Software Design Post It Note App

When I was in high school, I was one of those nerds that carried pen and paper around everywhere.

Sometimes it was a small notepad.

Sometimes it was a single sheet of paper folded in my back pocket.

Other times it was a journal in my backpack.

I moved to a note taking app on my smartphone, because of:

1. Convenience: Obviously if I already have a phone in my pocket, it's simple to start using it right away without carrying a pen along with paper. This simplifies everything.
2. Searching: Something that's hard to do with paper? Searching for what you wrote down. You can look back at it, but if you want to keep it for any amount of time, you must retype and save it. With an amazing note taking app, you don't have to do this. If you remember a random idea, you can search back through all of your notes to find it. Note taking apps make it simple to keep up with your information.
3. Accessibility: Beyond the convenience in your pocket, most note taking apps also provide remarkable accessibility. You can add, copy and edit your notes from a laptop, tablet or phone. This helps you transfer notes to work accounts or easily share them with friends.

Maybe instead of pen and paper or a notebook, you have sticky notes all over your monitor. Those can definitely get lost! Or blow away. And you can't even attach files or save documents to sticky notes!

ALSO: Take a look at these best note taking strategies !

With those factors in mind, let's examine the best note taking app for you to try this year.

1. Notepad by ClickUp

The Notepad by ClickUp is a Chrome extension that you can download and then use across the web. It stays in the bottom corner of your choice, creating a simple way for you to jot down reminders or do research as you're browsing.

Just click on the purple notepad icon at the bottom of your screen, and your entire list of notes is right there. And with rich text editing, you can format, emphasize or even use markdown right there in your browser.

This is the notepad program designed for those who want to maximize their productivity. Why? Because it connects right to your *favorite* project management software, ClickUp!

Another feature? Use the Notepad as part of the ClickUp mobile app as well. You can record meeting notes, make checklists and then create tasks instantly from your notes. No other note taking app or project management platform offers you this type of flexibility.

Sync your Chrome extension with your mobile app and desktop application. ClickUp works wherever you need to go.

ClickUp is the only project management software program that has this option…and your same notes will transfer from your browser right into ClickUp.

PRO: Easy to use to take notes on the web, perfect for students and personal use.

CON: Frequently rolls out new features it can be hard to keep up!

Availability: Chrome browser and with ClickUp

2. Google Keep

Google Keep is a great option because it meets all of the points I made above, plus it's simple. And completely accessible.

Make note lists, save links, copy text and even record audio notes. Those are amazing features that come as part of your Gsuite applications.

With reminders, Google Keep can be used for very lightweight task management.

Pro: As part of the Google Suite, you can take meeting or lecture notes on your browser or your smartphone via an app and it stays with you.

Con: Formatting text or markdown is a bit harder to do.

Availability: All devices

Compare this web app with #5: Evernote

3. Bear

Though only available on Apple products, Bear is a note taking app to be reckoned with. It has a simple left to right interface with a main menu, a note snippet display of your most recent notes, and then the actual note taking area.

One of its key features is its organizational system. Use hashtags to categorize, then use a slash command to create even more subfolders. You can do this from anywhere in the note. This is a simple way to organize and categorize your notes.

The new folders then automatically appear in your main menu. It also uses other markdown text editor shortcuts to link your notes together. Very intuitive!

Pros: Hashtags and categorization from anywhere in the note

Cons: Not enough separate workspaces or different levels of categories. This Reddit thread has more.

Availability: iOS

4. Workflowy

Workflowy is a notes/project management hybrid, but it works best for notes. Workflowy takes the idea of an outline to an extreme. Rather than create smaller cards for each of your notes (like a notepad), Workflowy drills further and further down into an outline, creating a hierarchical structure right from the start.

Workflowy offers extreme flexibility. Novelists use to plan books; managers can create quick tasks and checklists to pass onto their team.

From there, you can add tags and more organizational tools emerge.

With its new mobile apps, Workflowy is definitely worth a try.

Not sure about Workflowy? Check out our blog on Workflowy alternatives.

PRO: Easy to see zoom in and out from the big picture to smaller details

CON: Sometimes users can be frustrated by its plain approach–it's almost too simple. The blank page can be daunting after all. But you can set favorites and more to navigate.

