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Comparison of note-taking software
Comparison of computer software designed for taking notes
Comparison of computer software designed for taking notes
The tables below compare features of notable note-taking software. These comparisons highlight differences in platform availability, synchronization capabilities, formatting options, storage limits, and integration with other applications. While some applications like Microsoft OneNote and Evernote offer robust features with cloud syncing across devices, others such as Simplenote prioritize minimalism and speed. Open-source tools like Joplin provide privacy-focused alternatives, allowing users to host their own notes and use end-to-end encryption. These tables aim to help users choose a note-taking tool that best fits their workflow, whether for academic, personal, or professional use.
The tables below compare features of notable note-taking software.
General information
| Name | Developer(s) | License | Platforms | AllMyNotes Organizer | Bear | CintaNotes | ConnectedText | Day One | Dropbox Paper | Evernote | Gnote | Google Keep | Joplin | KeyNote | Memonic | Microsoft OneNote | MyInfo | MyNotex | Notational Velocity | Notes | Notion | Obsidian | Open-Sankoré | Org-mode (Emacs) | PDF Studio | Personal Knowbase | QOwnNotes | Qiqqa | Roam | Samsung Notes | Simplenote | TagSpaces | TiddlyWiki | Tomboy | Ulysses | Whizfolders | Microsoft Windows Journal | Zettlr | Zim | ZOHO Notebook | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Vladonai Software | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Shiny Frog | macOS, iOS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Cinta Software | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Eduardo Mauro | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bloom Built (Automattic) | macOS, iOS, Android | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Dropbox | Android, iOS, web-based | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Evernote Corporation | Android, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows 7/8/10, Microsoft Windows Phone, and web-based | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Aurimas Černius | Linux | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Android, iOS, ChromeOS, browser based | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| laurent22 et al. | Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Marek Jedliński, Tranglos Software | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nektoon AG | Free users limited to 100 notes. | Android (not released yet), iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/Mobile web-based | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft | Depends on platform and version. | Android, macOS, iOS, Microsoft Windows (desktop and mobile), PWA | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Milenix Software | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Massimo Nardello | Linux | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Zachary Schneirov | macOS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Apple | macOS, iOS, web-based | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notion Labs Inc. | Android, macOS, iOS (iPad, iPhone), Microsoft Windows, web-based | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Obsidian | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sankoré | Linux, macOS, Unix, Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Carsten Dominik, et al. | Linux, macOS, Unix, Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Qoppa Software | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, web-based | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bitsmith Software | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Patrizio Bekerle | Linux, macOS, Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Quantisle Ltd. | Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8, Web-based, Android | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Roam Research | title=Roam Research – A note taking tool for networked thought. | website=Roam Research | url=https://roamresearch.com | access-date=2023-05-17}} | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Samsung Electronics | Android, Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Automattic inc. | Web app | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| TagSpaces UG | Web app | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jeremy Ruston | Cross-platform (single HTML file, runs in browser, on a nodeJS server, on Android and IOS) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Alex Graveley | Cross-platform (Mono/GTK+) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| The Soulmen | macOS, iOS | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| AvniTech Solutions | Microsoft Windows | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Microsoft | Windows XP Tablet PC edition, Windows Vista through Windows 10 v1511 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Hendrik Erz | macOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Jaap Karssenberg | Cross-platform (Python, GTK+) | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ZOHO Corporation | Web app |
Basic features
| Name | Organizing principle(s) | Outline bulleting with indent | Tabbed sections | Sync | Web Clipping | PDF annotate and save | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [unclear] | White­board | Ink-pen input | Handwriting recognition | Spell check | Search | Replace in note | Printing | File save/export/import formats | AllMyNotes Organizer | Bear | CintaNotes | ConnectedText | Day One | Evernote | Gnote | Google Keep | Joplin | KeyNote NF | Memonic | Microsoft OneNote | MyInfo | MyNotex | Notes | Notion | Obsidian | Okular | Open-Sankoré | Org-mode (Emacs) | PDF Studio | Personal Knowbase | Qiqqa | Samsung Notes | Simplenote | TagSpaces | TiddlyWiki | Tomboy | Ulysses | Microsoft Windows Journal | Zettlr | Zim | Name | Organizing principle(s) | Outline bulleting with indent | Tabbed sections | Sync | Web Clipping | PDF annotate and save | White­board | Ink-pen input | Handwriting recognition | Spell check | Search | Replace | Printing | File save/export/import formats | |||||||
