What to Look for in iOS 18 Note-Taking Apps

When selecting the best note-taking app for iOS 18, consider these key factors:

  • Seamless Syncing: The app should sync notes instantly across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • iOS 18 Integration: Support for iOS 18 features like StandBy Mode, Live Text, and Focus Mode
  • Organization Tools: Tags, folders, and search capabilities to keep notes organized
  • Media Support: Ability to add photos, videos, audio, and documents to notes
  • Collaboration Features: Share notes and collaborate in real-time with others
  • Security: Encryption and password protection for sensitive notes
  • Customization: Themes, fonts, and formatting options to personalize your notes

1. Apple Notes (Free)

Apple Notes is the built-in note-taking app for iOS 18, and it's more powerful than ever. With deep integration into the Apple ecosystem, it's hard to beat for users fully invested in Apple products.

Key Features

  • Seamless sync across all Apple devices using iCloud
  • Support for iOS 18 features like Live Text and Focus Mode
  • Rich text formatting with headers, lists, and tables
  • Ability to add photos, videos, audio recordings, and documents
  • Collaboration features to share and edit notes with others
  • Tagging system for easy organization
  • Secure Notes with end-to-end encryption
  • Quick Notes for capturing ideas on the go

Pros

  • Free and pre-installed on all Apple devices
  • Deep iOS 18 integration
  • Simple and intuitive interface
  • Reliable iCloud syncing

Cons

  • Limited advanced features compared to third-party apps
  • No web version for non-Apple devices
  • Basic formatting options

Best For

Apple Notes is perfect for users who want a simple, free note-taking solution that works seamlessly across all their Apple devices. It's especially great for casual note-takers and those who want deep iOS 18 integration.

For more tips on using Apple Notes, check out our article on How to use iOS Notes as a project management tool.

2. Notion (Free with Premium Options)

Notion is a versatile productivity app that goes beyond simple note-taking. It's a powerful all-in-one workspace that can be customized to fit your needs.

Key Features

  • Seamless sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, and web
  • Database functionality for organizing notes
  • Templates for different note-taking scenarios
  • Rich media support (images, videos, audio, PDFs)
  • Collaboration tools for team projects
  • Customizable layouts with drag-and-drop functionality
  • Web clipper for saving content from the internet
  • iOS 18 widget support

Pros

  • Highly customizable
  • Powerful database features
  • Excellent collaboration tools
  • Cross-platform support

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Some advanced features require Premium
  • Can be overwhelming for simple note-taking

Best For

Notion is ideal for power users who want a comprehensive note-taking and productivity solution. It's great for students, professionals, and teams who need more than just basic note-taking functionality.

3. Evernote (Free with Premium Options)

Evernote has been a popular note-taking app for years, and it continues to evolve with iOS 18. It's known for its powerful organization and search capabilities.

Key Features

  • Sync across all devices
  • Tagging and notebook system for organization
  • Powerful search that can find text in images and PDFs
  • Web clipper for saving web content
  • Rich text formatting
  • Document scanning with OCR
  • Collaboration features
  • iOS 18 widget support

Pros

  • Powerful search capabilities
  • Excellent document scanning
  • Reliable syncing
  • Cross-platform support

Cons

  • Free version has limitations on syncing and storage
  • Premium subscription is relatively expensive
  • Interface can feel cluttered

Best For

Evernote is perfect for users who need powerful search and organization capabilities. It's great for professionals who deal with a lot of documents and need to quickly find information.

4. Bear Notes ($1.49/month or $14.99/year)

Bear Notes is a beautifully designed note-taking app specifically for Apple devices. It's known for its clean interface and powerful markdown support.

Key Features

  • Seamless sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Powerful markdown support with live preview
  • Tag-based organization system
  • Beautiful themes and typography
  • Encrypted notes for sensitive information
  • Export options (PDF, Word, HTML, etc.)
  • iOS 18 widget support

Pros

  • Beautiful, minimalist design
  • Excellent markdown support
  • Fast and responsive
  • Great for writers and bloggers

Cons

  • Subscription required for syncing and advanced features
  • Only available on Apple devices
  • Limited collaboration features

Best For

Bear Notes is ideal for writers, bloggers, and anyone who prefers markdown formatting. It's perfect for users who value a clean, distraction-free interface and are fully invested in the Apple ecosystem.

5. OneNote (Free)

OneNote is Microsoft's free note-taking app, and it's a great option for users who work with Windows and Apple devices.

Key Features

  • Sync across iPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, and web
  • Notebook, section, and page organization system
  • Free-form canvas for notes
  • Rich text formatting
  • Draw and sketch with Apple Pencil support
  • Collaboration features
  • Integration with Microsoft Office

Pros

  • Free with no limitations
  • Excellent cross-platform support
  • Free-form canvas is great for creative note-taking
  • Integration with Microsoft Office

Cons

  • Interface can feel dated
  • Syncing can be slow at times
  • Less iOS 18 integration compared to Apple Notes

Best For

OneNote is perfect for users who work across Apple and Windows devices. It's also great for students and professionals who use Microsoft Office products and need a free, feature-rich note-taking solution.

6. GoodNotes 6 ($7.99 one-time purchase)

GoodNotes is a powerful note-taking app designed specifically for handwriting with Apple Pencil. It's perfect for students, artists, and anyone who prefers writing by hand.

Key Features

  • Seamless sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Excellent Apple Pencil support with pressure sensitivity
  • Notebook-like interface with customizable covers
  • Text recognition (OCR) for handwritten notes
  • Ability to import and annotate PDFs
  • Shape recognition for perfect lines and shapes
  • iOS 18 StandBy Mode support

Pros

  • Best-in-class handwriting experience
  • One-time purchase (no subscription)
  • Excellent PDF annotation tools
  • Beautiful, realistic notebook interface

Cons

  • More expensive upfront cost
  • Only available on Apple devices
  • Less suited for typed notes

Best For

GoodNotes is ideal for students, artists, and professionals who prefer handwriting over typing. It's perfect for taking class notes, sketching ideas, and annotating documents.

