As we are living in a digital world, people today are note-taking on smartphone devices due to the following reasons:
- These are convenient as you can use it anywhere anytime.
- Searching for anything you have written and saved on your phone is easy.
- They provide remarkable accessibility.
However, we want to change this! This is why I have compiled a list of the 10 best note-taking apps for Windows 10/11 that support a stylus. This should make it easier for folks who spend most of their day on a PC, right? I think so!
Top 10 Best Note-Taking Apps For Windows 10/11 (With Stylus Support)
Google Keep – The standard
This is a good option to have in your phone as it simple and completely accessible. With this, you can:
- Make.
- Save.
- Copy text.
- Record audio notes.
Use this for very lightweight task management with reminders.
Good Points
- With Google suite, take meetings or lectures on a browser or phone device through an app and it stays with you.
Band Points
- Quite harder to do formatting of text or markdown.
Notepad by ClickUp – Jack of all trades
This chrome extension can be downloaded and used across the web. It stays in the bottom corner of your choice; creating simpler ways to write down reminders and do research.
For this:
- Click on the purple icon at the bottom of the screen, the complete list of notes is here.
With rich text editing, you can:
- Format, emphasize, or even mark in the browser.
This is designed primarily for users who want to maximize their productivity as it connects them to their favorite project management software, ClickUp.
Notepad by ClickUp Features:
- Use this as part of it.
- Record meetings.
- Make checklists.
- Create tasks.
Users can synch their Chrome extension with mobile and desktop apps. It works wherever you need to go. It is the only software that carries this open and transfers the same notes from the browser right into it.
Good Points
- Easy to use for project management.
- Take them on the web easily.
Bad Points
- No standalone mobile application.
READ: Sensible File Renamer Download – Rename Files and Folders with ease.
Workflowy – Manage and Track projects with side notes
This is a note or project management hybrid but works great for such tasks. It takes the idea of an outline to an extreme. This one is designed to drill further down into an outline thus creating a hierarchical structure right from the beginning.
Workflowy Features:
- Provides flexibility.
- Plan books.
- Create quick tasks.
- Create checklists.
Users can also add tags and more organizations’ tools emerge.
Give it a try with its new mobile application.
Good Points
- It is easy to see zoom in and out from big images to small details.
Bad Points
- Carries a plain approach.
- Quite simply, the blank page can be daunting
Bear App – Be on the go
You can find this one only on Apple products. It carries a simple left-to-right interface with the main menu, a snippet display of the most recent ones, and a real note-taking area.
Bear App Features
- Carries an organizational system, users can use hashtags to categorize, and use the slash command to create sub-folders. This can be done from anywhere in it. It is quite a simple way to organize and categorize.
The newly created folders appear in the main menu automatically. To link them together, it uses a markdown text editor.
Good Points
- From anywhere in it, use hashtags and categorize accordingly.
Bad Points
- Does not have any separate workspace.
It is available only for iOS.
READ: Adobe Acrobat Reader Alternatives for Windows 10/11.
Paper from Dropbox
This is a different yet unique app that is designed for all the visual thinkers out there. It is made more like a sketch pad thus users can
- Go into paintbrushes, swirls, and shapes.
- Create mind maps or draw quick cartoons as reminders.
- Carries notebook feature helps you set organization that you require to group drawings and others into various categories.
Good Points
- Able to capture quick design ideas.
Bad Points
- Does not carry many keyboard functions for text types.
It is only available for Mac or iOS.
READ: Save energy by using Monitor Off Utility.
Evernote – The pioneers
This is considered to be the OG of all the applications but over the years has lost some shine due to losing a few executives in the C-site. Users feel quite stuck, especially after they started charging premium prices but with some product details.
Its fundamentals remain the same:
- Take notes.
- Add lists.
- Attach files to them for safekeeping.
Carries an interface that has set the tone for other apps.
Users can also export; this can be done, but remember that it is quite tricky.
Good Points
- The card system and web clipper are similar.
Bad Points
- High on prices.
- Uncertain product leadership.
Download Evernote for Windows 10/11
SquidNotes – Good for Stylus users
This is yet another one to make it to the list, one of the applications designed to capture the real handwriting of the user. It can mimic an actual notepad or legal pad. Users can use a stylus or write with the help of their fingers.
SquidNotes Features:
- Resize notes.
- Add shapes.
- Export to PDF.
- Best for commenting on pictures.
- Suggest edits.
Good Points
- Use real handwriting.
Bad Points
- This is not as concise or compact as the rest of the apps.
Ulysses – Multi-platform support for writers
This is a hybrid writing program. If you are a Mac user and looking for something that lets you transform them from raw form into something that seems presentable then this is for you. you can take notes in plain text mode and then throw it in some other theme to export.
Ulysses Features:
- Provides writing goals.
- Able to link to outside resources such as PDF.
- Carries a clean interface.
Good Points
- For long-form writing carries a minimalistic interface.
Bad Points
- Requires ongoing subscription therefore it is recommended to rake a test run before committing.
Simplenote – For Bloggers
The Automattic teams who are WordPress creators want to solve all your problems related to taking notes with this application. It is a free yet open-source platform.
Simplenote Features:
- Let’s sync it across all your devices whether it is Windows, Mac, or mobile.
- It has a markdown and a huge bonus to share code or emphasize any point.
There is no rich text editor.
- It carries drag and drag-and-drop interface for revisions and history. To go back in time, drag the toolbar.
Good Points
- Easy to review history.
- It can be used across desktop and mobile devices.
Bad Points
- It is the best choice for attachments, settings reminders, hard to format texts.
Microsoft OneNote – Average user’s choice
This is a great choice to annotate and comment on PDFs. The best thing about this one is that it combines the function of traditional notes with a sketchbook approach. It is best to do both.
OneNote Features:
- Take audio dictation.
- Made a to-do list.
- It uses a keyboard and sketching in the same app.
- Do not give up on your handwritten ones easily.
Users of Microsoft would want to take advantage as it connects to their 365 accounts, which can be used to sync all their browsers, apps, and mobile devices that they use for it.
Good Points
- Carries sketches and types notes in one place. Good for saving time.
Bad Points
- Lacks major integrations.
Download OneNote for Windows 10/11
Alternative: Sensible Note Taker v1.05
DekiSoft Sensible Note Taker is great if you want to create notes on your desktop quickly. What makes it stand out is that it has:
- Autosave
- Quick access
- Allows for multiple tabs to be open, which is great for lots of lists
Download Sensible Note Taker for Windows 10/11
Do you use a Stylus when taking notes?
Above are all the free note-taking apps with stylus support for Windows 10/11 that you can use. They are free and only cost you a simple sign-up with your email. My personal TWO favorites are Evernote and Simplenote. What are yours? Are you a student or employee and does it make a difference in productivity? Let me know in the discussion below.
Is the notes app part of the basic Windows build?
Hi Riley, It isn’t you will have to install it from the Microsoft Store.