Key Summary
FAQs
What are the best note-taking apps for university?
Popular options include Evernote and Google Keep for straightforward, free note-taking, Notability and Flexcil for handwriting and PDF annotation, OneNote for a classic notebook-style layout, and Notion for an all-in-one workspace that also handles to-do lists and project planning.
What's the best free note-taking app for university?
Evernote and Google Keep are both genuinely useful free options, good for typed notes, to-do lists and quick reminders. Notion also offers a free Personal Pro plan for students with a university email, which unlocks its full features at no cost.
What's the best app for handwritten notes and annotating PDFs?
Notability is a strong choice on iOS, letting you type or handwrite notes, annotate PDFs, and even record audio alongside your writing. It's now free to download with an optional paid subscription for extras like unlimited editing and handwriting recognition, so you can try it out before committing to anything.
Is Notion good for university, or is it overkill?
It depends on how much you want in one place. Notion works well if you like keeping notes, reading lists, to-do lists and even spreadsheets in a single connected workspace, but if you just want something simple for jotting down lecture notes, a lighter app like Evernote or Google Keep might suit you better.
Can I record lectures alongside my notes?
Yes, apps like Notability let you record audio while you write, then sync the recording to the exact point in your notes so you can jump back to what was being said. Flexcil offers similar functionality and is available on both iOS and Android if you're not on an iPhone or iPad.
What note-taking app works well across both Windows and Mac?
OneNote is a solid choice here, since it's built by Microsoft and works across Windows, Mac, iOS and Android, with the option to use it free or as part of a Microsoft 365 subscription. Notion and Google Keep are also cross-platform if you want something lighter.
Do I need a note-taking app if I prefer writing by hand?
Not necessarily, but apps like Notability and Flexcil are designed specifically for handwriting on a tablet, giving you the feel of a notebook while keeping everything searchable and backed up. If you write on paper and just want digital backup, a scanning app or your phone's camera might be all you need.
How do I choose the right note-taking app for my course?
Think about whether your course involves a lot of PDFs and readings (favouring Notability or Flexcil), heavy typing and organisation (OneNote or Notion), or quick, simple notes on the go (Evernote or Google Keep). Most of these offer free versions or trials, so it's worth testing a couple before settling on one for the whole year.
One of the hardest things about going to lectures is desperately trying to keep up with the lecturer. Making sure your notes are coherent and readable can prove rather difficult, so sometimes it’s just easier to rely on a note-taking app. If you’re trying to figure out the best way to take notes, we’ve got a list of all the best note-taking apps for university.
1. Evernote
This app is available on Android, iPhone and iPad. It lets you take notes, create to-do lists and organise your notes, all in one app. It also lets you capture photos and record voice reminders, as well as making your notes searchable!
The app is free, and is great for processing hand-written notes and clipping articles and for storing them alongside your typed and recorded notes. Perfect for seminars, lectures and homework, and is pretty easy to use.
2. Notability
Available on iOS, Notability is a really versatile app that is great for university. You can type or write notes in ‘notebooks’ and organise them into folders. The app also lets you annotate PDFs (which is so useful at university). You get a choice of coloured pens, brushes and highlighters, and can drag and drop images and files into notes, as well as add audio. The app even lets you record audio whilst taking notes!
The app costs $7.99 and is available in the Apple App store. It’s perfect for anyone who loves using multi-modal notes and organising their work.
3. Flexcil 2 Note & PDF Reader
Flexcil is available on iOS and Android and is perfect for anyone looking for a productivity boost. It is perfect for bullet journaling, taking notes or editing pages. You can highlight, capture images and text and you can save time by transcribing through the app. Flexcil lets you handwrite or type notes and compile them in notebook style pages.
The app is free on the Play and App Store and is great for anyone who is going to have a lot of PDF editing and reading to do.
4. OneNote
Made by Microsoft, OneNote is a dedicated note-taking app and resembles an actual notebook. You can create separate notebooks and divide them into sections with colourful tabs. It also lets you search through your notes, add videos, images and highlight your notes. You can even annotate or add drawings to them, and the software’s Immersive Reader will read your notes back to you.
Download the app for Windows 10, or pay for the Microsoft 365 subscription to use the app.
5. Google Keep
Google Keep is free to use and all you need is a Google account. It is great for keeping track of assignments and to-do lists, and is a perfect way to digitise sticky notes that are littering your halls wall. You can set reminders and make notes on the app and share lists with other people (perfect for those god-awful group projects).
Available on all Google and Android phones or as a Chrome Extension.
6. Simplenote
This app is really user friendly. It has a clean interface and can display longer notes than similarly styled Google Keep. Its interface combines the best of a notebook with sticky notes and is available for free on Windows, MacOS, Android, iOS and Linux.
7. Notion
Notion has taken TikTok by storm, and it’s no secret why. It is known for being a solid, all-in-one workspace. You can use the Personal Pro subscription for free with a university email and it lets you organise your notes, add images, videos, to-do lists, spreadsheets, equations and reading lists. It also lets you publish pages and share them with others.
Notion is available for macOS, Windows, iOS and Android.
Apps are a great way of helping study sessions go smoother. These note-taking apps help take the painful method of scribbling as fast as your teacher talks away. We’ve got more great apps to help you with exams here too.