Notability 4.4 One of the best-selling apps on iPad and iPhone is now on Mac! Notability is a powerful note-taker to annotate documents, sketch ideas, record lectures, take notes and more. Everything i have read on the subject of cleaning your touch screen monitor all confirms that the best solution is just a soft, damp cloth.cleaning chemicals of any kind would probably just fine but why risk any possible negative side effects.there are so many different types of screens really theres no way to judge with complete certainty that some random chemical could have some sort. #goingpaperless #paperless #notetaking #productivity Hey guys,What other comparisons would you guys like to see? Time stampsOrganisation of your notes 0:50Pr. The 2-in-1 Dell XPS 13 and the HP Spectre x360 are our favorites, but we've reviewed many touchscreen laptops that we loved. Check out our buying guide to see which touchscreen laptop is the best.
A couple of years ago, tablets were all the rage. While Apple iPad and Samsung's Android tablets dominated the race, there were lots of newcomers. The number of products available right now is limited when compared to the past. However, tablets have become more user-friendly, affordable and easy to use. The best tablets for taking notes makes it easier than using a laptop or a smartphone to take quick notes during school, in the office or while attending meetings.
Taking notes is one of the most important parts of everyone's life starting from business people, journalists, and college students. But gone are the days while people used to take out their pen and papers to take notes. Tablets are the most convenient devices to take notes as it just requires switching on the tablet and start taking notes easily which can be again edited or modified as per your requirement. Rapidweaver 5 2 1 ubkg download free.
While the market is full of numerous tablets from varieties of companies, it might be difficult for many of you to get the right piece and therefore we are here to help you out.
So, we have listed down here the 8 top best tablets for taking notes.
See Also: Top best laptops under $200 of 2019
Buying Guide
The entire tablet market has now been consolidated to a bunch of tablets with Apple's iPad and select Android devices. Choosing one particular model primarily for taking notes should be easy because all tablets sport a large screen, are usually lightweight and if bundled with a stylus, you need not think any further.
- Look for a stylus – The most productive accessory for a tablet you are buying for the purpose of taking notes is a stylus. While you can always purchase an affordable stylus in the aftermarket, some specific models from Samsung do bundle a stylus pen as part of the package. If note-taking is your primary use, go for one that includes the accessory.
- Display size – This is a complex area because some may opine large displays are easier to write on while smaller displays are compact and easy to hold in one hand. If you are a personal assistant or someone who is going to stand for hours taking notes, go for a compact display. Everyone else will find a large display convenient to use and consume content.
- Long-lasting battery life – Every meeting is important and you are not supposed to miss even trivial points. While leaving your tablet at the charging port is out of the question, consider the one that could last at least 10 hours of usage. iPads are great when it comes to nil battery drain when idle.
- Hybrid/ convertible models – Some users will find a laptop with a touchscreen more convenient to use. You can use it as a tablet when taking notes and convert it into a laptop for increased productivity. Consider convertible models if you want to be a productivity powerhouse.
- Compatibility with apps – Be it iOS or Android, there are dozens of note-taking apps and those that support hand-written notes. However, products like the customized Amazon Alexa tablet may restrict you from downloading some of these apps. Check if Microsoft Office, Adobe apps are supported on your tablet of choice.
Best Tablets For Taking Notes
Cheapest tablet for taking notes
Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa Support
This is the cheapest tablet around but comes from a reputable brand such as Amazon and delivers reliable build quality. If you have been wondering how they made it so cheap, it's because the tablet is filled with Amazon-affiliated services, books and other sponsored content which is kind of bloatware.
Despite all the shortcomings, the tablet is compact and makes it easy to take notes wherever you want to. The Fire 7 tablet sports a 7-inch display and is powered by a 1.3 GHz processor along with 8GB of storage space. It does support micro SD card and you can expand the memory further up to 256GB. The latest version also supports Amazon's voice AI Alexa.
