Best Note Taking Apps for iPhone in 2026

If you're looking for a notes app for iPhone in 2026, you've got more options than ever. The default Apple Notes is solid, but there's a whole ecosystem of third-party apps that do specific things better. Some focus on beautiful design, others on powerful organization, and a few try to do everything.

We tested dozens of iPhone notes apps to find the ones actually worth downloading. Here's what we looked for: clean interface that doesn't get in your way, reliable sync across devices (because you will want to access notes on other devices eventually), good search functionality, and export options so you're not locked into one ecosystem forever.

The best notes app for you depends on how you actually take notes. Quick voice memos? Long-form writing? Study notes with images? Meeting minutes? Different apps excel at different things. We've broken down each option by what it does best so you can skip straight to the one that fits your workflow.

Bear Notes

Best for All Round: Bear Notes

Bear Notes is a friendly, well-designed notes app with fun and personality. The application allows you to take simple notes with images, files, and even drawings, for iPad and iPhone users alike. Bear also has a world-class macOS application that presents a clean and easy way to take notes on the desktop.

But if you're on the hunt for a solo iPhone notes app, Bear Notes is well put together for managing notes. The app won Apple's Design Award for good reason. Using it feels polished in a way most note apps don't achieve.

You can organize your notes in markdown, use features like tables, and organize your notes in hashtags which makes for nesting of hashtags and easy simple notes without the hassle of folders. This means you can make a note that lives in two places, or two hashtags at once.

The hashtag system is brilliant for people who think in tags rather than folders. Type #work #project-alpha and that note appears in both contexts. No duplicating notes, no choosing between categories. Just tag it and move on.

Markdown support means you can format text without lifting your fingers off the keyboard. Type ** around text for bold, _ for italics, # for headers. If you're writing long notes on your iPhone (brave), this speeds things up considerably.

Best for

Writers who want a beautiful writing environment on iPhone. Anyone who prefers tags over folders for organization. People who use markdown regularly. Users invested in the Apple ecosystem (Mac, iPad, iPhone sync is seamless). Solo note-takers who value aesthetics alongside functionality.

Not ideal if

You need team collaboration or shared notes. Budget is super tight (free tier doesn't include sync). You want web access or Android support. Advanced features like databases or task management are required. You prefer rich text editing over Markdown.

Real-world example

A freelance journalist uses Bear for article research and drafts. Each assignment gets tagged #clientname. Quick captures on iPhone while interviewing sources. Back at the Mac, expands notes into full drafts. Markdown formatting for headers, lists, and emphasis. When filing, searches #published + date range to track completed work. Themes (Solarized Dark) reduce eye strain during late-night writing sessions.

Team fit

Best for individuals and solo professionals. Writers, bloggers, students, researchers. Not designed for teams or collaborative work. Perfect for iPhone users who also use Mac/iPad and want seamless sync across Apple devices.

Onboarding reality

Very easy. Open app, start typing. Markdown basics (**, ##, -) take 15 minutes to learn. Hashtag organization is intuitive - just type #tag. Most people productive within 30 minutes. The clean interface doesn't overwhelm new users.

Pricing friction

Free version is usable but limited (no sync, no themes, no export options). Bear Pro is $2.99/month or $29.99/year. Annual saves about 2 months. Main friction: free tier feels crippled without sync, which is kind of the point of a mobile app.

Integrations that matter

iCloud sync (Pro only), iOS Share Sheet for quick capture, export to PDF/HTML/DOCX/MD, x-callback-url for automation with Shortcuts.

Apple Notes

Best for Easy Access: Apple Notes

Apple Notes is many people's go-to notes application and provides the best overall experience. If you want basic text, lists, small tables, folders to organize, and easy sharing between apps on your iPhone, then Apple Notes is perfect.

Typically we recommend Apple Notes to everyone because it tends to serve the job and for many people the meme is true. You know the one: "I've tried 47 note-taking apps and always come back to Apple Notes." There's truth to it.

For many people, the notes experience is best with Apple Notes because it doesn't have crazy complex features and is a portable iPhone notes experience. Many people love Apple Notes and millions, maybe even billions use it daily.

The integration with iOS is unmatched. Swipe up from lock screen with Apple Pencil (or tap the note icon), and you're writing immediately. No unlocking, no opening an app. Share sheet works perfectly. Select text in Safari, share to Notes, done. It's these tiny friction-reducing moments that add up.

