Will an iPad replace your paper notebook this year? With these note-taking apps and an Apple Pencil, that’s no problem.
The best iPad note-taking apps with Apple Pencil
An iPad is a versatile device that you can use for work or study. If you have an Apple Pencil, you can also take notes on it. Numerous apps now support this smart pen, but there are a few that stand out. Here are our favorite note-taking apps for the Apple Pencil.
1. iPhoned Choose: GoodNotes
GoodNotes has everything you want from a comprehensive note-taking app. First of all, it’s a great app for taking handwritten notes with an Apple Pencil, with all sorts of options to customize the paper to suit the notes you’re taking. There are also different colours, types of pens and handy selection options available. There is also a scan option and you can quickly insert images or type a piece of text. Handy if, for example, you make drawings and would rather type the description than write it.
But what really sets GoodNotes apart from the rest is everything the app does besides the note itself. The app is very well-arranged thanks to the handy start screen in which you can create separate notebooks for different tasks. Do you have a lot of loose writings? Then you can also create folders to store them neatly.
In addition to an iOS app, GoodNotes also has a macOS app, so you can have the notes you take on your iPad right on your Mac. These are automatically synced via iCloud. All that makes GoodNotes a complete package that we believe has everything to turn your iPad into a notepad, with all the benefits of iPadOS.
2. Notability
One of the most popular note-taking apps for the iPad is Notability, and for good reason. Notability is a solution for every student who wants to take notes during a lecture. This is all about the record button, which allows you to record the sound while noting. This way you can listen back to the lecture or that one meeting at your leisure afterwards and check whether your notes are correct or need to be expanded.
Also nice is the built-in presentation mode, with which you can easily send your notes to a screen. Do you work with other students or colleagues? Then the annotation option comes in handy, with which you can improve or adjust PDF files from within the app. As far as we are concerned, this makes Notability a very suitable app for students.
3. Microsoft OneNote
As you could already read on iPhoned, OneNote is our favorite note-taking app. As a digital binder you can organize different parts in tabs. If you’re going to take notes with a keyboard, this is still our favorite.
But OneNote also has support for the Apple Pencil, which makes it easy to take handwritten notes. With different options you can choose all kinds of brushes and colors, although you will notice that this is mainly intended as a way to enrich your typed notes. If you want to note purely with an Apple Pencil, then the two apps above are nicer to use.
4. Nebo
Nebo is also a handy note-taking app, which mainly revolves around a specific function: recognizing your handwriting and automatically converting it into typed text. Are you someone who prefers to write with an Apple Pencil instead of typing with a keyboard? Then Nebo is an excellent app that fortunately also supports Dutch.
Simply start writing and a line will appear above your text on which you can see how Nebo converts your writing into digital letters. Aside from that feature, Nebo is also a great note-taking app, with handy templates for creating diagrams. As far as we are concerned, GoodNotes and Notability are nicer to use with more options, but when it comes to translating written text purely, Nebo is the clear winner.
5. Notes
Would you rather not spend money on a Notes app or download one especially for it? Then there is already one as standard on your iPad as soon as you turn it on for the first time. The Notes app from Apple gets a bit better every year and of course also supports the Apple Pencil.
The big advantage of the Notes app is that you can open it very quickly: simply tap the lock screen with your Apple Pencil and an empty note is automatically created for you to scribble on. Apart from this advantage, this app is very simple and will not be sufficient for users who want to write on it fanatically.
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