I have a notebook for everything. Whether it’s my own lectures or the classes I sit through, I keep notes in both paper and digital formats. I’ve been this way for years, and throughout it all, my old iPad Air and first-gen Apple Pencil have stuck by my side. I’ve tried just about every note-taking app on offer, and to this day, I still have my old favorites.

I’ve excluded Notebook LM from this list simply because it and similar apps are in a category of their own, using AI Models to visualize learning. These few apps keep it simple, which is exactly how I organize the best, and they’ll never leave my downloads folder because of it. Some of these may work best in terms of presentations, and some are simply the best scribble partners on the planet. It all depends on what you need, but if you learn how to efficiently use one of these three platforms, your note-taking skills will instantly benefit.

Notability

One of the biggest names in the game for a reason

I’ve had and used Notability the longest of any on this list, and I don’t regret it one bit. I bought into Notability even before its current tiered subscription setup, which can be maddening, from what others have told me, and paid for the lifetime subscription directly through the App Store over half a decade ago. They’ve recently brought this pricing option back, too, for $40 just in time for the Back to School craze.

Since then, the platform has only gotten better. Students can now record lectures while Notability transcribes and writes notes for them, and seamlessly lets users combine handwriting, typed text, sketches, photos, and even annotations all on the same page. Its AI functionality is simple but efficient and is meant to replace the common learning process of listening to a professor, taking notes, making flashcards, and then finally studying for the exam. It does all of these within its own ecosystem.

The unfortunate part here, though, is that those great AI features are still locked behind subscription windows. Remember when I said their tiers were maddening? Even I, as a “Classic” user, have to pay extra to use all of those great features. At this point, though, my study workflow is so streamlined that I rarely need them anyway. If you’re in the same boat, paying a one-time $40 fee for a lifetime subscription to a highly improved note-taking ecosystem is a pretty solid buy.

GoodNotes

The note-taking battle that isn’t going anywhere soon

The classic debate in the note-taking apps space is to side with Notability or GoodNotes, and I’m one of the few who I believe regularly uses both. GoodNotes, though, is what I use to organize my own lectures, as their White Board feature and shared note capabilities make collaborative learning much easier, even in class sizes of up to around 20 students. If it’s a classic notebook and collaborative layout you’re after, GoodNotes might be the better option for you, as its cross-platform usability makes it easier to swap and collaborate between devices whether they’re made by Apple or not.

GoodNotes offers a more customizable learning experience and has some helpful AI tools. Similar to Notability, though, those tools are locked behind subscription plans, although they aren’t as confusing as Notability’s setup. GoodNotes offers a Pro plan for $36 a year that adds all its AI capabilities into one, and an essential plan that runs $12 a year that still offers the full note-taking experience, but without all the AI upcharging.

Think of it this way: if all you’re after is a note-taking app to digitize your education, then GoodNotes is the plan for you. But say you need to revamp how you learn in the classroom? Paying for Notability might be the better choice. However, if you’re on an Apple device, there’s a great third option that doesn’t get enough shine.

Apple Notes

Ol’ Reliable has gotten some big improvements

Say you’re already like me, and you’re embedded deep into the Apple Ecosystem. If that’s the case, Apple Notes might be all you need, and it has many more features than its reputation may suggest, thanks to the last few iPad and iOS updates. The biggest boon here, though, is that it’s completely free on all Apple devices, so for students trying to keep costs down a few YouTube tutorials are all that’s between them and upping their study game.

Remember how I said that Notability will allow you to throw just about anything into one note document? The same can be said for Apple Notes. You can type, write with the Apple Pencil, draw, scan documents, add photos, record audio, and create tables or checklists all within one note these days.

Additionally, while Apple Intelligence may be lacking in comparison to its competitors, it does offer some helpful features for devices it’s equipped with. Apple Intelligence can summarize text or recordings and proofread any typed notes so that students aren’t confused when they check back in later on. Apple Notes perfectly summarizes the final attitude toward note-taking apps by asking one simple question: If you already have this, why download anything else?