Recent updates added some genuinely useful features. Math calculations happen inline, so type "156 * 23" and it solves automatically. Useful for quick calculations without switching apps. Smart folders auto-organize notes based on tags or keywords you set.

Best for

Everyone who wants simple, reliable notes on iPhone. Families sharing grocery lists and trip plans. Anyone who values zero-friction integration with iOS. People who've tried everything and keep coming back. Students who need quick note capture between classes.

Not ideal if

You need advanced organization like backlinks or graph views. Markdown is your preferred format. You want cross-platform to Android or Windows. Advanced formatting or database features are required. You need offline-first with local storage priority.

Real-world example

A parent uses Apple Notes for family organization. Shared note with grocery list (spouse adds items from their iPhone). Trip planning note with packing checklist, flight details, hotel confirmations. Kids' after-school schedule shared with grandparents. During errands, taps items off list. Lock screen widget for quick access. Everything syncs via iCloud, no apps to install for family members.

Team fit

Best for individuals and families. Small teams using all Apple devices. Less suited for large organizations or mixed-platform teams needing sophisticated collaboration.

Onboarding reality

Immediate. If you have an iPhone, you have Apple Notes. Open it, start typing. Folders, formatting, and sharing are obvious. Zero learning curve. Most features are discoverable just by using the app.

Pricing friction

Completely free. Storage limited by iCloud plan (5GB free, 50GB for $0.99/month, 200GB for $2.99/month). For most people, free tier is sufficient. No subscription, no in-app purchases, no premium tiers.

Integrations that matter

iCloud sync (built-in), iOS Share Sheet (capture from any app), Siri for voice capture, Apple Pencil for handwriting (iPad), Shortcuts automation.

Google Keep

Best for Reminders & Notes: Google Keep

Google Keep isn't just Google's version of Apple Notes; it extends to iPhone users, too. This is the perfect example of Post-it notes if they had a dedicated notes app (which I'm sure they probably do), but Google Keep does notes like Post-it notes in a great way.

Adding notes is really fast, you can set reminders on notes, turn them into checklists, capture audio too and really bring together a set of colorful notes. The speed is what keeps people using it. Open the app, tap the plus, start typing. No folders to navigate, no templates to choose. Just note and done.

The visual grid layout works differently than most notes apps. Instead of a list, you see all your notes as cards in a Pinterest-style grid. Color-code them (yellow for personal, blue for work, green for shopping), and you can scan visually for what you need. Sounds chaotic, but somehow it works.

Reminders tied to location are stupidly useful. Set "buy milk" to remind you when you're near the grocery store, and your phone buzzes as you drive past. Works way better than time-based reminders for errands.

Google Keep is free too, meaning you get totally free experience and with the newer AI image abilities you can search for images in your Google Keep and get instant results. You can also organize by object, color of note and much more for easier AI based note-taking.

Best for

Quick note capture without organization overhead. People who think visually and like color coding. Users who want location-based reminders for errands. Anyone in the Google ecosystem. Cross-platform users switching between iPhone and Android or using both.

Not ideal if

You need long-form writing or rich formatting. Advanced organization with folders or tags is important. Privacy concerns about Google having your notes. You want offline-first local storage. Markdown support is required.

Real-world example

A busy parent uses Google Keep for household management. Color-coded notes: yellow for groceries, blue for home repairs, green for kid activities. Location reminder at grocery store triggers shopping list. Voice notes while driving to capture ideas. Shared lists with spouse (both can add items). Image text extraction: photo of business card, Keep extracts phone number and email.

Team fit

Best for individuals and families needing simple shared lists. Small teams for quick collaborative notes. Works across iPhone and Android, so mixed-device teams benefit. Less suited for large organizations or sophisticated knowledge management.

Onboarding reality

Immediate. The interface is dead simple. Create note, add text, done. Color coding and reminders are self-explanatory. Most people are productive within 5 minutes. No learning curve worth mentioning.

Pricing friction

Completely free. No premium tier, no subscriptions, no limits. Google makes money from you in other ways, so notes cost nothing. Storage uses your Google account (15GB shared across Drive, Gmail, Photos).