For more tips on using GoodNotes with iOS 18, check out our article on iOS 18 Hidden Features.

7. Notability ($11.99/year)

Notability is another popular note-taking app with excellent Apple Pencil support. It's known for its simple interface and powerful features.

Key Features

  • Sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac
  • Apple Pencil support with pressure sensitivity
  • Record audio while taking notes
  • PDF annotation tools
  • Text recognition (OCR)
  • Share notes in multiple formats
  • iOS 18 Focus Mode integration

Pros

  • Simple, intuitive interface
  • Excellent audio recording feature
  • Great for students and professionals

Cons

  • Subscription model (previously one-time purchase)
  • Only available on Apple devices
  • Less customization than some competitors

Best For

Notability is perfect for students who want to record lectures while taking notes. It's also great for professionals who need to annotate documents and share them with colleagues.

8. Simplenote (Free)

Simplenote lives up to its name by offering a simple, distraction-free note-taking experience.

Key Features

  • Sync across all devices
  • Clean, minimalist interface
  • Markdown support
  • Tagging system for organization
  • Version history for notes
  • Open-source software

Pros

  • Completely free with no ads or subscriptions
  • Simple, distraction-free interface
  • Cross-platform support
  • Open-source (transparent and customizable)

Cons

  • Limited advanced features
  • No rich media support
  • Basic formatting options

Best For

Simplenote is ideal for users who want a basic, no-frills note-taking app. It's perfect for those who find other note-taking apps too complex or distracting.

9. Obsidian (Free with Premium Options)

Obsidian is a powerful note-taking app that uses a local Markdown file system, giving you complete control over your notes.

Key Features

  • Local Markdown file system
  • Graph view to visualize connections between notes
  • Plugin ecosystem for customization
  • Sync across devices with Obsidian Sync
  • Markdown support with live preview
  • Encryption for sensitive notes

Pros

  • Complete control over your data
  • Powerful graph view for note connections
  • Extensible with plugins
  • Free core features

Cons

  • Steeper learning curve
  • Syncing requires a paid subscription
  • Can be overwhelming for new users

Best For

Obsidian is perfect for power users, researchers, and anyone who wants complete control over their notes. It's great for creating a personal knowledge management system with interconnected notes.

10. Roam Research ($15/month or $165/year)

Roam Research is a unique note-taking app designed for networked thinking, allowing you to create connections between notes easily.

Key Features

  • Bi-directional linking between notes
  • Daily notes feature
  • Graph view to visualize note connections
  • Markdown support
  • Collaboration features
  • iOS 18 widget support

Pros

  • Revolutionary approach to note organization
  • Great for researchers and writers
  • Powerful search and filtering

Cons

  • Expensive subscription
  • Steep learning curve
  • Interface can be overwhelming

Best For

Roam Research is ideal for researchers, writers, and anyone who wants to create a network of interconnected ideas. It's perfect for those who value the relationships between notes over traditional hierarchical organization.

How to Choose the Best Note-Taking App for You

When selecting the best note-taking app for iOS 18, consider your specific needs:

For Casual Note-Takers

If you just need to jot down quick notes and don't require advanced features, Apple Notes or Simplenote are excellent choices.

For Students

Students will benefit from apps like GoodNotes, Notability, or OneNote, which offer great features for taking class notes, annotating textbooks, and organizing study materials.

For Professionals

Professionals may prefer apps like Notion, Evernote, or Bear Notes, which offer advanced organization, collaboration features, and integration with productivity tools.

For Writers and Bloggers

Writers and bloggers will appreciate apps like Bear Notes, Obsidian, or Roam Research, which offer excellent markdown support and tools for organizing ideas.

For Handwritten Notes

If you prefer writing by hand, apps like GoodNotes or Notability offer the best Apple Pencil support and handwriting experience.

iOS 18 Note-Taking Tips

Make the most of your note-taking app with these iOS 18 tips:

1. Use Quick Notes

iOS 18's Quick Notes feature allows you to capture ideas instantly from anywhere on your device. Swipe up from the bottom-right corner with Apple Pencil or use the Quick Notes button in Control Center.

2. Take Advantage of Live Text

Live Text in iOS 18 lets you copy text from images in your notes. Simply tap and hold on text in an image to copy it.

3. Use Focus Mode

Set up Focus Mode in iOS 18 to minimize distractions while taking notes. Customize which notifications you want to receive during your note-taking sessions.

4. Use StandBy Mode for Notes

With iOS 18's StandBy Mode, you can display your notes on your iPhone while it's charging. This is perfect for referencing notes while working or studying.

5. Enable iCloud Sync

Make sure iCloud sync is enabled for your note-taking app to ensure your notes are always up-to-date across all your devices.

For more iOS 18 tips, check out our article on How to use iOS 18 StandBy Mode hidden settings.

Conclusion

The best note-taking app for iOS 18 depends on your specific needs and preferences. Whether you prefer simple text notes, handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, or a comprehensive productivity system, there's an app on this list that's perfect for you.

Apple Notes is a great starting point for most users, offering a free, simple solution with deep iOS 18 integration. For more advanced features, consider apps like Notion, Evernote, or Bear Notes. And if you prefer handwriting, GoodNotes or Notability are excellent choices.

No matter which app you choose, the key is to find one that fits your workflow and helps you stay organized and productive. With the right note-taking app for iOS 18, you'll be able to capture ideas, organize information, and collaborate with others seamlessly across your Apple devices.