The Best Note-Taking Apps for Students in 2026

TL;DR

• Notion is best for all-in-one organization and aesthetic seekers.
• Obsidian is best for "Second Brain" enthusiasts and visual learners.
• GoodNotes/Notability are the kings of handwriting on iPad/Tablets.
• OneNote is the best free option for Microsoft users.
• RemNote is built specifically for spaced repetition.
• Gradily integrates with your notes to turn them into study guides and summaries.

The days of carrying around five different spiraled notebooks and a pencil case full of leaky pens are over. In 2026, your notes should be searchable, linkable, and backed up to the cloud.

But with so many apps on the market, it’s easy to spend more time "organizing" your notes than actually studying them. This is what's known as "Productivity Porn"—the trap of thinking that a prettier app will make you a better student.

To help you avoid the trap, we’ve broken down the best note-taking apps based on how you learn. Here is the definitive list for 2026.

1. Notion: The All-In-One Workspace

Notion is the "heavyweight champion" of student apps. It’s not just for notes; it’s for your whole life. You can build databases for your assignments, track your habits, and even build a custom dashboard for each class.

• Pros: Extremely flexible, hundreds of free student templates, looks beautiful.
• Cons: A steep learning curve. You can easily waste hours "setting up" your Notion instead of working.
• Best For: Students who want their schedule, to-do list, and notes all in one place.

2. Obsidian: The "Second Brain"

Obsidian is for the serious researchers. It uses "bi-directional linking," which means you can connect a note about "The French Revolution" to a note about "Economics" with a simple link. Over time, it creates a "Knowledge Graph"—a visual map of how everything you’ve learned is connected.

• Pros: Works offline, very fast, helps you see connections you’d otherwise miss.
• Cons: It's "Markdown" based, which can feel a bit technical for some.
• Best For: PhD students, researchers, and anyone who wants to build a long-term database of knowledge.

3. GoodNotes 6 / Notability: The Handwriting Kings

If you have an iPad and an Apple Pencil, these are your go-to apps. They simulate the feeling of writing on paper but with the power of digital search. You can hand-write your math equations and then search for the word "derivative" later—it will find it.

• Pros: Best for math, science, and diagrams. "Ink to Text" features are incredible.
• Cons: iPad only (mostly). Not ideal for long-form typing.
• Best For: STEM majors who need to draw structures, formulas, and graphs.

4. OneNote: The Reliable Workhorse

OneNote is often overlooked because it’s "old," but for most students, it’s actually the best choice. It’s free (if your school provides Office 365), and it uses a "Binder" metaphor that is very intuitive. You can type anywhere on the page, like a digital scrapbook.

• Pros: Totally free for students, great cross-platform syncing, excellent organization.
• Cons: Can feel a bit "clunky" and corporate compared to newer apps.
• Best For: Students who want a simple, digital version of a physical 5-subject notebook.

5. RemNote: Built for Remembering

RemNote is the only app on this list designed specifically around the science of Active Recall and Spaced Repetition. Every time you take a note, you can turn it into a flashcard instantly.

• Pros: Automates your study schedule, integrates notes with flashcards seamlessly.
• Cons: The interface is a bit cluttered and takes time to get used to.
• Best For: Medical students and Law students who have to memorize massive amounts of information.

6. Apple Notes: The "Quick-Fire" Choice

Don't sleep on the app that came with your phone. For quick thoughts, lecture dates, or simple lists, Apple Notes is incredibly fast and has surprisingly good scanning features.

• Pros: Zero setup, instant sync, great for scanning paper handouts.
• Cons: Not enough features for organizing a whole semester of complex notes.
• Best For: Capturing ideas on the go to be moved into a "real" app later.

How to Choose the Right App for You

Before you download everything, ask yourself these three questions:

1. Do I type or write? If you're a STEM major, you need handwriting (GoodNotes). If you're a History major, you need typing (Notion/Obsidian).
2. How much "setup" do I want? If you want to start taking notes in 5 seconds, go with OneNote. If you want a "custom system," go with Notion.
3. Do I need to connect ideas? If you want to see how your Psych class relates to your Bio class, Obsidian is the only real choice.

The "Perfect" Note-Taking Workflow

Regardless of the app you choose, here is the workflow we recommend at Gradily:

1. Capture: Take raw, messy notes during the lecture. Don't worry about formatting.
2. Curate: Within 24 hours, go back and clean up those notes. Add headings and links. This counts as your first spaced repetition review.
3. Summarize: Use Gradily to summarize your notes. If your notes are 2,000 words, Gradily can help you find the 5 most important bullet points.
4. Test: Turn your notes into questions. Use the "Cue" column method to test yourself.

How Gradily Enhances Your Digital Notes

Gradily isn't a note-taking app, but it makes every app on this list better.

• The "Stuck" Solver: If you're reviewing your Obsidian notes and realize you don't understand a concept, ask Gradily for an explanation and paste that explanation directly into your note.
• Flashcard Generator: Paste your Notion notes into Gradily and ask it to "Generate 10 flashcard questions based on these notes."
• Outline Builder: Before you start a long note-taking session, ask Gradily for an outline of the topic so you know what to listen for during the lecture.

Final Thoughts

The "best" app is the one you actually use. Don't fall into the trap of switching apps every two weeks. Pick one that fits your major, set up a simple organization system (Year > Semester > Class), and stick with it.

Your notes are the foundation of your education. Treat them with respect, keep them organized, and use them as a tool for active learning, not just passive recording.

Happy note-taking!

Read Next:

• Active Recall: The #1 Study Technique
• Spaced Repetition: How to Remember Everything You Study
• How to Stay Focused While Studying