From recording lectures to reviewing readings and collaborating on group assignments, students rely on note-taking apps to handle much more than quick class notes. Today’s tools help with everything from handwriting equations and annotating PDFs to organizing long-form research and creating flashcards using your notes.
But the best app for you depends on how you take notes, what devices you use, how you manage your course materials, and even your major. Some apps prioritize a natural handwriting experience. Others help structure typed notes, integrate calendars and to-do lists, or support live collaboration across devices.
In this guide, we break down nine of the best student-focused note-taking apps for 2025 and help you decide which one’s right for you.
Whether you’re annotating lecture slides, reviewing recorded audio, or organizing readings for finals, there’s an option here for every type of student.
Drawboard PDF gives students a seamless way to take handwritten notes during lectures, mark up assigned readings, and stay organized across subjects throughout the semester. Its pen-first design feels natural on any device, with pressure-sensitive ink and smart shape recognition that make it easy to diagram chemistry reactions, annotate case studies, or work through equations directly on lecture materials.
Templates like lined or grid paper, built-in measurement tools, and equation input support structured work in math, science, or technical diagrams. Everything syncs automatically across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web, so you can work fluidly across devices.
Drawboard PDF is also built for collaboration. Multiple users can simultaneously mark up the same document, making Drawboard ideal for group assignments, peer reviews, or shared lecture notes. Students can leave comments or highlights while others work in parallel, helping teams move faster without sending files back and forth.
And with features like pinnable Audio Notes, bookmarks, and multi-window view, it’s just as effective for solo study when organizing large PDFs or preparing for exams.
Need help keeping your materials organized and ready for note-taking? Drawboard PDF’s editing tools let you merge weekly lecture slides into a single study pack, insert blank pages between topics for handwritten summaries, or split large textbook PDFs into chapters for focused reading. These tools make it easier to prep documents before class, highlight key sections during review, and keep everything grouped by subject in one streamlined workspace.
Whether you’re annotating design briefs on a Surface, reviewing engineering formulas before a lab, or organizing multi-topic study guides ahead of finals, Drawboard PDF gives you the flexibility to work how and where you need.
Drawboard PDF offers a 50% student discount on notetakers’ favorite plans: Pro Lite and Pro Plus.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5) – Based on 38 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 8 reviews
“I use Drawboard every day to read research papers and mark them up with my Surface Pen. It’s the closest experience to handwriting on real paper I’ve found, and the cloud sync means my notes follow me between the lab and home.” — G2 User
“Students especially can take advantage of this software for note-taking, and it’s also great for providing feedback on others’ work.” — G2 User
“Drawboard is the best PDF annotation software, hands down. Pressure-sensitive ink and live sync make it perfect for lecture slides and group projects.” — Reddit User
GoodNotes turns your tablet or laptop into a customizable digital notebook. Students can write by hand, type, or combine both on the same page, making it useful for annotating lecture slides, working through equations, or organizing research notes. Smart shape recognition and built-in tools like a ruler and compass help with neat diagrams, and notebooks can stretch across multiple pages or collapse sections for easier review.
Handwritten notes are searchable, and you can convert ink to typed text if you need to clean up or export your work. Templates like lined, grid, and planner pages make it easy to structure notes for different classes, while tagging and folder options help keep everything organized by subject or course. There are also some study tools available, but only for Apple devices at this time.
GoodNotes doesn’t offer real-time collaboration, but you can share annotated notebooks as PDFs, images, or links. Cross-platform syncing is now rolling out through GoodNotes Cloud, available on subscription plans for iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android, though the web version is still in development. According to users, performance is best on iPads and Macs, while Android and Windows versions are still catching up in speed and features.
GoodNotes doesn’t list their pricing on their website, but in-app upgrade prompts show device-specific perpetual plans and an annual cross-platform plan for $11.99 per year.
