ipad research paper organizer

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Zotero is a free, easy-to-use tool to help you collect, organize, annotate, cite, and share research.

Available for Mac, Windows, Linux, and iOS

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Zotero automatically senses research as you browse the web. Need an article from JSTOR or a preprint from arXiv.org? A news story from the New York Times or a book from a library? Zotero has you covered, everywhere.

Organize your way.

Zotero helps you organize your research any way you want. You can sort items into collections and tag them with keywords. Or create saved searches that automatically fill with relevant materials as you work.

Cite in style.

Zotero instantly creates references and bibliographies for any text editor, and directly inside Word, LibreOffice, and Google Docs. With support for over 9,000 citation styles, you can format your work to match any style guide or publication.

Stay in sync.

Zotero can optionally synchronize your data across devices, keeping your files, notes, and bibliographic records seamlessly up to date. If you decide to sync, you can also always access your research from any web browser.

Collaborate freely.

Zotero lets you co-write a paper with a colleague, distribute course materials to students, or build a collaborative bibliography. You can share a Zotero library with as many people you like, at no cost.

Zotero is open source and developed by an independent, nonprofit organization that has no financial interest in your private information. With Zotero, you always stay in control of your own data.

Still not sure which program to use for your research? See why we think you should choose Zotero .

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Finally a place for your research papers on your iPad, iPhone or Android device.

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Your papers always available, always in sync

Access your research library wherever you go. Your papers are synced between the web app and all your mobile devices.

Find and add new PDFs with one tap

Search 150 Million articles across PubMed, arXiv, CrossRef ... Save the PDFs with one tap.

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Never forget an important idea again. Add highlights, notes, and hand-drawn annotations.

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Come across an interesting paper on your phone? Save it to your library right from your mobile browser.

Get organized and keep your papers in order

Your library will grow quickly. Keep order with labels and folders so you always can find "that one paper" again...

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15 Best Free Web Tools to Organize Your Research

How to stay organized when researching and writing papers

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Organizing research is important not only for your own sanity, but because when it comes time to unfold the data and put it to use, you want the process to go as smoothly as possible. This is where research organizers come in.

There are lots of free web-based organizers that you can use for any purpose. Maybe you're collecting interviews for a news story, digging up newspaper archives for a history project, or writing a research paper over a science topic. Research organizers are also helpful for staying productive and preparing for tests.

Regardless of the topic, when you have multiple sources of information and lots to comb through later, optimizing your workflow with a dedicated organizer is essential.

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Many of these tools provide unique features, so you might decide to use multiple resources simultaneously in whatever way suits your particular needs.

Research and Study

You need a place to gather the information you're finding. To avoid a cluttered space when collecting and organizing data, you can use a tool dedicated to research.

• Pocket : Save web pages to your online account to reference them again later. It's much tidier than bookmarks, and it can all be retrieved from the web or the Pocket mobile app .
• Mendeley : Organize papers and references, and generate citations and bibliographies.
• Quizlet : Learn vocabulary with these free online flashcards .
• Wikipedia : Find information on millions of different topics.
• Quora : This is a question and answer website where you can ask the community for help with any question.
• SparkNotes : Free online study guides on a wide variety of subjects, anything from famous literary works of the past century to the present day. 
• Zotero : Collect, manage, and cite your research sources. Lets you organize data into collections and search through them by adding tags to every source. This is a computer program, but there's a browser extension that helps you send data to it.
• Google Scholar : A simple way to search for scholarly literature on any subject.
• Diigo : Collect, share, and interact with information from anywhere on the web. It's all accessible through the browser extension and saved to your online account.
• GoConqr : Create flashcards, mind maps, notes, quizzes, and more to bridge the gap between your research and studying.

Writing Tools

Writing is the other half of a research paper, so you need somewhere useful to go to jot down notes, record information you might use in the final paper, create drafts, track sources, and finalize the paper.

• Web Page Sticky Notes : For Chrome users, this tool lets you place sticky notes on any web page as you do your research. There are tons of settings you can customize, they're backed up to your Google Drive account, and they're visible not only on each page you created them on but also on a single page from the extension's settings.
• Google Docs or Word Online : These are online word processors where you can write the entire research paper, organize lists, paste URLs, store off-hand notes, and more.
• Google Keep : This note-taking app and website catalogs notes within labels that make sense for your research. Access them from the web on any computer or from your mobile device. It supports collaborations, custom colors, images, drawings, and reminders.
• Yahoo Notepad : If you use Yahoo Mail , the notes area of your account is a great place to store text-based snippets for easy recall when you need them.
• Notion : Workflows, notes, and more, in a space where you can collaborate with others.

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Papers by ReadCube 17+

Digital science & research solutions inc., designed for ipad.

• 3.8 • 519 Ratings

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Description.

Papers by ReadCube is the simplest way to read, manage and discover research literature. Papers on your iPhone and iPad are the perfect companions to the Papers desktop software, enabling you to access your papers anywhere – read on the go, organize your library, and annotate PDFs with notes and highlights. Enhanced PDF: • Tap-able inline citations, reference lists, and author names so you can quickly find cited articles and related information • Supplements are automatically attached where available • Fullscreen or double-page PDF viewing plus multi-touch zoom/navigation for an optimal reading experience • Multi-color highlighting and note taking tools Easily find new papers: • Search the Papers databases within the app • Quickly download new articles with a single tap when you’re on campus or with your institutional proxy • Import directly from Safari, email attachments, and other apps • In your preferred browser, use any search engine to find article PDFs • Use the “Open In…” option from the browser or any app to add PDFs to your Papers library • Metadata is automatically resolved - no more guessing with cryptic file names Personalized Recommendations: • Discover relevant new papers based on your library or lists – you’ll never miss another important paper again! Stay organized: • Create custom lists and sort articles into one or multiple lists • Quickly search your entire library (and all annotations) • Add any number of #tags to further customize your library organization • Sync everything – papers, notes, highlights – between the Papers desktop and web apps or your other mobile devices Simplify your research life – try Papers for free on your iPhone, iPad, and computer. We love feedback from our users - please email [email protected] with any suggestions or issues. Thanks for using Papers!

Version Version 3.50

Added AI Assistant for PDF reader. New item to list editor. Added ordering for collections download. Added selection for number of search and share items. Improved application performances. Various other small improvements and bug fixes.

Ratings and Reviews

519 Ratings

So far, so good.

I used Papers for years as an academic; I loved the ability to paste reference place holders in plain text, and use that feature collaboratively with members of my team. But over the past few years it got buggy and crash-prone. When Readcube started, the rate of improvement was slow and I stayed away. After testing the other options, I finally tried the new Papers again, and it’s much better. No crashes, search works well, and it integrates with Google Scholar on Firefox (althought NOT with Safari). I’ve finally subscribed and stopped using the old Papers. It’s not perfect; Search has some quirks that take getting used to (like diacritical marks are required) and I haven’t tried shared libraries yet. But overall, a solid program with a good UI and integration with MS Word.

Best app for mobile users

There are several good citation managers that allow importing and annotating article PDFs from a PC. My work flow is that I like to add citations wherever I learn about them, and that means entering my iPhone, while reading and making notes on my iPad. I was a happy user of Mendeley until they terminated the iOS mobile app. Papers is outstanding for this use. I can add references and PDFs instantly from a pc browser add on or directly from the app. While reading an article, it’s easy to highlight, annotate, take notes. A side bar instantly grabs any cited papers that I might want, and another tab finds related articles. It’s easy to organize my library by tags and hierarchical lists. I’m sure there are other fine features but I’ve been too busy doing great research to find about them.

Needs work, but I’m subscribing when my trial expires

As of 2.70, it’s pretty ok, with lots of room for improvement. Papers 3 was significantly better all around, but since ReadCube owns them now, I expect ReadCube Papers will be importing more and more of their features. The most important features for me are there though, and import/search especially are working well enough for now. The reader view UI needs work: The carrier, clock, and battery icons aren’t hidden but merely white in full-screen. Highlighting and annotations are flaky, and there’s no undo button (you have to delete an entire highlight/annotation at once as an object, so small mistakes mean you have to redraw entirely.) Highlighting and annotation also just sometimes just stop working, and I’ll need to exit the pdf to get it back. Export only includes highlights and annotations on the first two pages for some reason. There aren’t options for switching from horizontal paging to vertical scrolling.

App Privacy

The developer, Digital Science & Research Solutions Inc. , indicated that the app’s privacy practices may include handling of data as described below. For more information, see the developer’s privacy policy .

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Privacy practices may vary, for example, based on the features you use or your age. Learn More

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5 Best Apps for Researchers: Apps that Every Researcher Should Know About

Today, one need not physically visit a library and take down notes on sheaves of paper (which are apt to fly about or clutter one’s workspace!). Various online tools and software applications (apps) have made our lives easier, especially the many helpful apps for researchers.

The use of apps to ease workload, manage time, or spark creativity are rapidly becoming de rigueur in all areas of work. In academia too, several apps for researchers are designed to help with daily activities, such as collecting and organizing resources, managing collaborative projects, maintaining daily and longer-term schedules, searching for and reading articles, and staying updated on multidisciplinary topics related to a study domain.

Here, I describe some of the best apps for researchers that can are available for free and can simplify both day-to-day tasks and research-related activities.

• Trello: Streamline individual and collaborative projects

Researchers need to keep track of various activities to optimize their productivity. A useful app for researchers, Trello  is a user-friendly app wherein one can create work boards for different projects and populate them with tasks. The user can assign deadlines and keep updating ongoing progress. Work boards can be shared with all team members, thereby smoothening collaborative working.