The tablet runs on Android but some apps may not be available due to Amazon's restrictions. The device at this price point is even ideal to buy for a group of people or students to take notes using it's a built-in app or choose one from the store. The Fire 7 feels sturdy to hold, has a nice matte finish and also doubles up as a great device for media consumption.
Why should you buy this one?
- The pricing is unbelievably cheap and you can even buy more than one as a gift
- The specifications are ample for taking notes and media consumption as well as for some casual games
Premium tablet with a solid display
Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6-inch Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab E has a large 9.6-inch display which has a resolution of 1280×800 pixels. The resolution may not hinder your experience because movies, Youtube videos and books look as sharp as they could on this device. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz processor with 1.5 GB RAM. While the hardware specs may not sound too impressive, the tablet shines in real-world performance.
A major share of the reviews, both from experts and customers confirm that this tablet offers the best battery life and the display looks amazing. If you are wondering how it made it to the list of best tablets for taking notes despite its large display, here's the reason. The 9.6-inch display is very compact and you can hold it with one hand.
Samsung's build quality and its product support further sweeten the deal. While it may not be the cheapest tablet around, you have to spend some in order to get such an experience. The Samsung Galaxy Tab E also has a kids mode which lets you give it to young children to play games without accessing other apps or files. The 7,300 mAh battery will last nearly 12 hours ensuring all-day entertainment or full backup while taking notes.
Why should you buy this one?
- The large display allows you to view all your notes at a glance and makes it easy to type long notes
- The build quality is premium and should last longer
The best all-rounder from the past
Google Nexus 7
Google Nexus 7 is an old product by now but the tablet is still alive and kicking with a sturdy finish that will satisfy even the most demanding user. The 7-inch display combined with a soft rubber-like finish on the back allows you to hold it comfortably and use it for hours. The IPS display has a resolution of 1200×1920 pixels which was way ahead of its time when it got launched a couple of years ago.
Nexus 7 made by Asus and sold by Google is still an amazing all-rounder in every respect. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 8064 Quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM and its battery should easily last you about 10 hours. With thousands of positive reviews and a long life, you hardly have anything to complain about this product.
When buying the Nexus 7, be prepared that it may not run the latest Android apps in all its graphical glory. The tablet runs best on Android Kit Kat 4.4 while upgrading it to the newest version may slow it down a bit. The original launch was almost four years ago yet if taking notes, browsing the web and watching movies is your primary purpose, this is a great tablet to buy.
Why should you buy this one?
- The rubberized back provides better grip and it should be easier to take notes using this tablet
- Supported by Google, it gets access to most apps and also runs on Android 7.0 with a recent update
Best tablets for taking notes with iOS and compact size
Apple iPad Mini 4
With dozens of Android tablets around, it's easy for most buyers to forget the fact that Apple was the one that made tablets so popular in the first place. The iPad with its 9.7-inch display impressed and inspired everyone. The Apple iPad Mini 4 is the 4th generation mini model which is compact and has a smaller 7.9-inch display.
The display has a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, the best in its class. Retina Display is a technology that you can experience only with Apple products and they are becoming cheaper, especially iPads in the past few years. The iPad Mini 4 is powered by a dual-core A8 chip and it has an 8-megapixel iSight camera.
The mini-tablet has 128GB of storage capacity which is more than enough for all your files, photos and videos. The iOS experience is complete in this one albeit with a smaller display and Apple promises 10 hours of battery life. If you are a fan of iOS and need one of the best tablets for taking notes along with a premium build quality, the Apple iPad Mini 4 is the way to go.
Why should you buy this one?
- Apple makes the most premium tablets and they are much cheaper in the newer generation
- The iPad Mini 4 has a brilliant retina display and is fast, responsive at all times
Powerful specs and sleek metal frame
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8' Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A sports an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1024×768 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and has 1.5 GB of RAM with 16 GB of storage space. Similar to most other Android tablets, it does have a Micro SD card slot that you could make use of to expand the storage further.