However, both memberships won’t apply to GoodNotes 7 upon release, so expect a new plan or another purchase in the future.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 75 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) – Based on 70 reviews
Gartner: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – Based on 2,505 reviews
Notability is a note-taking app built specifically for iPad and Mac users. It combines smooth Apple Pencil handwriting with typing, shape tools, and subject-based organization, making it well-suited for structured academic notes. Students can work on lined, grid, or planner templates, annotate PDFs, and use math equation tools, all while keeping notes organized in folders and searchable by subject or keyword.
A standout feature is synced audio recording, which links each note to the exact moment in a lecture. You can tap any word to hear what was being said as you wrote it, making it easier to review complex topics or fill in gaps after class. Notability also includes AI-powered study tools that generate summaries, flashcards, and quizzes from your notes, but these features are only available on higher-tier plans.
The optional Learn suite adds AI-generated summaries, flashcards, and quizzes, which work with both handwritten and typed content. However, Notability is limited to iOS and macOS, with no real-time collaboration or full cross-platform support. Notes can be shared via links or PDFs, but edits from others won’t sync back.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) – Based on 42 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 45 reviews
Microsoft OneNote is a flexible, no-cost option for students who want to stay organized across devices. Notes are organized into notebooks, sections, and pages, making it easy to manage multiple classes or subjects within a single workspace. You can type, handwrite, draw, insert images, and even record audio, all on an infinite canvas that syncs across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web.
OneNote supports real-time collaboration, so you can co-edit notebooks with classmates for shared study guides or group projects. Handwritten notes, inserted PDFs, and even images are searchable thanks to built-in OCR. Students can also use ink-to-text and ink-to-math tools to clean up their handwriting or convert formulas into readable formats.
While OneNote includes PDF annotation and audio playback tied to notes, its inking tools are less refined than dedicated notetaking apps. It also lacks built-in study features like flashcards or AI summaries, large notebooks can sometimes feel slow to load, and there are no added PDF tools to make managing your notes and course content easier.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – Based on 1,842 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) – Based on 1,911 reviews
Evernote is built for students who manage a high volume of information across multiple formats. Whether you're compiling lecture notes, saving web articles for a research paper, or keeping track of deadlines, Evernote’s notebook and tagging system makes it easy to keep everything organized and searchable.
Its AI features focus on saving you time rather than helping you study. With paid plans, you can summarize lengthy notes using AI Edit, transcribe audio recordings or screenshots with AI Transcribe, and use AI Search to pull answers from your existing content. These tools are especially helpful when reviewing study materials or consolidating ideas across different sources, but they won’t provide you with study aids.
Evernote also supports PDF markup, calendar integration, and shared notebooks, making it suitable for both solo and group work. You can clip articles directly from your browser, add handwritten notes or sketches, and assign tasks within a shared project. Everything syncs across devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web.
However, the free plan is restrictive, and handwriting input isn’t as smooth as pen-first apps. Some users also report that AI prompts occasionally interrupt their workflow, and that the interface is confusing to navigate effectively.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5) – Based on 2,014 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5) – Based on 8,296 reviews
Notion is a flexible, block-based workspace that lets students build out their own study systems. You can create lecture notes, assignment trackers, reading logs, and group project boards using text, images, checklists, databases, and embedded files, all on the same page. It’s especially helpful for organizing long-term coursework or managing different classes in one place.
Collaboration is built in, with support for real-time editing, @mentions, comments, and shared pages. You can use built-in templates to get started quickly or create custom layouts for study schedules and content reviews. Notion also supports embedded PDFs, Google Drive links, and synced calendars, though it doesn’t offer ink input or advanced PDF annotation.
Notion’s flexibility is its biggest strength, but it has a learning curve. Students who prefer typing and want more structure than a traditional notes app will benefit most from its modular design.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 6,774 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 2,606 reviews
Apple Notes is a built-in tool for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that offers a fast, reliable way to take notes, capture ideas, and stay organized across devices. Students can type, sketch with Apple Pencil, scan documents, and attach PDFs or images, all within the same note. Everything syncs automatically through iCloud, so your content stays up to date whether you're in class, on your laptop, or reviewing from your phone.