Trello offers tools to coordinate tasks among members working remotely or disparately, say, team members on the field and those in the lab. This is a particularly useful app for researchers involved in large projects, working with researchers situated across the globe. With this app you can track team projects and monitor in detail the progress of tasks under way. This can be counted among the best apps for researchers as it enables the visualization of workflows, providing team members with a comprehensive overview of a project from beginning to end. Integration with other applications allows users to access features in Gmail or other apps directly from Trello.

Key features

• Easy to use app for researchers
• Flexible and versatile
• Helps manage collaborative projects
• Evernote: Organize your thoughts and ideas

Are you still relying on Post-its and notepads? Do you jot down sudden ideas on a napkin in a coffee shop or on a scrap of paper while working in the lab? Note-taking apps like  Evernote  can help you make lists and take notes and never lose them. A handy app for researchers, Evernote helps you store all your ideas and thoughts, to-do lists, notes, and research links in one place. You can keep all these bits and bobs organized by creating separate tags and folders for different purposes.

The  Evernote web clipper  is a useful feature for saving articles, web pages, or screen grabs from the internet. You can save a page or highlights to your Evernote notebook along with any notes you want to make about that page. It allows you to sync your notes to all your devices, enabling you to organize your notes across multiple platforms. Further, this is one of the best apps for researchers because its multimedia features let you annotate images, embed files and pictures in your notes, and even record audio and video notes.

• Maintains notes, articles, and other content in one place
• Facilitates content clipping from the web
• Auto-sync across devices with this app for researchers
• R Discovery: Search Less, Read More

Researchers spend a large part of their time wading through a sea of literature, sifting out the relevant from the irrelevant.  R Discovery  is a free literature discovery app and is a great platform that lets you identify the most relevant academic research papers from top journals and publishers. This reading app for research papers covers all major disciplines in the arts and sciences.

R Discovery offers customized research reading, that is, once you set up your areas of interest, the app for research papers finds the top 3 reads and presents them in the form of a daily feed for you. Powered by AI, it learns your reading interests and finds matching relevant papers. It even provides on-the-go updates on recently published articles through notifications and email alerts making it one of the best apps for researchers. R Discovery offers a weekly roundup of the 5 latest articles and summaries of research articles from trending topics. With this intuitive app for research papers, you need not worry about a crucial article slipping through the cracks when you weren’t looking!

When you feed in key terms, the app “deep-dives” into the topics and offers articles, which you can sort by recency or relevance. It even helps you look for similar papers and bookmark important research papers. Mobile and web integration lets you read your bookmarked articles on the  R Discovery  website. What’s more, to customize your feed, you can even import your reading library from Mendeley and Zotero making this a must have app for researchers.

R Discovery can be considered a literature search and reading app for researchers everywhere that steers you in the right direction during your academic voyage!

• Curates 96+ million research articles, including over 24 million open access articles
• Intuitively provides key highlights, summaries, and roundups of research relevant to one’s field
• Integration with reference managers enables the R Discovery app for researchers to make better recommendations.

• Mendeley: Handle reference lists without getting bogged down

The thought of sorting and drawing up a reference list and formatting the in-text citations and references can make the most seasoned scholars break out into a sweat. However, useful apps for researchers like  Mendeley  take the load off these painstaking tasks and offer much more. Mendeley is a free reference management app that automatically generates bibliographies as you write. You don’t need to manually type references; Mendeley imports and organizes them in a systematic manner. The app for researchers allows you to insert citations and create reference lists in different journal formats rapidly and seamlessly. These features free up lot of time, which can be used to focus on paper or thesis writing.

Mendeley is available in both mobile and desktop formats, and researchers can conveniently read content on the go and even highlight text that they might want to return to. Researchers can export papers from the R Discovery app to Mendeley and Zotero. Once exported, they can find these papers in their libraries on ref managers. They can also connect their Mendeley and Zotero accounts with R Discovery (when they are setting up preferences on R Discovery). This will allow for this smart app for researchers to suggest topics based on the Mendeley or Zotero reading list.

• Helps annotate and organize documents
• Can be used across platforms seamlessly
• Integrates with literature discovery apps for researchers like R Discovery.
• Calm: Prevent burnout and focus on self-care

Researchers work for long hours, juggling multiple research tasks, securing funding, and dealing with stressors like dealing with harsh peer reviewer comments and article rejection. These factors can add up and affect a researcher’s mental well-being and motivation. Some  indicators can point to one’s need to focus on self-care , such as altered sleep patterns. A stressed researcher will constantly feel tired and be less efficient at work.

Calm  is a popular app for researchers looking to help reduce stress and anxiety, improve sleep quality, and aid in relaxation and self-improvement. The app provides sessions for guided meditation and breathing and masterclasses for managing stress, enhancing creativity, and much more. The use of such apps can even improve concentration and mindfulness. This is a great app for researchers to use to remain calm in the face of high work pressure, roadblocks in your experiments, and creative blocks when writing papers. A few minutes a day on such an app can help you break negative patterns. After all, a happy researcher is a productive researcher!

• Tracks a user’s basic statistics, e.g., minutes of meditation
• Sends meditation reminders
• Offers masterclasses taught by experts in the field of wellness.

Don’t worry, be “appy”!

Technological innovations like AI are constantly improving apps in terms of functions and user experience. While some apps for researchers help to ease the workload or aid in multitasking, others help in self-improvement and time management to let researchers focus better on core tasks. When possible, one should use some of these best apps for researchers to become savvier and more efficient, getting the most out of their time and effort.

R Discovery is a literature search and research reading platform that accelerates your research discovery journey by keeping you updated on the latest, most relevant scholarly content. With 250M+ research articles sourced from trusted aggregators like CrossRef, Unpaywall, PubMed, PubMed Central, Open Alex and top publishing houses like Springer Nature, JAMA, IOP, Taylor & Francis, NEJM, BMJ, Karger, SAGE, Emerald Publishing and more, R Discovery puts a world of research at your fingertips.  

Try R Discovery Prime FREE for 1 week or upgrade at just US$72 a year to access premium features that let you listen to research on the go, read in your language, collaborate with peers, auto sync with reference managers, and much more. Choose a simpler, smarter way to find and read research – Download the app and start your free 7-day trial today !  

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Apps for Research & Writing: Recommended Apps

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Using This Guide

This guide will cover apps that I find useful for research, ebook reading,  and organizing references and notes.

iPhone/iPad Apps

• Evernote Create text, photo and audio notes ● Auto-synchronize your notes to your Mac, PC, and Web ● Magically makes text within snapshots searchable ● All notes include geo-location information for mapping and search
• Dropbox Dropbox is a free service that lets you bring your photos, docs, and videos anywhere and share them easily.

Android Apps

• Xodo PDF Reader & Editor Xodo is an all-in-one PDF reader and PDF editor. With Xodo, you can read, annotate, sign, and share PDFs and fill in PDF forms, open .docx/.pptx as PDFs, plus sync with Google Drive, Dropbox and OneDrive.
• Instapaper Save web pages for later offline reading, optimized for readability on your screen
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• Last Updated: Aug 28, 2024 4:21 PM
• URL: https://library.mcla.edu/apps

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Literature Review

8 Best Research Paper Organizer Tools For Easy Management

Discover the 8 best research paper organizer tools to streamline your workflow and efficiently manage your academic projects.

Aug 15, 2024

Consider you’ve gathered a ton of research on your topic of choice. You’ve collected articles, studies, books, and more. You even have a few quotes you’d like to use. But when you open your document to start writing, you realize you have no idea how to organize all this information. If you can relate to this scenario, you’re not alone. 

Many students struggle to write efficient research papers, especially after a long literature search . In this guide, we’ll explore research paper organizers and valuable tools that help students make sense of their findings to write better papers faster. Otio’s AI research and writing partner is one of the best research paper organizers. With intelligent technology, Otio helps students efficiently write better research papers by organizing their findings and generating writing templates to get them started. 

Table Of Contents

What is a research paper, how do i organize my research paper in 5 simple steps, how do you organize a research paper presentation, supercharge your researching ability with otio — try otio for free today.

A research paper is an expanded essay that presents your interpretation, evaluation, or argument about a specific topic. When writing an essay, you use everything you know and have thought about a subject. When you write a research paper, you build upon what you know about the subject and deliberately attempt to discover what experts know.

 A research paper involves surveying a field of knowledge to find the best possible information. And that survey can be orderly and focused if you know how to approach it. 

Research Paper Structure: What Are the Parts of a Research Paper?

The basic structure of a typical research paper includes Introduction, Methods, Results, and Discussion. Each section addresses a different objective. 

The problem they intend to address, in other words, the research question.in the Introduction; 

What they did to answer the question in Methodology; 

What they observed in the Results; and 

What do they think the results mean in the Discussion?

1. Establish an Effective File Management System

Start organizing your research with a file management system. Don't get too bogged down with creating an overly detailed filing structure. You can make a more refined system once you get familiar with your research. For now, sort your literature into broader areas of your field. 

Consider these methods

Don't waste your time on engaging but not useful stuff: In your research, what’s the most crucial part of a particular paper? If you find that section first, you won’t have to pay attention to other sections of that paper.

What is the argument behind your research? Make notes on that information, and then throw everything else away.

Create multiple folders. Create a file containing related topics if you’re using a computer. Bind the related articles together if you would like to print out papers. In other words, keep related things together!

Color code your research papers. To organize notes and articles, assign colors to each subtopic and use highlighters, tabs, or font colors.

Organize your literature chronologically: Even in a short time, you might have missed overarching themes or arguments if you hadn’t read them. It’s best to organize your research papers chronologically. 

If you want to do all this simultaneously, use a reference manager like Zotero or Mendeley (more on reference managers later).

2. Adopt a Consistent File Renaming Strategy

Before making notes on research papers , make sure you rename your files on your computer according to your renaming strategy. Taking this step will save you time and confusion as your research progresses. 

