Best Note Taking Drawing Apps

204+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.4 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated May 2026

Whether you're new to note taking drawing or looking for an upgrade, our curated collection of 204+ iOS apps has something for everyone. Each app is reviewed and rated by real users, helping you make an informed decision.

Top Picks for Note Taking Drawing

Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking#1

Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking by FREENOTES AI PTE. LTD.

Docs PDF Memo Planner Pencil
Editor's Choice
📊 Productivity
4.7😊(54K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking screenshot 1
Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking screenshot 2
Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking screenshot 3
Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking screenshot 4
Freenotes®: AI Notes Taking screenshot 5

This AI-powered digital notepad transforms your device into an intelligent workspace. It offers handwriting recognition, PDF annotation, and AI assistance for summarizing documents, answering questions, and aiding in study. Organize notes, sketch ideas, and sync across devices for a seamless paperless experience.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Completely free app with no ads or in-app purchases
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 📚 Comprehensive note-taking features (layers, templates, stickers, etc.)
  • 🎨 Highly customizable (colors, fonts, covers, etc.)

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Occasional issues with syncing and iCloud backup
  • 🖌️ Limited customization options for pen/pencil settings
  • 🔍 Lack of handwriting recognition and search
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF#2

Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF by Goodnotes Limited

Note taking, canvas & work app
Strong Contender
📊 Productivity
4.7😊(431K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF screenshot 1
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF screenshot 2
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF screenshot 3
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF screenshot 4
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF screenshot 5
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF screenshot 6

Capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights with advanced AI features. This app offers tools for professionals, students, and creatives, including infinite whiteboards, AI-powered transcription and summarization, and customizable digital notebooks.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Excellent note-taking experience
  • 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • 🚀 Smooth writing with Apple Pencil
  • 📁 Powerful organization with folders and notebooks

Room to Improve

  • 🐛 Glitches and crashes
  • 🔍 Syncing and iCloud issues
  • 🔍 Lack of flexibility with text input
Microsoft OneNote#3

Microsoft OneNote by Microsoft Corporation

Capture Notes, Ideas and Memos
Worth Considering
📊 Productivity
4.7😐(1.1M ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
#88in Productivity
Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1
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Microsoft OneNote screenshot 6

Capture thoughts, ideas, and plans in a digital notepad. Organize, search, and secure your notes, memos, and sketches. Sync across devices for access anywhere, anytime. Collaborate with others on shared notepads.

What We Love

  • 🚀 Simple, works well
  • 👍 Great for planning
  • 👍 Powerful note-taking app
  • 👍 Invaluable tool for note taking

Room to Improve

  • 🔨 Could be better
  • 🔨 Formatting issues on mobile app
  • 🔨 Buggy widget, no dark app icon

More Note Taking Drawing apps to explore

4
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Notability: AI Notes & PDF app
Write, type, annotate, draw
Free

Capture, organize, and enhance your thoughts with a versatile digital notebook. Seamlessly blend handwriting, typing, and multimedia to annotate documents, record lectures, and generate summaries. Ideal for students and professionals seeking to boost productivity and learning.

Handwritten and typed notesPDF and document annotationAudio recording and transcription
📊 Productivity
(450K)
freemium
5
Tayasui Sketches School
Tayasui Sketches School
Tayasui Sketches School
Sketch Pad, NoteBook & Drawing
Free

This app offers a user-friendly drawing and sketching experience designed for younger audiences. It provides realistic digital art tools, allowing kids to create illustrations and organize their work with ease. Unlock premium features through a subscription.

Realistic drawing toolsKid-friendly interfacePhoto import
📚 Education
(8.3K)
freemium
6
Simple Note-taking
Simple Note-taking
Simple Note-taking
Simplest note-taking is here!
Free
📊 Productivity
(0)
7
Element Note
Element Note
Element Note
Handwriting Note & PDF Markup
Free

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

Unique handwriting brushesSmooth drawing enginePDF annotation
📊 Productivity
(2.4K)
free with in-app purchases
8
n+otes
n+otes
n+otes
Quick, easy note, private lock
Free

Capture thoughts and ideas instantly with a simple interface. Secure your notes with a private lock feature. Optional subscription removes ads and supports development.

Quick note-takingPrivate note lockAd-free experience (subscription)
📊 Productivity
(44K)
free with in-app purchases
9
Wellnote: AI Notes, PDF, Docs
Wellnote: AI Notes, PDF, Docs
Wellnote: AI Notes, PDF, Docs
PDF,Docs,Memo,Pencil,Planner
Free

Experience natural handwriting with a stylus for note-taking and document annotation. Organize your thoughts with categorization and search, and study more effectively using split-screen and custom templates. Import and mark up PDFs, Word, and PPT files for interactive learning.

Real handwriting experience with stylusCategorize and search notesImport and annotate PDFs, Word, PPT
📊 Productivity
(441)
free
10
Notes Writer: PDF, Voice, AI
Notes Writer: PDF, Voice, AI
Notes Writer: PDF, Voice, AI
PDF Editor, Pens, Notepad, AI
Free

This app is a comprehensive note-taking and PDF editing solution for mobile devices. It allows users to write, format, and organize notes, annotate PDFs, fill forms, and scan documents. The app offers advanced editing tools, powerful search, and seamless sharing and export options.

