Best note-taking apps for iPad in 2026

Think of the iPad as a powerful digital notebook for organizing life, taking class notes, and transcribing meetings. Modern note-taking apps add flexibility for handwriting, audio recording, and multimedia, and testing focused on cost, functionality, practicality, and design across more than a dozen apps to find those that enhance handwritten note-taking.

Notability is our pick for best overall. It pairs a simple, easy-to-use interface with tiered plans, multiple pen styles, formatting tools, PDF annotation, multimedia support and ready-to-use templates; a free tier exists but editing is limited without a subscription.

Price: $5 per month or $15 per year (other plans available). GoodNotes 6 is a close rival, offering device sync, strong Apple Pencil support, PDF handling, folders and searchable handwriting; the free starter plan includes three notebooks, while paid options are $10 per year or a one-time $30 fee.

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