Integrations that matter

Google ecosystem (Drive, Calendar, Assistant), location-based reminders, image OCR text extraction, collaboration via sharing, Google Home voice commands.

Evernote

Best for All Round: Evernote

If you're looking for a good way to manage notes on iPhone and beyond, Evernote is probably the best recommendation. Evernote is available on all devices and has an iPhone version that makes notes easier to capture. Been around since 2008, so it's had time to mature and work out the bugs.

Now, in Evernote, you can capture not just notes but tasks, calendar events, and more. Document scanning, business card scanning, image upload, and powerful search mean your notes get the power treatment. The OCR (optical character recognition) is genuinely impressive. Handwritten notes, printed documents, even text in images becomes searchable.

Bending Spoons now owns Evernote, meaning the AI focus will now be brought to Evernote. To be honest, they have a history of developing good iPhone apps, so the next few years for Evernote will be very, very interesting. They acquired Evernote in late 2022 and have been steadily improving it since.

The web clipper functionality is still unmatched. Save articles, recipes, product pages from Safari with one tap. Everything saves with formatting intact, and you can annotate or highlight important sections. Perfect for research or saving things to read later.

Best for

Power users with large note collections. Professionals needing robust search and OCR. People who clip web content regularly (articles, recipes, research). Teams wanting shared notebooks. Users who need task management integrated with notes.

Not ideal if

Budget is tight (pricing is steep for iPhone app). You prefer simple, minimalist apps. Local-first storage is important to you. You're starting fresh (alternatives might offer better value). Privacy concerns about cloud storage.

Real-world example

A real estate agent uses Evernote for property management. Web clipper saves Zillow listings. Document scanner captures signed contracts (OCR makes them searchable). Each property has a notebook: photos, inspection reports, client notes. Tags like #sold, #pending, #showings organize content. Search finds everything across thousands of notes instantly. Shared notebooks with colleagues for team listings.

Team fit

Best for professionals and small teams with heavy documentation needs. Sales people, researchers, consultants. Works for individuals with massive archives. Less appealing for casual users or students due to cost.

Onboarding reality

Moderate. Basic note-taking is easy on iPhone. Learning notebooks, tags, and web clipper takes time. The interface is cleaner than old versions. Document scanning is intuitive. Expect a week of regular use before comfortable.

Pricing friction

Free plan is very limited (60MB monthly upload, 2 devices, basic features). Personal is $14.99/month or $129.99/year. Professional is $17.99/month. Expensive compared to alternatives. Many longtime users complain about price increases over the years.

Integrations that matter

Google Calendar, Safari web clipper, Siri Shortcuts, iOS Share Sheet, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Salesforce.

Supernotes

Best for Students: Supernotes

Supernotes launched with their 3.0 release and have been a hit since. Supernotes is a PKM-like notes app that wants to help you manage your notes with no folders, but the concept of a notecard, a much more friendly way to take notes and link them up.

Much like PKM, a personal knowledge management app, Supernotes handles your notes in a graph and bi-directional links, but the notecard makes taking notes in Supernotes straightforward and natural. Think of each card as a focused thought or concept.

The card-based system sounds gimmicky until you use it. Each note is a card that can link to other cards. Over time, you build a network of connected ideas. Way more useful than dumping everything into folders and forgetting it exists.

Bi-directional linking means when you link Card A to Card B, both cards know about each other. Following connections between ideas becomes natural. Great for studying complex topics where everything relates to everything else.

Popular with students, this is one of the best iPhone apps for student note-takers, but as a whole, it can be used beyond the academic for taking notes and bringing your ideas together. The iPhone app is surprisingly good for such a feature-rich tool. Quick capture works smoothly.

Best for

Students building knowledge bases for complex subjects. Anyone studying interconnected topics (philosophy, science, history). People who want networked thought without Roam or Obsidian complexity. Users who think in atomic concepts rather than long documents.

Not ideal if

You need long-form writing or traditional documents. The 100-card limit on free tier is too restrictive. You want local files you control. Team collaboration is priority. You prefer folder-based organization.

Real-world example

A medical student uses Supernotes for board exam prep. Each disease gets a card: symptoms, treatment, diagnosis. Cards link to anatomy cards, drug cards, pathology concepts. Daily review shows all cards related to "cardiology" across multiple subjects. Graph view reveals which topics appear most frequently. Collaborative cards shared with study group partners. After exams, knowledge base remains useful for clinical rotations.

