels at digital handwriting and annotating PDFs with the Apple Pencil.
Key Features:
- Realistic thick & thin ink strokes
- One-tap lasso select and move portions of writing
- Annotate and mark up PDFs
- Custom notebooks with template covers
- Password protects sensitive notes
Best for: Natural handwriting feel with robust PDF markup capabilities.
6. Nebo App
Nebo employs AI to convert handwriting into typed text for easy organization and editing.
Key Features:
- Handwrite notes then transform them into editable text
- Create diagrams, shapes, and equations
- Sync and search notes in the cloud
- Export as Word, PDF, slides, and more
- Protect notes with fingerprint/face ID
Best for: People with messy handwriting who want their notes digitized.
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7. Noteshelf
Noteshelf makes handwriting with Apple Pencil feel exceptionally natural. Notes convert to text for searching.
Key Features:
- Fluid ink flow adapts to writing speed
- Best-in-class palm rejection technology
- Convert handwriting into text
- Organize notes in custom notebooks
- Audio recording aligns with notes
Best for: Mimicking real pen & paper with adaptable handwriting-to-text.
8. Noteboom
Noteboom focuses on lightning-fast, intuitive organization with endless notebooks and tags.
Key Features:
- Create unlimited notebooks
- Use tags for quick note search
- Group notebooks into workspaces
- Customize covers and templates
- Secure notebooks with Face ID/passcode
- Share notes via email, AirDrop
Best for: Super-flexible organization with easy searching and notebook grouping.
9. MyScript Nebo App
Nebo employs AI to convert handwriting into typed text for easy organization and editing.
Key Features:
- Handwrite notes then transform them into editable text
- Create diagrams, shapes, and equations
- Sync and search notes in the cloud
- Export as Word, PDF, slides, and more
- Protect notes with fingerprint/face ID
Best for: People with messy handwriting who want their notes digitized.
Key Factors in Choosing an iPad Note App
Handwriting vs. Typing – If you’ll take mainly handwritten notes, ensure good Palm Rejection and Apple Pencil optimization. If typing, text formatting options help.
Organization – Look for easy ways to structure, search, group, and share notes based on your needs.
Price – Paid apps offer more advanced features. But free options like Apple Notes provide core functionality.
Cloud Sync – Choose an app that stores notes in the cloud for access across devices.
Security – Lock sensitive notes with fingerprint/face ID or password if privacy is a concern.
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To Sum Up
The best iPad note-taking apps like Notability, GoodNotes 5, and Nebo allow you to record ideas on the go and find info easily later.
Test different options to pick the right one based on your note-taking style and needs.
Whatever you choose, using a digital note app on the iPad makes capturing, organizing, and accessing important information easier than ever.
It is time to do away with notebooks full of scribbles and embrace simple, effective note-taking.
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