The Galaxy Tab A 8-inch has originally launched a couple of years ago but it has got much cheaper and the display size is ideal for office work. While some may prefer the 7-inch models, this is one of the best tablets for taking notes if you need more screen estate and some space to keep your hands when typing.
Apart from being a reliable Android tablet, it also offers great battery life that should possibly deliver 15 hours of combined usage including browsing, watching movies and using apps. It can even handle some games that are not graphically intensive.
Cheapest tablet for taking notes
Fire 7 Tablet with Alexa Support
This is the cheapest tablet around but comes from a reputable brand such as Amazon and delivers reliable build quality. If you have been wondering how they made it so cheap, it's because the tablet is filled with Amazon-affiliated services, books and other sponsored content which is kind of bloatware.
Despite all the shortcomings, the tablet is compact and makes it easy to take notes wherever you want to. The Fire 7 tablet sports a 7-inch display and is powered by a 1.3 GHz processor along with 8GB of storage space. It does support micro SD card and you can expand the memory further up to 256GB. The latest version also supports Amazon's voice AI Alexa.
The tablet runs on Android but some apps may not be available due to Amazon's restrictions. The device at this price point is even ideal to buy for a group of people or students to take notes using it's a built-in app or choose one from the store. The Fire 7 feels sturdy to hold, has a nice matte finish and also doubles up as a great device for media consumption.
Why should you buy this one?
- The pricing is unbelievably cheap and you can even buy more than one as a gift
- The specifications are ample for taking notes and media consumption as well as for some casual games
Premium tablet with a solid display
Samsung Galaxy Tab E 9.6-inch Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab E has a large 9.6-inch display which has a resolution of 1280×800 pixels. The resolution may not hinder your experience because movies, Youtube videos and books look as sharp as they could on this device. It is powered by a 1.2 GHz processor with 1.5 GB RAM. While the hardware specs may not sound too impressive, the tablet shines in real-world performance.
A major share of the reviews, both from experts and customers confirm that this tablet offers the best battery life and the display looks amazing. If you are wondering how it made it to the list of best tablets for taking notes despite its large display, here's the reason. The 9.6-inch display is very compact and you can hold it with one hand.
Samsung's build quality and its product support further sweeten the deal. While it may not be the cheapest tablet around, you have to spend some in order to get such an experience. The Samsung Galaxy Tab E also has a kids mode which lets you give it to young children to play games without accessing other apps or files. The 7,300 mAh battery will last nearly 12 hours ensuring all-day entertainment or full backup while taking notes.
Why should you buy this one?
- The large display allows you to view all your notes at a glance and makes it easy to type long notes
- The build quality is premium and should last longer
The best all-rounder from the past
Google Nexus 7
Google Nexus 7 is an old product by now but the tablet is still alive and kicking with a sturdy finish that will satisfy even the most demanding user. The 7-inch display combined with a soft rubber-like finish on the back allows you to hold it comfortably and use it for hours. The IPS display has a resolution of 1200×1920 pixels which was way ahead of its time when it got launched a couple of years ago.
Nexus 7 made by Asus and sold by Google is still an amazing all-rounder in every respect. The device is powered by Qualcomm Snapdragon S4 Pro 8064 Quad-core processor with 2 GB of RAM and its battery should easily last you about 10 hours. With thousands of positive reviews and a long life, you hardly have anything to complain about this product.
When buying the Nexus 7, be prepared that it may not run the latest Android apps in all its graphical glory. The tablet runs best on Android Kit Kat 4.4 while upgrading it to the newest version may slow it down a bit. The original launch was almost four years ago yet if taking notes, browsing the web and watching movies is your primary purpose, this is a great tablet to buy.
Why should you buy this one?
- The rubberized back provides better grip and it should be easier to take notes using this tablet
- Supported by Google, it gets access to most apps and also runs on Android 7.0 with a recent update
Best tablets for taking notes with iOS and compact size
Apple iPad Mini 4
With dozens of Android tablets around, it's easy for most buyers to forget the fact that Apple was the one that made tablets so popular in the first place. The iPad with its 9.7-inch display impressed and inspired everyone. The Apple iPad Mini 4 is the 4th generation mini model which is compact and has a smaller 7.9-inch display.