Availability: All devices

5. Evernote

Evernote is the OG of note taking apps, but its shine has lost a little luster over the years. They've lost a few executives in the C-suite and users are feeling stuck , especially after they started charging premium prices, but with few product updates.

But the fundamentals remain the same: it's easy to take notes, add lists and even attach files to your notes for safekeeping. Its user interface has set the tone for the rest of the note taking apps, many of which have come after it.

If you need to export all of your notes, that can be tricky too, yet can be done .

Proceed with caution on Evernote!

Check out our review on Evernote and its alternatives.

PRO: Web clipper and card system are familiar

CON: Rising prices and uncertain product leadership

Availability: Everywhere

6. Paper

Paper is a different type of note taking app–it's the one for you visual thinkers out there. Made more like a sketch pad, you can dive into paintbrushes, swirls, and shapes. Create mind maps or draw a quick cartoon as a reminder. Its notebook feature helps you set up the organization that you need to group your notes and drawings into different categories.

PRO: Capture quick design ideas

CON: Not many keyboard functions for the text types out there…and only available on Mac/iOS

Availability: Mac/iOS

7. Ulysses

Ulysses is a hybrid writing program and note taking app. If you find yourself needing to transform your notes from raw form into something presentable, then Ulysses lets you do that all across your Mac devices. You can take notes in a plain text mode and then throw in another theme for export.

It also offers writing goals and links to outside resources, like a PDF for instance. Its clean interface is inviting to many users.

PRO: A minimalist interface for long-form writing

CON: One drawback? It requires an ongoing subscription, so take a test run before committing.

Availability: Mac and iOS

8. SquidNotes

SquidNotes is one of those writing apps that captures your real handwriting. It mimics an actual notebook or legal pad. You can use a compatible stylus or write with your finger. You can then resize your notes, add shapes and export to PDF and more. It's also great for commenting on images and suggesting edits.

PRO: Use your real handwriting (that's a con for me)

CON: Won't be as concise or compact as a standard note taking app such as Evernote or OneNote (if that matters to you)

Availability: Android

9. Microsoft OneNote

At first, I thought Microsoft OneNote was just the answer to Google Keep or Evernote…but it's actually more than that.

It's a great tool for annotating and commenting on PDFs, and it combines the functionality of traditional notes with the sketchbook approach. It's the best one at doing both.

You can take audio dictation, photos, make a to-do list or draw. An amazing OneNote feature is using the keyboard and sketching in the same app. You don't have to give up your handwritten notes entirely.

Microsoft users will want to take advantage especially since it connects to your 365 account, which can then sync across all your browsers, apps and mobile devices you use for Office365.

Check out our blog on OneNote alternatives.

Pros: Sketches and typed notes in one place! And Microsoft.

Cons: Lacks a lot of major integrations.

Availability: All devices

10. Simplenote

Free notes?

Clean interface?

The team from Automattic (creators of WordPress) want to solve your note taking problems with Simplenote, a free and open-source note taking platform.

An advantageous feature is syncing Simplenote across all of your devices–whether it's Windows, Mac or your mobile devices.

You also get markdown, which is a huge bonus for sharing code or to emphasize a point. On the flip side, there is no rich text editor.

One Simplenote feature that others don't have is a drag-and-drop interface for revisions and note history. Just drag the toolbar to go back in time.

Pros:Use across desktop and mobile devices, easy to review past history

Cons:Not great for attachments, setting reminders, hard to format texts

Availability:Mac, iOS, Android, Windows

Conclusion

No doubt, having a great note taking apps are a lifesaver. Your choice may depend on your use case. Do you want a lot of features available through an app like Ulysses, or something simple to jot down your grocery list? Or maybe an online notepad that's available all across the web if you spend a lot of time in your tabs.

Your choice may depend on what you need, how often you need sketches (or not) and what you want to do with your notes once you're done with them. Exporting isn't for everyone.

Which best note taking app will you choose?

Other great posts to help with your notes:

• Best note taking strategies
• Best organizational tools
• Best productivity apps
• Bear vs Evernote

Software Design Post It Note App

Source: https://clickup.com/blog/note-taking-apps/

Posted by: weeksmeren1965.blogspot.com

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