10 Best Free Note-Taking Apps of 2026

This list is for students and professionals who want a free note-taking app and need to know how many devices it syncs to, how much storage it includes and what the first upgrade costs. We compared documented features and published prices for 10 apps and ranked them by value first, then features, then ease of use. Value weighs what the free plan allows against the price of the cheapest upgrade. Prices are in USD as shown on vendor pages and the US App Store on the check date.

1. 01Top value

   

   Microsoft OneNote

   9.1/10

   Microsoft's free notebook app for typed, inked and voice notes, stored in OneDrive.

   Price

   $1.99per month for 100 GB of storage

   Free with a Microsoft account and 5 GB of OneDrive storage; Microsoft 365 Basic adds 100 GB for $1.99 per month or $19.99 per year

   “Microsoft 365 Basic Online protection and cloud storage for one person $1.99 /month” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.4

   Features (35%)

   9.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.6

   Best forstudents and professionals who want unlimited-feeling notebooks with 5 GB of free cloud storage

   OneNote takes first place because its free tier has no published note or device cap, and the only real ceiling is storage. Microsoft's plan comparison lists free OneDrive cloud storage of 5 GB with a Microsoft account, and OneNote notebooks live there. The App Store listing says OneNote is free on iPhone and many other devices and lists ink notes, a document scanner that extracts text, and voice dictation in 27 languages. That mix suits lecture notes, meeting notes and handwritten diagrams in one place. When 5 GB runs out, Microsoft 365 Basic costs $1.99 a month or $19.99 a year for 100 GB, the cheapest storage upgrade on this list. The caveats: the 5 GB is shared with your other OneDrive files and Outlook attachments, and Microsoft states AI features are not available in Microsoft 365 Basic, so Copilot needs a pricier plan. We compared documented features and published prices; we did not run hands-on tests.

   • ✓The App Store listing states OneNote is free on iPhone and many other devices
   • ✓Microsoft 365 Basic raises storage to 100 GB for $1.99 a month
   • ✓Ink, typing, audio and scans live in the same notebook

   • ✕The free tier shares 5 GB with everything else in your OneDrive
   • ✕Copilot AI features sit behind Microsoft 365 plans, and Microsoft says AI is not available in Microsoft 365 Basic
   • ✕Microsoft 365 Personal costs $9.99 a month if you want the 1 TB tier

   Free storage:

   5 GB OneDrive

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Cheapest upgrade:

   $1.99 per month, 100 GB

   Platforms:

   Windows, Mac, iPhone, iPad, Android, web

   Bottom line: Microsoft OneNote is the best free note app for most students and professionals because it publishes no device limit and includes 5 GB of OneDrive storage. Budget $1.99 a month if your notebooks outgrow that.

   Visit microsoft.com ↗

2. 02

   

   Notion

   8.9/10

   An all-in-one workspace for notes, docs, wikis and databases.

   Price

   $10per member per month

   Free plan for individuals; paid plans start at $10 per member per month billed annually

   “Paid plans start at $10 per member per month (billed annually)” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   8.8

   Features (35%)

   9.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.4

   Best forindividuals who want notes, task lists and databases in one free workspace

   Notion is second because its free plan is generous for a single person and far more structured than a plain notes app. The product page states that the free plan includes unlimited pages and core features like docs, wikis and databases, and the pricing page lists databases with subtasks, dependencies and custom properties, basic forms, basic sites and Notion Calendar. Students can build a course tracker and a reading list in the same workspace as their notes. The limits matter for anyone who stores lecture recordings or PDFs: the pricing page says free users can upload files up to 5 MB each, against 5 GB on paid plans, and page history covers 7 days. Teams of 2 or more hit a block limit. Paid plans start at $10 per member per month billed annually. Offline use is selective: you choose pages to download. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓Notion says the free plan includes unlimited pages and core docs, wikis and databases
   • ✓Thousands of templates, including student planners
   • ✓Works on web, desktop and mobile

   • ✕Free plan file uploads are capped at 5 MB each
   • ✕Page history is limited to 7 days on the free plan
   • ✕Block usage is limited once 2 or more members share a workspace

   Free storage:

   Unlimited pages, 5 MB per upload

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Page history (free):

   7 days

   Paid from:

   $10 per member per month, annual

   Bottom line: Notion is the best free note app for people who want databases and planners alongside notes because the free plan includes unlimited pages. Skip it if you attach large files, since free uploads stop at 5 MB.