The display has a resolution of 2048×1536 pixels, the best in its class. Retina Display is a technology that you can experience only with Apple products and they are becoming cheaper, especially iPads in the past few years. The iPad Mini 4 is powered by a dual-core A8 chip and it has an 8-megapixel iSight camera.
The mini-tablet has 128GB of storage capacity which is more than enough for all your files, photos and videos. The iOS experience is complete in this one albeit with a smaller display and Apple promises 10 hours of battery life. If you are a fan of iOS and need one of the best tablets for taking notes along with a premium build quality, the Apple iPad Mini 4 is the way to go.
Why should you buy this one?
- Apple makes the most premium tablets and they are much cheaper in the newer generation
- The iPad Mini 4 has a brilliant retina display and is fast, responsive at all times
Powerful specs and sleek metal frame
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 8' Tablet
The Samsung Galaxy Tab A sports an 8-inch display with a resolution of 1024×768 pixels. The device is powered by a 1.2 GHz quad-core processor and has 1.5 GB of RAM with 16 GB of storage space. Similar to most other Android tablets, it does have a Micro SD card slot that you could make use of to expand the storage further.
The Galaxy Tab A 8-inch has originally launched a couple of years ago but it has got much cheaper and the display size is ideal for office work. While some may prefer the 7-inch models, this is one of the best tablets for taking notes if you need more screen estate and some space to keep your hands when typing.
Apart from being a reliable Android tablet, it also offers great battery life that should possibly deliver 15 hours of combined usage including browsing, watching movies and using apps. It can even handle some games that are not graphically intensive.
Why should you buy this one?
- The display is noteworthy and makes it ideal for watching movies, taking notes or reading e-books
- Offers improved battery life allowing you to use the Galaxy Tab A 8-inch for more than a day before you need to charge it
Affordable, compact and supports voice AI Alexa
Fire HD8 Tablet
The world is moving towards a hands-free environment where voice AI is taking over and Amazon's Alexa is one of the most popular choices around. The Fire HD 8 is extremely cheap when compared to what brands like Samsung or Apple offer. Amazon made it possible by implementing many of its popular services into the tablet including Alexa.
You can send commands and actually take notes by reading it out to the voice AI. That's a convenient option that none of the other tablets can provide. The Fire HD 8 is bigger by an inch than the HD 7 but that does make a difference. The colorful tablet is available in a wide range of color choices. The tablet is powered by a 1.3 GHz processor with 1.5 GB of RAM and supports Dolby Audio making it awesome to consume media on this device.
Why should you buy this one?
- The 8-inch display is compact and easy to take notes
- It is affordable, supports Amazon store making it a good choice for book lovers
Other models worth buying
Best Tablet For Taking Note From Apple
iPad Pro 9.7-inch tablet (2016 Model)
iPad Pro 9.7 inch tablet is the perfect piece for taking note that is not big enough to carry while you can enjoy everything in the display with ease. Its Stylus pen lets you take note very comfortably. This brings a very personal touch. Also, the inclusion of powerful apps like Microsoft Word makes it much easier to take notes while the iMovie allows users to edit all kinds of 4K videos. It runs on iOS 10 and is powered by the most powerful A9X chip with 64‑bit architecture and an M9 processor. The 128 GB storage ensures you will hardly run short of memory.
Why Should You Buy This?
- One of the best tablets manufactured by Apple
- With the best camera any iPad has had, it is a great device for a photography enthusiast
One Of The Best Tablets For Taking Note With Immense Memory Space
Samsung Galaxy Note 10.1″
This is one of the best tablets for taking notes which is powered by the Samsung Exynos 5420 Quad-Core Processor at 1.9GHz, 3GB RAM and 32GB flash memory to let you enjoy lag-free performance. The display is big enough featuring a 10.1-inch screen of 2560×1600 WQXGA with 4 million pixels. The reason why this tablet is called as one of the best note-taking tablets is that it lets the users record speech, lecture, etc, along with taking notes with the S-pen at the same time. Also, photo editing is also possible due to the presence of Adobe Photoshop Touch. So, improve your note-taking experience through the proper usage of this tablet.
