Notes · 9 tools compared
What is the best note-taking app in 2026?
Short answer
Goodnotes ranks first on published facts: a free plan (3 files, 5 MB import), paid plans from $11.99 / yr. 8 of 9 have a free plan.
| Tool | Best for | Free plan | From | 1st year |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Goodnotes | Handwritten notes and PDF annotation | Yes | $11.99 / yr | $11.99 |
| 2. Notability | Handwritten notes on Apple devices | Yes | $11.99 / yr | $11.99 |
| 3. Google Keep | Quick notes and checklists | Yes | Free | $0 |
| 4. Apple Notes | Free notes for Apple device owners | Yes | Free | $0 |
| 5. Obsidian | Local-first Markdown notes with plugins | Yes | $4 / mo | $48 |
| 6. Evernote | Personal note capture with web clipper | Yes | $8.25 / mo | $99 |
| 7. Craft | Polished docs and notes for Apple users | Yes | $5 / mo | $60 |
| 8. Microsoft OneNote | Microsoft 365 users who want notebooks | No | $9.99 / mo | $119.88 |
| 9. Notion | Docs, wikis and projects in one workspace | Yes | $10 / seat / mo | $600 |
From = cheapest paid plan, billed yearly where offered. 1st year = that plan for 12 months.
How did we rank these 9 note-taking apps?
On published facts only, scored out of 7: free plan (2, or 1 for a trial), first-year cost against the others (up to 3), three or more paid plans (1), mobile apps (1). We do not test tools hands-on.
| Tool | Score / 7 |
|---|---|
| Goodnotes | 6.3 |
| Notability | 6.3 |
| Google Keep | 6 |
| Apple Notes | 6 |
| Obsidian | 5.5 |
| Evernote | 4.8 |
| Craft | 4.1 |
| Microsoft OneNote | 3.4 |
| Notion | 2 |
The 9 best note-taking apps, ranked
Goodnotes
Best for: handwritten notes and PDF annotation
- Free plan
- Yes, 3 files, 5 MB import
- From
- $11.99 / yr
- 1st year
- $11.99
Notability
Best for: handwritten notes on Apple devices
- Free plan
- Yes, 5 free notes
- From
- $11.99 / yr
- 1st year
- $11.99
Google Keep
Best for: quick notes and checklists
- Free plan
- Yes, free, uses Google account storage (15 GB)
- From
- Free
- 1st year
- $0
Apple Notes
Best for: free notes for Apple device owners
- Free plan
- Yes, included with iCloud on Apple devices
- From
- Free
- 1st year
- $0
Obsidian
Best for: local-first Markdown notes with plugins
- Free plan
- Yes, app free; sync and publish are paid add-ons
- From
- $4 / mo
- 1st year
- $48
Evernote
Best for: personal note capture with web clipper
- Free plan
- Yes, 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 device
- From
- $8.25 / mo
- 1st year
- $99
Craft
Best for: polished docs and notes for Apple users
- Free plan
- Yes, 1,500 blocks, 1 personal space
- From
- $5 / mo
- 1st year
- $60
Microsoft OneNote
Best for: Microsoft 365 users who want notebooks
- Free plan
- No, 30-day trial
- From
- $9.99 / mo
- 1st year
- $119.88
Notion
Best for: docs, wikis and projects in one workspace
- Free plan
- Yes, single-user workspace, limited blocks for teams
- From
- $10 / seat / mo
- 1st year
- $600
Which note-taking app is cheapest?
Google Keep, at $0 for the first year, then Apple Notes at $0.
| Tool | Cheapest plan | 1st year |
|---|---|---|
| Google Keep | Free | $0 |
| Apple Notes | Free | $0 |
| Goodnotes | Essential | $11.99 |
| Notability | Lite | $11.99 |
| Obsidian | Sync Standard | $48 |
| Craft | Plus | $60 |
| Evernote | Starter | $99 |
| Microsoft OneNote | Microsoft 365 Personal | $119.88 |
| Notion | Plus | $600 |
Which note-taking apps have a free plan?
8 of 9: Goodnotes, Notability, Google Keep, Apple Notes, Obsidian, Evernote, Craft, Notion.
- Goodnotes: 3 files, 5 MB import
- Notability: 5 free notes
- Google Keep: free, uses Google account storage (15 GB)
- Apple Notes: included with iCloud on Apple devices
- Obsidian: app free; sync and publish are paid add-ons
- Evernote: 50 notes, 1 notebook, 1 device
- Craft: 1,500 blocks, 1 personal space
- Notion: single-user workspace, limited blocks for teams
Sources
| Vendor page | URL | Checked |
|---|---|---|
| Goodnotes pricing | goodnotes.com/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Notability pricing | notability.com/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Google Keep pricing | workspace.google.com/products/keep/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Apple Notes pricing | apple.com/icloud/ | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Obsidian pricing | obsidian.md/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Evernote pricing | evernote.com/compare-plans | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Craft pricing | craft.do/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Microsoft OneNote pricing | microsoft.com/en-us/microsoft-365/onenote/digital-note-taking-app | 27 Oct 2026 |
| Notion pricing | notion.com/pricing | 27 Oct 2026 |
Prices in USD as published by each vendor, billed yearly where offered. How we compare