My usual way of naming a PDF is to use the first author’s last name, followed by the first ten letters of the title and then the year of publication. For the paper “Temperature-Dependent Infrared Refractive Index of Polymers from a Calibrated Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Measurement” by Azam et al., I renamed the file as “Azam_Temperature-Dependent_2022.pdf." 

3. Use Keywords Effectively

Keywords are the most critical part of sorting. It’s easy to forget to move a paper to a specific file sometimes because you’re overwhelmed. But you can tag a paper in seconds. Don’t forget to develop a better keyword system when organizing research papers, especially if you use a reference manager. My reference manager, for instance, allows me to view all the keywords I have assigned in the main window, making life much easier. 

4. Create Annotations 

When reading literature, it is very important to create your annotations. The best thing to do is to summarize each section of the article/book I am reading that interests me. Don’t forget to include the essential parts/arguments/quotes I liked. 

5. Write Your Own Notes

If I read the whole paper, I will write my summary. The reason is that 95% of your reading will be forgotten after a certain period. When that happens, you may have to reread the paper if you do not take notes and write my summary. By writing my summary, I will likely memorize the basic idea of the research paper. 

Additionally, I can link to other similar papers. In this way, I can benefit from the knowledge I gain from reading research papers. After reading a paper, I ask these questions: Why is this source helpful for your essay? How does it support your thesis? I keep all the relevant information in one place to refer to when writing my dissertation. 

Let Otio be your AI research and writing partner — try Otio for free today !

Related Reading

• Systematic Review Vs Meta Analysis • Impact Evaluation • How To Critique A Research Article • How To Synthesize Sources • Annotation Techniques • Skimming And Scanning • Types Of Literature Reviews • Literature Review Table • Literature Review Matrix • How To Increase Reading Speed And Comprehension • How To Read Research Papers • How To Summarize A Research Paper • Literature Gap

1. Otio: The AI Software for Research Paper Organization

Otio is a research paper organization tool that helps you tackle research-related material overload. This software is handy for academic knowledge workers, students, and researchers. Otio improves research workflows by enabling users to collect and organize information from various sources, extract vital information, and create drafts or papers based on research collected. 

2. Pocket: The Perfect Bookmark Replacement 

Pocket allows users to save online articles to an account that can be accessed anytime, anywhere. This tool is a better alternative to traditional bookmarking because it neatly organizes files and removes clutter. Access your saved files from the web or the Pocket mobile app. 

3. Connected Papers: A Visual Tool to Help You Understand Research 

Connected Papers creates visual graphs of academic papers so you can see the relationships between them. This tool focuses on helping researchers locate and understand related papers to improve their research. 

4. Research Rabbit: A Tool that Helps You Go Down the Rabbit Hole 

Research Rabbit is another visual tool for research organizations . Like Connected Papers, you

can visualize networks of papers and co-authorships. Enter a paper of choice and get all its relevant papers. Click on this newly generated list of associated papers to see another list of relevant papers. Then, continue the process forever. 

5. Mendeley: A Free Reference Management Tool 

Mendeley is a freely available reference management tool to streamline your referral management workflow. It allows you to store, organize, and search all your references in just one library and generate citations. It includes citation options using various writing style guides for your target journal. 

The program is compatible with Word (including Mac), LibreOffice, and OpenOffice. It can also be used with LaTex exporting BibTex. Furthermore, its version is also available for Android. Its feature of highlighting and annotating PDFs helps better organize multiple documents in one place. 

6. EndNote: A Paid Tool with a Variety of Features 

EndNote is a paid reference management application that allows researchers to insert citations into the text while simultaneously creating a bibliography with the “Cite While You Write” feature in MS Word. Additionally, it aligns and formats the article according to the requirements of the journal of interest using “Manuscript Matcher.” Furthermore, it organizes references automatically and enables work-sharing amongst remote computers. 

7. Zotero: A Free, Open-Source Reference Management Tool 

Another option, popular among academics, is Zotero. It’s a free, open-source reference management tool to store and organize your research material, including PDF files. You can use Zotero in a browser, but for a more robust experience, download it and install the Zotero plugin for your browser. 

When you encounter a study or article you want to save, click the plugin. It will save the item to your desired Zotero folder. You can create many folders and subfolders and also share folders. You can also highlight and annotate PDFs. 

8. M-Files: A Document Management Tool for Research 

Regarding document management, M-Files aims to improve internal workflows and ensure essential information is always kept secure. Its customers include many large corporations such as Comcast and Yokohama. There’s a single vault for many files; you can easily find them by client, project, date, status, or other criteria. 

The software aims to avoid duplication – it’s pretty standard to end up with two copies of the same report or possibly more. M-Files will alert you if a document has been saved twice by analyzing names and project data. You get some great integrations, too, including Microsoft Office and Salesforce CRM. A free trial is available, but pricing isn’t stipulated on the site, so you must get in touch for a quote. 

Benefits of Using A Research Paper Organizer

1. Get Organized to Tame the Research Beast  

Research paper organizers help you wrangle and structure your research materials – notes, references, drafts, and more – to stay calm, cool, and collected while writing your paper. With a research paper organizer, you can reduce the chances of losing important information and keep everything easily accessible.  

2. Save Time to Focus on What Matters  

When you use a research paper organizer, all your resources are in one place. This means you can quickly locate information, making the research process more efficient. You won’t waste precious time searching through disorganized notes or files.  

3. Gain Better Focus on Your Writing  

Organizing your research materials helps you identify gaps in your research. With this knowledge, you can focus on areas that need further exploration. The result? A more coherent and comprehensive paper.  

4. Get Citation Help  

Research paper organizers often include tools for managing citations and references . This makes it easier to track sources and ensures that your citations are accurate and properly formatted.  

5. Make Writing a Breeze  

With an organized structure, you can outline your paper more effectively. This smoother the writing process, as you can follow a clear roadmap from the introduction to the conclusion.  

6. Enhance Group Collaboration  

If you're working on a group project, a research paper organizer can facilitate collaboration by allowing all team members to access and contribute to the same pool of research materials.  

7. Reduce Stress During the Research Process  

Knowing that your research is well-organized can reduce stress and anxiety, making the process more enjoyable and manageable.  

8. Track Your Progress  

Many organizers allow you to set milestones and track your progress. This keeps you motivated and helps ensure that you meet deadlines.  

9. Customize Your Research Organizer  

Research paper organizers often offer customizable features, allowing you to tailor the tool to your specific needs, whether for different subjects, formats, or stages of the research process.  

10. Learn More as You Organize  

By organizing and reviewing your research systematically, you can gain deeper insights into your topic, leading to a better understanding and a more vital final paper. 

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The First Impression: Your Research Paper’s Title Slide

Your presentation will open with the title slide, containing key details about your research paper. Typically, this includes the title of the research paper, your name, your affiliation or institution, and the presentation date. 

Setting the Stage: The Introduction Slides

Your audience will expect to see introductory slides after the title slide. These slides briefly introduce the research topic, explain its significance, and state the research question or objective. 

Research Questions: What Are You Trying to Prove?

Before diving into your research's methodology and data collection , present the research questions or hypothesis. This slide should emphasize the objectives of your research or present the hypothesis. 

Literature Review: Context for Your Research

Your literature review has to provide context for your research by summarizing relevant literature. Additionally, it should highlight gaps or areas where your research contributes. Usually, this section can be covered in one slide. 

Methodology and Data Collection: How You Conducted Your Research

This section of your research paper PowerPoint has to explain the research design, methods, and procedures. It must also include details about participants, materials, and data collection and emphasize special equipment you have used in your work. You can cover this section in one or two slides. 

Results: Presenting the Findings of Your Research 

On this slide, you must present the results of your data analysis and discuss any trends, patterns, or significant findings. Moreover, you should use charts, graphs, and tables to illustrate data and highlight something novel in your results (if applicable). This section will likely take up most slides in your presentation—three to five. 

Conclusion: What Did You Learn? 

Your conclusion slide must summarize the main findings and their implications and discuss the broader impact of your research. Usually, a single statement is enough. 

Recommendations: The Next Steps for Research 

If applicable, provide recommendations for future research or actions on this slide. 

References: Cite Your Sources 

The references slide is where you list all the sources cited in your research paper. 

Acknowledgments: Who Helped You? 

Acknowledge any individuals, organizations, or funding sources contributing to your research on this presentation slide. 

Appendix: Extra Information 

Include any supplementary materials, such as additional data or detailed charts, in your appendix slide if applicable.

Research papers can be daunting assignments for students. The sheer length of research papers can intimidate students before they begin the assignment. The average research paper can take several weeks to complete and is often at least 10 pages long, not including the bibliography or works cited pages. Students can get easily overwhelmed by the number of resources they are expected to find and read to complete a research paper. 

Writing a research paper can feel like an insurmountable task. Students often don’t know how to begin, which causes them stress. Even those who manage to get organized and start their research can find themselves lost in a sea of information, struggling to focus.

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12 Best Software for Organizing Research (2024)

Discover our guide with the best software for organizing research; get on top of your academic papers, writing projects, and more with these top research organization assistants.

Whether researching for an academic paper, independent study or writing project, having an organization system is essential for managing your data. The right software can help to save time, promote teamwork and increase productivity, no matter the type of project.

Often, when starting a new writing project, like writing a historical fiction piece, I’ll use writing software to collate all of my data. Organizing my research on a digital platform lets me visualize all the information and quickly find facts and figures. Check out our writing tips for your next project.

Research organization tools are excellent for academic writing and helpful for students getting their heads around how to structure data correctly. Let’s check out why you should organize your research and the best software to do it with.

Why Organize Research Data?

Key features of research software, 2. mendeley, 3. evernote, academic writing and editing solutions, 4. grammarly, 5. hemingway editor, 6. prowritingaid, collaborative research platforms, 7. google docs, 8. authorea, 9. microsoft teams, data extraction and analysis tools, 10. octoparse, 11. contentmine, 12. tableau, what is an excellent way to organize research information, how does research organization software improve the quality of academic work.