Why Should You Buy This?
- The improved S Pen is a great value addition for this product and for those who like to use a Stylus
- The portable build makes it easy to carry around to different places
One Of The Best Tablets For Taking Note With Powerful processor
Microsoft Surface Pro 4
If you are a fan of Windows rather than the iOS then look for this tablet which is a great option from Microsoft. Microsoft Surface Pro 4 is a great addition to your table which makes note-taking really fun with the included stylus pen. It is available in numerous options from Intel Core i5 to i7 while the RAM can be from 4GB to 16 GB. But in order to get the powerful one, you should be ready to pay a bit extra.
Why Should You Buy This?
- It offers one of the best surface pens included with any tablet
- The TypeCover Case is excellent and almost justifies the cost of the device
One Of The Best Note-Taking Tablet With Longer Battery Life
Apple iPad Air MD785LL/A
This is another name to mention which comes packed with powerful features to make it one of the best for sure. Its specification includes Apple A6 1.4GHz, A7 chip with 64-bit architecture, M7 motion coprocessor, 1GB RAM, 16GB Flash memory, 9.7-inch display and a high capacity battery to make the tablet alive up to 10hours almost. The device weighs around only 1 pound thus makes it highly portable. Taking notes is really fun with this tablet. And the best part is, even though this tablet carries a big brand name, the price is very reasonable thus makes it highly affordable by all.
Why Should You Buy This?
- If not the most important, one of the most alluring features of this device is its visually striking and smooth design
- It is one of the fastest devices created by Apple in recent times
One Of The Best Tablets For Taking Note With Expandable Memory Option
Samsung Galaxy Tab A 10.1 inch
This is a great tablet to own which is a great combination of productivity and entertainment pack. So, whether you are looking for a tablet to make notes taking much easier or else it is to enjoy the spare time, Samsung has come to offer this tablet for every purpose. You will also get a Pen included with it out of the box, so just take out the pen and start taking notes when required. The Exynos 7870 octa-core processor 1.6GHz processor, 3GB RAM, 16GB internal storage, 10.1 inches 1080 display is really a treat for such a price below $400. The memory can be further expanded up to 200 GB using the microSD card.
Why Should You Buy This?
- The full HD display screen coupled with a resolution of 1920 x 1200 pixels makes it a very good device to consume video content on
- You get a large variety of pre-installed apps with the tablet
Best Tablet For Taking Note with Excellent Display
Samsung Tab Pro S 12″
Looking for a bigger screen tablet for note taking? Well, then this Samsung Tab Pro S is a good option to look for that comes at affordable ranges. Priced at slightly more than $500 this tab will let you take notes with ease due to its amazing features. Its specifications include Intel core m3 processor, 4GB RAM, 128GB SSD, fast charging feature, Windows 10 Home, and that vibrant Super AMOLED 12 inch display. It comes with a detachable keyboard to make things even simpler.
Why Should You Buy This?
- It offers excellent battery life and enables you to do a variety of tasks for hours at a stretch
- Those looking for a tablet with great processing power should go for this
Best Note Taking Tablet With A High Price Tag From Dell
Dell Venue 8 Pro
The most expensive tablet to include in this list that has all the needed features to perform all kind of tasks. The included 64GB storage along with 2GB RAM makes notes taking just perfect while other features ensure this piece from Dell can be the best gadget to spend your spare time. This tablet goes well with the Dell Active Stylus and the other kind of keyboard and thus make it versatile. The Intel Atom Z3740D Processor, Windows 8.1 OS, and 8-inch display help you complete all kinds of tasks hassle-free.
Why Should You Buy This?