Organization is simple but effective. Notes can be sorted into folders, tagged, or grouped using Smart Folders. You can pin important pages, build checklists for assignments, or use templates like lined paper and tables to keep your notes structured. Handwritten content is fully searchable, and scanned documents benefit from OCR, making it easy to find key concepts later, even if they weren’t typed.
Collaboration is built into the workflow. You can share notes or entire folders with classmates, use @mentions to loop others in, and track edits with the activity view. For added privacy, sensitive notes can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode.
Apple Notes is best suited for students already in the Apple ecosystem who need somewhere to brainstorm. It doesn’t support Windows or Android, and while it includes basic PDF markup and organization, it lacks PDF editing, advanced annotation tools, and study-focused features found in more specialized apps.
Google Keep is a lightweight note-taking app designed for fast capture and easy access across Android, iOS, and the web. It lets you quickly jot down ideas, create checklists, record audio, draw sketches, and markup images, all of which sync instantly with your Google account. The interface is simple and card-based, making it easy to pin important notes, color-code them by class, or label content for future reference.
Keep is especially useful for managing short-form notes, assignment checklists, and time-sensitive tasks. You can set reminders by date, time, or even location, like triggering a note when you arrive at the library. Collaboration is also straightforward: just share a note with a classmate, and both of you can edit it in real time.
While it excels at speed and convenience, Google Keep isn’t built for long-form note-taking or structured study organization. It doesn’t support folders or nested notebooks, and there’s no way to import or annotate PDFs, just images. Notes also have a soft content limit and lack formatting beyond bold, bullets, and checkboxes, which makes it harder to study the notes you take.
Joplin is a free, open-source note-taking app that's ideal for students who prefer writing in Markdown and working offline. Notes are organized into nested notebooks and tags, and support attachments like images, audio files, LaTeX math expressions, and PDFs.
While you can embed PDFs directly inside notes, Joplin does not have a native annotation interface. To mark up a PDF, you’ll open it in a separate desktop editor, like Drawboard PDF or Adobe Acrobat, save your changes, and Joplin will automatically reflect the updates inside the note. But you can create a new drawing that includes an image, mark it up, then add it to your note instead. Another limitation is that mobile devices only support basic PDF viewing, not editing.
Joplin syncs securely through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, WebDAV, or a shared server, and supports end-to-end encryption for added security. It also includes a web clipper for saving online research directly into your notebooks, which you can highlight and draw on using simple markup tools.
Although it lacks live co-editing or significant handwriting support, Joplin excels in offline, text-based workflows that prioritize privacy and portability.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 4 reviews
Choosing the right note-taking app depends on how you capture and organize your course content. If you primarily type and search your notes, apps like Evernote or Notion offer flexible structure and tagging. If you’re focused on managing checklists or reminders, Google Keep and Apple Notes are lightweight, reliable tools.
But if your note-taking involves reading and marking up PDFs, sketching diagrams with a stylus, or working on shared materials with classmates, Drawboard PDF offers a rare combination of precision, real-time collaboration, and full cross-platform support. It’s one of the only apps that lets you work naturally with pen input, edit and organize PDFs in depth, and sync your annotations instantly, no matter what device you’re using.
For students who work across tablets, laptops, and phones, and want a space that supports both individual study and group work, Drawboard PDF ticks all the boxes.
Building your back-to-school toolkit? Drawboard PDF is free to get started, and with a 50% discount on Pro Lite and Pro Plus plans for students, you’ll have everything you need for better notetaking and smarter studying.
From recording lectures to reviewing readings and collaborating on group assignments, students rely on note-taking apps to handle much more than quick class notes. Today’s tools help with everything from handwriting equations and annotating PDFs to organizing long-form research and creating flashcards using your notes.
But the best app for you depends on how you take notes, what devices you use, how you manage your course materials, and even your major. Some apps prioritize a natural handwriting experience. Others help structure typed notes, integrate calendars and to-do lists, or support live collaboration across devices.
In this guide, we break down nine of the best student-focused note-taking apps for 2025 and help you decide which one’s right for you.
