Articles, Productivity

Top 6 Best Note Taking Apps to Build a Second Brain in 2023

22 Jul

Looking for Best Note-Taking App?

Do you want to find the best note-taking app that can help you capture, organize, and use your knowledge effectively? Do you want to learn how to build a second brain that can enhance your creativity, productivity, and learning? Do you want to compare the features, benefits, and drawbacks of different note-taking apps? We explore various note-taking apps and list the best 6 among them.

Here are some possible criteria for choosing a note-taking app and why they matter:

  • Sync and backup: Keep your notes updated and safe across devices and locations.
  • Search and organization: Find and arrange your notes easily by various filters and groups.
  • Formatting and editing: Add and format different types of content to your notes.
  • Export and sharing: Send and share your notes in various formats and platforms.
  • Customization and extensibility: Adjust and enhance the app to fit your needs and preferences.
  • Building a Second Brain: Easy to create a system of personal knowledge management.
  • How to Take Smart Notes: Easy to implement Zettelkasten method or slip-box method from Niklas Luhmann.

Related Contents:

Most Popular
Notion-logo.svg

Notion

Top 3 Features
  • Flexibility and customization
  • Content types and databases
  • Dashboards and templates
Go to Site
Most Powerful
obsidian logo

Obsidian

Top 3 Features
  • Markdown support
  • Backlinking and referencing
  • Graph view
Go to Site
Most Powerful
logseq logo

Logseq

Top 3 Features
  • Bi-directional linking
  • Queries, filters, attributes
  • Graph view and outline view
Go to Site
Clean & Simple
bear logo

Bear

Top 3 Features
  • Markdown support
  • Themes and fonts
  • Tags and nested tags
Go to Site
Great with Office
microsoft_onenote_alt_macos_bigsur_icon_189972

OneNote

Top 3 Features
  • Web clipping and OCR
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Integration with Office
Go to Site
Powerful & Expensive
roam research logo

Roam Research

Top 3 Features
  • Bi-directional linking
  • Queries, filters, attributes
  • Graph view and outline view
Go to Site

Best Note Taking Apps at a Glance

APP

Best For

Top 3 Features

Free Plan

Notion

People who want a flexible and customizable app that can handle different types of content, such as text, images, videos, tables, databases, calendars, kanban boards, etc., and who want to create dashboards to manage their life
  • Flexibility and customization
  • Content types and databases
  • Dashboards and templates

Free for personal use, paid plans for more features

Obsidian

People who are familiar with the programming syntax of Markdown notes, who want to create internal links at the page, block or header level, and who want to visualize the connections among their notes
  • Markdown support
  • Backlinking and referencing
  • Graph view

Free for personal use, optional subscription for sync and publish service

Logseq

People who want to create a networked thought system that connects their notes through bi-directional links, who want to use advanced features such as queries, filters, graphs, etc., and who want to follow the Zettelkasten method of note taking
  • Bi-directional linking and referencing
  • Queries, filters, attributes, and aliases
  • Graph view and outline view

Free for personal use, optional donation or subscription for sync service

Bear

People who want a minimalist and elegant app that can create beautiful notes using Markdown, who want to use features such as themes, tags, nested tags, etc., and who want to sync their notes across Apple devices.
  • Markdown support
  • Themes and fonts
  • Tags and nested tags

Free for personal use with limited features, paid plan for more features

OneNote

People who want a free and versatile app that can handle different types of content, such as text, images, videos, audio, drawings, etc., who want to use features such as web clipping, OCR, handwriting recognition, etc., and who want to integrate with other Microsoft products.
  • Web clipping and OCR
  • Handwriting recognition and drawing
  • Integration with Microsoft products

Free for personal use

Roam Research

People who want to create a networked thought system that connects their notes through bi-directional links, who want to use advanced features such as queries, filters, graphs, etc., and who want to follow the Zettelkasten method of note taking.
  • Bi-directional linking and referencing
  • Queries, filters, attributes, and aliases
  • Graph view and outline view

$15/month or $165/year for personal use

1. Notion

Notion-logo.svg

Notion App is an all-in-one workspace that combines notes, tasks, wikis, databases, and more. It allows you to create and organize any kind of content in a flexible and collaborative way. There lots of Notion Templates for you to explore.