   Visit notion.com ↗

3. 03

   

   Obsidian

   8.8/10

   A local-first note app built on folders of plain Markdown files.

   Price

   $4per user per month

   Free without limits; optional Sync from $4 per user per month billed annually or $5 monthly

   “Sync $4 USD Per user, per month, billed annually” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.6

   Features (35%)

   8.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.4

   Best forpeople who want offline, local notes with no account or limits

   Obsidian is the most generous free option if you are happy to manage your own files. Its pricing page says the app is free without limits, with no sign-up required, and notes are plain Markdown files in a local folder, so storage is whatever your disk holds. The App Store listing mentions graph view, community plugins, themes and iCloud vaults on iPhone and iPad, which gives Apple users a free way to sync. Everyone else either uses their own sync service or pays for Obsidian Sync at $4 per user per month billed annually. The help docs show Sync Standard includes 1 synced vault, 1 GB of storage, a 5 MB maximum file size and unlimited devices, while Sync Plus goes from 10 GB to 100 GB. Students, faculty and nonprofit staff get 40% off Sync. The learning curve is the trade-off: Markdown and plugins reward people who like to tinker. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓The pricing page says the app is free without limits and needs no sign-up
   • ✓Storage is limited only by your own device
   • ✓Students get 40% off Sync and Publish

   • ✕Syncing between devices needs Obsidian Sync or your own file sync service
   • ✕Sync Standard caps you at 1 GB, 1 vault and 5 MB per file
   • ✕Markdown and plugins take more setup than a typical notes app

   Free storage:

   Local, no cap

   Device limit (free):

   None

   Sync Standard:

   1 GB, unlimited devices

   Paid from:

   $4 per month, annual

   Bottom line: Obsidian is the best free note app for privacy-minded users because it is free without limits and keeps notes as local files. Plan on $4 a month for Sync if you need it across non-Apple devices.

   Visit obsidian.md ↗

4. 04

   

   Apple Notes

   8.7/10

   Apple's built-in notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch, synced with iCloud.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free on Apple devices; iCloud includes 5 GB free, and iCloud+ starts at $0.99 per month for 50 GB in the US

   “Take note of almost anything Free” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   8.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.2

   Best foriPhone, iPad and Mac owners who want a free app that is already installed

   Apple Notes is the easiest free option for anyone already in Apple's ecosystem because it is installed and synced through iCloud. The App Store listing covers attachments such as PDFs, photos, maps and web links, audio recording with transcription, a document scanner, locked notes, checklists, tables, linked notes, tags and Smart Folders, plus Apple Pencil sketching on iPad. Search reaches handwriting and text inside scanned documents, which is useful for receipts and handouts. Storage is the limit to watch. Apple's support page says iCloud comes with 5 GB of storage for free, and that pool is shared with device backups and photos, so it fills quickly. In the US, iCloud+ starts at $0.99 a month for 50 GB. The other limit is platform: the listing names iPhone, iPad, Apple Vision and Apple Watch, plus Mac, so a student with a Windows laptop is better served by OneNote. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓Free and preinstalled on iPhone, iPad and Mac
   • ✓Search covers handwriting and text inside scanned documents
   • ✓Shared folders and mentions for collaboration

   • ✕Sync relies on iCloud, which includes 5 GB of free storage shared with backups and photos
   • ✕Built for Apple devices, so Windows and Android users should look elsewhere
   • ✕Apple's 50 GB iCloud+ tier is $0.99 a month in the US

   Free storage:

   5 GB iCloud

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Cheapest upgrade:

   iCloud+ 50 GB, $0.99 per month

   Platforms:

   iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch, Apple Vision

   Bottom line: Apple Notes is the best free note app for Apple-only households because it is preinstalled and syncs through iCloud's 5 GB free tier. Expect to pay $0.99 a month for 50 GB once backups and photos fill that space.