Whether you’re annotating lecture slides, reviewing recorded audio, or organizing readings for finals, there’s an option here for every type of student.
Drawboard PDF gives students a seamless way to take handwritten notes during lectures, mark up assigned readings, and stay organized across subjects throughout the semester. Its pen-first design feels natural on any device, with pressure-sensitive ink and smart shape recognition that make it easy to diagram chemistry reactions, annotate case studies, or work through equations directly on lecture materials.
Templates like lined or grid paper, built-in measurement tools, and equation input support structured work in math, science, or technical diagrams. Everything syncs automatically across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web, so you can work fluidly across devices.
Drawboard PDF is also built for collaboration. Multiple users can simultaneously mark up the same document, making Drawboard ideal for group assignments, peer reviews, or shared lecture notes. Students can leave comments or highlights while others work in parallel, helping teams move faster without sending files back and forth.
And with features like pinnable Audio Notes, bookmarks, and multi-window view, it’s just as effective for solo study when organizing large PDFs or preparing for exams.
Need help keeping your materials organized and ready for note-taking? Drawboard PDF’s editing tools let you merge weekly lecture slides into a single study pack, insert blank pages between topics for handwritten summaries, or split large textbook PDFs into chapters for focused reading. These tools make it easier to prep documents before class, highlight key sections during review, and keep everything grouped by subject in one streamlined workspace.
Whether you’re annotating design briefs on a Surface, reviewing engineering formulas before a lab, or organizing multi-topic study guides ahead of finals, Drawboard PDF gives you the flexibility to work how and where you need.
Drawboard PDF offers a 50% student discount on notetakers’ favorite plans: Pro Lite and Pro Plus.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.3/5) – Based on 38 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 8 reviews
“I use Drawboard every day to read research papers and mark them up with my Surface Pen. It’s the closest experience to handwriting on real paper I’ve found, and the cloud sync means my notes follow me between the lab and home.” — G2 User
“Students especially can take advantage of this software for note-taking, and it’s also great for providing feedback on others’ work.” — G2 User
“Drawboard is the best PDF annotation software, hands down. Pressure-sensitive ink and live sync make it perfect for lecture slides and group projects.” — Reddit User
GoodNotes turns your tablet or laptop into a customizable digital notebook. Students can write by hand, type, or combine both on the same page, making it useful for annotating lecture slides, working through equations, or organizing research notes. Smart shape recognition and built-in tools like a ruler and compass help with neat diagrams, and notebooks can stretch across multiple pages or collapse sections for easier review.
Handwritten notes are searchable, and you can convert ink to typed text if you need to clean up or export your work. Templates like lined, grid, and planner pages make it easy to structure notes for different classes, while tagging and folder options help keep everything organized by subject or course. There are also some study tools available, but only for Apple devices at this time.
GoodNotes doesn’t offer real-time collaboration, but you can share annotated notebooks as PDFs, images, or links. Cross-platform syncing is now rolling out through GoodNotes Cloud, available on subscription plans for iOS, macOS, Windows, and Android, though the web version is still in development. According to users, performance is best on iPads and Macs, while Android and Windows versions are still catching up in speed and features.
GoodNotes doesn’t list their pricing on their website, but in-app upgrade prompts show device-specific perpetual plans and an annual cross-platform plan for $11.99 per year.
However, both memberships won’t apply to GoodNotes 7 upon release, so expect a new plan or another purchase in the future.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 75 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) – Based on 70 reviews
Gartner: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – Based on 2,505 reviews
Notability is a note-taking app built specifically for iPad and Mac users. It combines smooth Apple Pencil handwriting with typing, shape tools, and subject-based organization, making it well-suited for structured academic notes. Students can work on lined, grid, or planner templates, annotate PDFs, and use math equation tools, all while keeping notes organized in folders and searchable by subject or keyword.
A standout feature is synced audio recording, which links each note to the exact moment in a lecture. You can tap any word to hear what was being said as you wrote it, making it easier to review complex topics or fill in gaps after class. Notability also includes AI-powered study tools that generate summaries, flashcards, and quizzes from your notes, but these features are only available on higher-tier plans.