- It is one of the most well-designed and nicest looking 8-inch tablets out there
- Equally comfortable to use it with one hand or both the hands
See also: Top best laptops for programming of 2019
FAQs
What are the key features to consider when choosing a tablet for taking notes 2021?
An easy question to answer! Look for compact screen size and make sure it has long-lasting battery life. Another key feature to look for is the display's brightness levels if you are going to use it in a brightly lit office environment.
How do I choose a stylus for my tablet?
There are dozens of stylus and touchscreen pens available on e-commerce websites. As a matter of fact, all of them are compatible with your tablet but for Apple iPads, you should consider purchasing the more expensive Apple Pen for best compatibility.
Should I go for an iOS or Android tablet for taking notes?
Most note-taking apps like Evernote, Google Keep, Microsoft One Note are commonly found on both iOS and Android. Both operating systems are available on compact, smaller tablets and also on huge ones like the iPad Pro. Unless you are an artist, you will find Android tablets more affordable and easy to buy.
What if I accidentally drop my tablet?
Most products are covered within their one year limited warranty period. Consider using a screen guard and case to safeguard it against such falls. If the display cracks, you should get it replaced out of warranty unless you have signed up for extended warranty packages.
Why choose touchscreen tablets over laptops for taking notes?
Laptops are heavy, emit lots of heat while tablets are compact, lightweight and are easy to carry around for people who are constantly on the move.
Can I use a Bluetooth keyboard and mouse with my tablet?
Yes. Every tablet is equipped with Bluetooth functionality and specific apps are designed to support external hardware to help your productivity.
Does my tablet work with third-party chargers?
Apple iPads are designed to work only with officially certified chargers while other tablets usually work with any Micro USB or Type C charger unless otherwise specified by the manufacturer.
Conclusion
These are the top best tablets for taking notes. Most of the tablets mentioned here are really great for taking notes while they are available in affordable ranges also. Many more options are also available in the market. So you can always look for them as well if the above-mentioned tablets do not fit you.
Although I am a software architect, I prefer handwriting to typing while taking notes, planning, drafting flow chart and mind map, and doing research. For this reason, many devices I have bought support stylus such as Samsung Note II and SONY VAIO DUO 13.
Now I have an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil, then the immediate question is, which note taking app is the best one. I have read several reviews and watched certain Youtube videos, but I still could not decide. Eventually, I tested almost dozens of note taking apps and concluded that there is not abest one because different apps have different pros and cons. What I can do is to review these apps from certain features and mark them, then I will give each feature a weight according to my own needs, and therefore, choosing the app with the highest score by multiplying the weight by the mark. This app is the most suitable one for me.
If you are also trying to find a perfect note taking app, here is what you need.
Features
This review mainly focuses on following features: unique selling point, handwriting, text note, recording, annotation, copy/paste, organization, sync, Safari share extension, stability, update history.
The Candidates
Notability, Noteshelf, GoodNotes, NotesPlus, UPAD, OneNote
If an APP has an useful feature which others do not have, I believe that this feature is the unique selling point (USP) of the APP.
Notability:
Recording: It provides powerful navigation which means that during playback, tap any word or object will jump to that point in the recording.
GoodNotes:
Powerful lasso tool which can capture screen.
NoteShelf:
Sync to EverNote.
OneNote:
OneNote's page is an endless paper. It is very convenient for supplementing notes and planning.
Writing Feeling
Writing on all these Apps is accurate and lag-free. The following test is under a normal writing speed.
NotesPlus:
- Occasionally, there is one stroke that cannot register.
- NotesPlus will shorten strokes. For example, if I write a 1cm stroke, the final stroke may become 0.9 cm.
- Sometimes the stroke will flash while writing and strokes appear slowly, which makes me feel uncomfortable.
NoteShelf:
It seems that NoteShelf adjusts strokes too much and will extend strokes. For example, if I write a 1cm stroke, the final stroke may become 1.1 cm, which makes a little bit difficult for me to control my writing.
