Best Written Notes Apps

249+ iOS apps curated and reviewed

4.7 avg rating
20 free apps
Updated November 2026

Looking for free written notes apps? 20 of our 249+ tracked titles are free to download β€” no subscription, no trial. The rest are premium picks worth paying for.

Compare top Written Notes Apps (November 2026)

#AppPriceRatingAdsIn-App PurchasesUpdated
1Notepad: Easy Notes & MemosNotepad: Easy Notes & MemosFree4.8β˜… (29K)YesYesNov 2026
2NotesNotesFree4.8β˜… (667K)NoNoNov 2026
3Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDFGoodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDFFree4.7β˜… (468K)NoYesNov 2026
4Simple Handwritten NoteSimple Handwritten NoteFree5.0β˜… (1)YesNoOct 2026
5Noteful: Notes & PDF MarkupNoteful: Notes & PDF MarkupFree4.8β˜… (24K)NoYesNov 2026
6Meeting Notes & Work PlannerMeeting Notes & Work PlannerFree4.1β˜… (1.9K)NoYesNov 2026
7Notes: Aesthetic NotesNotes: Aesthetic NotesFreeβ€”NoYesOct 2026
8Notes: Color Notepad, NotebookNotes: Color Notepad, NotebookFree4.7β˜… (6)NoYesNov 2026

Top Picks for Written Notes

Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos#1

Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos by 1381802 Ontario Inc.

Simple Notebook & Writing Pad
Editor's Choice
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.8😊(29K ratings)
FreeAdsIn-App Purchases
Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos screenshot 1
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Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos screenshot 5
Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos screenshot 6

Capture thoughts, create to-do lists, and organize ideas with a versatile digital notebook. Offers rich text formatting, handwriting support, and folder organization. Keep your notes safe with iCloud sync and optional biometric lock.

What We Love

  • πŸ‘ Simple and easy to use
  • πŸ“ Useful for notes, lists, and reminders
  • 🎨 Customizable font and color options
  • πŸ’Ύ Reliable for storing important information
  • πŸ” Helpful search functionality

Room to Improve

  • πŸ’° Premium subscription required to remove ads
  • πŸ› Occasional data loss or note disappearance
  • πŸ“€ Lack of sharing or exporting options
  • πŸ”’ No password protection for individual notes
Notes#2

Notes by Apple

Take note of almost anything
Strong Contender
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.8😐(667K ratings)
Free
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Capture your thoughts, ideas, and important information with a versatile note-taking app. Attach various file types, scan documents, create checklists, and even sketch directly within your notes. Organize with folders, tags, and smart searches, and collaborate with others on shared notes.

What We Love

  • πŸ“ Versatile note-taking app
  • πŸ”’ Secure with password/biometric lock
  • 🌐 Seamless sync across devices
  • πŸš€ Quick and responsive
  • πŸ“‚ Organized with folders and tags
  • πŸ’» Integrates well with Apple ecosystem

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Frequent crashes and glitches
  • πŸ” Difficulty finding/retrieving notes
  • πŸ”‹ High battery drain when using Apple Pencil
  • πŸ“ Limited formatting options (font, color, etc.)
  • πŸ”’ Password reset issues with locked notes
  • πŸ—‘οΈ Accidental deletion of notes
Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF#3

Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF by Goodnotes Limited

Note taking, Planner & Journal
Worth Considering
πŸ“Š Productivity
4.7😊(468K ratings)
FreeIn-App Purchases
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Capture ideas and unlock insights with powerful AI tools for note-taking, brainstorming, and document creation. Enhance productivity for professionals and students with features like AI transcription, summarization, and interactive study sets.

What We Love

  • πŸš€ Excellent note-taking experience
  • πŸ‘ Intuitive and user-friendly interface
  • πŸš€ Smooth writing with Apple Pencil
  • πŸ“ Powerful organization with folders and notebooks
  • πŸ–ΌοΈ Ability to annotate PDFs and documents
  • 🌈 Customizable paper styles and covers

Room to Improve

  • πŸ› Glitches and crashes
  • πŸ” Syncing and iCloud issues
  • πŸ” Lack of flexibility with text input
  • πŸ” Limited eraser and highlighting options
  • πŸ” Subpar performance on Mac app

More Written Notes apps to explore

FAQ about Written Notes

What are the best written notes apps for iPhone?
Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos tops our written notes apps ranking as of November 2026, with a 4.8-star average from 29K App Store ratings, and it's free to download.
Yes β€” 20 of the top written notes apps we rank are free to download, including Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos and Notes.
Notepad: Easy Notes & Memos shows ads and offers in-app purchases, according to its App Store listing as of November 2026.
We track 249+ written notes apps on the iOS App Store as of November 2026, ranked by rating, recency, and analysis of real user reviews.