While there are some impressive note-taking apps on the market, many of the most famous are designed for serious productivity use and are packed with distracting features. They can actually be slower and more difficult to use if you just want an easy way to jot down your thoughts and ideas fast.
Fortunately, there are alternatives. Here are the best simple note-taking apps for a hassle-free writing experience.
1. Notally
Notally is a small and easy notes app to create quick notes and lists. The app offers a simple way to organize notes and search for content. You can sort notes using the List or Grid views and pin important notes to the top of the homepage. You can also add labels to help categorize different ideas.
Notally offers all the basics you could need from a note-taking app, including a basic to-do list feature, a dark theme, and an option to change the text size. If you’re worried about losing information, there’s also an Auto Backup feature to keep your notes safe. Best of all, the app is both free and ad-free.
Download:Notally(Free)
2. Fleeting Notes
Fleeting Notes offers a compact view of some clever note-taking tools to help you boost your productivity. If you’re familiar withhow to use Obsidian, you may sync notes with your Obsidian workspace to create a combined source of knowledge.
The app offers some features you might find in a complex note-taking app but helps to add simplicity with its clean design. you may create bulleted lists and checklists using the simple formatting ribbon. You can also create backlinks to connect ideas within your workspace. Simply type two square brackets—[[—to create a note link.
Download:Fleeting Notes(Free)
Notes - Offline Color Notes lives up to its name, providing a secure and accessible solution to save and store notes offline. The app is an efficientproductivity tool that uses color coding well, offering multiple colors to sort your notes.
Notes on the homepage are displayed like sticky notes, each labeled with its date to give a clear history of everything you’ve written. Saving ideas is simple—hit theplusbutton (+) in the top-right corner to create a note, then hit thetickbutton when you’ve finished writing. There’s also a share button to send your thoughts to others.
Download:Notes(Free)
4. Notepad
Notepad offers a simple and organized approach to note-taking, providing multiple categories and a rich text editor.
The text editor offers more than the typical note-taking app, with the option to highlight text, change text indentation, and change the text color. You can also attach image files to any note by tapping the three dots in the upper-right corner. If your collection of notes is overflowing, you can use the Sort By options toclean up your messy notes.
Download:Notepad(Free, in-app purchases available)
5. Write Now
If you’re looking for a way toquickly jot down ideas, Write Now is a brilliant choice. The app offers both text and audio input as a creative method to capture thoughts with minimal effort.
Write Now offers one of the fastest ways to capture ideas with its NowPad tool. Using this feature, you can write notes in a pop-up window by swiping from your device’s home screen. You can also pin a note to the notifications bar for super fast access.
If security is a concern, you may lock notes with a password and set a hint. You can also export notes as text files to use in other editors.
Download:Write Now(Free, in-app purchases available)
6. Memori Note
Memori Note is a great way to capture inspiring thoughts and keep your notes in order. you may separate notes into categories including Thoughts, Quotes, and Self-Improvement, and you can filter them by tapping on a category name.
With built-in reminders, Memori Note is a great app for forgetful people. You can set standard reminders and make them repeat every day, week, or month.
The app offers a stylish selection of colors. If you’re willing to upgrade, you can also select fonts and access further customization features for a reasonable price. To help provide simplicity, Memori Note has a Read Mode, so you can read through notes without additional clutter. For some daily motivation, you can also view the Quote of the Day above your display of notes.
Download:Memori Note(Free, in-app purchases available)
7. Justnote
Justnote is a secure and fast solution for taking quick notes wherever you are. If you’re looking to edit your notes on the go, you can rely on Justnote to sync your data and take notes anywhere. To access notes on your PC, you can head over to theJustnote website. Simply enter your passcode to get started.
Justnote takes security seriously by offering a secret key to encrypt your notes. The app’s rich text editor offers plenty of creative potential, with the option to change the text color, highlight text, and insert links. you’re able to also modify the text size to create headings.
Download:Justnote(Free, in-app purchases available)
8. BlueNote
BlueNote offers a seamless way to take notes and create lists to organize your life. you may add multiple categories and access them using the sidebar. You can back up all notes to your internal storage to prevent the fear of losing information.
Editing checklists is effortless thanks to BlueNote’s simple touch controls. You can perform all actions (edit, delete, and mark as complete) with the tap of a button or a simple swipe. The app also offers a sharing feature and a password tool for keeping your notes private.
Download:BlueNote(Free, in-app purchases available)
9. Jot: Floating Notes & Notepad
Jot offers one of the easiest ways to take notes by allowing you to type directly from your home screen. Jot’s powerful widgets and Quick Settings tile allows you to take notes without opening and closing the app.
Whether you’re jotting down a quick thought or writing a longer idea, Jot offers all the tools to provide an effortless note-taking experience.
The Floating Jot window appears over any app, allowing you to instantly write and save an idea. You can convert the note to a checklist by hitting the tick icon, and you can open the note in full. To provide a comfortable viewing experience, you can change the size and position of the Floating Jot window in the app’s settings.
Download:Jot: Floating Notes & Notepad(Free, in-app purchases available)
Capture Ideas Effortlessly With These Simple Note-Taking Apps
Whatever’s on your mind, these apps will help you jot down what you need to remember with minimal time and effort. Without unnecessary features, you may focus on what’s important without getting distracted. Try these note-taking apps for a smart way to capture ideas fast.
