Best note-taking apps 2026
Top picks for note-taking apps 2026: Notion (connected docs, wikis and databases in one workspace, free plan; paid from about $10 per user per month), Evernote (long-running personal note capture and web clipping, limited free tier; paid from about $8.25 per month billed annually), Obsidian (local-first markdown notes and linked knowledge graphs, free without limits, including commercial use; optional Sync from about $4 per user per month and Publish from about $8 per site per month). All 6 tools here are compared on pricing, free plans, features and platforms, verified against vendor sources.
Pricing and features verified against each vendor's published information on 2026-09-03. Sources linked below.
At a glance
| Tool | Free plan | Pricing from | Best for | Platforms |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | Yes | Free plan; paid from about $10 per user per month | connected docs, wikis and databases in one workspace | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Evernote | Yes | Limited free tier; paid from about $8.25 per month billed annually | long-running personal note capture and web clipping | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Obsidian | Yes | Free without limits, including commercial use; optional Sync from about $4 per user per month and Publish from about $8 per site per month | local-first markdown notes and linked knowledge graphs | iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux |
| Microsoft OneNote | Yes | Free; deeper features via Microsoft 365 | freeform notebooks tied to the Microsoft ecosystem | Web, iOS, Android, Mac, Windows |
| Google Keep | Yes | Free with a Google account | fast, lightweight notes and checklists | Web, iOS, Android |
| Bear | Yes | Free tier; Pro from about $2.99 per month | elegant markdown writing on Apple devices | iOS, Mac |
The shortlist
1. Notion
Free planFounded 2016
Free plan; paid from about $10 per user per month. Best for connected docs, wikis and databases in one workspace.
- Databases and relations
- Templates
- AI features on the Business plan
- Team wikis
2. Evernote
Free planFounded 2008
Limited free tier; paid from about $8.25 per month billed annually. Best for long-running personal note capture and web clipping.
- Web clipper
- Notebooks and tags
- Document scanning
- Search in images
3. Obsidian
Free planFounded 2020
Free without limits, including commercial use; optional Sync from about $4 per user per month and Publish from about $8 per site per month. Best for local-first markdown notes and linked knowledge graphs.
- Local markdown files
- Backlinks and graph view
- Community plugins
- Canvas
4. Microsoft OneNote
Free planFounded 2003
Free; deeper features via Microsoft 365. Best for freeform notebooks tied to the Microsoft ecosystem.
- Freeform canvas
- Ink and handwriting
- Notebook sections
- Microsoft 365 integration
5. Google Keep
Free planFounded 2013
Free with a Google account. Best for fast, lightweight notes and checklists.
- Colour-coded notes
- Reminders
- Labels
- Voice and image notes
6. Bear
Free planFounded 2016
Free tier; Pro from about $2.99 per month. Best for elegant markdown writing on Apple devices.
- Markdown editor
- Tag organisation
- Cross-note links
- Export options
Head-to-head comparisons
- Notion vs Evernote
- Notion vs Obsidian
- Notion vs Microsoft OneNote
- Notion vs Google Keep
- Notion vs Bear
- Evernote vs Obsidian
- Evernote vs Microsoft OneNote
- Evernote vs Google Keep
- Evernote vs Bear
- Obsidian vs Microsoft OneNote
- Obsidian vs Google Keep
- Obsidian vs Bear
- Microsoft OneNote vs Google Keep
- Microsoft OneNote vs Bear
- Google Keep vs Bear
FAQ
- What are the best free note-taking apps?
- Tools with a free plan here include Notion, Evernote, Obsidian, Microsoft OneNote, Google Keep, Bear. Compare limits before committing.
- How many note-taking apps did this list compare?
- This page compares 6 tools, each linked to its own site.