Mac users are known for their work productivity and efficiency, and a key part of staying organized and on top of tasks is a good note-taking app. From jotting down ideas and brainstorming to creating to-do lists and saving important information, a note-taking app can be an invaluable tool. Whether you’re a student, professional, or just looking for a better way to keep track of your thoughts and ideas, these apps will help you stay organized and make the most of your time.
Note-Taking Apps for Mac Users
However, with so many options available, it can be overwhelming to try and find the best note-taking apps for Mac, but don’t worry. In this article, you’ll discover the finest note-taking apps for Mac and what type of app a Mac user needs. Let’s get into the details!
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What Types of Note-Taking Apps Mac Users Need?
Does Mac Have a Notebook App?
Yes, Mac does have a built-in notetaking app called “Notes.” Notes is a simple app that allows you to create and organize notes, lists, and attachments. You can use Notes to jot down ideas, create to-do lists, and save web links or documents. Notes syncs across your devices, so you can access your notes on your Mac, iPhone, or iPad.
Notes on Mac also includes features such as creating folders to organize your notes, searching for specific notes, and locking notes with a password. You can also collaborate on notes with others by inviting them to view or edit a note. In addition, Notes integrates with other apps on your Mac, such as the Photos app, so you can easily add images or videos to your notes.
What Types of Note-Taking Apps Mac Users Need?
Here are some possible criteria that Mac users may consider when looking for a note-taking app:
- Note formatting options: Being able to format notes, such as by changing the font or text size, can help to make notes more visually appealing and easier to read.
- Collaboration features: For users who need to work with others on notes, sharing and collaborating in real-time is essential.
- Attachment support: Adding attachments, such as images or documents, to notes can be useful for adding context or reference material.
- Syncing capabilities: Accessing notes on multiple devices is important for many Mac users, so a note-taking app that offers syncing across devices is essential.
- Compatibility with other apps: Integration with other apps on the Mac, such as the Calendar or Contacts app, can make it easier to manage and organize notes within the context of other tasks.
- Organization options: The ability to organize notes is important for keeping track of multiple goals and making it easier to find specific notes later.
6 Best Note-Taking Apps for Mac Users
Want the best note-taking app for Mac? The following tools can help.
1. GoodNotes
GoodNotes is a note-taking app that allows you to take handwritten notes, type text, and draw with Apple Pencil or other styluses on your iPad or iPhone. It also has features like PDF annotation, document scanning, and organization tools like tags and folders. It is a popular choice for students and professionals who want a digital tool to replace paper notebooks.
Best Note Taking App for Mac – GoodNotes
What It Is Best For Note Taking
- Handwriting recognition technology to convert handwritten notes into searchable text
- PDF annotation for adding notes and highlights to PDF documents
- Document scanning to digitize physical notes and documents
- Organizational tools like tags and folders to keep your notes organized
- Handwriting and drawing with Apple Pencil or other styluses on your iPad or iPhone
G2 Rating: 4.8/5 (26 Reviews)
Capterra Rating: 4.5/5 (28 Reviews)
Price Plan: Free to $12.99 (one-time purchase)
2. Dropbox Paper
Dropbox Paper is a collaborative document-editing and note-taking tool developed by Dropbox. It allows users to create and edit documents in real-time with other team members, add comments and to-do items, and share and organize documents using tags. It is designed to be a simple yet powerful tool for teams to collaborate on and manage projects and ideas.
Best Note Taking App for Mac – Dropbox Paper
What It Is Best For Note Taking
- Collaborative document-editing and note-taking in real-time
- Commenting and to-do list functionality to manage tasks and ideas
- Document formatting options to customize the look of your notes
- Embed media like images and videos in your notes
- Integration with other tools like Google Calendar and Trello
G2 Rating: 4.1/5 (4,486 Reviews)
Capterra Rating: 4.4/5 (169 Reviews)
Price Plan: Free to use
3. Apple Note
Apple Notes is a note-taking app that comes pre-installed on Apple devices like iPhones, iPad, and Macs. It allows you to take handwritten or typed notes, organize them using folders and tags, and add attachments like photos and documents. Apple Notes is a simple yet powerful tool for creating and organizing notes on your Apple devices.
Best Note Taking App for Mac – Apple Note
What It Is Best For Note Taking
- Add attachments like photos and documents to your notes
- Collaborate with others and work on notes together in real-time
- Integration with other Apple apps like Reminders and Calendar
- Synchronize notes across all your Apple devices using iCloud
G2 Rating: N/A
Capterra Rating: N/A
Price Plan: Free to $0.99 per month
4. Craft
Craft is a note-taking app that allows you to create and organize notes on your Mac. It offers various options for organizing and previewing notes, including a grid view and a dynamic layout with different-sized previews. It is similar to other note-taking apps like Apple Notes and Notion. Also, it offers much more than Apple Notes.
Best Note Taking App for Mac – Craft
What It Is Best For Note Taking
- View pages in a symmetrical grid or a dynamic layout with different-sized previews
- Customize the appearance of notes with options for layout, fonts, background colors, and background images
- Use the Blocks feature to group and structure notes for better organization
- Similar to other note-taking apps like Apple Notes and Notion
G2 Rating: 4.4/5 (38 Reviews)
Capterra Rating: 4.4/5 (27 Reviews)
Price Plan: Free to $5 per month
5. Bear
Bear is a note-taking app for iOS, iPad, and macOS that allows users to take handwritten or typed notes and organize them using tags and nested tags. It also has features like customizable themes, font options, and integration with other apps and services like iCloud and Trello. Bear has a simple, clean interface and is known for its easy-to-use tag system, which makes it a popular choice for organizing and finding notes.
Best Note Taking App for Mac – Bear
What It Is Best For Note Taking
- Customize the appearance of notes with themes and font options
- Embed images and other media in notes
- Simple, clean interface with an easy-to-use tag system
- Convert handwritten notes into searchable text with handwriting recognition technology
G2 Rating: 4.5/5 (42 Reviews)
Capterra Rating: 4.5/5 (4 Reviews)
Price Plan: Free to $1.49 per month
6. Notta ai
Notta is an innovative transcription and note-taking app that uses artificial intelligence (AI) to convert audio to text in real time. With support for transcript translation in up to 42 languages, Notta is perfect for anyone who needs to transcribe thoughts, conversations, or meetings quickly and accurately. In addition to its transcription capabilities, Notta also offers a range of editing and organizing tools, including timestamps, bookmarks, and workspaces, as well as the ability to export and share notes in multiple formats.
Best Note Taking App for Mac – Notta
What It Is Best For Note Taking
- Offers a Chrome extension for recording audio on the web
- Has Notta bots for transcribing Zoom meetings
- Provides a range of editing and organizing tools
- Exports and shares notes in multiple formats
G2 Rating: N/A
Capterra Rating: N/A
Price Plan: Free to $8.25 per month
Final Thought
Note-taking apps are essential for students, professionals, and anyone who needs to organize and manage their thoughts, ideas, and information. There are many different options available, and choosing the right one can be a challenging task. However, after reading this article, we hope you’ve found the Best Note Taking App for Mac. Moreover, each of the above-mentioned apps has unique features and benefits, and the best choice for you will depend on your specific needs and preferences.