Score
GoodNotes: 5
Notability: 5
UPAD: 5
OneNote: 5
NoteShelf: 3
NotesPlus: 1
BTW:
Although iPad Air2 adopted new screen technology which makes many note taking apps perform bad, NoteShelf has almost the same handwriting experience on iPad Air2 and iPad Pro. UPAD has the most beautiful ink on iPad Air2 with a regular stylus.
Ink Effect
NotesPlus:
Has the most beautiful ink effect.
NoteShelf:
Like the real ink pen writing on real paper.
Notability, OneNote, GoodNotes and UPAD:
Although both of them fully support Apple Pencil pressure sensitivity, they have different line smoothing. Personally, I prefer GoodNotes and UPAD to Notability and OneNote.
Illustration
Real pen and paper
GoodNotes
UPAD
Notes Plus
Notability
Noteshelf
OneNote
Score
NotesPlus: 5
NoteShelf: 4
GoodNotes: 3
UPAD: 3
Notability: 2
OneNote: 1
Efficiency
In my opinion, the ability of vertically scrolling a page and quickly changing pen color is the major factor for highly efficient drafting and planning.
OneNote:
- With its endless paper, OneNote is perfect for draft and planning.
- There are five pen colors on the toolbar which makes changing color very quick.
Notability:
- One finger scrolls vertically while using Apple Pencil.
- Click twice for color changing.
NotesPlus:
- Two finger scroll or one finger scroll on the right edge.
- Has a favorite pen panel which makes easy for changing pen and color.
NoteShelf:
- Do not support vertically scrolling.
- There a draw pen and a highlight pen on the toolbar, but these two pen buttons can be customized, which means that I can set one is a draw pen with blue color, and another is a draw pen with red color.
GoodNotes and UPAD:
- Do not support vertically scrolling.
- Click twice for color changing.
Score
OneNote: 5
Notability: 4
NotesPlus: 4
NoteShelf: 3
GoodNotes: 2
Notability 4 2 1 Touch Screen Laptop
UPAD: 2
Paste Short Text
GoodNotes, NotesPlus:
Long touch screen with fingers and select paste. The text is pasted into a text box.
Notability, Noteshelf, UPAD and Onenote:
- Switch to text mode
- Select paste. The text is pasted as a usual text.
Noteshelf does not have text box.
Score
GoodNotes: 5
NotesPlus: 5
Onenote: 3
Notability: 2
Noteshelf: 1
UPAD: 1
Paste Long Text
Paste long text (more than one page):
Notability:
Automatically add pages to display the full text.
GoodNotes, Noteshelf, UPAD:
Paste all text into a text box which is larger than the page, so only can display part of the text. And hard to adjust the size of the text box.
NotesPlus:
Paste all text into a small text box which can be easily change the size.
OneNote:
Perfect holds the long text because of its' endless page.
Illustration
Notability
Notes Plus
GoodNotes
Noteshelf
Score
Onenote: 5
Notability: 5
NotesPlus: 2
GoodNotes: 1
Noteshelf: 1
UPAD: 1
The recording is the unique selling point of Notability. It provides powerful navigation. During playback, tap any word or object will jump to that point in the recording
Recording feature of Noteshelf and Notesplus is reasonable and decent.
OneNote does not support background recording.
GoodNotes and UPAD do not support recording.
Score
Notability: 5
NotesShelf: 3
NotesPlus: 3
OneNote: 1
GoodNotes: 0
UPAD: 0
All these apps have decent PDF and Picture annotation ability. Some of them have specific functions:
OneNote:
OneNote's page is an endless paper, so I can annotate as many contents as I want.
GoodNotes:
Its lasso tool can capture an area of the note, which is extremely useful when I want to excerpt certain content from a PDF or a Picture.
Its copy function also is very powerful. For example, I insert a picture and annotate something on it, and then if I want to copy both the picture and the annotation to other Apps, only the GoodNotes can easily fulfil this requirement. NoteShelf can also allow I to do so, but firstly, I should ‘Flatten' the picture to copy both the picture and handwriting. And after then, the picture will become a part of the background and cannot be edited again.
