Top 68 Apps to Take Digital Notes (2022)

Tiago Forte
26 May 202217:08

TLDRThis video offers a comprehensive guide to the top 68 digital note-taking apps for 2022, tailored to different note-taking personalities. It categorizes apps into 'Librarian', 'Architect', 'Gardener', and 'Student' styles, detailing apps like Evernote, OneNote, Google Keep, Notion, Obsidian, and Apple Notes. The video also touches on specialized apps for tasks, references, and collaboration, providing insights into their unique features and uses.

Takeaways

  • 📚 The video discusses the top 68 apps for digital note-taking, catering to different note-taking personalities.
  • 🔍 The presenter is not an expert on all apps but has gathered research from their team and recommends checking out the 'Keep Productive' YouTube channel for more details.
  • đŸ›ïž 'Librarian' apps like Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep are recommended for practical note-takers who focus on studying, collecting, referencing, and documenting.
  • 📈 For 'Architect' style notetakers who approach note-taking with a systems mindset, apps like Notion and Craft are suggested for their visual presentation and organizational capabilities.
  • đŸŒ± 'Gardener' style notetakers, who explore and make unexpected connections, might prefer apps like Roam Research and Obsidian, known for their bi-directional linking features.
  • 📝 'Student' archetype notetakers, who need straightforward note-taking without complications, are recommended to use Apple Notes, Simplenote, or Google Docs.
  • 🔗 Specialized apps like Ample Notes, Devonthink, and Super Notes are mentioned for power users requiring advanced features like task management and file sorting.
  • 🔍 Zotero is highlighted for academic note-takers needing to capture and format references for scholarly work.
  • 🎹 The video also touches on the rising trend of visual spatial notes apps, which provide an infinite canvas for creative note-taking.
  • 📈 Craft is noted as a visually appealing and well-structured app, suitable for Apple users who prefer a mobile and tablet-oriented note-taking experience.
  • 📚 The final video in the series will focus on how to start using the chosen notes app effectively.

Q & A

  • What is the main topic of the video?

    -The main topic of the video is the top 68 apps for digital note-taking in 2022, categorized according to different note-taking personalities.

  • What are the three top recommendations for 'librarian' style note-takers?

    -The three top recommendations for 'librarian' style note-takers are Evernote, OneNote, and Google Keep.

  • What are some advanced features of Evernote mentioned in the video?

    -Evernote's advanced features include capturing various inputs like notes, transcripts, videos, emails, and organizing them with search functionality. It also has character recognition to read and search text within images and files stored locally for quick access.

  • How does OneNote cater to corporate settings?

    -OneNote caters to corporate settings by offering an integrated experience with Windows devices and Microsoft Office 365, allowing for advanced tablet features like drawing and sketching with a stylus, and syncing with OneDrive.

  • What is unique about Google Keep compared to other note-taking apps?

    -Google Keep is unique because it integrates well with the Google ecosystem, feels like creating post-it notes, and emphasizes taking quick snippets of notes, with the ability to link between Google Docs and notes.

  • What are some cutting-edge or specialized 'librarian' style apps mentioned in the video?

    -Some cutting-edge or specialized 'librarian' style apps mentioned are Ample Note, Devonthink, Super Notes, Inkdrop, Nimbus Notes, and Zotero.

  • What is the key feature of apps designed for 'architect' style note-takers?

    -Apps for 'architect' style note-takers excel in visual presentation and sorting of notes, allowing users to organize and reformat notes into databases, galleries, tables, lists, and even Kanban board views.

  • Which apps are recommended for 'gardener' style note-takers?

    -Apps recommended for 'gardener' style note-takers are Roam Research, Obsidian, and others like Logseq, Mem, Athens Research, Reflect, and Tangent Notes.

  • What is the significance of bi-directional linking in note-taking apps?

    -Bi-directional linking allows users to mention a page or topic in their notes, which then automatically links to all other notes that mention the same topic, facilitating the creation of a structured network of thoughts.

  • What are some apps suitable for 'student' archetype note-takers?

    -Apps suitable for 'student' archetype note-takers include Apple Notes, Simplenote, and Google Docs.

  • What are some alternative note-taking apps for writers mentioned in the video?

    -Alternative note-taking apps for writers mentioned are Scrivener for long-form writing and Ulysses or iA Writer for simpler, shorter form writing.

Outlines

00:00

📚 Librarian Apps for Practical Note-Takers

This paragraph introduces apps tailored for individuals who have a practical approach to information management. The narrator highlights Evernote as a popular choice for its versatility in capturing various types of input and its robust search functionality. OneNote is mentioned for its integration with Microsoft Office 365 and advanced features for tablet users. Google Keep is recommended for those within the Google ecosystem, emphasizing quick note-taking and integration with Google Docs and Calendar. The paragraph also suggests alternative apps like Ample Note, Devonthink, Super Notes, Inkdrop, Nimbus Notes, and Zotero for users seeking more specialized or advanced note-taking capabilities.

05:00

🏗 Architect-Style Apps for Systematic Note-Takers

The second paragraph focuses on apps for users who approach note-taking with a systems mindset, aiming to architect their knowledge. Notion is featured for its visual presentation and organizational capabilities, allowing users to reformat notes into various structures. Craft is recommended for Apple ecosystem users, emphasizing aesthetics and structure. Additional options like Obsidian, Dendrin, Wally, Microsoft Loop, Up Note, The Clover App, Bundled Notes, Zedler, TiddlyWiki, Margin Note, and Tinderbox are briefly discussed, catering to different aspects of architectural note-taking, from mind mapping to knowledge management.

