10 Best Note-Taking Apps for Android in 2026

There are countless scenarios where note-taking is essential in your daily work, whether that’s writing down meeting notes, capturing ideas during brainstorming huddles, or just jotting down your latest inspiration. Or maybe you recently came across some insightful online news stories that you want to preserve for future reference.

When that happens, the last thing you need is an unreliable, disorganized system of handwritten notes. Instead, you want a note-taking app that makes it a breeze to write notes on the fly, organize them into effective categories, and transform your notes into actionable ideas.

If you’re an Android user, some of the best note-taking apps for Android offer unique, Android-specific features and benefits to power up your note-taking game.

What is a Note-Taking App?

A note-taking app is a digital tool for writing, storing, and organizing all your important notes. In some cases, it can even include storing and organizing handwritten notes, thanks to the ability to scan documents to add to your filing system.

Most Android note-taking apps are not just simple text editors with a folder system attached. Instead, they offer advanced features, such as the ability to:

• Organize notes into groups, depending on their purpose and origin
• Store video, voice, and text notes
• Share notes across devices, enabling you to take notes on your phone and later review them on your tablet
• Integrate images or audio notes and attach files to your notes for context

The best note-taking apps for Android also offer advanced features beyond the basic ones listed here, such as the ability to create sticky notes for brainstorming. Their core purpose, though, remains the same: note-taking apps help make the process of jotting down thoughts or information easier and more straightforward.

What to look for in a note-taking app for Android

While the options are plentiful, all the good note-taking apps tend to share a few features that are worth examining in more detail. Pay close attention to the features below when you take your note-taking strategies to the next level with your Android app.

• User-friendliness: The easier it is to write notes, manage notes, and share notes with other devices or users, the better
• Free or low price: You’ll likely come across some in-app purchases or premium tiers to access all the features. But a great note-taking app should offer a free version that allows you to create quick notes and to-do lists
• Clear organization: It’s not just about the ability to access notes. Instead, your app should make it easy to organize your notes according to topic or category
• Intuitive search: The easier it is to find recent note files or even text within those notes, the more usable the app is, which is especially important as your organization’s processes get more complex over time
• Advanced features: For example, does the note-taking app include artificial intelligence (AI) tools? Can you export notes into other apps, and how does the app interact with other Google services?

10 Best Note-Taking Apps for Android

Keeping these nuances in mind, it’s time to get to the list. Let’s find out the best note-taking apps for Android that help you improve your organization and recall.

1. ClickUp

ClickUp is the World’s first converged AI workspace with note-taking tools like ClickUp Docs and ClickUp Notepad. Thanks to its extensive and user-friendly feature set, it’s even one of the top Google Keep alternatives on the market.

Users can easily access ClickUp Docs to jot down notes and tasks, and build their knowledge bases and wikis.  

Rich text formatting options, such as bullet points, checklists, banners, headings, highlights, and code blocks, let you customize your documents and make particular sections of your notes stand out (a bonus for visual learners!). You can also add and embed multimedia elements to Docs.

ClickUp also supports bi-directional linking within ClickUp Tasks using relationships—a seamless way to connect similar Tasks and get a comprehensive overview of my workflow. 

ClickUp Brain works as an integral part of your note-taking strategy. This AI tool helps summarize long notes, create tables with accurate data, get automated task updates, and quickly find information from anywhere in my Workspace. 

When in a hurry, you can use ClickUp Brain to summarize comment threads on Tasks so you can understand what’s going on without reading each of the 200+ comments. 

However, if your note-taking woes are specific to meetings, call in the ClickUp AI Meeting Notetaker! It captures every single detail from the meeting and delivers it to you as a structured ClickUp Doc, so you can focus more on what’s being said rather than scrambling to take notes.

Once you get the doc, simply ask ClickUp Brain to create tasks from the notes or send a summary to your colleagues using ClickUp Chat.

ClickUp’s Notepad is another quick note-taking feature, available on my phone and desktop. The best part is I can turn these entries into trackable Tasks as well, if I need to.

When you don’t have the time to get on a call to explain something to a team member, use ClickUp Clips. It lets you share screen recordings directly in notes, adding a visual and interactive element that even some top note-taking apps lack.

You can get AI-powered transcription for these Clips, making every spoken word searchable within ClickUp.

You can also try ClickUp’s free online notepad directly in your browser with no signup required.

In addition to these, ClickUp offers many note-taking templates to save time and boost efficiency. A favorite among users is ClickUp’s Project Note Template. 