UPAD cannot paste the copied picture to another apps.
Score
GoodNotes: 5
OneNote: 4
NoteShelf: 4
Notability: 3
NotesPlus: 3
Upad: 1
GoodNote and NoteShelf can copy part of a note and paste to other Apps as a picture.
Notability, NotesPlus, UPAD and OneNote do not support pasting to other Apps.
Score
GoodNote: 5
NoteShelf: 5
Notability: 0
NotesPlus: 0
UPAD: 0
OneNote: 0
Import
Office Documents
Using a PPT for import testing:
Notability
Noteshelf
GoodNotes
Notability, Noteshelf:
Import office documents without losing format and elements such as SmartArt.
GoodNotes:
Missing some elements after import such as picture.
NotesPlus, UPad:
Do not have share extension.
Score
Notability: 5
Noteshelf: 5
Onenote: 5
GoodNotes: 3
NotesPlus: 0
UPad: 0
PDF Form with filled boxes
Notability, GoodNotes, Noteshelf, UPAD:
Both of them will lose the information which filled by other pdf software such as Adobe.
Notesplus:
It can keep the filled information.
OneNote:
PDF is inserted into OneNote as attachment or printout, so OneNote can also keep the filled information.
Score
OneNote: 5
NotesPlus: 5
Notability: 3
GoodNotes: 3
Noteshelf: 3
UPAD: 3
Notability:
Search text.
Filter annotated PDF pages.
NoteShelf:
Search text.
Support page tags.
GoodNotes:
Handwriting search.
Convert handwriting to text.
Bookmarks and PDF outlines support.
NotesPlus:
Handwriting search.
Convert handwriting to text.
OneNote:
Handwriting search.
Convert handwriting to text.
Tag support.
UPAD:
Search notebook title.
Score
OneNote: 5
GoodNotes: 4
NotesPlus: 3
NoteShelf: 3
Notability: 3
UPAD: 1
All Apps have the Automatic Backup or Sync feature.
Only Notability and OneNote have the share extension in Safari. So if you want to convert a web page to PDF/Picture and send to the note app, these two are the best choice.
Sometimes if OneNote takes too long to retrieve the web page, it will create a note contains the web page link instead of web page snapshot.
Score
Notability: 5
OneNote: 4
GoodNotes: 3
NoteShelf: 3
NotesPlus:2
UPAD: 2
Stability
During my months of using, Notability, NoteShelf and GoodNotes have never crashed.
OneNote crashed one time.
UPAD3 crashed occasionally.
NotesPlus crashed more often: using the browser, noting while recording, copy/paste picture.
Notability 4 2 1 Touch Screen Protector
Score
Notability: 5
NoteShelf: 5
GoodNotes: 5
OneNote: 4
Upad3: 3
NotesPlus: 1
2016 Version History (Today is June 18.) , Compare with their update frequency and update content.
Notability:
Jan 13, Feb 17, Mar 17, Apr 11
GoodNotes:
Feb 15, Mar 2, May 9, May 12
Upad:
Jan 12, Jan 13, Jan 22 (same update description), Feb 4, Feb 18, Mar 8, Mar 10, Mar 19
Notes Plus:
Apr 19, May 23, May 26
NoteShelf:
Apr 14, Apr 21.
Cleanmymac 3 4 1 download free. OneNote:
Jan 21, Feb 4, Feb 24, Mar 18, Mar 29, Apr 7, Apr 19, May 3, May 7, Jun 13
Score
OneNote: 5
Notability: 5
GoodNotes: 5
Upad: 3
Notes Plus: 2
NoteShelf: 2
In order to choose which one is my favourite app, I need to give each feature a weight (the sum of all weights should equal 100%). The higher weight means the more important feature. The following table shows that the ‘Writing Feeling' and ‘Ink Effect' are my main concerns about a note taking app. GoodNotes has the highest score and actually, I use it on a daily basis.
My Final Result
To choose which one is suitable for you, just determine your weight for each feature and calculate the final score.
