Best Note Taking Software 2026
16 note taking tools analyzed. Top 3 ranked by real user feedback patterns.
App — Write beautifully on iPhone, iPad, and Mac
/100
Score breakdown
Top reported issues
- UsabilityApple-only: No native Windows or Android apps
- ReliabilityBear notes not syncing between devices
- UsabilityNo folders - Bear only organizes with tags
App — A quiet place to write
/100
Score breakdown
Top reported issues
- UsabilityPoor for long-form writing like books or screenplays
- UsabilityWeak library organization - no tree structure
- PricingWhy is iA Writer so expensive? Separate purchase per platform
App — Build amazing documents
/100
Score breakdown
Top reported issues
- PricingCraft free plan limited to 1,500 blocks
- UsabilityCluttered UI with confusing navigation
- UsabilityFormatting and editing is cumbersome
Other note taking tools
Obsidian
App — A second brain, for you, forever
Ulysses
App — The Ultimate Writing App
Capacities
App — Object-based note-taking and personal knowledge management app
Anytype
App — Local-first, end-to-end encrypted notes and objects app
Reflect
App — Networked note-taking app with daily notes, backlinks and AI
Logseq
App — Privacy-first, open-source outliner and knowledge base
Coda
Saas — Docs that work like apps: pages, tables, formulas, Packs and automations in one doc (now Superhuman Docs)
Notion
Saas — The connected workspace for your docs, projects, and knowledge
Tana
Saas — Outliner and knowledge graph with supertags, AI and meeting notes
Mem
Saas — Your AI Thought Partner
Roam Research
Saas — A note-taking tool for networked thought
Evernote
App — Tame your work, organize your life
Scrivener
App — The biggest-selling writing app for Mac and Windows
How we rank note taking tools
Our rankings are based on AI-driven analysis of real user feedback from platforms like G2, Capterra, Reddit, and other review sources. We extract signal patterns across pricing, usability, performance, support, reliability, and onboarding to generate an overall score for each product.
Unlike sponsored "best of" lists, our rankings reflect what users actually experience — including hidden costs, common complaints, and dealbreakers that marketing pages won't tell you.