With ClickUp apps for all devices, including Android, you can easily share your recent notes across your PC, phone, and tablet. It’s the perfect solution for anyone not just looking for a dedicated note app but a comprehensive suite of productivity apps combined in a single platform.

ClickUp best features

• Notepad: An easy way to quickly jot down notes, add images, and turn basic text notes into actionable tasks and to-do items
• Docs: The ideal tool for categorizing and collaborating on material notes that go beyond plain text notes replacing Google Docs and other word processors
• ClickUp AI Assistant: An AI assistant that generates meeting and note summaries in minutes, turns notes into action items, and formats or edits your notes automatically for better sharing and publication
• Extensive integrations: The ability to integrate with all the tools you need for productivity, including Google Calendar, Outlook, and Dropbox

ClickUp limitations

• Its rich set of features can create a learning curve for some users
• The mobile app has some limited functionalities for users looking to get the full ClickUp experience through their Android apps

ClickUp pricing

ClickUp ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.7/5 (8,700+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (3,800+ reviews)

2. OneNote

Microsoft’s OneNote is among the best free note-taking apps, thanks to its simplicity and integration with other common productivity tools. It loops directly into apps such as Microsoft Outlook, Excel, and Word, but works across all Apple, Windows, and, of course, Android operating systems.

It’s the note-taking standard on Windows devices in many ways, and many consider its competitors in the same category to be OneNote alternatives.

OneNote best features

• Option to clip notes and screenshots from external web pages and other tools to add your own basic notes and doodles
• Multimedia support for images, audio recordings, and hand-drawn notes
• Integrated scanner to add handwritten sheets or other documents to your to-do lists and other note types
• Note categorization based on importance, which can make it easier to search for and find what you need

OneNote limitations

• Notes save into Microsoft OneDrive by default, which can pose difficulties for users of other cloud storage alternatives
• Full integration with other apps in Microsoft’s productivity suite requires a Microsoft Office 365 subscription

OneNote pricing

• Free
• Paid plans start at $1.99

OneNote ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.5/5 (1,800+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (1,300+ reviews)

3. Evernote

A popular Google Keep competitor, Evernote, is among the top note-taking apps for Android, thanks to its versatility. It offers a robust text editor, an array of templates, and seamless synchronization across devices, which sets it apart from other note-taking apps.

Evernote best features

• An extensive library of Evernote templates ranging from meeting planning to lecture notes and daily logs
• A powerful search function, which makes it easy to find audio notes, web clips, and other content within the app
• Keyboard shortcuts, which allow you to create or lock notes, share notes, or format notes as necessary
• Stylus support for mobile apps, which allows for taking freeform notes

Evernote limitations

• Unlike some other note-taking apps, the free version has some limitations, including small storage space, no custom templates, and no task management options
• Some users have reported slow load times on the desktop and web app compared to native mobile apps

Evernote pricing

• Free
• Paid plans start at $14.99

Evernote ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.4/5 (2,000+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.4/5 (8,000+ reviews)

4. Squid

If you don’t want to move away from handwritten notes entirely, Squid—formerly known as Papyrus, which rebranded in 2015—may be your best option. Unlike other Google apps, the experience revolves around using your finger or a stylus to jot down your thoughts directly in the interface.

Squid best features

• Infinite paper editor, allowing you to create as many notes as you want on a single screen
• Dynamic handwriting adjustments improve the legibility of your notes on the screen
• PDF import function, enabling you to manually mark up large documents
• Multiple background options and the ability to insert images and shares, enhancing opportunities for creativity when creating notes to present to others

Squid limitations

• The filing and organizational system is not as user-friendly as some of the other options on this list
• The software is not ideal for those who prefer to type up notes or create audio notes

Squid pricing

• Free forever
• Custom pricing

Squid ratings and reviews

• G2: No reviews to date
• Capterra: No reviews to date

5. Google Keep

Google Keep is a popular Evernote alternative, but it’s so much more than that. It’s among the most popular note-taking apps for Android, thanks largely to an extensive feature set that allows you to do anything from creating a quick note to building extensive multimedia minutes and documents.

Google Keep best features

• A reminder feature that you can also set to recurring so you never forget about creating notes again
• The ability to easily add images to any notes, including a direct integration from your camera roll into the app
• A to-do list feature with checkboxes that can automatically turn into tasks
• The ability to use the software for no cost, as all features are available for free

Google Keep limitations

• No permissions to lock your notes; recipients can edit any notes you share through the app
• Limited formatting options compared to some of the other free note-taking apps on this list

Google Keep pricing

• Free

Google Keep ratings and reviews

• G2: No reviews to date
• Capterra: 4.7/5 (150+ reviews)

6. ColorNote Notepad Notes

ColorNote is perhaps the most popular note-taking app on the Google Play store for a reason, with a 4.9 rating from more than 3 million reviews. It wins through a simple and intuitive user interface and enables note creation either through a checklist or plain text.