10:01

đŸŒ± Gardener Apps for Exploratory Note-Takers

This section discusses apps designed for 'gardener' style notetakers who focus on nurturing and exploring ideas through note-taking. Rome Research is noted for pioneering networked note-taking with bi-directional linking. Obsidian is highlighted for its security, speed, and clean structuring capabilities. The paragraph also mentions alternative apps like Logseq, Mem, Athens Research, Reflect, Saga, Organizedly, Tangent Notes, Weave It, Hypernotes, Drem Note, Read Wise, and Napkin, each offering unique features to enhance the exploratory note-taking process.

15:02

📘 Student Apps for Practical and Project-Based Note-Takers

The final paragraph targets the 'student' archetype, recommending apps for those who need straightforward note-taking without complexity. Apple Notes is suggested for Apple device users for its simplicity and integration with iCloud. Simplenote is recommended as an alternative for non-Apple users. Google Docs is also highlighted for its organizational capabilities and collaboration features. Other alternatives include Bear, Dropbox Paper, Microsoft Word, Notability, GoodNotes, Margin Note, Concepts App, Workflowy, Dynalist, Nucleo, Drafts, No Joy, Notational Velocity, HackMD, Noda, Standard Notes, Agenda Notes, and writing-focused apps like Scrivener and Ulysses.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Note-taking

Note-taking refers to the act of recording information in written, audio, or video form during meetings, lectures, or while studying. In the context of the video, note-taking is the central theme, with the speaker discussing various apps designed to enhance this process. The video aims to help viewers select the most suitable app for their note-taking personality.

💡Evernote

Evernote is a popular note-taking app that allows users to capture, store, and organize various types of information, such as notes, images, and even audio. The video mentions Evernote as a top recommendation for 'librarian' style notetakers due to its strong capabilities in capturing and organizing information.

💡OneNote

OneNote is a digital note-taking app developed by Microsoft. It is highlighted in the video as a choice for those in corporate settings or using Windows devices, offering integrated experiences with Microsoft Office 365. It is praised for its advanced tablet features and sync with OneDrive.

💡Google Keep

Google Keep is a note-taking service by Google that is compared to sticky notes. The video describes it as user-friendly for quick note-taking and integrates well with other Google services like Google Docs and Google Calendar.

💡Architect Style

In the video, 'Architect Style' refers to a category of note-taking apps that are designed for users who approach note-taking with a systems mindset, aiming to architect their knowledge. Examples include apps like Notion and Craft, which allow for visual presentation and organization of notes into various formats.

💡Notion

Notion is mentioned as a top recommendation for 'architect' style notetakers. It is an all-in-one workspace that allows users to take notes, manage tasks, and database information in a highly customizable and visual manner.

💡Gardener Style

'Gardener Style' is a term used in the video to describe notetakers who have a nurturing and exploratory approach to their notes, making unexpected connections. Apps like Roam and Obsidian are recommended for this style, emphasizing the creation of a network of interconnected notes.

💡Bi-directional linking

Bi-directional linking is a feature present in some note-taking apps that allows notes to be connected in both directions, enabling users to create a network of related notes. The video mentions this as a key innovation for 'gardener' style notetakers, with apps like Roam and Obsidian supporting this feature.

💡Markdown

Markdown is a lightweight markup language used to format text. The video discusses how some note-taking apps, like Inkdrop, are designed for organizing notes in Markdown format, which is beneficial for developers and those who want a plain text formatting syntax.

💡Zotero

Zotero is a research tool that helps collect, organize, cite, and share research sources. The video categorizes it as a librarian-style app, useful for capturing references and managing bibliographic data, especially for academic work.

💡Student Archetype

The 'Student Archetype' in the video refers to notetakers who require notes for specific projects or tasks without the need for complex features. Apps like Apple Notes, Simplenote, and Google Docs are recommended for this group, as they offer straightforward note-taking solutions.

Highlights

Top 68 Apps for Digital Note-Taking in 2022

Evernote recommended for practical note-takers

OneNote suggested for corporate and Windows users

Google Keep is ideal for quick note-taking

Ample Note offers bi-directional linking for advanced note organization

Devonthink is powerful for PDF organization and file sorting

Super Notes is a minimalist, collaborative app for students

Inkdrop is designed for software developers and engineers

Nimbus Notes focuses on team collaboration

Zotero is essential for academic referencing

Notion is favored by 'architect' style note-takers

Craft app is similar to Notion but optimized for Apple devices

Obsidian is recommended for 'gardener' style note-takers

Rome Research introduced back-linking for networked note-taking

Logseq is an alternative to Roam with a focus on local file storage

Mem is a minimalist, collaborative note-taking app

Apple Notes is recommended for 'student' archetype note-takers

Google Docs is a practical choice for note-taking and document sharing

Bear is a markdown-based note-taking app for Mac users

Notability and GoodNotes are excellent for stylus users

Workflowy and Dynalist are outliner-style note-taking apps

Standard Notes emphasizes data encryption for security

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