• It saves time. Instead of searching for information, you can focus on analyzing it.
• Better collaboration. With software, teamwork becomes more straightforward, no matter where your team members are.
• Improved work quality. Software ensures your data is well-organized and easy to access, enhancing the accuracy of your results.
• Time Management: Software can automate repetitive tasks, helping researchers be more efficient.
• Collaboration: Working together is essential in research. Software tools make it easy to communicate and ensure everyone is on the same page.
• Quality: Software helps maintain high-quality work by organizing data and providing easy access.

Zotero is a personal research assistant who collects and organizes your research data on one platform. Not only does Zotero sort and organize your data, but it also assists with citations, which can be one of the research’s trickiest parts.

Zotero is ideal for academic writing, where you will need to create a bibliography. With an intuitive interface and helpful tools, Zotero can help you create seamless academic documents without having to tidy up your research sections.

Imagine having a virtual library at your fingertips, with all your research sources meticulously organized, including your pdf files and web pages – that’s the power of Mendeley ! Mendeley is a reference manager suited well to academic writing.

Mendeley makes writing papers less daunting, from facilitating collaboration to offering annotation and data extraction features. Despite some limitations, such as limited customization options, Mendeley shines as a tool that simplifies library management for researchers.

Evernote is a go-to note-taking software and an excellent research organization assistant. Evernote has a user-friendly interface that’s easy to navigate. With synchronization capabilities and intuitive tools, you can quickly jot down ideas and organize your research notes. A free version of the software is available; although it’s limited, it’s an excellent solution for students on a budget.

Academic writing is an art. It demands precision, clarity, and comprehensive knowledge of the subject matter. But even the most experienced writers need help to ensure their work is up to par.

Grammarly is like a personal English tutor, constantly guiding your writing towards precision and clarity. Grammarly is ideal for organizing your research because it can help create concise notes and format citations, and its new AI, GrammarlyGO, can even help generate text. 

Although it’s not the best for presenting your research data, it’s a secure online platform where you can save your research and citations for easy access from anywhere. Check out our guide on how to organize in-text citations .

Writing is about communicating ideas clearly and simply. Hemingway Editor is designed to help you create clear and concise research notes. This tool is helpful for academic students looking to condense and clarify their research notes, particularly after conducting qualitative research like interviews.

The Hemingway Editor acts as a writing coach, pointing out long-winded sentences, unnecessary words, and complex phrases. It helps you simplify your writing, ensuring your ideas are communicated effectively. 

ProWritingAid is an all-in-one writing assistant that offers comprehensive writing assistance. It can analyze text for clarity, grammar, style and structure, ensuring that the information derived from your research is clear.

Effectively communicating your research findings is essential for academic success. To create a valuable research document, refine your research and organize it within ProWritingAid. Although this software doesn’t directly organize research, it’s a great way to enhance the quality of your content.

Research is often a team effort. And in today’s digital age, collaboration isn’t bound by geographical boundaries. Collaborative research platforms bridge the gap, providing a virtual space for researchers to work together. What is academic writing? Check out our guide to find out.

GoogleDocs is ideal for collaborative research organizations. Teams can collaborate on one document that updates in real time, providing a secure and functional space for collaboration. Using GoogleDocs, team members can add research data, tables, charts or statistical data, which the team can then work on.

As well as the functionality of the data presenting tools, GoogleDocs lets users view previous versions of the document. This essential feature ensures that no data is lost permanently and can be retrieved in the case of an accident.

Authorea is specifically designed for researchers. This software is a collaborative writing tool that allows authors to make real-time changes. Authorea stands out as a research organization tool because it has features like creating scientific notations, figures and data visualizations. As well as this, Authorea integrates with bibliographic tools, allowing users to create reference pages and bibliographies easily. This tool is most suited to students and academics.

Communication is key in Research. From discussing ideas to sharing findings, efficient communication ensures everyone is on the same page. Microsoft Teams provides a centralized platform for research communication, bridging the gap between team members.

Microsoft Teams is like a virtual office, providing a space for discussions, meetings, and information sharing. Features like document collaboration, video conferencing, and team chats ensure seamless and efficient communication. While it may initially seem overwhelming, Microsoft Teams is a robust platform that can significantly enhance research communication.

Data is the lifeblood of Research. But collecting and analyzing all the data can be a daunting task. Thankfully, there are tools to make this process easier. Data extraction and analysis tools simplify the process, allowing researchers to focus on what matters – the Research.

Octoparse simplifies this process of extracting data from websites. It’s like having a personal data miner digging through the vast internet landscape to find the necessary data.

With Octoparse, you can automate the web scraping process, saving time and effort. It’s like using a metal detector to find that elusive needle in the haystack. While web scraping may seem complex, Octoparse makes it accessible to everyone, regardless of their technical skills.

Academic papers, including research and scientific papers, are a goldmine of information. However, extracting this information can take time and effort. ContentMine is like a virtual miner, digging through academic papers to extract valuable information.

With ContentMine, you can automate extracting data from academic papers. It’s like having a speed reader who can quickly scan through documents and extract the information you need. While text mining may seem daunting, ContentMine makes it accessible and efficient.

Tableau is a powerful tool for data visualization that can help bring your research data to life! Using Tableau, you can make your data easy to understand for all audiences. It’s like having a personal graphics designer who can transform raw data into a visually pleasing infographic. While data visualization may seem complex, Tableau makes it easy and accessible to everyone.

FAQs About Best Software for Organizing Research

Organize research information by tracking search processes using a research log or spreadsheet and use citation managers to create bibliographies. Additionally, it utilizes coloring and tagging techniques to assign meaning to data during the synthesis process.

Research organization software helps maintain the integrity and quality of academic work by providing a structured approach to data storage and accessibility. This ensures that information is readily available, reducing errors that arise from misplaced or misinterpreted data. 

Looking for more? Check out our round-up of the best essay writing apps !

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Top 11 Apps for Researchers in 2024

Published on 01 May 2022

The evolution of new technologies has caused a digital transformation in almost every industry and field of interest, including academia. Technology has changed the way that academics conduct research, document findings, and collaborate with peers. 

Academics can now rely on new avenues of collaboration that didn’t even exist when they launched their careers. Networks like SSRN and Mendeley provide opportunities for researchers to share their work for increased collaboration, and abstract management tools streamline the peer review process required by legitimate academic conferences and journals. 

As this digital transformation accelerates, researchers can now access a vast array of apps aimed at simplifying their workflows and facilitating information sharing. While these apps have the potential to improve the way scientists conduct and share their research, the selection can be overwhelming. 

Based on our experience and extensive research, here are the 11 best apps available for researchers in 2024.

1. Fourwaves 

Fourwaves is a conference management software for researchers. Their free web application allows you to create a complete event website, manage abstract submissions, peer reviews, host virtual poster sessions , manage registrations and more. 

It’s the easiest way to organize scientific events as the tool was crafted with researchers in mind every step of the way. 

Fourwaves can be used not only for in-person events but also for hybrid and virtual conferences . They offer a complete virtual venue to access live streams, chat or call other participants and attend virtual poster sessions.

You can go as far as mass email your attendees, automatically generate your event schedule or even print out your name tags; everything you need for your event is in one place.

Most interesting features:

• Ready-to-go event website ; all you have to do is enter your event’s content and you’re ready to publish. 
• Abstract management & Peer review tool ; you can easily collect submissions, review them according to your criterias, email authors and publish your material and the full conference schedule online.
• Registration and payment management ; attendees can easily register to your event and pay online on your Fourwaves event website. 

2. R Discovery: Academic Research

R Discovery is a free app that empowers researchers to save time wading through a sea of academic research papers by finding the articles that are most relevant to your work and delivering them to you each day. It curates over 96 million research articles which includes over 24 million open access articles. 

The app is mobile-only, available for download on the Google Play App Store and the Apple App store for mobile use on your Android device, iPhone or iPad. The app scans papers from all major disciplines in the arts and sciences. 

• As soon as you sign up and submit your areas of interest, R Discovery will serve you the top three related articles in a news feed each day.
• R Discovery uses AI to learn your reading interests over time and populate your news feed with content increasingly tailored to your specific interests.
• The app provides export functions for easy integration with reference managers to organize your citations.

3. LabArchives  

LabArchives is a web-based application that acts as a digital lab notebook, helping researchers keep their work and notes organized to improve productivity in their labs. Users can access LabArchives to make notes, store images and data, and use the search feature for simple access to all of their material. 

There are also Android and iOS versions of this app available in the Apple App Store and Google Play App Store that allow users to access their digital notebooks from their Android devices, iPhones and iPads and have instant access to all of their data, from anywhere. While there are Premium and Enterprise versions of the platform for more advanced use and collaboration, individuals and small teams can access a free version that still includes unlimited notebooks and 1GB of storage. 

Most interesting features: 

• Makes it easy to store and share data between your team members, with user-friendly search functions. You can even share DNA sequence files in over 30 formats! 
• Access information from your desktop or your phone, thanks to the free iOS app for your iPhone or iPad. There is also an Android app available in the Google Play store, but based on reviews it appears that functionality is limited. 
• Data security that lets you determine file access and sharing limitations, so you know exactly who is viewing your files and when.

Typeset is a web-based application that was created to help researchers write, collaborate, format and submit research papers for publication. Typeset allows you to upload your work to their platform, and use their AI to reformat your research and submissions to meet the publication requirements of various journal and conference organizers. 

Typeset works seamlessly with reference management software like Mendeley, Zotero, Paperpile and more. It allows users to choose from over 45,000 verified journal formats and export your work to Word, LaTex and PDF formats. 