Team fit

Best for individuals: students, researchers, lifelong learners. Works for small study groups sharing cards. Not designed for large teams or business collaboration.

Onboarding reality

Moderate. Creating cards is easy. Understanding effective linking and card organization takes time. The concept of "atomic notes" requires mental shift from traditional note-taking. Expect 1-2 weeks before it clicks.

Pricing friction

Free for 100 cards (sounds limiting but goes further than you'd think - one semester of notes often fits). Unlimited plan is $10/month or $96/year. Reasonable for students compared to textbook costs.

Integrations that matter

Cross-platform sync (iPhone, iPad, Mac, web, Android), Markdown export, collaboration via sharing cards.

Agenda Notes

Best for Dates: Agenda Notes

Agenda won Apple's Design Award a few years back, for good reason. Agenda presents a beautiful design with a simple concept: connect your notes with calendar-associated dates. This makes it excellent for those who plan with a date in mind. This makes it popular with those who take meeting notes, plan trips, or even have a calendar blocked with events.

Agenda Notes works with Apple Calendar, making the import of calendar events easy to get started. It is free with premium pricing but offers a great deal of features like "On the Agenda" for keeping track of what's most important and timely note-wise.

The timeline view is what makes Agenda special. Your notes appear on a timeline corresponding to calendar dates. Notes for yesterday, today, next week, all laid out chronologically. Makes sense if your work revolves around dates and deadlines.

"On the Agenda" is a brilliant feature. Pin important notes to this special view so they're always accessible regardless of date. Meeting notes that need follow-up, trip planning that spans multiple dates, ongoing project notes. Keeps them visible until you're done.

Best for

Professionals with meeting-heavy schedules. Project managers tracking initiatives by timeline. Consultants managing client projects with clear dates. Anyone who thinks chronologically about work and needs calendar context for notes.

Not ideal if

Your notes aren't tied to specific dates or events. You need powerful linking or database features. Budget is extremely tight (premium features cost money). Cross-platform beyond Apple ecosystem is required. Advanced Markdown or code blocks are essential.

Real-world example

A project manager uses Agenda for multiple client projects. Each client has notes tied to meeting dates. Before weekly call, reviews last meeting's notes on timeline. During call, creates new date-stamped note on iPhone. "On the Agenda" feature pins active projects for quick access without scrolling. After project completion, can scroll timeline to see entire project history chronologically.

Team fit

Best for individuals with date-dependent work. Consultants, managers, freelancers with client meetings. Less suited for students, researchers with evergreen notes, or collaborative teams.

Onboarding reality

Easy. The timeline view makes immediate sense. Creating date-stamped notes is straightforward. Apple Calendar integration works automatically. Premium features have slight learning curve. Most users productive within an hour.

Pricing friction

Free version is usable for basic features. Premium is $24.99/year or $74.99 lifetime (one-time payment). The lifetime option is appealing compared to endless subscriptions. Free tier works but premium unlocks real value.

Integrations that matter

Apple Calendar integration (native), iCloud sync across iPhone/iPad/Mac, export to various formats, iOS Share Sheet.

NotePlan

Best for BuJo: NotePlan

NotePlan has evolved in the last few years as a way to take notes on the go. Not only notes but tasks and calendars can be made up in NotePlan, allowing you an ultimate note-taking system for your productivity. NotePlan is in open-text format, meaning it can be used with Markdown to take notes and even create tasks in Markdown.

NotePlan 3 can be used as a daily note-taking app with the daily notes function, a bullet journal in the fashion it allows notes to be added, a planner for your calendar events and adding associated notes to them like Agenda Notes, and even a task app for adding tasks alongside your calendar and notes.

The bullet journal approach works naturally on iPhone. Each day gets its own note. Add bullets for tasks, events, notes, whatever. Tasks can carry forward to the next day if incomplete. It's like a paper bullet journal but with the benefits of digital (search, sync, no running out of pages).

Markdown everywhere means you control formatting with plain text. Type - [ ] for a task checkbox, # for headers, ** for bold. Your notes are readable as plain text files, which means you're not locked into NotePlan's ecosystem forever. Export and take your data anywhere.