The optional Learn suite adds AI-generated summaries, flashcards, and quizzes, which work with both handwritten and typed content. However, Notability is limited to iOS and macOS, with no real-time collaboration or full cross-platform support. Notes can be shared via links or PDFs, but edits from others won’t sync back.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) – Based on 42 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 45 reviews
Microsoft OneNote is a flexible, no-cost option for students who want to stay organized across devices. Notes are organized into notebooks, sections, and pages, making it easy to manage multiple classes or subjects within a single workspace. You can type, handwrite, draw, insert images, and even record audio, all on an infinite canvas that syncs across Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and the web.
OneNote supports real-time collaboration, so you can co-edit notebooks with classmates for shared study guides or group projects. Handwritten notes, inserted PDFs, and even images are searchable thanks to built-in OCR. Students can also use ink-to-text and ink-to-math tools to clean up their handwriting or convert formulas into readable formats.
While OneNote includes PDF annotation and audio playback tied to notes, its inking tools are less refined than dedicated notetaking apps. It also lacks built-in study features like flashcards or AI summaries, large notebooks can sometimes feel slow to load, and there are no added PDF tools to make managing your notes and course content easier.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.5/5) – Based on 1,842 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.6/5) – Based on 1,911 reviews
Evernote is built for students who manage a high volume of information across multiple formats. Whether you're compiling lecture notes, saving web articles for a research paper, or keeping track of deadlines, Evernote’s notebook and tagging system makes it easy to keep everything organized and searchable.
Its AI features focus on saving you time rather than helping you study. With paid plans, you can summarize lengthy notes using AI Edit, transcribe audio recordings or screenshots with AI Transcribe, and use AI Search to pull answers from your existing content. These tools are especially helpful when reviewing study materials or consolidating ideas across different sources, but they won’t provide you with study aids.
Evernote also supports PDF markup, calendar integration, and shared notebooks, making it suitable for both solo and group work. You can clip articles directly from your browser, add handwritten notes or sketches, and assign tasks within a shared project. Everything syncs across devices, including Windows, macOS, iOS, Android, and web.
However, the free plan is restrictive, and handwriting input isn’t as smooth as pen-first apps. Some users also report that AI prompts occasionally interrupt their workflow, and that the interface is confusing to navigate effectively.
G2: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5) – Based on 2,014 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★☆ (4.4/5) – Based on 8,296 reviews
Notion is a flexible, block-based workspace that lets students build out their own study systems. You can create lecture notes, assignment trackers, reading logs, and group project boards using text, images, checklists, databases, and embedded files, all on the same page. It’s especially helpful for organizing long-term coursework or managing different classes in one place.
Collaboration is built in, with support for real-time editing, @mentions, comments, and shared pages. You can use built-in templates to get started quickly or create custom layouts for study schedules and content reviews. Notion also supports embedded PDFs, Google Drive links, and synced calendars, though it doesn’t offer ink input or advanced PDF annotation.
Notion’s flexibility is its biggest strength, but it has a learning curve. Students who prefer typing and want more structure than a traditional notes app will benefit most from its modular design.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 6,774 reviews
Capterra: ★★★★⯨ (4.7/5) – Based on 2,606 reviews
Apple Notes is a built-in tool for iPhone, iPad, and Mac that offers a fast, reliable way to take notes, capture ideas, and stay organized across devices. Students can type, sketch with Apple Pencil, scan documents, and attach PDFs or images, all within the same note. Everything syncs automatically through iCloud, so your content stays up to date whether you're in class, on your laptop, or reviewing from your phone.
Organization is simple but effective. Notes can be sorted into folders, tagged, or grouped using Smart Folders. You can pin important pages, build checklists for assignments, or use templates like lined paper and tables to keep your notes structured. Handwritten content is fully searchable, and scanned documents benefit from OCR, making it easy to find key concepts later, even if they weren’t typed.