 

Key Features

  • Blocks – create different types of content using blocks, such as text, images, videos, tables, lists, etc.
  • Databases – store and manipulate structured data using tables, boards, calendars, galleries, or timelines.
  • Templates – use pre-made templates or create your own to save time and customize your pages.
  • Pages – nest pages within pages to create hierarchies and link them with bi-directional links.
  • Web Clipper – save any web page as a Notion page with one click.
  • Sync – access your data across devices and collaborate with others in real-time.
  • Integrations – connect Notion with other apps and services, such as Google Drive, Slack, Figma, etc.
  • Widgets – embed interactive widgets on your pages, such as maps, charts, polls, etc.
  • API – use the Notion API to programmatically interact with your data and build custom integrations.
  • Markdown – import and export Markdown files and use Markdown syntax to format your text.

Best for

  • Notion is best for users who want a versatile and customizable tool that can handle various types of content and workflows. Notion can be used for taking notes and writing documents, managing tasks and projects, creating wikis and knowledge bases, building personal websites and portfolios, organizing data and information, learning and studying, planning events and trips, tracking habits and goals, brainstorming and ideating, sharing and collaborating.

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for some users
  • Limited offline functionality
  • Slow performance with large databases
  • No native drawing or handwriting support

Pricing

  • Free
    • Unlimited blocks for individuals. Limited block trial for teams.
    • For organizing every corner of your work & life. 
  • Plus
    • $8 per user / month billed annually, $10 billed monthly.
    • A place for small groups to plan & get organized. 
  • Business

    • $15 per user / month
      billed annually, $18 billed monthly

    • For companies using Notion to connect several teams & tools.
  • Enterprise
    • Advanced controls & support to run your entire organization.
Try Notion
Get Started with Notion

2. Obsidian

obsidian logo

Obsidian is a knowledge base app that works on top of a local folder of plain text Markdown files. You can create and link your notes, and explore them with a graph view, backlinks, and more. Obsidian notes are stored in local storage unlike other online notebook, perfect for speed note taking.

Key Features

  • Markdown – use Markdown syntax to format your text, add images, links, code blocks, and more.
  • Graph view – see your notes and their connections in a visual graph, and filter, group, and display them as you like.
  • Backlinks – see all the notes that link to the current note, and navigate between them easily.
  • Outgoing links – see all the existing and potential links from the current note, and create new notes from them quickly.
  • Local files – store your notes as plain text files in your local folder, and sync them with any service you want.
  • Plugins – extend Obsidian’s functionality with core and community plugins, such as Calendar, Kanban, Dataview, Templater, etc.
  • Themes – customize the look and feel of Obsidian with core and community themes, or create your own with custom CSS.
  • Sync – sync your notes across your devices via Obsidian Sync, a secure and end-to-end encrypted service.
  • Publish – publish your notes to the web via Obsidian Publish, a flexible and customizable hosting service.
  • Mobile – access your notes on the go with Obsidian Mobile for iOS and Android.

Best for

  • Obsidian is best for users who want a powerful and extensible tool that can handle complex and interconnected knowledge. Obsidian can be used for taking notes and writing documents, managing tasks and projects, creating wikis and knowledge bases,  organizing data and information, learning and studying, planning events and trips, tracking habits and goals, brainstorming and ideating.
  • Spark brilliance. From personal notes to journaling, knowledge bases, and project management, Obsidian gives you the tools to come up with ideas and organize them.

