Comparison of note-taking software


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

NameDeveloperLicensePlatforms
AllMyNotes OrganizerVladonai SoftwareMicrosoft Windows
BearShiny FrogmacOS, iOS
CintaNotesCinta SoftwareMicrosoft Windows
ConnectedTextEduardo MauroMicrosoft Windows
Day OneBloom Built macOS, iOS, Android
Dropbox PaperDropboxAndroid, iOS, web-based
EvernoteEvernote CorporationAndroid, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows 7/8/10, Microsoft Windows Phone, and web-based
GnoteAurimas ČerniusLinux
Google KeepGoogleAndroid, iOS, ChromeOS, browser based
Joplin et al.Microsoft Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android
KeyNoteMarek Jedliński, Tranglos SoftwareMicrosoft Windows
MemonicNektoon AGAndroid, iOS, macOS, Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/Mobile web-based
Microsoft OneNoteMicrosoftAndroid, macOS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, PWA
MyInfoMilenix SoftwareMicrosoft Windows
MyNotexMassimo NardelloLinux
Notational VelocityZachary SchneirovmacOS
NotesApplemacOS, iOS, web-based
NotionNotion Labs Inc.Android, macOS, iOS, Microsoft Windows, web-based
ObsidianObsidianLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, iOS, Android
Open-SankoréSankoréLinux, macOS, Unix, Microsoft Windows
Org-mode Carsten Dominik, et al.Linux, macOS, Unix, Microsoft Windows
PDF StudioQoppa SoftwareLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows, web-based
Personal KnowbaseBitsmith SoftwareMicrosoft Windows
QOwnNotesPatrizio BekerleLinux, macOS, Microsoft Windows
QiqqaQuantisle Ltd.Microsoft Windows XP/Vista/7/8, Web-based, Android
RoamRoam ResearchmacOS, Linux, Microsoft Windows
Samsung NotesSamsung ElectronicsAndroid, Microsoft Windows
SimplenoteAutomattic inc.Web app
TagSpacesTagSpaces UGWeb app
TiddlyWikiJeremy RustonCross-platform
TomboyAlex GraveleyCross-platform
UlyssesThe SoulmenmacOS, iOS
WhizfoldersAvniTech SolutionsMicrosoft Windows
Microsoft Windows JournalMicrosoftWindows XP Tablet PC edition, Windows Vista through Windows 10 v1511
ZettlrHendrik ErzmacOS, Microsoft Windows, Linux
ZimJaap KarssenbergCross-platform
ZOHO NotebookZOHO CorporationWeb app

Basic features

NameOrganizing principleOutline bulleting with indentTabbed sectionsSyncWeb ClippingPDF annotate and save
White­boardInk-pen inputHandwriting recognitionSpell checkSearchReplace in notePrintingFile save/export/import formats
AllMyNotes OrganizerTreeProprietary, encrypted; import: plain text, RTF, CSV, images, HTML; exports: plain text, HTML, RTF, images
BeartagsProprietary, encrypted; export: plain text, markdown, textbundle, RTF, HTML, DOCX, PDF, JPG, ePub
CintaNotesNotebooks, sections, tagsProprietary; export to Unicode text, XML and HTML
ConnectedTextWiki, Tree and CategoriesProprietary ; Export to text, XML, CHM and HTML. Import from text, HTML, XML and RTF
Day OneChronological, tagsMarkdown, XML ; Export as: pdf, txt, md
Evernotetags, Notebooks, StacksImports and exports in Evernote XML.
GnoteNotebooksNoteXmlFormat, HTML, PDF
Google Keeptags, colorsProprietary; export to Google Doc and thence to PDF, Word, ODT etc.
JoplinNested notebooks, tree, tagsImport/Export: JEX, RAW, Markdown ; Export: HTML, PDF; Import: Evernote ENEX
KeyNote NFNotebooks, notes and treeInternal: combination of TXT and RTF; import/export: TXT, RTF, HTML, Treepad
MemonicNotes stored as XML; can attach any filetype
Microsoft OneNoteNotebooks, notebook sections, section groups, tags Imports: Evernote XML. Exports: OneNote binary format.
MyInfoNotebooks, sections, notes, tree, tags, custom attributesProprietary, encrypted; import: plain text, RTF, CSV, MS Word, TreePad, images, web pages; exports: plain text, HTML, RTF, CSV, MS Word, TreePad
MyNotexSqlite based, zipped attachments; export to HTML; copying as LaTeX; import text files, OpenOffice.org documents
Notesnotes, tree, tagsSqlite based; export to PDF
NotionNotebooks, notebook sections, sectionProprietary; export to PDF, HTML, Markdown, CSV
ObsidianWiki, Tree and CategoriesMarkdown, PDF
OkularPDF, PS, TIFF, CHM, DjVu, DVI, XPS, ODF, others; export PDF+notes for sending to other Okular users
Open-Sankorétree, notebooksSave/export: PDF, IWB, UBZ; Import: PDF, IWB, UBZ, images, image directories
Org-mode tree, tagsLaTeX, HTML, DocBook, Taskjuggler, PDF, Freemind, XOXO, iCalendar
PDF StudioPDF
Personal KnowbasetagsExport to RTF, HTML, TXT, CSV
Qiqqatags, brainstormProprietary, PDF, Brainstorm; export to RTF and Word
Samsung Notes
SimplenotetagsExport to XML
TagSpacestags, files, directoriesPNG, JPG, GIF, BMP, ICO, WEBP, SVG, PDF, HTML, MHT, MHTML, MARKDOWN, TXT, XML, JSON, OGG, OGV, WEBM, ODT, ODS, ODP, ODG, EPUB, ZIP
TiddlyWikitags HTML, json, txt,csv
TomboyNoteXmlFormat, HTML, PDF, wiki-formats
UlyssesNotebooks, sections, tagsRich text; export as HTML; import text files; markdown editing.
Microsoft Windows JournalProprietary
ZettlrTree, Tags, WikiMarkdown, Export and Import of Pandoc supported formats.
Zimtags , using installed web browserStored in modified DokuWiki Markdown; export: HTML, LaTeX, Pandoc Markdown, Sphinx RST (reStructuredText)
NameOrganizing principleOutline bulleting with indentTabbed sectionsSyncWeb ClippingPDF annotate and saveWhite­boardInk-pen inputHandwriting recognitionSpell checkSearchReplacePrintingFile save/export/import formats