   Visit apple.com ↗

5. 05

   

   Google Keep

   8.6/10

   Google's quick-capture app for notes, lists, photos and voice memos.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free with a Google Account, which includes up to 15 GB of storage shared with Gmail, Drive and Photos

   “Notes and lists Free” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.2

   Features (35%)

   7.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   9.4

   Best forAndroid and Google account users who want fast lists and reminders

   Google Keep is the fastest way to capture a thought for free if you already have a Google Account. The App Store listing describes notes, lists, photos and audio, labels and colors, time and location reminders, automatic transcription of voice memos and text grabbed from images for search. It says Keep works on phone, tablet and computer, with a web version at keep.google.com. On storage, Google's help center says each Google Account includes up to 15 GB, shared across Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos, which is more free space than any other app here. Keep has no paid tier of its own; extra space comes from a Google One membership. The trade-off is structure: there are no notebooks, nested pages or databases, so long lecture notes or meeting minutes are better kept in OneNote, Notion or Google Docs. Keep is a strong companion app for grocery lists, reminders and quick ideas. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓Each Google Account includes up to 15 GB of storage, the largest free pool here
   • ✓Works on phone, tablet, computer and the web at keep.google.com
   • ✓Shared lists update in real time

   • ✕Storage is shared with Gmail, Google Drive and Google Photos
   • ✕Built for short notes and lists, with no notebooks or databases
   • ✕No paid tier of its own; more space comes from a Google One membership

   Free storage:

   Up to 15 GB, shared

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Paid plan:

   None for Keep

   Platforms:

   Android, iPhone, iPad, web

   Bottom line: Google Keep is the best free app for quick lists and reminders because it is free with a Google Account and draws on up to 15 GB of shared storage. Use a notebook app alongside it for long-form notes.

   Visit google.com ↗

6. 06

   

   Standard Notes

   8.3/10

   An end-to-end encrypted, open-source notes app.

   Price

   $7.50per month billed at $90 per year

   Free plan with unlimited devices; Productivity $90 per year; Professional $120 per year

   “Productivity $ 90 / year” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.0

   Features (35%)

   7.6

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.0

   Best forprivacy-focused users who want free encrypted sync on unlimited devices

   Standard Notes is the pick for people who want encrypted notes on every device without paying. Its plans page lists the free Standard plan with end-to-end encryption, unlimited device sync on web, desktop and mobile, offline access, tags, per-note password protection, full data export, two-factor authentication and daily encrypted email backups. The App Store listing adds that there is no limit on number of devices or number of notes. The catch is the editor: free notes are plain text, while the Super note type with Markdown, rich text, checklists and code blocks needs the Productivity plan at $90 a year. Encrypted file storage of 100 GB is reserved for Professional at $120 a year, and free note history covers only the current session. Students get 30% off, and Productivity carries a 14-day full refund. For text-only notes such as journals, passwords and meeting notes, the free plan is complete. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓The free plan has no limit on devices or number of notes, per the App Store listing
   • ✓Two-factor authentication on the free plan
   • ✓Students get a 30% discount on paid plans

   • ✕Free notes are plain text; the Super rich text editor needs Productivity
   • ✕Encrypted file storage of 100 GB requires Professional at $120 a year
   • ✕Free note history covers the current session only

   Free storage:

   Unlimited notes, no files

   Device limit (free):

   Unlimited

   Paid from:

   $90 per year

   Refund window:

   14 days on Productivity

   Bottom line: Standard Notes is the best free note app for privacy because its free plan includes end-to-end encryption on unlimited devices. Rich text and file storage cost $90 to $120 a year.