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for some users
  • No web app

Pricing

  • Free
    • Free for Personal Use FOREVER
    • All app features
    • No account or sign up required
    • Themes, plugins and API
    • Community support
  • Commercial Use
    • $50 USD Per user, per year
    • Commercial use license
    • 14-day free trial
    • Priority support
Try Obsidian
Get Started with Obsidian

3. Logseq

logseq logo

Logseq is a knowledge base app that works on top of local plain text Markdown and Org-mode files. You can create and link your notes, and explore them with a graph view, backlinks, queries, and more.

 

Key Features 

  • Markdown and Org-mode – use either syntax to format your text, add images, links, code blocks, and more.
  • Graph view – see your notes and their connections in a visual graph, and filter, group, and display them as you like.
  • Backlinks – see all the notes that link to the current note, and navigate between them easily.
  • Queries – use queries to filter and display your notes based on various criteria, such as tags, properties, dates, etc.
  • Local files – store your notes as plain text files in your local folder, and sync them with any service you want.
  • Plugins – extend Logseq’s functionality with core and community plugins, such as Kanban, Mindmap, Timeline, etc.
  • Themes – customize the look and feel of Logseq with core and community themes, or create your own with custom CSS.
  • Sync – sync your notes across your devices via Logseq Sync, a secure and end-to-end encrypted service.
  • Publish – publish your notes to the web via Logseq Publish, a flexible and customizable hosting service.
  • Mobile – access your notes on the go with Logseq Mobile for iOS and Android.

 

Best for

  • Logseq is best for users who want a privacy-first and open-source tool that can handle various types of content and workflows. Logseq can be used for taking notes and writing documents, managing tasks and projects, creating wikis and knowledge bases, organizing data and information, learning and studying, planning events and trips, tracking habits and goals, brainstorming and ideating.
  • Think faster, think better! By thinking and writing with Logseq, you’ll gain confidence in what you know and stop worrying about forgetting anything.

 

Cons

  • Steep learning curve for some users
  • No web app
 

Pricing

  • Free
    • Free for Personal Use FOREVER
  • Commercial Use
Try Logseq
Get Started with Logseq

4. Bear

bear logo

Bear is a notes app that supports Markdown, tags, themes, and encryption. You can write, organize, and export your notes in a simple and elegant way.

 

Key Features 

  • Markdown – use Markdown syntax to format your text, add images, links, code blocks, and more.
  • Tags – use hashtags to categorize and nest your notes, and create custom icons for them.
  • Themes – choose from over 20 themes to customize the look and feel of your notes.
  • Encryption – lock the app with Face ID or Touch ID, and encrypt individual notes with a password.
  • Export – export your notes to various formats, such as PDF, HTML, DOCX, JPG, etc.
  • Sync – sync your notes across your devices via iCloud, and backup and restore them as needed.
  • Widgets – use widgets to access your notes quickly from your home screen or notification center.
  • Shortcuts – use keyboard shortcuts to navigate and edit your notes faster.
  • Sketch – draw or write on your notes with your finger or Apple Pencil, and edit them later.
  • Web Clipper – save web pages as notes with the Bear Web Clipper extension for Safari.
 

Best for

  • Bear is best for users who want a simple and beautiful tool that can handle various types of content and workflows. Bear can be used for taking notes and writing documents, managing tasks and projects, creating wikis and knowledge bases, organizing data and information, learning and studying, planning events and trips, tracking habits and goals, brainstorming and ideating.

  • Write naturally. Bear is a beautiful, powerfully simple Markdown note taking app to capture, write, and organize your life.

 

Cons

  • No native Windows or Android app
  • No web app or offline access
  • No native backlinking or graph view support
 

Pricing

  • Free
    • Local access to your notes
    • Document scanning
  • Commercial Use
    • $2.99/month, $29.99/year
    • Export to: TXT, Markdown, TextBundle, RTF, PDF, JPG, HTML, DOCX, ePub
    • 28+ themes
    • 15 app icons
    • Search inside PDFs and images
    • Sync with iCloud
Try Bear
Get Started with Bear

5. OneNote

microsoft_onenote_alt_macos_bigsur_icon_189972

OneNote is a digital note-taking app that lets you capture and organize everything across your devices. You can type, write, draw, clip, and search your notes, as well as collaborate with others and sync with other Office apps.