Advanced formatting and content

NameDrawing atop text
Text box, flow diagram
Text and paragraph formattingInsert hyperlink
Insert imageResize imageInsert tableInsert audioInsert videoAttachment
Other objectsRemarks / other features
AllMyNotes OrganizerAlarms, check-boxes, bullets, phones, advanced links, autosaving; last cursor position memory,passwords on tree folders,failure-resistant self-healing DB engine
Bearcheck-boxes, bullets, link to notes, encryption, document scanning, OCR search
CintaNotes?Links to notesTagging and searching for tags, tag hierarchy
ConnectedText?Scripting of pages with Python and other scripting languages.LaTeX, Scripts, RSS Feeds, Transclusion, Directed Graphs and Flowcharts by GraphViz, many other features.
Day One?tags, bullets, numbering, line, programming code snippetseditable note metadata
EvernoteCheck-box, line, tagsBusiness and personal notes integrated in same client; businesses have control over business notes, but cannot see personal notes
GnotePort of Tomboy to C++; wiki-style linked notes
Google Keep?Google Calendar remindersNotes can be shared with other Google Keep users.
IPython Notebook?Part of IPython shell; allows for programming code, output and annotation to be combined in single interactive environment
JoplinLinks to other notesConfigurable 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 for rendered Markdown as well as app interface;
KeyNote NFOLE 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
Memonic?
Microsoft OneNoteOLE, bullets, line, flags, formulasNo local storage of notebooks on Mac or versions past Office 2016
MyInfoOLE, bullets, numbering, page breaks, advanced linksTags; filters; calendar; reminders
MyNotex?Activity lists; tags; notes management by subject; encryption with AES or GPG; multilingual
Notational Velocity?Instant open and searching
NotionBullets, numbering, checkboxes, reminders, calendars
ObsidianBullets, numbering, checkboxes, canvases, HTML, LaTeX, internal links
Okular
Open-Sankoréplug-ins, web pages, applicationsAnnotate live desktop applications and web pages; autosave; plug-in system; audio recording
Org-mode Advanced linking, bullets, tags, checkboxes, full spreadsheet, embedding of programming code, formulas, markupMajor mode of Emacs; uses plain-text; includes ToDos, spreadsheet, deadlines, encryption, reminders, agenda, calendar
PDF Studio
Personal KnowbasePasswords; portable
QiqqaPDF, brainstorm, citations
Samsung NotesPDF
Simplenote?
TagSpacesTags, pluginsPlugins, 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.
TiddlyWikiHTML, LaTeX, markdown pluginsPlugins; user scripts
TomboyNote Links, highlighting, fixed-widthReminders; to do-lists; formulas in LaTeX
Microsoft Windows Journal
ZettlrBullets, numbering, checkboxes, HTML, LaTeX, internal links, citations
ZimPlugins; Versioning; LaTeX integration ; HTML export ; GNOME's Zeitgeist integration; Lilypond music sheet integrationASCII diagram drawing; Tags; Tasks; Table of Content navigation; SQLite3 search indexing; Autosaving; Last cursor position memory; Tabbed multi-documents
NameDrawing atop textText box, flow diagramText and paragraph formattingInsert hyperlinkInsert imageResize imageInsert tableInsert audioInsert videoAttachmentOther objectsRemarks / other features