   Visit standardnotes.com ↗

7. 07

   

   Joplin

   8.2/10

   An open-source note and to-do app that syncs through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox or OneDrive.

   Price

   Free plan

   See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

   US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

   Free plan

   Yes

   Free trial

   14 days

   Value (40%)

   9.2

   Features (35%)

   8.0

   Ease of use (25%)

   7.0

   Best forpeople who want an open-source app and free sync through a cloud drive they already have

   Joplin is a free, open-source alternative to Evernote that does not cap your notes. The homepage says the app runs on Windows, macOS, Linux, Android and iOS, with a terminal app too, and syncs through Joplin Cloud, Dropbox or OneDrive. Notes are saved in an open format and can use end-to-end encryption. The App Store listing adds offline-first editing, OCR search inside PDFs and images, reminders and attachments. Using Dropbox or OneDrive keeps it free, and your storage limit becomes that service's free quota. Joplin Cloud adds a web app, publishing and sharing; its Basic plan includes 2 GB of storage and a 10 MB limit per note or attachment, and Pro raises that to 30 GB. The plans page shows prices in euros from this location, so we have left the USD price pending. Ease of use is lower than mainstream apps because sync setup and Markdown take some learning. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓The app is open source and notes are saved in an open format
   • ✓Free sync is possible with Dropbox or OneDrive
   • ✓Offline-first, with changes syncing once you reconnect

   • ✕Joplin Cloud Basic caps notes or attachments at 10 MB and storage at 2 GB
   • ✕Joplin Cloud prices are shown in euros on the vendor page
   • ✕Setting up third-party sync takes more steps than a built-in account

   Free storage:

   Depends on your sync service

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Joplin Cloud Basic:

   2 GB, 10 MB per note

   Platforms:

   Windows, macOS, Linux, Android, iOS

   Bottom line: Joplin is the best free open-source note app because it syncs through Dropbox or OneDrive at no cost and runs on five platforms. Joplin Cloud is optional and starts with 2 GB of storage.

   Visit joplinapp.org ↗

8. 08

   

   Simplenote

   8.2/10

   A minimal, free notes app from Automattic with real-time sync.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free; Simplenote has no paid plan

   “Simplenote is a free service provided by your friends at Automattic” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.4

   Features (35%)

   6.4

   Ease of use (25%)

   8.8

   Best forpeople who want plain, fast text notes synced everywhere at no cost

   Simplenote does one thing: plain text notes that sync instantly. The homepage says apps, backups, syncing and sharing are all completely free, and the help page confirms it is a free service provided by Automattic, the company behind WordPress.com. It runs on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux and the browser, so it covers more platforms than Apple Notes or Google Keep. Notes are backed up with every change, so you can go back to last week's version, and Markdown preview, tags, pins and instant search keep a long collection usable. You can collaborate on a note or publish it online. The limits are clear: there are no attachments, images or handwriting, no notebooks, and the help page says Dropbox sync is no longer supported. For quick lists, drafts and code snippets it is hard to beat at zero cost, but class notes with diagrams belong elsewhere. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓Apps, backups, syncing and sharing are all free, per the homepage
   • ✓Available on iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux and the web
   • ✓Passcode lock on mobile

   • ✕Text only: no images, PDFs or handwriting
   • ✕No notebooks; organization relies on tags
   • ✕Dropbox sync is no longer supported, per the help page

   Free storage:

   No published limit

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Paid plan:

   None

   Platforms:

   iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux, web

   Bottom line: Simplenote is the best free app for plain text notes because syncing, backups and sharing are all free on six platforms. Choose OneNote or Apple Notes if you need images or handwriting.