 

Key Features 

  • Ink – use a stylus or your finger to write or draw on your notes, and convert handwriting to text later.
  • Clip – save web pages, images, PDFs, or audio and video files to your notes with the OneNote Web Clipper or the Share button.
  • Search – find anything in your notes, including text in pictures or handwriting, with optical character recognition (OCR).
  • Sections and Pages – organize your notes into sections and pages, and nest them as you like.
  • Tags – use tags to categorize and prioritize your notes, and find them quickly with Tag Search.
  • Templates – choose from a variety of templates or create your own to format your notes for different purposes.
  • Math – use the Math Assistant to solve equations, graph functions, or convert handwritten math to typed math.
  • Immersive Reader – use the Immersive Reader to improve your reading comprehension, focus, and accessibility.
  • Sticky Notes – use Sticky Notes to jot down quick reminders or ideas, and sync them across your devices or Outlook.
  • Class Notebook – use Class Notebook to create a collaborative space for students and teachers, with features like assignment distribution, grading, and feedback.
 

Best for

  • OneNote is best for users who want a versatile and reliable tool that can handle various types of content and workflows. OneNote can be used for taking notes and writing documents, managing tasks and projects, creating wikis and knowledge bases, building personal websites and portfolios, organizing data and information, learning and studying, planning events and trips, tracking habits and goals, brainstorming and ideating.

Cons

  • Limited offline functionality
  • No native backlinking or graph view support

Pricing

  • Free
    •  OneNote is free to use for personal use, with no limits on devices or storage.
    • OneNote is also included in Microsoft 365 subscriptions, which offer additional features and benefits, such as premium templates, advanced security, and access to other Office apps.
Try OneNote
Get Started with OneNote

6. Roam Research

roam research logo
Subtitle text example

Title text example

Text after title text example

Roam Research is a note-taking app that supports bi-directional links, graph view, queries, and more. You can create and link your notes, and explore them with a networked thought system.

 

Key Features 

  • Bi-directional links – use double brackets to link your notes, and see all the notes that link to the current note.
  • Graph view – see your notes and their connections in a visual graph, and filter, zoom, and display them as you like.
  • Queries – use queries to filter and display your notes based on various criteria, such as tags, properties, dates, etc.
  • Blocks – create and edit your notes at the block level, and reference, embed, or transclude them in other notes.
  • Daily notes – use daily notes to capture your thoughts and tasks for each day, and link them with other notes.
  • Outliner – use an outliner to structure and organize your notes, and collapse or expand them as needed.
  • Attributes – use attributes to add metadata to your notes or blocks, and query them later.
  • Templates – use templates to create new notes or blocks with predefined structure and content.
  • Plugins – extend Roam’s functionality with core and community plugins, such as Kanban, Timeline, Pomodoro, etc.
  • Themes – customize the look and feel of Roam with core and community themes, or create your own with custom CSS.
 

Best for

  • Roam Research is best for users who want a flexible and powerful tool that can handle complex and interconnected knowledge. Roam Research can be used for taking notes and writing documents, managing tasks and projects, creating wikis and knowledge bases, organizing data and information, learning and studying, planning events and trips, tracking habits and goals, brainstorming and ideating.
  • A note-taking tool for networked thought. As easy to use as a document. As powerful as a graph database. Roam helps you organize your research for the long haul.

Cons

  • No native Windows or Android app
  • No offline access

Pricing

  • Pro
    • $15/month or $165/year
    • Unlimited Private or Public Roam Graphs
    • Unlimited Collaborators
  • Believer
    • $500 for 5 years
    • Everything in Pro Plan plus…
    • First Access to New Features
    • Community Calls with the Team
    • Priority Support
Try Roam Research
Get Started with Roam Research
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