Collaboration is built into the workflow. You can share notes or entire folders with classmates, use @mentions to loop others in, and track edits with the activity view. For added privacy, sensitive notes can be locked with Face ID, Touch ID, or a device passcode.
Apple Notes is best suited for students already in the Apple ecosystem who need somewhere to brainstorm. It doesn’t support Windows or Android, and while it includes basic PDF markup and organization, it lacks PDF editing, advanced annotation tools, and study-focused features found in more specialized apps.
Google Keep is a lightweight note-taking app designed for fast capture and easy access across Android, iOS, and the web. It lets you quickly jot down ideas, create checklists, record audio, draw sketches, and markup images, all of which sync instantly with your Google account. The interface is simple and card-based, making it easy to pin important notes, color-code them by class, or label content for future reference.
Keep is especially useful for managing short-form notes, assignment checklists, and time-sensitive tasks. You can set reminders by date, time, or even location, like triggering a note when you arrive at the library. Collaboration is also straightforward: just share a note with a classmate, and both of you can edit it in real time.
While it excels at speed and convenience, Google Keep isn’t built for long-form note-taking or structured study organization. It doesn’t support folders or nested notebooks, and there’s no way to import or annotate PDFs, just images. Notes also have a soft content limit and lack formatting beyond bold, bullets, and checkboxes, which makes it harder to study the notes you take.
Joplin is a free, open-source note-taking app that's ideal for students who prefer writing in Markdown and working offline. Notes are organized into nested notebooks and tags, and support attachments like images, audio files, LaTeX math expressions, and PDFs.
While you can embed PDFs directly inside notes, Joplin does not have a native annotation interface. To mark up a PDF, you’ll open it in a separate desktop editor, like Drawboard PDF or Adobe Acrobat, save your changes, and Joplin will automatically reflect the updates inside the note. But you can create a new drawing that includes an image, mark it up, then add it to your note instead. Another limitation is that mobile devices only support basic PDF viewing, not editing.
Joplin syncs securely through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox, WebDAV, or a shared server, and supports end-to-end encryption for added security. It also includes a web clipper for saving online research directly into your notebooks, which you can highlight and draw on using simple markup tools.
Although it lacks live co-editing or significant handwriting support, Joplin excels in offline, text-based workflows that prioritize privacy and portability.
G2: ★★★★⯨ (4.8/5) – Based on 4 reviews
Choosing the right note-taking app depends on how you capture and organize your course content. If you primarily type and search your notes, apps like Evernote or Notion offer flexible structure and tagging. If you’re focused on managing checklists or reminders, Google Keep and Apple Notes are lightweight, reliable tools.
But if your note-taking involves reading and marking up PDFs, sketching diagrams with a stylus, or working on shared materials with classmates, Drawboard PDF offers a rare combination of precision, real-time collaboration, and full cross-platform support. It’s one of the only apps that lets you work naturally with pen input, edit and organize PDFs in depth, and sync your annotations instantly, no matter what device you’re using.
For students who work across tablets, laptops, and phones, and want a space that supports both individual study and group work, Drawboard PDF ticks all the boxes.
Building your back-to-school toolkit? Drawboard PDF is free to get started, and with a 50% discount on Pro Lite and Pro Plus plans for students, you’ll have everything you need for better notetaking and smarter studying.
We are a PDF and collaboration company. We believe that creating more effective connections between people reduces waste.
Our best work has been overtaken by busywork. That’s why we’ve created ways to help people get back to working wonders without any paper in sight.
Drawboard PDF lets you mark up and share with ease, and Drawboard Projects brings collaborative design review to architecture and engineering teams.
At Drawboard, we work our magic so our customers can get back to working theirs.
We are a PDF and collaboration company. We believe that creating more effective connections between people reduces waste.
Our best work has been overtaken by busywork. That’s why we’ve created ways to help people get back to working wonders without any paper in sight.
Drawboard PDF lets you mark up and share with ease, and Drawboard Projects brings collaborative design review to architecture and engineering teams.
At Drawboard, we work our magic so our customers can get back to working theirs.
