Best Note-Taking Apps
Top note-taking apps ranked by transparent trust scores.
8 products ranked
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Top Pick
9.4
Excellent
Obsidian (Sync + Publish)
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
#1
9.4
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #1 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Local-first your data stays private
- 1,000+ community plugins
- Graph view for linked thinking
Cons
- Steep learning curve
- Markdown only no rich text
Don't buy this if…
- The power of Obsidian comes from plugins and configuration which requires significant setup investment.
#2
9.2
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #2 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Combines notes, tasks, and databases
- Beautiful block-based editor
- AI writing assistant included
Cons
- Requires internet for full functionality
- Can feel slow with large workspaces
Don't buy this if…
- Notion stores all data in the cloud and has limited offline functionality which may concern privacy-focused users.
#3
9.0
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #3 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Free with every Apple device
- Deep iOS and macOS integration
- Document scanning built in
Cons
- Apple ecosystem only
- No bidirectional linking
Don't buy this if…
- Notes are only accessible on Apple devices and iCloud.com with no native Android or Windows app.
#4
8.7
Excellent
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #4 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Best-in-class web clipper
- OCR search inside images
- Cross-platform apps everywhere
Cons
- Frequent price increases
- Performance has degraded
Don't buy this if…
- Evernote has undergone multiple ownership changes and price increases which has eroded user trust.
#5
8.5
Excellent
Consensus
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Ranked #5 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Pioneered bidirectional linking
- Powerful block-level references
- Daily notes workflow
Cons
- Very expensive
- Steep learning curve
Don't buy this if…
- At $15/month Roam is significantly more expensive than alternatives with similar linking features.
#6
8.3
Good
Consensus
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Ranked #6 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Gorgeous distraction-free editor
- Nested tag organization
- Affordable pricing
Cons
- Apple platforms only
- No collaboration features
Don't buy this if…
- Bear is exclusively available on Apple platforms with no web, Android, or Windows version.
#7
8.1
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #7 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Open-source and free to use
- Privacy-first local storage
- Built-in flashcard system
Cons
- Outliner-only format
- Mobile apps are rough
Don't buy this if…
- Logseq uses an outline-only format which may feel restrictive for users who prefer long-form writing.
#8
7.9
Good
Consensus
Compare
Ranked #8 based on expert reviews, user sentiment, and value analysis.
Pros
- Free and cross-platform
- Excellent pen and ink support
- Deep Office 365 integration
Cons
- Can feel cluttered and slow
- Syncing can be unreliable
Don't buy this if…
- OneNote sync relies on OneDrive and can experience delays or conflicts with large notebooks.
Quick Comparison
How We Rank
Composite trust score from expert reviews, user sentiment, complaint analysis, and value assessment.
Trust Score
Weighted composite of all factor scores
Expert Score
Aggregated expert review ratings
User Sentiment
Community votes and review analysis
Value Score
Price-to-performance ratio
Freshness
Recency of reviews and data
Change Log
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