ColorNote best features

• Reminders and notifications make it easy to manage basic tasks on your daily to-do list
• A widget feature allows you to add and create material notes on your device’s home screen
• Search function allows you to search for notes via text-based or voice search
• Passcode protection enables you to keep your notes private

ColorNote limitations

• Only available for Android, so you cannot share or create notes on desktop devices
• Limited filing system can struggle to maintain organization as file numbers increase

ColorNote pricing

• Free

ColorNote ratings and reviews

• G2: No reviews to date
• Capterra: No reviews to date

7. Simplenote

If you’re looking for note apps that prioritize simplicity, Simplenote is your best bet. It strips away all the fancy window dressing, focusing on what matters most: keeping your thoughts organized in a simple (and digital) way.

Simplenote best features

• Real-time syncing across all platforms, including the ability to go beyond Android
• Keyword tagging and pinning features make it easy to find and categorize your notes
• Public sharing feature, allowing anyone with a link to view your notes
• Markdown support, enabling you to format your notes without using a WYSIWYG editor

Simplenote limitations

• No image, audio, or drawing support
• No undo feature, which can make it difficult to correct mistakes

Simplenote pricing

• Free
• Paid plans start at $19.99/month

Simplenote ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.2/5 (30+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.3/5 (10+ reviews)

8. Nimbus Note (now Fusebase)

With Nimbus Note, you can create what the creator calls super notes—audio, video, text, interactive checklists, spreadsheets, and tables—all in the same app. Add annotated web clippings, and you have what may be the most advanced option on this list.

Nimbus Note best features

• Advanced web clipping tool for PDFs and individual pages, including annotation options
• The most advanced multimedia support of any app on this list
• Highly searchable and intuitive user interface that makes onboarding simple
• Templates for common note types that minimize the time spent preparing for note-taking

Nimbus Note limitations

• Very limited feature set in the free version, which is largely a trial for the paid plans
• Limited functionality for spreadsheets and tables compared to alternatives such as Microsoft Excel and Google Sheets

Nimbus Note pricing

• Free
• Paid plans start at $32.00

Nimbus Note ratings and reviews

• G2: 4.6/5 (70+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.5/5 (150+ reviews)

9. Bundled Notes

As its name suggests, Bundled Notes is about categorizing the notes you take in a given day, week, or month. But that doesn’t mean its editor has to hide, with an intuitive and sleek interface making the process of jotting down your thoughts a breeze.

Bundled Notes best features

• Sort notes into Kanban-style boards for greater visual associations
• Bundle and tag notes to make them easy to categorize and find later
• Set bundles up in exactly the way that works best for them with enhanced customizability features

Bundled Notes limitations

• No option to share notes with others who might benefit from them
• Unlimited notes and support for web browsers only available through the subscription plan

Bundled Notes pricing

• Free
• Bundled Pro: $1.89/month

Bundled Notes ratings and reviews

• G2: No reviews to date
• Capterra: No reviews to date

10. Standard Notes

Standard Notes is open source, making it more flexible than many of the other options on this list. It’s inherently customizable, yet it can still rely on its advanced set of features to be one of the top note-taking apps available.

Standard Notes best features

• Advanced end-to-end encryption and two-factor authentication ensure that your private notes stay private
• Straightforward process of moving notes from other platforms into Standard Notes makes migrating from those platforms easy
• Real-time note syncing with a clear status bar keeps you updated on the sync and upload/download process
• Unlimited syncing across all platforms, including iOS and desktop devices

Standard Notes limitations

• Limited to plain text notes without a subscription
• Syncing and encrypting notes can be slow, especially on mobile devices note connected to WiFi

Standard Notes pricing

• Free
• Custom pricing

Standard Notes ratings and reviews

• G2: 3.9/5 (10+ reviews)
• Capterra: 4.6/5 (10+ reviews)

Take Your Android Note-Taking to the Next Level With ClickUp

Finding a winner among the best Android note-taking apps is far from simple. And yet, once you consider all the larger context and integrations, ClickUp has to take the cake.

You can easily create as many notes as you want. Leverage features such as Notepad, Docs, and AI-enabled meeting summaries. Link your scribbles directly to task management to make your to-do list more actionable.

Best of all, it’s completely free, allowing you to test out its abilities as an Android app before you commit to some of the more comprehensive features.

Ready to start? Create a free account today!

Explore article topics