Typeset does not offer mobile apps for Apple or Android devices. There are a variety of subscription levels available with pricing ranging from free to $20 per month. 

• Editing features that increase the chances of being published.
• Integrations that enable you to submit research for publication directly from the app.
• Plagiarism and grammar checker for increased quality and peace of mind.

5. BenchSci

The BenchSci platform was built to use advanced biomedical AI to help source the materials that scientific researchers need to move forward with their work. 

Once the app user enters their protein target into the BenchSci platform, the app will sift through thousands of reliable information sources like websites and scientific publications, delivering options that will help determine the antibody or reagent needed. BenchSci is a web-based application that is not available for Android or iOS. It is used by more than 48,000 individual scientists and over 4,000 institutions. BenchSci boasts that their tools can accelerate projects through their AI-powered reagent and antibody selection process, cutting the selection time from 12 weeks to 30 seconds. By empowering researchers to find the antibodies and reagents they need easier and faster, BenchSci reduces the number of materials they need to purchase and experiment with, therefore reducing costs. 

• AI-Assisted Reagent Selection, which uses AI and automation to reduce the errors and inefficiencies in the reagent and model system selection for scientists. 
• AI-Assisted Antibody Selection, which follows the same principle as the reagent selection but focuses on antibodies. This feature is free for you to use if you are a student or researcher at an academic, government, or nonprofit institution. 
• Things change quickly, so the platform is constantly updated to add new antibody and reagent products to ensure that users can access everything available.

6. eLabJournal

There are many Electronic Lab Notebooks (ELNs) available on the market, but the eLabJournal takes the concept of ELNs to the next step. eLabJournal was designed to increase productivity and efficiency in your research lab and simplify the process of organizing and locating data, collaborating with peers, and exporting files into a variety of formats. 

This is a web-based application with mobile versions available on the Google Play and Apple App Stores. Academics can purchase a subscription to the eLabJournal for $15.55 per month, while Industry users are charged $41.95 per month. 

• This ELN uses a simple, intuitive interface that was specifically designed to meet the needs of those in the life science research and development field. 
• Facilitates the ability to link data with functionality to upload images (via the Android and iPhone apps) and a wide range of file types. 
• Seamlessly integrates with eLab’s other products through their SDK and APIs, providing extensive customization opportunities to meet the specific needs of your lab.

7. Connected Papers

Connected Papers is a web-based application that provides a uniquely visual representation of the published research available in a certain field. This helps researchers and scientists browse the information available related to their field of study and ensure that nothing is being missed as they prepare their work for submission. 

The app works when a scientist enters their research topic into the search bar. Within seconds, Connected Papers reviews tens of thousands of papers related to that topic, and creates a visual map showcasing all of the work available for the scientist to review and consider in their research. Connected Papers is currently not available on the Apple App Store or Google Play App Store. It is completely free to use. 

• The visual maps create an easy-to-follow pathway that showcases how closely related particular sources are to the work you’re conducting.
• The app creates clusters that groups papers based on their level of similarities, and pushes less relevant papers away.
• Connected works scans the citations used by various sources and classified papers to be closely related based on how many citations overlap. 

8. Papership

The Papership app allows you to store, annotate, manage and share research papers from anywhere. Available on your Mac, iPhone, and iPad, Papership syncs with popular web-based platforms Zotero and Mendeley to allow app users to access their curated research libraries stored in their Zotero and Mendeley accounts conveniently and remotely. 

• You can choose a free version of the app which can integrate with annotation apps like Evernote, or purchase the annotation function of Papership for $9.99 per month.
• Documents annotated through Papership can be shared via email, SMS, iMessage, Facebook and Twitter. 
• Papership provides quantitative measurements of the significance of a publication to alert the reader as to the legitimacy of the research. It measures both peer-reviewed and non-peer reviewed sources. 

9. GanttPRO

Ganttpro is a web-based project management application that helps research teams plan and organize projects through the use of collaborative Gantt charts. By providing the ability to create interactive Gantt charts online, GanttPRO makes it possible to plan and control many projects at the same time. It empowers researchers to organize and schedule tasks, set deadlines, identify dependencies and manage resources, all while making this information readily available to all collaborators. GanttPRO is available in a mobile version that can be downloaded for your Android and Apple mobile devices. The company offers a free trial and once that is complete different app packages are available that range from $7.99 to $19.99 per month. 

• Drag and drop capabilities to make it simple to organize and reorganize as inputs, outputs and priorities change
• Allows for the creation of multiple workspaces to separate personal tasks from overall team projects
• Collaborative functions make it easy to track the progress of each team member and step in to help whenever needed. 

Trello is an app that can be used by academics, researchers, marketers, computer scientists and basically any other student, professor or business person interested in seamlessly collaborating and managing projects on-the-go. Trello is organized in boards, lists and cards that are customizable and expandable as the project and team grows. Trello easily integrates with other popular apps like Dropbox, Slack, Chrome, Teams and more. It is available for Android and Apple mobile devices on the App Store and Google Play App Store. 

• Timelines that allow all team members to stay on track and be held accountable to deadlines
• Table views that connect work across a variety of related Trello boards
• A handy Dashboard that highlights usage and engagement stats for all of your boards.

11. Researcher

The Researcher app was built to make it easier for researchers to find academic articles relevant to their work. By aggregating over 19,000 sources that include peer-reviewed academic journals, blogs, podcasts and recordings from live events, Researcher helps scientists stay up-to-date on emerging trends and information related to any given field of study or interest. The creators of Researcher claim that their app is “like social media, but better.” The Researcher app is free to use and is available for download on the Apple App Store, the Google Play App Store and the AppInChina App Store. 

• Filter options that allow you to sift through tens of thousands of sources in seconds
• Notification options to ensure that any time a new source is published that relates to your stated interests, you’ll find out about it right away.
• Bookmarks that make it easy for you to come back to an interesting piece when the time is right, without having to search.

Conclusion 

The apps listed above can help you be more efficient, collaborate better with your colleagues, and get more organized. We hope one or more of them considerably help you with your research. Let us know if we missed any! 

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Best Note-Taking App In 2023 For Researchers: Academic & Industry

In the fast-paced world of 2023, where information is king, finding the best note-taking app has become a crucial quest for researchers and professionals alike. Whether you need to streamline your research papers, collaborate with others, or manage projects with precision, the right note-taking tool can make all the difference.

From the cross-platform capabilities of Evernote to the streamlined simplicity of Bear, this comprehensive guide explores the top note-taking apps, their strengths, and even their quirks. What are the best note-taking apps in 2023?

Some of the best note-taking apps for researchers in 2023 include:

• Apple Notes

Microsoft OneNote

Google keep.

Join us as we delve into the world of digital notebooks, markdown formats, PDF exports, and more, in our quest to uncover the best note-taking app for your needs.

Slite – Perfect For Project Management

Slite is a note-taking app designed for team collaboration, Slite is primarily pitched as a knowledge base platform, aiming to centralize a team’s collective knowledge. In the context of research, this application could be invaluable.

Researchers often collaborate with others, sharing insights, annotations, and edits on research papers. Slite, being a digital notebook, caters to this collaborative environment. It allows researchers to organize their research, create notes, and collaborate on notes in real-time.

This note-taking software is especially efficient for onboarding processes, streamlining how new team members integrate into ongoing projects.

One of Slite’s strength is its AI assistant, a unique feature potentially integrated with Open AI.

It enables users to utilize a command bar to swiftly search across their team’s knowledge base.

For example, when a researcher queries, “Where is our analysis on XYZ?”, the AI can quickly pinpoint the relevant document, streamlining the note-taking experience.

Slite also has a great feature, called ‘Projects’. Here, researchers can organize their notes, refining specific processes integral to their research routine.

For instance, if a research project involves a sequential method, each step can be outlined and assigned, making the research process more transparent for all involved.

However, every app has its limitations. Slite’s free version caps users at 50 documents and discussions, which may be restrictive for expansive research projects. 

Apple Notes – Best Note-Taking App For Apple Users

In 2023, with a plethora of note-taking apps available, Apple Notes continues to make a mark as an inherent tool on Apple devices.

Originally launched with iOS 1.0, this note-taking application has matured over the years, introducing features that make it a potent contender among best note-taking apps.

Apple Notes employs a folder system, distinguishing between regular folders and smart folders – a nifty addition that auto-sorts notes based on tags.

Researchers, who often deal with a wealth of information, will appreciate its advanced search capabilities. 

The optical character recognition feature allows them to search terms within handwritten notes or scanned documents , ensuring no vital research notes go unnoticed. The app’s organization extends to sorting notes by edit date, a boon for researchers to keep track of latest edits.

Researchers can easily collaborate on notes, adjusting permissions to either view or edit. With the unique feature of Quick Notes, jotting down spontaneous ideas or research papers’ insights becomes instantaneous.

Apple Notes is not perfect however. Importing content, especially from non-Apple devices, feels cumbersome. Also, the app’s export function is limited; converting notes to PDFs sometimes results in a blurred output due to raster ink usage.

In the ecosystem of apps in 2023, Apple Notes, especially for users engrossed in the Apple world, remains a top-tier note-taking app. 

Evernote – Best Note-Taking App For Power Users

Evernote is a popular digital notebook that allows users to seamlessly take notes and sync them across devices.

For the modern researcher, the app’s cross-platform note-taking capability ensures that capturing sudden bursts of inspiration is never a miss, whether you’re on a mobile app, web app, or desktop.

A significant strength of Evernote lies in its versatility. It’s not just about text; users can capture a myriad of note formats, from:

• Attachments
• Audio notes.

The optical character recognition feature deserves a special mention, enabling the app to identify words even in handwritten notes. 

Evernote’s task system acts as both a note-taking tool and project management software, helping users track their daily objectives. One user, who relies on Evernote to manage ADHD, lauds its easy task system which syncs in real-time across devices.

