8 Note-Taking iPad Apps to Try

Here’s a round-up of iPad note-taking apps you should try ✍🏼

🤑 In creating this round-up, I realized how convoluted and confusing the pricing structure is for sooo many of these apps. As of this post, these are the prices of the apps. I didn’t include every single pricing structure and some apps might be cheaper with switching to an annual plan for those listed as monthly.

These are my top picks:

🩵 Noteful

🩵 GoodNotes

🩵 Zinnia

🩵 FreeNotes

🩵 Craft Docs

You can find a playlist of 30+ videos I created over on YouTube where I cover tutorials, deep dives, top features, and more with many of these apps if you want to see them in action. 🥰

#ipadnotes #ipadstudent #notetakingapps #ipadtips #studentlife

2025/8/25 Edited to

... Read moreChoosing the right note-taking app for your iPad depends largely on your specific needs, whether it’s academic, professional, or personal organization. Noteful stands out for its straightforward, all-around note-taking and planning without overwhelming AI features, priced at $4.99 for a lifetime license, making it a cost-effective choice for users wanting simplicity and essential tools. GoodNotes remains a top contender, especially favored by students, offering a rich set of features like Apple Pencil support and a vibrant community that frequently updates the app. With options including a $29.99 lifetime purchase or a $9.99 annual subscription, it balances powerful functionalities with a strong user base. Zinnia caters to digital planners and creatives who enjoy scrapbooking, journaling, and organizing with unique stickers and themes, available at $34.99 per year. It offers a fun, scrapbook-like interface suited to visually-driven users. FreeNotes appeals to budget-conscious users, providing a broad range of tools often only found in paid apps. Its free version supports essential note-taking, with an optional $4.99 ad-removal upgrade—ideal for students lacking resources but needing robust performance. Craft Docs is perfect for writers, researchers, and professionals needing advanced document management features, like customizable templates and folder syncing, priced at $7.99 monthly. Additional apps that are valuable include Notability, known for medical and STEM students due to AI tools and diagram support, and ZoomNotes, favored by advanced digital planners, despite a steeper learning curve. Pricing structures among these apps can be convoluted, with varying subscription or lifetime purchase options. Users are advised to review their usage needs and budget before committing. Most apps offer free trials or basic versions, helping users to test functionality. The included keywords such as “Noteful,” “GoodNotes,” “Zinnia,” “FreeNotes,” and “Craft Docs” relate directly to the apps discussed. The extract mentioning polymer composition and chemistry terms appears unrelated to the article's main focus on iPad note-taking apps and is therefore excluded from the supplementation. For enhanced user experience, many creators produce video tutorials, deep dives, and feature explorations on platforms like YouTube, which can provide practical demonstrations. Overall, this comprehensive guide aids students, professionals, and casual note-takers in navigating iPad note-taking app options with up-to-date pricing and feature insights to improve productivity and digital organization.

15 comments

Jenna's images
Jenna

I like it how you put the prices. People post these apps and we don’t know if they charge…

Paula Brand's images
Paula Brand

I use GoodNotes..it works for me.

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