The iPad is a powerful tool for note-taking, allowing you to create, organize, and access your notes in a digital format. Whether you are a student, professional, or someone who likes to stay organized, having the right note-taking app can make all the difference. From handwritten notes to typed text and everything in between, these apps can help you stay on top of your tasks and ideas. Here’s a roundup of the best note-taking apps for iPad users in 2025.
1. GoodNotes 5
Best For: Handwritten Notes and Organization
GoodNotes is one of the most popular note-taking apps for iPad users, especially for those who prefer handwriting over typing. The app allows you to write and draw freely on digital paper, giving you the feel of pen and paper with the added benefits of digital organization.
-
Key Features:
-
Handwriting recognition to search through handwritten notes.
-
Customizable templates (lined, grid, blank, etc.).
-
Infinite canvas for drawing and taking notes.
-
Syncs across devices via iCloud.
-
GoodNotes is great for students, designers, and professionals who prefer handwritten notes but want the convenience of digital organization.
2. Notability
Best For: Versatility in Media and Notes
Notability is another highly regarded note-taking app that excels at combining typing, handwriting, and multimedia. It’s ideal for users who need to annotate PDFs, record audio notes, or combine text and drawings in their notes.
-
Key Features:
-
Audio recording that syncs with your notes.
-
Ability to annotate PDFs and images.
-
Multi-note feature for working on two notes at once.
-
Cloud sync across all devices via iCloud, Dropbox, and Google Drive.
-
Notability is a great option for students who need to record lectures or anyone who wants to incorporate multimedia elements into their notes.
3. Microsoft OneNote
Best For: Cross-Platform Integration
Microsoft OneNote is a versatile and free note-taking app that seamlessly integrates with other Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel, and Outlook. If you already use Office 365, OneNote is a great addition to your productivity tools, especially if you need to sync your notes across different devices.
-
Key Features:
-
Multi-user collaboration for sharing notes.
-
Wide array of formatting tools, including tagging and highlighting.
-
Supports audio and video notes.
-
Cloud sync with OneDrive for access on any device.
-
OneNote is perfect for anyone in need of a cross-platform solution that integrates with the Microsoft ecosystem, such as students, professionals, and teams.
4. Evernote
Best For: Organizing Large Volumes of Notes
Evernote is one of the longest-standing note-taking apps, and it remains a powerful option for iPad users. It is particularly helpful for users who need to organize large amounts of information and want easy access to their notes, images, and files from anywhere.
-
Key Features:
-
Syncs across multiple devices.
-
Web clipper to save online content directly into Evernote.
-
Tags and notebooks for organizing notes.
-
Premium version includes advanced search and offline access.
-
Evernote is excellent for people who need to organize research, store information, or save important content from the web, such as researchers, writers, or business professionals.
5. Apple Notes
Best For: Simplicity and Integration with iOS
For those who prefer a simple, no-frills note-taking app, Apple Notes offers a great solution. Integrated directly into iOS, Apple Notes is incredibly easy to use and syncs across all your Apple devices via iCloud. The app has improved significantly over the years, adding more features without compromising its simplicity.
-
Key Features:
-
Quick and easy note creation.
-
Built-in scanner to digitize documents.
-
Password protection for sensitive notes.
-
Syncs with iCloud for access on all Apple devices.
-
Apple Notes is perfect for iPad users who want an intuitive, lightweight app that doesn’t require a steep learning curve, making it ideal for casual note-taking or to-do lists.
6. Bear
Best For: Clean Interface and Markdown Support
Bear is a beautiful and simple note-taking app that stands out for its clean design and support for Markdown formatting. It’s a great choice for those who prefer a minimalist interface while still having advanced formatting options at their disposal.
-
Key Features:
-
Support for Markdown for clean text formatting.
-
Cross-device syncing via iCloud.
-
Organizational features with hashtags and nested tags.
-
Focus mode for distraction-free writing.
-
Bear is best for writers, bloggers, and anyone who wants a clutter-free note-taking experience with the ability to export their notes in various formats.
7. Zoho Notebook
Best For: Visual Note-Taking
Zoho Notebook is a highly visual note-taking app that allows you to create notes with images, sketches, and audio. It is a great option for people who want to capture ideas visually or need to combine different types of media in their notes.
-
Key Features:
-
Customizable notebooks with unique cover designs.
-
Ability to create text, audio, and photo notes.
-
Syncs across devices and platforms.
-
Web clipper to save online content.
-
Zoho Notebook is perfect for those who want to combine multimedia in their notes, such as designers, artists, and creative professionals.
8. Notion
Best For: All-in-One Workspace
Notion has gained popularity for its flexibility, allowing users to create personalized note systems, databases, to-do lists, and more. It’s a great option for users who want a comprehensive workspace to handle more than just note-taking, such as task management and project planning.
-
Key Features:
-
Customizable pages and templates.
-
Rich media support (tables, calendars, tasks, etc.).
-
Real-time collaboration.
-
Syncs across devices with a cloud-based system.
-
Notion is perfect for users who need a fully customizable workspace, ideal for organizing complex projects and collaborating with teams.
9. Nebo
Best For: Handwriting to Text Conversion
Nebo is a unique note-taking app that focuses on converting your handwritten notes into typed text, making it an excellent tool for those who like to handwrite but need the convenience of digital text. It is especially useful for people who take notes during meetings, lectures, or brainstorming sessions.
-
Key Features:
-
Handwriting recognition and conversion to text.
-
Ability to organize notes with tags and headings.
-
Supports diagrams, sketches, and equations.
-
Cloud sync for access across devices.
-
Nebo is a great choice for professionals and students who want the flexibility of handwriting with the added benefit of digital searchability and organization.
10. LiquidText
Best For: Research and Annotation
LiquidText is a powerful note-taking app designed for research and deep analysis. It allows you to pull out key sections from documents, highlight text, and connect ideas in a fluid and dynamic way. This app is perfect for anyone who deals with large amounts of information and needs a tool for annotating and synthesizing research.
-
Key Features:
-
Pull-out and annotate text directly from documents.
-
Connect notes with floating connections.
-
Multi-document workspace for comparing information.
-
Syncs across devices via iCloud.
-
LiquidText is an excellent option for researchers, students, and professionals who need to work with complex documents and analyze large amounts of information.
Conclusion
Choosing the best note-taking app for your iPad depends on your needs, whether it’s handwriting, organizing research, or collaborating with others. Apps like GoodNotes and Notability are perfect for users who prefer a more tactile, handwritten approach, while Microsoft OneNote and Evernote offer powerful organizational features and cross-platform syncing. If you want something simple, Apple Notes might be all you need, while Notion is an all-in-one workspace for those looking to manage more than just notes. Whatever your preference, there’s an app that can help you stay productive and organized on your iPad.