Evernote’s organizational prowess is very notable, offering notebooks and a search feature that can even pull words from uploaded documents.

One issue with Evernote is that it can be too powerful, and be overwhelming for some. While the app offers various functionalities, some users might wish for a more flexible note-taking format with a more intuitive interface.

In the rapidly evolving world of digital tools, Microsoft’s OneNote emerges as a powerful note-taking app. Touted by many as the best note-taking app for multi-platform users, OneNote is a digital notebook that offers seamless sync capabilities across iOS, Windows or Android devices.

OneNote’s strength lies in its adaptability. For researchers, OneNote is not just a digital notebook but a comprehensive note-taking tool.

The app offers functionalities like the ‘Researcher’, which is invaluable for those writing research papers. It allows users to pull information from credible sources and even automatically formats citations—a feature that streamlines the academic writing process. 

The cross-platform nature of the app is showcased by its sync with other devices, whether it’s an iPhone, iPad, or a two-in-one PC. One can take notes on one device and seamlessly access them on another, a capability that even rivals like Apple Notes and Google Keep are striving for.

One major issue with OneNote is its format sometimes exhibits unpredictability, with text boxes appearing haphazardly, which can be confusing.

While the app offers extensive features, some, like the math helper, are tucked behind a subscription fee, unlike the free plan in Evernote or Google Docs.

Additionally, while it’s a robust note-taking app, OneNote might not replace project management tools or the collaborative capabilities of Google Drive entirely.

In comparison to 2023’s other note-taking tools, OneNote’s capacity to import PDFs, export notes, and collaborate with others is commendable. Its ability to rival standalone apps like Evernote and Apple Notes demonstrates Microsoft’s commitment to refining this digital notebook. 

Bear – Simple Digital Notebook

The Bear app stands out for its simplicity and aesthetic appeal. Unlike other best note-taking apps like Evernote or OneNote, Bear offers a streamlined experience, resonating with researchers who prioritize minimalistic interfaces.

Bear was developed by a team from Parma, Italy, in 2016, and has since become a beloved note-taking tool among Apple users.

For a researcher, taking notes without distractions is essential, and Bear’s markdown format hits the mark, with the added perk of advanced markup options, such as inline code blocks.

This digital notebook doesn’t overcomplicate the process but ensures the user has all they need for effective research.

One of Bear’s prominent strengths is its dedication to user data privacy. Unlike some note-taking apps, Bear’s default setting stores notes locally on devices, thus minimizing data leakage risks.

Plus, for those wary of the dreaded app lock-in, Bear supports the export of notes to numerous file formats, ensuring that switching to a different note-taking app or platform is hassle-free.

One criticism about Bear is it’s use of hashtags instead of folders, which some users find less intuitive.

Moreover, its exclusive availability on Apple devices limits its reach, although a web app version is reportedly in the works.

Bear’s free version is notably generous, offering all features with the exception of cross-device sync, which is reserved for the Pro plan. It’s a competitively priced app that offers quality service, making it a contender in the list of best note-taking apps for 2023. 

In the landscape of note-taking apps in 2023, Google Keep emerges as a significant contender. As a note-taking app, it’s designed for swift capture of ideas, essential for researchers who often need to jot down sudden insights.

One of its primary strengths is its simplicity, focusing on quickly capturing notes and making them accessible across devices. It integrates seamlessly with the broader Google ecosystem, which means if you’re working within Gmail or Google Docs, your notes are just a sidebar away.

For the uninitiated, Google Keep is more than just a digital notebook. For researchers, the voice memo feature stands out, converting voice recordings directly into text, thus making it a valuable tool when conducting interviews or vocalizing thoughts.

Google Keep also offers collaboration features, allowing users to share and collaborate on notes with others in real-time. This is handy when working on joint research papers or group projects.

Unlike Evernote, a popular note-taking app, Google Keep doesn’t excel at archiving vast volumes of notes or organizing them into intricate notebook structures. Instead, it relies on labels for categorization, which might not suffice for detailed research notes organization.

While Google Keep’s camera feature aids in capturing images, it lags behind when compared to Evernote’s sophisticated document capture capabilities.

Researchers should also be aware of the location-based reminders, a feature unique to Google Keep.

Imagine setting a reminder to review certain research notes when you arrive at your university or research facility. This sort of integration between physical location and digital reminders can be invaluable.

Google Keep does offer a robust suite of features for the researcher seeking a free, integrated, and straightforward note-taking tool. Its mobile app ensures that you can take notes on the go, and its collaborate with others feature makes teamwork smoother. 

In the ever-evolving realm of note-taking apps, Notion stands out in 2023 as a comprehensive tool that promises more than mere note-keeping. Notion surpasses the functionalities of its competitors such as Evernote, Google Keep, and even Microsoft’s OneNote.

The platform has been recognized as the best note-taking app that goes beyond digital notebook functionality to a broader project management space.

For researchers, Notion acts as a digital playground. Unlike traditional note-taking apps, Notion offers the capability to create dashboards customized to individual workflow preferences. It’s not just about taking notes; users can also:

• Embed Loom videos
• Integrate calendars
• Generate templates for repetitive tasks
• and many more.

Researchers can efficiently organize their research notes, develop content calendars for publishing, and even design databases. The cross-platform note-taking experience ensures consistency, whether accessed via web app or mobile app.

Notion’s ability to collaborate on notes is unmatched. Sharing specific pages, embedding various content formats, and the ease to sync your notes across devices make the process seamless.

For instance, databases can be shared, filtered, and viewed in different formats, like a Trello-style board or a conventional calendar.

Notion’s flexibility, its biggest strength, can also be its most significant weakness. The sheer range of possibilities can overwhelm new users, and without a streamlined approach, one can end up complicating tasks.

Its expansive nature requires time to master, with a potential risk of becoming a productivity drain instead of a booster.

Obsidian has risen as a formidable contender for the best note-taking app title. Operating as a digital notebook, Obsidian stands out from the multitude, including popular names such as Evernote, OneNote, Google Keep, and Apple Notes.

So, what makes Obsidian unique? Unlike many note-taking apps that store notes in the cloud, Obsidian keeps your notes in a local folder, providing users control over their data.

This note-taking app also adopts a markdown format, which is not just for those familiar with coding but is a user-friendly way to take notes.

With a cross-platform note-taking feature, Obsidian allows users to access your notes across various devices seamlessly.

A distinguishing feature is its ability to create and visualize links between notes, enhancing the note-taking experience and making it easier to organize your research.

This interconnected web can be an invaluable asset, especially for researchers who wish to see connections between different research notes or topics.

While Obsidian thrives in note linkage and local storage, it might present a steeper learning curve for those accustomed to more straightforward apps like Google Docs or Apple Notes.

Another issue is the absence of a free version. This may deter some, but Obsidian’s robust features could justify its price tag for dedicated users.

In comparison to apps like Roam Research, which also emphasizes interconnected note-taking, Obsidian’s strength lies in its local-first approach.

Still, if collaboration is a key aspect of your research process, you might find apps that prioritize real-time collaboration, such as Microsoft’s OneNote, more suitable.

Glasp – Take Notes Differently

In the expansive realm of note-taking apps in 2023, Glasp emerges as a unique web app designed specifically for researchers and avid online readers. With the app’s Chrome extension, users can effortlessly highlight and capture text from web sources.

Here are some features of Glasp:

• Social Web Highlighter : Glasp’s focus on highlighting and sharing web content makes it stand out. Users can create profiles based on the web content they clip, similar to how social media platforms like Facebook work. This adds a social element to the note-taking process, enabling collaboration and sharing of insights.
• Integration with Other Note Apps : Glasp’s compatibility with other popular note-taking apps is a significant advantage. This allows users to export their clippings or highlights to various note-taking platforms, ensuring flexibility and the ability to organize their research across multiple apps seamlessly.
• Cross-Platform Note-Taking : The cross-platform note-taking feature is essential for users who use different devices or platforms for their work. It ensures that notes and clippings can be synchronized and accessed from anywhere, enhancing productivity and convenience.
• Heatmap Feature : The heatmap feature is an interesting addition, as it helps users visualize their note-taking habits over time. This can be valuable for improving the research process, identifying areas of interest, and staying organized.

Glasp is however, in beta, which can be a reason for caution for some. Researchers accustomed to using more established platforms like OneNote or Roam Research may find the transition challenging. Additionally, while the app offers various note-taking tools, Glasp’s main strength lies in its unique blend of note-taking and social sharing.

Wrapping Up – Best Note Taking Apps In 2023

As the note-taking app landscape continues to evolve, each app offers its own strengths and weaknesses. Choosing the right note-taking app for yourself ultimately depends on your specific needs, preferences, and workflows. 

So, whether you’re looking to streamline your research papers, collaborate with others, or manage projects, there’s a note-taking app out there in 2023 to cater to your requirements. Choose wisely, and may your note-taking journey be both efficient and productive.

Dr Andrew Stapleton has a Masters and PhD in Chemistry from the UK and Australia. He has many years of research experience and has worked as a Postdoctoral Fellow and Associate at a number of Universities. Although having secured funding for his own research, he left academia to help others with his YouTube channel all about the inner workings of academia and how to make it work for you.

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6 Of The Best Research Apps For iOS & Android

Discover the top research apps for iPad and Android devices, from PDF annotation with iAnnotate to seamless note-taking with Notability.

6 Of The Best Research Apps For iPad & Android

by TeachThought Staff

For educators, research is a powerful tool for refining teaching methods, adapting curriculum to meet student needs, and staying informed about field advancements.

By engaging with research, teachers can discover innovative strategies to effectively enhance student learning experiences and address diverse learning styles. Moreover, integrating research findings into classroom practices empowers teachers to continually evolve and create impactful educational environments that inspire curiosity and foster academic growth.