Write and format notesAnnotate PDFs and fill formsOrganize with unlimited notebooks
📊 Productivity
(7.2K)
free with in-app purchases
11
QuickNotes X: Notes, AI & PDF
QuickNotes X: Notes, AI & PDF
QuickNotes X: Notes, AI & PDF
Note-Taking, Made Easy.
Free

This app offers a fluid and precise note-taking experience with a custom vector ink engine, voice recording synced to writing, and ML-powered shape recognition. Organize notes with notebooks and folders, protect them with passwords and biometrics, and sync seamlessly across devices via iCloud. Mark up PDFs and presentations, and customize your notes with various tools and templates.

Vector ink engine for fluid writingVoice recording synced to notesML-powered shape recognition
📊 Productivity
(3.7K)
free with in-app purchases
12
Noteshelf 3: AI Digital Notes
Noteshelf 3: AI Digital Notes
Noteshelf 3: AI Digital Notes
Note Taking & PDF Annotation
Free

Create handwritten notes, annotate PDFs, and record audio with this app. It offers extensive customization for notebooks, a variety of writing tools, and AI-powered features for summarization and translation. Organize your thoughts and documents seamlessly.

Handwritten note creationPDF annotation and markupAudio recording with notes
📊 Productivity
(5.6K)
free with in-app purchases
13
Plus Note Taking Memo Notepad
Plus Note Taking Memo Notepad
Plus Note Taking Memo Notepad
handwritten notes, draw on pic
Free

Create beautiful handwritten notes and memos with a simple gallery interface. Utilize drawing tools and zoom functionality for detailed work. Enjoy a relaxing digital experience on your iPhone and iPad.

Handwritten notes and memosDrawing on picturesSimple gallery interface
📊 Productivity
(1)
free with in-app purchases
14
Flow: Note Taking & Sketchbook
Flow: Note Taking & Sketchbook
Flow: Note Taking & Sketchbook
Shared Sketchbook & Notepad
Free

Create beautiful notes and drawings with realistic ink and paper. Collaborate on documents in real-time, sketch with customizable tools, and organize your work with infinite width documents and secure cloud syncing.

Realistic ink and paper drawingInfinite width documentsReal-time collaboration
🎨 Graphics & Design
(7.2K)
subscription
15
Notes+ : Notes for Pencil
Notes+ : Notes for Pencil
Notes+ : Notes for Pencil
Note Taking & Note Taking Apps
Free

Enhance your digital note-taking with realistic writing tools, diverse templates, and AI-powered features. Import files, organize with versatile tools, and boost productivity with multi-tasking capabilities. Secure your notes and access smart AI assistants for summaries, quizzes, and transcriptions.

Realistic writing experienceFile import and conversionVersatile note-taking tools
📚 Education
(3K)
freemium
16
Whiteboard: just draw together
Whiteboard: just draw together
Whiteboard: just draw together
simple, easy, focused and fun
Free

A simple and fun drawing app designed for collaborative creativity. Easily share and draw with friends and family, import photos to trace, and enjoy a clutter-free drawing experience. Offers a variety of tools and sharing options.

Collaborative drawing via MessagesImport photos for tracingRainbow marker tool
💼 Business
(80K)
free with in-app purchases
17
Notestudio: note taking, pdf
Notestudio: note taking, pdf
Notestudio: note taking, pdf
For Study & Work. Pen & Pencil
Free

Capture, organize, and create notes with a blend of analog feel and digital power. Annotate PDFs, add media, and export in various formats. Offers advanced drawing tools and a customizable interface for focused work.

Multi-page note creationPDF markup and annotationFlexible note sizes and paper styles
📊 Productivity
(14)
free with in-app purchases
18
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
CollaNote: Notes & PDF Markup
25+ Pens to Take Better Notes
Free

This app offers a comprehensive note-taking experience with advanced tools for digital planning, PDF markup, and flashcard creation. It features a wide array of pens, handwriting stabilization, and AI-powered assistance for enhanced productivity and creativity. Organize, secure, and share your notes seamlessly across devices.

25+ pens and brushesPDF, PPT, DOC markupFlashcard creation
📊 Productivity
(13K)
free with in-app purchases
19
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup
Noteful: Notes & PDF Markup
Highlight. Write. Learn.
Free

This app revolutionizes paperless note-taking on iPad, allowing for handwritten notes, document annotation, and knowledge organization. It offers a fluid writing experience, PDF markup, powerful tagging, and audio recording synced with notes.

Handwritten notes with Apple PencilPDF and document annotationOrganize notes with tags
📊 Productivity
(22K)
freemium
20
DrawUp - Learn To Draw
DrawUp - Learn To Draw
DrawUp - Learn To Draw
Step by step drawing tutorials
Free

Learn to draw with interactive, step-by-step tutorials suitable for all skill levels. This app offers a user-friendly interface and a wide variety of lessons, from characters to landscapes, allowing you to practice with your finger or a stylus.

Step-by-step drawing tutorialsUser-friendly interfaceLessons for all levels
📚 Education
(6.6K)
free with in-app purchases