Most of Apple’s pre-downloaded apps for the iPhone are perfectly serviceable. They’ll do the job just fine. But, I’m not alone in thinking the Notes app could be improved upon. Having a Notes app is a necessity. From grocery store lists to funny band names to actual note-taking, everyone needs a space to jot down their thoughts. Other than an actual notebook. From do-it-all task apps to collaborative document apps, we’ve rounded up the best apps to replace your iPhone Notes app.
The Best Note Apps for iPhones
Evernote
Trusted by college students and business professionals the world over, Evernote is perhaps the note-taking and productivity app. In fact, we use it here at Cool Material. Keep all of your notes in one place and accessible between devices. Scan in documents, save webpages, and format tables and charts. Plus, the home hub allows you to see and search for anything you’ve written. Plus, it’s free to use. iOS
Airtable
Airtable is a highly organizable productivity app that lets you neatly categorize just about anything. The colorful design and customizability makes Airtale an appealing replacement for your stock standard Notes app. It’s like a supercharged spreadsheet for your phone. Organize clients and products for your business or travel plans and holiday gift ideas. iOS
UpNote
This is my personal favorite. In fact, I like UpNote so much, I paid for the premium version. UpNote is a simple, clean note-taking and organization app. It seamlessly sinks across devices and allows you to nest different notes within each other for an easily cataloged digital notebook. I use it for just about everything: shopping list, tv show recommendations from friends, to-do lists, random journaling, you name it. iOS
Things 3
Built exclusively for Mac and iOS devices, Things 3 is the latest iterations of one of the best task management apps around. While its primary purpose is as a task list, there are plenty of helpful note-taking functions. And, if you prefer to organize your notes in check-list format, this is the ideal app for you. While it’s not cheap ($10 for the iPhone/Apple Watch app), it’s well worth the price of admission. iOS
Notion
Notion is billed as an “all-in-one workspace” app. And the all-inclusive functionality might be a touch daunting at first. But, once you get the lay of the land, this becomes one of the more essential apps you can download. It’s collaborative and creative, allowing you to jot down thoughts in whatever format you’d like. Plus, it works perfectly across any device and on your browser. iOS
Bear
Bear is built for writers. So if you’re looking for a better journaling app or need some space to write uninterrupted by checklists and busy designs, this is the app for you. Bear is focused, allowing you to write, code, or plan in peace thanks to its simple, plain text design. Plus, you can password protect any and all of your notes for added privacy. Bear isn’t the fanciest app on this list but it just might be the best notes app for writers. iOS
Notability
Of the apps on this list, Notability is perhaps the sole true note-taking app. It’s ideal for college students as it offers supreme annotating functionality allowing you to write or draw directly on PDFs or forms. So, whether you prefer to free-write your notes or want a handy digital notebook, Notability is the one for you. iOS
Craft
Because Craft is built natively for iOS and macOS, this app is a no-brainer for iPhone users. It’s collaboration-friendly and places the primary focus on writing so you can keep your notes conveniently organized. Work offline wherever you are so you can keep productive on flights or the rare WiFi-less cafe. iOS
Agenda
Agenda is basically a souped-up version of the standard iPhone Notes app. Plus, it places the focus on dates. So, if you prefer organizing on a timeline, Agenda is the app for you. Stylish and user-friendly, Agenda earned the Editor’s Choice designation from Apple. Keep your thoughts well organized and stored conveniently with Agenda. iOS
Done
While Done isn’t much of a Notes app, it is a great replacement if you’re looking for a habit tracker. This cool and colorful design makes tracking your progress on any task a joy. Simply set yourself some goals and start tracking. Plus, Done allows you to take notes and journal on your progress. Done is a simple app but wonderfully effective. iOS