Integrating technology, including research apps, simplifies the research process for educators by providing efficient tools for data collection, analysis, and organization. These digital resources streamline tasks such as literature review, citation management, and collaborative research, saving time and enhancing productivity. By leveraging technology, educators can access vast repositories of scholarly materials, collaborate seamlessly with colleagues, and empower students to engage in research projects with confidence and proficiency.

Below are 6 of the best research apps for iOS and Android to get you–and them–started.

6 Of The Best Research Apps

Description : iAnnotate is a versatile PDF annotation app designed for iOS devices. It allows users to read, annotate, and manage PDF documents easily. The app offers annotation tools such as highlighting, underlining, and adding notes, making it suitable for students, professionals, and anyone who frequently works with PDF files. Additionally, iAnnotate supports cloud storage services like Dropbox and Google Drive, enabling seamless document access across different devices.

Price : $9.99

Description : Pocket is an app that allows users to save articles, videos, and web pages to view later. It provides a convenient way to collect exciting content from the web and read or watch it offline later. With features like tagging and organization, Pocket helps users easily manage their saved content. It’s handy for staying informed and entertained on the go, whether commuting, traveling, or simply taking a break.

Price : Free

iOS , Android

See Also 12 of The Best Education Apps For Android

Academia.edu.

Description : Academia.edu is a platform that connects researchers, academics, and students worldwide. The app allows users to share and access scholarly papers, articles, and research findings. Users can follow specific topics, authors, or institutions to stay updated on the latest developments in their fields of interest. Additionally, Academia.edu offers features such as peer review, discussion forums, and analytics tools to facilitate collaboration and engagement within the academic community.

Description : Notability is a powerful note-taking app available for iOS devices. It allows users to create, annotate, and organize handwritten and typed notes, sketches, PDFs, and other multimedia content. With a wide range of annotation tools, including highlighting, drawing, and audio recording, Notability is versatile for various tasks such as lectures, meetings, and brainstorming sessions. The app also supports iCloud syncing and integration with other platforms like Dropbox and Google Drive, enabling seamless access to notes across devices.

See Also 10 Of The Best iPhone Apps For Language Translation

Description : Evernote is a comprehensive note-taking and organization app across various platforms. It allows users to capture, organize, and share notes, documents, images, and web clippings in one centralized location. With features like text recognition, tagging, and syncing across devices, Evernote helps users stay organized and productive. It’s suitable for personal and professional use, offering tools for task management, collaboration, and research.

Description : Paperpile is a reference management app designed for researchers, academics, and students. It simplifies the process of organizing and citing academic papers and articles. With features like cloud-based storage, seamless integration with Google Docs, and automatic citation generation, Paperpile streamlines the research workflow. It’s a convenient tool for collecting, annotating, and citing sources, making it easier to create scholarly documents and manuscripts.

TeachThought is an organization dedicated to innovation in education through the growth of outstanding teachers.

How to Organize Research Papers: A Cheat Sheet for Graduate Students

• August 8, 2022
• PRODUCTIVITY

It is crucial to organize research papers so that the literature survey process goes smoothly once the data has been gathered and analyzed. This is where a research organizer is useful.

It may be helpful to plan the structure of your writing before you start writing: organizing your ideas before you begin to write will help you decide what to write and how to write it.

It can be challenging to keep your research organized when writing an essay. The truth is, there’s no one “ best ” way to get organized, and there’s no one answer. Whatever system you choose, make sure it works for your learning style and writing habits.

As a graduate student, learning how to organize research papers is therefore essential.

This blog post will cover the basics of organizing research papers and the tools I use to organize my research. 

Before you start

The importance of organizing research papers.

No matter how good your paper management system is, even if you keep all your literature in places that are easy to find, you won’t be able to “create” anything unless you haven’t thought about organizing what you get from them.

The goal of the research is to publish your own work to society for the benefit of everyone in the field and, ultimately, humanity.

In your final year of your PhD, when you see all the papers you’ve stored over the years, imagine the frustration you might experience if you hadn’t gathered the information from those papers in a way that allows you to “create” something with i.

This is why organizing research papers is important when starting your research.

Research with your final product in mind

It is very important to have a clear idea of what your research’s outcome will be to collect the information you really need.

If you don’t yet have all your information, consider what “subheadings” or chunks you could write about.

Write a concept map if you need help identifying your topic chunks. As an introduction to concept mapping, it involves writing down a term or idea and then brainstorming other ideas within it.

To gather information like this, you can use a mind map.

When you find useful information.

Come up with a proper file management system.

Sort your literature with a file management system. There’s no need to come up with a very narrow filing system at this point. Try sorting your research into broader areas of your field. When you’re more familiar with your own research, you’ll be able to narrow down your filing system.

Start with these methods:

Don’t waste your time on stuff that’s interesting but not useful :  

In your own research, what’s the most important part of a particular paper? You won’t have to pay attention to other sections of that paper if you find that section first. 

What is the argument behind your research? Make notes on that information, and then throw everything else away.

Create multiple folders :

Create a file containing related topics if you’re using a computer. Bind the related articles together if you like to print out papers. In other words, keep related things together!

Color code your research papers:   

To organize notes and articles, assign different colors to each sub-topic and use highlighters, tabs, or font colors.

Organize your literature chronologically: 

Even in a short period of time, you might have missed overarching themes or arguments if you hadn’t read them previously. It’s best to organize your research papers chronologically.

If you want to do all this at once, I suggest using a reference manager like Zotero or Mendeley (more on reference managers later).

File renaming 

Make sure you rename your files on your computer according to your own renaming strategy. Taking this step will save you time and confusion as your research progresses.

My usual way of naming a pdf is to use the first author’s last name, followed by the first ten letters of the title and then the year of publication. As an example, For the paper “ Temperature-Dependent Infrared Refractive Index of Polymers from a Calibrated Attenuated Total Reflection Infrared Measurement ” by Azam et al., I renamed the file as “ Azam_Temperature-Dependent_2022.pdf “.

One thing to notice is that I don’t do this manually for all the papers I download. That wouldn’t be as productive, and I’d probably give up after some time renaming every single file. In my reference manager of choice (Zotero), I use a plugin called Zotfile to do this automatically. Zotfile automatically renames files and puts them in the folder I specify every time I add a new paper.

Organizing your research articles by the last names of the lead authors will simplify your citation and referencing process since you have to cite the names of the researchers everywhere. The articles will also be easier to find because they’ll be lined up alphabetically by any researcher’s name you can remember.

Use keywords wisely

Keywords are the most important part of sorting. It’s easy to forget to move a paper to a specific file sometimes because you’re overwhelmed. But you can tag a paper in seconds. 

When organizing research papers, don’t forget to develop a better keyword system, especially if you use a reference manager.

My reference manager, for instance, allows me to view all the keywords I have assigned in the main window, making life much easier.

Create annotations

When reading literature, it is very important to create your own annotations, as discussed in the blog post series, “ Bulletproof literature management system “.

This is the fourth post of the four-part blog series:  The Bulletproof Literature Management System . Follow the links below to read the other posts in the series:

• How to How to find Research Papers
• How to Manage Research Papers
• How to Read Research Papers
• How to Organize Research Papers (You are here)

The best thing to do is to summarize each section of the article/book you are reading that interests you. Don’t forget to include the key parts/arguments/quotes you liked.

Write your own notes

If you decide to read the whole paper, make sure you write your own summary. The reason is that 95% of the things you read will be forgotten after a certain period of time. When that happens, you may have to read the paper all over again if you do not take notes and write your own summary.

By writing your own summary, you will likely memorize the basic idea of the research paper. Additionally, you can link to other similar papers. In this way, you can benefit from the knowledge you gain from reading research papers.

After reading a paper, make sure to ask these questions:

• Why is this source helpful for your essay?  
• How does it support your thesis?  

Keep all the relevant information in one place so that you can refer to it when writing your own thesis.

Use an app like Obsidian to link your thinking if you keep all your files on a computer, making things much easier.

When you are ready to write

Write out of order .

Once you have all the necessary information, you can use your filing system, PDF renaming strategy, and keywords to draw the annotations and notes you need.

Now that you’re all set to write, don’t worry about writing the perfect paper or thesis right away.

Your introduction doesn’t have to come first.

If necessary, you can change your introduction at the end – sometimes, your essay takes a different direction. Nothing to worry about!

Write down ideas as they come to you

As you complete your research, many full-sentence paragraphs will come to your mind. Do not forget to write these down – even in your notes or annotations. Keep a notebook or your phone handy to jot down ideas as you get them. You can then find the information and revise it again to develop a better version if you’re working on the same project for a few days/weeks.

My toolbox to organize research papers

Stick with the free stuff.

Trying to be a productive grease monkey, I’ve tried many apps over the years. Here’s what I learned.

• The simplest solution is always the best solution (the Occam razor principle always wins!).
• The free solution is always the best (because they have the best communities to help you out and are more customizable).

As someone who used to believe that if something is free, you’re the product, I’ve learned that statement isn’t always true.

Ironically, open-source software tends to get better support than proprietary stuff. It’s better to have millions of enthusiasts working for free than ten paid support staff.

There are a lot of reviews out there, and EndNote usually comes out at the bottom. I used EndNote for five years – it worked fine, but other software improved faster. Now I use Zotero, which I like for its web integration. 

Obsidian, my note-taking app of choice, is also free software. Furthermore, you own your files; also, you’ve got a thriving community.

There are a lot of similarities between the software as they adopt each other’s features, and it’s just a matter of preference.

In any researcher’s toolbox, a reference manager is an essential tool.

A reference manager has two important features: the ability to get citation data into the app and the ability to use the citation data in your writing tool.

It should also work on Windows just as well as macOS or Linux, be free, and allow you to manage PDFs of papers or scanned book chapters.