   Visit simplenote.com ↗

9. 09

   

   Logseq

   8.1/10

   An open-source outliner that works on local Markdown and Org-mode files.

   Price

   Freefree

   Free forever for personal use; Logseq Sync is in beta with no published price

   “Free forever for personal use” Quoted from the pricing page, November 12, 2026.

   Free plan

   Yes

   Value (40%)

   9.2

   Features (35%)

   7.8

   Ease of use (25%)

   6.8

   Best forstudents and researchers who think in outlines, backlinks and flashcards

   Logseq is a free outliner for people who want to connect ideas rather than file them. The homepage calls it open source and free forever for personal use, says you own your data locally, and lists mobile apps for iOS and Android alongside desktop and a web app. The App Store listing details backlinks, a knowledge graph, page and block references, tasks, spaced repetition cards, Zotero integration, an audio recorder, queries and whiteboards. For students, flashcards and PDF annotations in the same tool are a real draw. Because notes are local Markdown or Org-mode files, storage is limited only by your device. Syncing between devices is the weak spot: Logseq Sync is still labeled beta, so many users rely on their own file sync. The block-based editor also feels different from a page-based app, which lowers its ease-of-use score. We compared documented features and published prices.

   • ✓The homepage says it is open source and free forever for personal use
   • ✓Notes stay on your device, so storage is your own disk
   • ✓Flashcards and PDF annotation suit studying

   • ✕Logseq Sync is still labeled beta
   • ✕Outliner-first editing takes time to learn
   • ✕Mobile features are listed briefly compared with the desktop app

   Free storage:

   Local, no cap

   Device limit (free):

   None published

   Sync:

   Logseq Sync, beta

   Platforms:

   macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, web

   Bottom line: Logseq is the best free note app for outline thinkers because it is free forever for personal use and includes flashcards and PDF annotation. Its built-in sync is still in beta.

   Visit logseq.com ↗

10. 10

    

    Evernote

    7.3/10

    A long-running note app with web clipping, document scanning and AI features.

    Price

    Free plan

    See vendor pricing (USD check pending)

    US price check pending. Vendor pricing page

    Free plan

    Yes

    Free trial

    7 days

    Value (40%)

    6.0

    Features (35%)

    8.4

    Ease of use (25%)

    8.0

    Best forlight users who need Evernote's web clipper and search on a single device

    Evernote has the strongest capture tools on this list, but its free plan is the most restricted. The compare-plans page lists the Free plan at 50 notes, 1 notebook, 20 tags, 200 attachments, 1 GB of storage and sync on 1 device. Starter raises that to 1,000 notes, 20 notebooks, 3 devices and 5 GB, and Advanced removes the caps. The feature set is broad: web clipper, document scanning, advanced search inside images and PDFs, tasks, a calendar, and AI tools such as AI Transcribe and AI Edit, with apps for iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac. For a student taking notes in several classes or a professional on a laptop and a phone, the 50-note and single-device limits arrive fast. Eligible college students get 40% off a year of Advanced, and paid plans include a 7-day trial. The USD price is pending because the vendor page did not show it from our location. We compared documented features and published prices.

    • ✓Apps for iOS, Android, web, Windows and Mac
    • ✓Eligible college students get 40% off a year of Advanced
    • ✓Paid plans have a 7-day free trial

    • ✕The free plan allows 50 notes and 1 notebook
    • ✕Free sync works on 1 device only
    • ✕Free storage is 1 GB with up to 200 attachments

    Free storage:

    1 GB

    Device limit (free):

    1 device

    Free notes:

    50 notes, 1 notebook

    Starter plan:

    1,000 notes, 3 devices, 5 GB

    Bottom line: Evernote is the best pick only for very light users because its free plan stops at 50 notes and 1 synced device. Anyone needing more should start with OneNote or Notion instead.

    Visit evernote.com ↗

Questions or corrections: editorial@rankozo.comSee our disclosure. Prices change; confirm on the vendor page before buying.