| Tree | Proprietary, encrypted; import: plain text, RTF, CSV, images, HTML; exports: plain text, HTML, RTF, images | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags | Proprietary, encrypted; export: plain text, markdown, textbundle, RTF, HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG, ePub | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks, sections, tags | Proprietary; export to Unicode text, XML and HTML | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wiki, Tree and Categories | Proprietary (SQL); Export to text, XML, CHM and HTML. Import from text, HTML, XML and RTF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Chronological, tags | Dropbox]] or iCloud. | Printable via exported pdf files. | Markdown (in GUI), XML (data file); Export as: pdf, txt, md | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags, Notebooks, Stacks | No support for ink notes in Mac version. Cannot mix ink with text | Imports and exports in Evernote XML. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks | NoteXmlFormat, HTML, PDF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags, colors | Clips URLs and titles only. Web page content is not clipped | On Android and ChromeOS uses platform's spell checker. | Proprietary; export to Google Doc and thence to PDF, Word, ODT etc. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Nested notebooks, tree, tags | Import/Export: JEX (proprietary), RAW (proprietary, directory), Markdown (optionally with front matter); Export: HTML, PDF; Import: Evernote ENEX | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks, notes and tree | Internal: combination of TXT and RTF; import/export: TXT, RTF, HTML, Treepad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notes stored as XML; can attach any filetype | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks, notebook sections, section groups, tags (could be applied to content blocks) | All versions can sync with OneDrive and SharePoint. Versions later than Office 2016 can only use online notebooks and cannot use local notebooks. | OneNote 2010 and OneNote 2007 Service Pack 2 and beyond have it built in. A Save As PDF add-in is available for earlier versions of OneNote 2007. Can save to PDF with add-in.https://www.microsoft.com/downloads/details.aspx?FamilyId=4D951911-3E7E-4AE6-B059-A2E79ED87041&displaylang=en | Imports: Evernote XML. Exports: OneNote binary format. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks, sections, notes, tree, tags, custom attributes | Proprietary, encrypted; import: plain text, RTF, CSV, MS Word, TreePad, images, web pages; exports: plain text, HTML, RTF, CSV, MS Word, TreePad | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Sqlite based, zipped attachments; export to HTML; copying as LaTeX; import text files, OpenOffice.org documents | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tree, tags | notes, tree, tags | Sqlite based; export to PDF | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks, notebook sections, section | Saved in separate file. | Proprietary; export to PDF, HTML, Markdown, CSV | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Wiki, Tree and Categories | Markdown, PDF | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDF, PS, TIFF, CHM, DjVu, DVI, XPS, ODF, others; export PDF+notes for sending to other Okular users | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tree, notebooks | Save/export: PDF, IWB, UBZ; Import: PDF, IWB, UBZ, images, image directories | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tree, tags | LaTeX, HTML, DocBook, Taskjuggler, PDF, Freemind, XOXO, iCalendar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags | Export to RTF, HTML, TXT, CSV | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags, brainstorm | Proprietary, PDF, Brainstorm; export to RTF and Word | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags | Export to XML | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags, files, directories | PNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, ICO, WEBP, SVG, PDF, HTML, MHT, MHTML, MARKDOWN, TXT, XML, JSON, OGG, OGV, WEBM, ODT, ODS, ODP, ODG, EPUB, ZIP | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags (wikiwords) | (via browser) | HTML, json, txt,csv | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| NoteXmlFormat, HTML, PDF, wiki-formats | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Notebooks, sections, tags | Rich text; export as HTML; import text files; markdown editing. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Handwritten notes are searchable. | Proprietary | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tree, Tags, Wiki | Sync of files and folders using external services. | Internal spell check or LanguageTool integration. | Markdown, Export and Import of Pandoc supported formats. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| tags (wikiwords) | , using installed web browser | Stored in modified DokuWiki Markdown; export: HTML, LaTeX, Pandoc Markdown, Sphinx RST (reStructuredText) |
Advanced formatting and content
| Name | Drawing atop text | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| [unclear] | Text box, flow diagram | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [unclear] | Text and paragraph formatting | Insert hyperlink | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [unclear] | Insert image | Resize image | Insert table | Insert audio | Insert video | Attachment | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| [unclear] | Other objects | Remarks / other features | AllMyNotes Organizer | Bear | CintaNotes | ConnectedText | Day One | Evernote | Gnote | Google Keep | IPython Notebook | Joplin | KeyNote NF | Memonic | Microsoft OneNote | MyInfo | MyNotex | Notational Velocity | Notion | Obsidian | Okular | Open-Sankoré | Org-mode (Emacs) | PDF Studio | Personal Knowbase | Qiqqa | Samsung Notes | Simplenote | TagSpaces | TiddlyWiki | Tomboy | Microsoft Windows Journal | Zettlr | Zim | Name | Drawing atop text | Text box, flow diagram | Text and paragraph formatting | Insert hyperlink | Insert image | Resize image | Insert table | Insert audio | Insert video | Attachment | Other objects | Remarks / other features | ||||||||||||
