Is Apple Notes Finally the BEST Note-Taking App for iPad?

In this video, we're putting Apple Notes to the test to see if it's the best note-taking app for iPad. As productivity enthusiasts, we're always on the lookout for the most efficient and effective tools to help us stay organized and focused. With the Apple Pencil Pro, and Apple Intelligence,
we're able to take notes like never before, but is Apple Notes the ultimate companion for our iPad? We'll be comparing it to other popular note-taking apps like Notability and Good Notes, to see how it stacks up in terms of features, functionality, and note syncing capabilities. If you're looking for the best way to take notes on your iPad, you won't want to miss this video. We'll dive deep into the world of productivity apps and explore what makes Apple Notes stand out from the rest. So, is Apple Notes the best note-taking app for iPad? Watch to find out!

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Chapters:
00:00 Introduction
00:31 Best Features
01:21 Upgrades from iOS18.2
01:52 The Competition (Notability)
04:48 Management and filing
05:27 The Ecosystem
06:30 What’s the right app for you

@FutureSimplified

#AppleNotes #iPad #Productivity

[HarryDinh-A]

Student here. I have tried using Apple Notes full-time for handwritten notes and it's not very good in my experience. Mainly the fact that when you write a lot and the page gets longer, the writing gets very laggy to the point that the iPad will become very hot and the app would crash at some point (this is on iPadOS 18.2!)

It also doesn't have page-by-page editing like Goodnotes or Notability (which might contribute to the issue above, ) so that I can't export my notes as PDFs properly. What I mean by that is you can still export your notes as PDFs, but sometimes your writing would get sliced down the middle with one half on one page and one half on the other.

Those are my two biggest gripes about this app. If Apple would have address this issue, I would switch to it full-time from Goodnotes. Otherwise, I use Apple Notes for everything that are typed-text, and Goodnotes for everything that is handwritten.

[The.JZA.]

Pro tip! I just discovered this the other day but if you go into the files app and find the pdf you want to edit (it can be in OneDrive, iCloud, on your iPad or any other storage that integrates with the files app) you can just open the pdf and mark it up from there. It has almost all of the same features as the notes app but it’s within the PDF, similar to what you were describing with notability. You can also add blank pages if you need to take more notes or even scan pages and add them in etc. I find this a very useful way to take notes on PDFs. And the best thing is that when you’re done you just close the pdf and it syncs back to your cloud storage without any manual steps. I use OneDrive for work (supplied by employer) so I can put my pdfs onto one drive from my work pc, edit them on my iPad and then when I’m done it syncs back to my work pc. Easy!!

[The.JZA.]

I also like that I can tap the Lock Screen with my pencil and get straight into a note. Handy when I get a phone call and need to jot down some key points.

[fisheye]

My main problem with apple notes is the organization…i feel like it’s not that hard to make a good notes app. But you have to nail down the basics…and Apple notes don’t do that…I’m not an artist, I don’t need 160 brushes or create art based on my drawing..I just want a good mangement system for my files and a good integration with pictures and PDF in my notes…maybe it’s harder to do than I think….maybe!!

[shinchosun]

I agreed with you, I am using notability, but how long these notes could be lasted ?

[Poverello]

I love Apple Notes. It just keeps getting better and better. I take advantage of Apple’s Ecosystem and Notes is something I use everyday. Best of all is that it’s free! I’ve tried other note taking apps, and they can do some amazing things, but Notes does everything I need.

[johnmerkel]

Love Apple Notes - because it is everywhere and always available

[RAFAD]

I am on the same situation as you, I kind of want to stop using Notability and use Apple notes because i have so much in there and it came to stay being part of the Apple ecosystem. Notability feels a lot better hand writing, not even close. 😞

[JohannGoree]

I love notability, but since Apple launched the handwriting neatening tool I can't use anything apart from apple notes it just makes notes so much cleaner

[GrahamThomson]

Move to Apple Notes ages ago and even created an Agile workflow using Apple native apps :)

[drdentrepair]

I did not know you could tell Siri to send a screen grab! I’ve always screen shot it and then sent. That was a great tip

[asks]

Fell across your notes review and I've been looking into the possibility of using this. Recently gone back to uni and was considering Goodnotes Notability etc. but actually I like the simplicity and integration of apple notes across all of my devices. Not sure if I can create flash cards with notes - that woyuld be a bonus for me - need to look into that, so thanks for a very useful video and will look at the possibilities of notes over the next few days with my new pencil and ipad.

[Talkin-frg]

My notes are spread between a few apps with Apple Notes and Noteful holding the bulk
The reason I use Noteful over Goodnotes/Notabilty is because it has gestures, such as tap with two fingers to undo and such

If I had the Apple Pencil with the side button (2nd gen- I have the 1st) I’d probably use apple notes but I do jump between the two apps and enjoy the customization Noteful offers.

[Simon.Z.Engstrom]

I'm rooting for you man! Love your calming low but engaging voice and clean articulation.

[MiniBlueDragon]

I used Notability years back and liked it, then moved to GoodNotes and liked that too. Then I stopped writing notes for many years and I'm now looking back at options for manual note taking. I like Goodnotes for the ability to have multiple pens with different sizes to easily write title text, normal text and subtext, and the Cornell(?) paper format. I'll be checking out Notability again tomorrow. Apple notes just seems very basic in comparison?

[MarkieDstudios]

I love apple notes! I hate to sound like that old guy but I’m 35 I don’t need my notes to look “cute” 20years ago I might’ve enjoyed all these ping pang pow options good notes6 offer i just need to write ✍️ some notes and be able to keep them in my folders. Good notes seem to attract the younger kids I’m older now minimal is better 😅 my 10yr old daughter would love good notes6 😂

[homeboywoop]

I love apple notes. Tried goodnotes but it was never worth it to move, at least for me. The pdf issue notwithstanding, I don’t feel like I’m missing anything with apple notes compared to any competitor.

[FloVisuals]

can you drop a link to the pencil replacement tips you use, if you use any at all.

[Padygy]

I bought notability back when it was a one time purchase, and I understand your fear of the apps longevity. When they moved to a subscription model I didnt like they did it without prior announcement. Since then ive been worried one day the app is just gonna be gone. I also wondered if moving to apple notes is the way to go. I just wish that apple notes was more full featured as other established note takers.
If apple notes integrates was to link parts of notes together each other (like obsidian), that could be a good work around for how apple notes imports pdfs.

[SzTz]

Nice video, which iPad and size are you using ?