Best for

Bullet journal enthusiasts who want digital version on iPhone. People who want notes, tasks, and calendar in one app. Markdown lovers who value plain text formats. Users who need time-blocking and daily planning. Anyone who values data portability and ownership.

Not ideal if

You prefer specialized tools for each function. Budget is tight (it's subscription-based with no free tier). You don't care about bullet journaling methodology. Mobile-only usage (desktop is where it shines). You need team collaboration features.

Real-world example

A freelance designer uses NotePlan for daily planning on iPhone. Morning routine: review daily note, add tasks from backlog, check calendar for meetings. During client call, takes quick notes in Markdown. After call, converts action items to tasks with - [ ]. Evening review: incomplete tasks roll forward to tomorrow. Weekly note summarizes accomplishments. Plain text files backed up to iCloud and Git.

Team fit

Best for individuals who want unified personal productivity system. Freelancers, entrepreneurs, knowledge workers. Not designed for team collaboration. Works for anyone comfortable with Markdown and bullet journaling concepts.

Onboarding reality

Moderate. Basic note-taking is immediate. Understanding bullet journaling methodology and Markdown takes time. Daily notes workflow requires habit formation. Expect 1-2 weeks before it becomes natural. Templates help accelerate setup.

Pricing friction

$12.99/month or $104.99/year (includes iOS, iPadOS, macOS). No free tier, but 14-day trial available. The subscription feels expensive for iPhone-only users since desktop is where power features shine. Annual pricing saves about 2 months.

Integrations that matter

iCloud sync (native), Apple Calendar integration, Reminders import, plain text files (portable), Markdown tools compatibility.

Common Questions About iPhone Notes Apps

What is the best iPhone note-taking app for beginners?

Apple Notes wins here. It's already on your phone, syncs automatically with iCloud, and has enough features for most people without being overwhelming. The learning curve is basically zero. Open it, start typing, done. For people who want something prettier with more organization options, Bear Notes is the natural next step. Still simple, but with hashtags and themes.

What's the best note-taking app for students on iPhone?

Supernotes or Apple Notes, will serve you well as a student on iOS. Supernotes is the more detailed tool and requires some light learning, but is worth it for managing notes and sharing them with others. Supernotes comes with a card-like feel allowing you to bring study notes and share them with other users of Supernotes. Good for missing lectures or classes. The free plan's 100-card limit is actually enough for a semester or two if you're focused.

What iPhone note app works best for advanced users?

NotePlan is a great one for the more advanced note-taker on iPhone. It includes features like bullet journal abilities for daily notes, planning views, calendar connection and even task management in markdown. There's lots of powerful ways to use NotePlan. Well worth it for those note-taking nerds with an iPhone who want everything in one place. The markdown support and plain text storage mean you're not locked in.

Can I use Google Keep on iPhone?

Yeah, Google Keep has a solid iPhone app. Works across platforms, so if you switch between Android and iPhone or use multiple devices, Keep stays synced. The location-based reminders are particularly useful. Free with no limits, which is nice. Interface is more colorful and visual than most notes apps.

Which notes app has the best search on iPhone?

Evernote takes this one. The OCR technology means it can search text inside images, PDFs, and handwritten notes. Even if you take a photo of a whiteboard or business card, that text becomes searchable. Apple Notes has improved search recently with Smart Folders, but Evernote's still ahead for power users with thousands of notes.

Look, the "best" notes app for iPhone depends entirely on what you're doing with your notes. If you're just capturing quick thoughts, grocery lists, and random ideas, Apple Notes or Google Keep will do everything you need without costing a dime or requiring setup.

For people who take notes seriously (students, researchers, writers), the specialized apps justify their cost. Bear Notes for beautiful markdown writing, Supernotes for networked knowledge, NotePlan for bullet journaling, Evernote for research and web clipping. Each does something specific really well.

My advice? Start with Apple Notes. Use it for a month. When you hit a limitation or frustration, that tells you what features you actually need. Then pick the app that solves that specific problem. Don't download the most powerful app just because it has features. Download the app that fixes your actual pain point.

Most of these apps offer free trials or free tiers. Test them with your real notes and workflow before committing. What works for someone else might feel clunky for you, and vice versa. The best notes app is the one you'll actually use consistently.