| Alarms, check-boxes, bullets, phones, advanced links, autosaving; last cursor position memory,passwords on tree folders,failure-resistant self-healing DB engine | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| check-boxes, bullets, link to notes, encryption, document scanning, OCR search | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | Links to notes | Tagging and searching for tags, tag hierarchy | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | Scripting of pages with Python and other scripting languages. | LaTeX, Scripts, RSS Feeds, Transclusion, Directed Graphs and Flowcharts by GraphViz, many other features. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | tags, bullets, numbering, line, programming code snippets | editable note metadata (date/time, location, weather, motion activity, music playing, step count) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| At least Microsoft Windows version (06/2016) | Check-box, line, tags | Business and personal notes integrated in same client; businesses have control over business notes, but cannot see personal notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Port of Tomboy to C++; wiki-style linked notes | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | Lists only, with check-box facility. | Google Calendar reminders | Notes can be shared with other Google Keep users. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | Part of IPython shell; allows for programming code, output and annotation to be combined in single interactive environment | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resize large images | Links to other notes | Configurable editor layout with live preview of Markdown; Command pallette; Notes Todo conversion; Plug-ins; Cloud sync available with various services, including a separate server self-hosted server; Configurable note history; Optional client side encryption; Custom CSS (imported from local or remote source) for rendered Markdown as well as app interface; | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| RTF]] format stores pictures internally as bitmaps (.bmp), this leads to large notebook files. | Tables must be created in another program. After pasting the table into Keynote NF, one can edit the cells and add new rows, but changing the size of the columns and adding or removing columns is not possible. These operations can be done by pasting the table into another program (for example, MS Word). | OLE objects; "virtual nodes" which integrate and edit the content of external plain-text or rich-text files; internal links; mirror nodes. | Text processing; tree numbering and sorting; custom tree icons; node checkboxes; checkbox filtering; search filtering; reminder alarms; compressed or encrypted notebooks; auto-minimize and/or auto-lock when idle; quick access key for fast notes; additional scratchpad; autosave of up to 9 previous file versions; automatic clipboard capturing; read-only notebooks or notes; macros; templates; text shortcuts; plug-ins; bookmarks; custom keyboard shortcuts; program can be made portable through "Options" setting | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Can also search in audio. | OLE, bullets, line, flags, formulas | title=Frequently Asked Questions about OneNote in Office 2019 | url=https://support.office.com/en-us/article/frequently-asked-questions-about-onenote-in-office-2019-6582c7ae-2ec6-408d-8b7a-3ed71a3c2103 | website=support.office.com}} | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| OLE, bullets, numbering, page breaks, advanced links | Tags; filters; calendar; reminders | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | Activity lists; tags; notes management by subject; encryption with AES or GPG; multilingual | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | Instant open and searching | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullets, numbering, checkboxes, reminders, calendars | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Bullets, numbering, checkboxes, canvases, HTML, LaTeX, internal links | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| plug-ins, web pages, applications | Annotate live desktop applications and web pages; autosave; plug-in system; audio recording | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| -- | Advanced linking, bullets, tags, checkboxes, full spreadsheet, embedding of programming code, formulas, markup | Major mode of Emacs; uses plain-text; includes ToDos, spreadsheet, deadlines, encryption, reminders, agenda, calendar | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Passwords; portable | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| PDF, brainstorm, citations | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ? | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Tags, plugins | Plugins, you can present your local images, videos and music to your TV via ChromeCast. You can create a personal "wiki" for tracking of your projects, ideas or memories. | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| (with plugin) | HTML, LaTeX, markdown plugins | Plugins; user scripts | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Note Links, highlighting, fixed-width | Reminders; to do-lists; formulas in LaTeX | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Resize upon initial insertion. | Bullets, numbering, checkboxes, HTML, LaTeX, internal links, citations | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Using plugins | Plugins; Versioning; LaTeX integration (formulas, export); HTML export (including slideshow); GNOME's Zeitgeist integration; Lilypond music sheet integration | ASCII diagram drawing; Tags; Tasks; Table of Content navigation; SQLite3 search indexing; Autosaving; Last cursor position memory; Tabbed multi-documents |
Notes
References
References
- "Roam Research – A note taking tool for networked thought.".
- (17 December 2024). "Import notes and notebooks – Evernote Help & Learning".
- (12 March 2025). "Export notes and notebooks as ENEX or HTML – Evernote Help & Learning".
- "Import content from Evernote to OneNote".
- "Export and import OneNote notebooks".
- (29 April 2021). "Excalidraw - Full featured sketching plugin in Obsidian".
- "A Web Clipper of Sorts for Org-Mode".
- "Valentin Herrmann / org-xournalpp · GitLab".
- (7 September 2021). "raw and Scribble Notes in GNU Emacs".
- "Query Replace".
- "Frequently Asked Questions about OneNote in Office 2019".
- depending what you mean, it can be:
M-x artist-mode
M-x picture-mode
[https://github.com/misohena/el-easydraw el-easydraw] - (setq org-image-actual-width nil)
Info: Wikipedia Source
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