Evernote best note-taking App
Organise your life
OF ALL the apps I have tested, Evernote is number one! Its range of features and uses is beyond all apps in this category. It is quite similar to OneNote, but I prefer Evernote’s design and integration with Google accounts. Let’s look at how this app can help you to get more organised this school year.
Features and uses
It is really easy to use as it utilises similar formatting features to Microsoft Word. These formatting features include bold, changing font size, bulleted lists, making tables and, in addition, it has spell check and the find-and-replace tool.
Each note can be saved in a notebook. A notebook is essentially a folder which can hold various notes that are related. In addition, notes can be given various tags to make it easier to sort through. This means a notebook could be created for each subject you do (e.g., biology) and then each note within it can be tagged with the topic (e.g., The Circulatory System) it is related to. These notes can then be shared with a friend or vice versa.
A Google account can also be connected to Evernote. The user would then be able to attach files in his Google Drive into a note. In addition, hyperlinks and local files can be attached. This means that if you make a video for literature class, you can attach it to a note and write possible changes or things to note about it.
If you are a computer science or information technology student, then the code-block feature would come in handy. Evernote could also create to-do or homework lists as checkboxes can be inserted.
Meeting notes can be created. These are notes linked with events in your Google Calendar. The app will remind you to look at the note you made about a meeting at the time of the event.
What is it available on?
Evernote is very versatile. That being said, you can access the app from your phone, tablet, laptop or the online web version. If you use it in a browser, you have the ability to add the web clipper add-on which allows you to save web pages to notes.
How much does it cost?
There is a free version which I find to be practical and very useful. However, Evernote Plus can be purchased for US$2.92 per month or Evernote Premium for US$5.83 per month. I found the present mode in the premium version useful, as you can display your notes like a presentation. You can also annotate PDFs and scan business cards from Evernote. With the free account, each user gets 60MB per month of file uploads and the maximum size of a note is 25MB. That means that it would not be suitable for uploading videos, but could work for pictures and voice clips.
What are the drawbacks?
I do not like that a user cannot delete tags from notes while within the notes window. Instead, the user has to go into the tags screen and delete a tag. This means that one cannot remove a tag from a note but, instead, can only remove the tag itself from all notes.
Evernote is very versatile. That being said, you can access the app from your phone, tablet, laptop or the online web version. If you use it in a browser, you have the ability to add the web clipper add-on which allows you to save web pages to notes.
Google Keep operates a lot like a virtual sticky notes board. Each note created comes up as a rectangle in the interface.
Google Keep – Runner-up for best note-taking app
You probably know Gmail, Google Playstore and Google Drive, but the most unknown of them all is Google Keep. This app is my runner-up for the best note-taking app. Evernote had more functionality, however, Google Keep is still able to hold its own.
Features and use
Google Keep operates a lot like a virtual sticky notes board. Each note created comes up as a rectangle in the interface. Users have the option of making a note or a list. In a list, each note has a checkbox and the user can then check or uncheck items. This is good for keeping track of homework assignments.
Pictures can be inserted. Google Keep also allows the user to do drawings and add them to a note. Each note can be given a colour to help organise notes better.
A note can be converted to a Google doc, which then has even more functionalities built in. I found this feature to be very useful as I can develop a quick outline into a detailed document quite efficiently.
What is it available on?
The Google Keep app can be accessed on any smart device. However, for laptops, one has to access it through the browser.
How much does it cost?
Google Keep is completely FREE. There is no payment or hidden fee.
What are the drawbacks?
Although the notes can be labelled, the notes still seem a bit disorganised when on the main screen. I would use this app more for homework lists or sketching ideas really quickly, as opposed to making notes for classes.