Zotero , in my opinion, gives you all of this and more.

Zotero is one of the best free reference managers for collecting citation data. It includes a browser plugin that lets you save citation information on Google Scholar, journal pages, YouTube, Amazon, and many other websites, including news articles. It automatically downloads a PDF of the associated source when available for news articles, which is very convenient.

One of the things I really like about Zotero is that it has so many third-party plugins that we have almost complete control over how we use it.

With Zotero 6, you can also read and annotate PDFs, which is perfect for your needs.

My Research paper organizing workflow in Zotero :

• Get References and PDF papers into Zotero : I use Zotero’s web plugin to import PDFs directly 
• Filing and sorting : I save files from the web plugin into the file system I already have created in Zotero and assign tags as I do so.
• File renaming : When I save the file, the Zotero plugin (Zotfile) automatically renames it and stores the pdf where I specified.
• Extracting Annotations and taking notes : I use Zotero in the build pdf reader to take notes and annotate, and then I extract them and link them in Obsidian (next section).

You need to keep your notes organized and accessible once you’ve established a strong reading habit. For this purpose, I use Obsidian . I use Obsidian to manage everything related to my graduate studies, including notes, projects, and tasks. 

Using a plugin called mdnotes , Obsidian can also sync up with my reference manager of choice, Zotero. It automatically adds new papers to my Obsidian database whenever I add them to Zotero.

Obsidian may have a steep learning curve for those unfamiliar with bi-directional linking , but using similar software will make things much easier. Thus, you may be better off investing your time in devising a note-taking system that works for you.

You can also use a spreadsheet! Make a table with all the papers you read, whatever tool you choose. Include the paper’s status (e.g., whether you’ve read it) and any relevant projects. This is what mine looks like.

I keep all my notes on an associated page for each paper. In a spreadsheet, you can write your notes directly in the row or link to a Google document for each row. Zotero, for example, allows you to attach notes directly to reference files.

While it might seem like a lot of work, keeping a database of papers you’ve read helps with literature reviews, funding applications, and more. I can filter by keywords or relevant projects, so I don’t have to re-read anything.

The habit of reading papers and learning how to organize research papers has made me a better researcher. It takes me much less time to read now, and I use it to improve my experiments. I used this system a lot when putting together my PhD fellowship application and my candidacy exam. In the future, I will thank myself for having the foresight to take these steps today before starting to write my dissertation.

I am curious to know how others organize their research papers since there is no “ right ” way. Feel free to comment, and we will update the post with any interesting responses!

Images courtesy : Classified vector created by storyset – www.freepik.com

Aruna Kumarasiri

Founder at Proactive Grad, Materials Engineer, Researcher, and turned author. In 2019, he started his professional carrier as a materials engineer with the continuation of his research studies. His exposure to both academic and industrial worlds has provided many opportunities for him to give back to young professionals.

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10 Great Apps for Grad Students

As a busy grad student, your typical school day might include presenting a group project, acing an exam, meeting with your advisor, completing three reading assignments, and attending an evening networking event . It’s a lot to keep track of—but don’t worry, there’s an app for that.

To get the most out of your mobile device while in school, check out these great apps, which helped me stay organized and on top of things while writing my dissertation:

1. Evernote

Evernote is great for syncing your notes (think reading summaries, annotated bibliographies, meeting proceedings) across devices, but it's also an audio recorder. You can use it to record parts of a lecture or ideas for a research paper.

2. Penultimate

Miss the days of scribbling notes in a notebook instead of typing them on your computer? Penultimate is an easy-to-use handwriting app for iPad, so you’ll get the experience of writing on paper with the flexibility of using a tablet. You’ll need a stylus, but they’re very affordable

3. iStudiez Pro

This is an excellent tool for prioritizing your assignments and keeping track of your schedule. iStudiez can sync with your calendar, alert you when an assignment is almost due, and help you visualize your week—which is great if you tend to over-commit.

4. iProcrastinate

Love to-do lists? This app lets you organize all of your tasks into one place, set priority levels for each, and break down your long-term assignments into more manageable parts. Your task lists can be shared with and edited by multiple users, making it also a great tool for group projects.

Dropbox is a must-have, and it’s free! The app allows you to share your documents, videos, photos, and other files with anyone, anywhere. You can also use it to access your own files while on the go. Just think: You’ll never have to email yourself a file again!

Don’t worry about bringing your laptop to school when it’s your turn to lead discussion—Keynote’s got you covered. Sort of like a mobile PowerPoint, the app lets you design and display your presentation from any mobile device.

Pocket can help you keep interesting distractions at bay—use it to bookmark articles and webpages you don’t have time to read, but want to come back to at a later date. Best of all, you can read anything you’ve saved even without WiFi.

8. Mendeley

Mendeley is a fantastic tool for grads serious about research—it’s like a personal research assistant, helping you to collect, organize, cite, and share research. Search Mendeley’s catalog of over 30 million research papers, import references, and create personal libraries for each project you’re working on.

9. PDF Expert

This app is great for annotating and organizing all those PDFs. It can also auto sync with Dropbox, allowing you to access your annotated files from any device at any time.

10. Outliner

One of the most daunting tasks of writing a term paper is, of course, building the outline. But this app helps you to organize your thoughts or tasks into an easily editable outline format, whether inspiration hits you at your desk or on the subway.

Check out these apps and tell us what you think. Have any other recommendations? Let us know on Twitter !

Best Writing Apps for iPad To Create A Research Paper

If you like writing notes on the go, you may find the current curated writing apps for iPhone and iPad ideal as they are designed to suit most of the things people do. iPads are great for writing articles when you don’t want to crack open a laptop, and their portability completes the package. 

When designing an application compatible with iOS, developers consider almost every type of writer interacting with the writing app, from academic paper writers to poets and other creatives. 

We compiled a list of some of the best writing apps for the iPad and iPhone today. 

Final Draft Mobile

If you are into screenwriting or other documents that require you to script longer pieces that can be transferred to other spaces later, this iPad app will work well for you. It is compatible with Apple products and easy to work with as the screen is specifically designed for mobile. Even when you want to scribble a structure before you  order research papers online  for academic purposes, Final Draft will allow you to get that done with its unique features. Most users find it to give a focused writing experience with its longer drafts that you can save every three minutes. 

• Has many industry-standard templates. 
• Enough features for longer drafts on an iPad.
• Has many features.
• This is not a free writing product app for students as you have to pay to use it. 

What makes this one of the best iPad apps for writing is the formatting that allows for longer pieces that you can autosave as often as you want. It has many features, including the binder that helps your work flow beautifully so that you can easily get to it. The templates are designed to allow several types of users, and you can import some more if the ones available do not suit your needs. 

• Features include a customizable binder for workflow and numerous templates. 
• You can set goals for the day or week. 
• Allows you to color-code writings. 
• It’s not free. 

The first thing worth noting about this app for iPad and Mac is Focus Mode, with its dim lights and everything you will need to write without distractions. It corrects your spelling mistakes and verbs and even syncs to iCloud and Dropbox while allowing you to publish on WordPress. This app for writers that works for screenplays,  academic writing , and short stories has won awards for its near-perfect design, so anyone would find it worth its cost. 

• Syncs with iCloud and Dropbox. 
• Customized for mobile 
• It is mostly ideal for short pieces. 

Its distraction-free user interface, text editor, and sync feature make this an excellent app for writing. It allows you to set targets for the day or writing session if you are likely to get distracted by other activities, and you can use folders and tags to organize your projects depending on completion. It works perfectly for long and short-form, even though it may not be ideal for those that like hand-holding. You will get the hang of it if you use it consistently.

• Clean interface that doesn’t interfere with the writing process. 
• Supports Markdown
• Allows you to set targets. 
• Subscription-only pricing. 

This writing tool has been undergoing regular updates to make it what it is today. With features such as inline Markdown preview, dark theme, TextExpander support, insert photo option, and word count, among others, 1Writer supports long and short-form kind of writing. It syncs with iCloud, Dropbox, and WebDAV and is Markdown enabled.

• Ideal for any type of writing, thanks to a laptop-like keyboard. 
• A cool Find and Replace system for editing. 
• ●      Several features are available. 
• Only available on Apple gadgets. 
• Doesn’t preserve formatting styles such as H2 and H3. 

LivingWriter

Its simplicity makes LivingWriter stand out among the many writing tools on the market. While some text editors need learning curves and a few searches online to master, this one is straightforward. Being relatively new, the design team learned from what was already available and countered many of the faults to present an excellent product for story writing, academicians, and novelists.

• Customizable boards and templates. 
• Start a 14-day free trial without adding your card details. 
• Quite expensive. 

You want Grammarly to edit your documents if you’re going to spend the least amount of time proofreading them. It has a free mode that points out your errors without offering options for revision and a premium version that perfects the text and checks for plagiarism. The mobile version for iPads allows automatically syncs with Word to point out areas that need correction even without your prompt.  

• Easy to use. 
• The premium option checks plagiarism effectively. 
• It allows a trial period. 
• Some revisions are incorrect, so you have to check keenly before accepting them. 

As one of the apps compatible with mobile gadgets, Goodnotes works well for short stories and pieces. You can autosave after a few words, which makes it ideal for projects you do not want to lose. It may not have as many templates or features as the others we have discussed above, but it does provide auto-sync to iCloud and is relatively cheap. It remains one of the greatest apps developed for its target market. 

• One of the apps that syncs your writing projects to the iCloud.
• Search to find specific parts of your work. 
• Reasonably cheap when compared to other apps. 
• Only available at a fee. 

Story Planner

One feature that makes this option desirable to many is the custom function where you decide how your pages look from the jump. You choose how the notes will appear, the number of templates, and instructions on how to set them up. It is designed to make it easy for you to organize their work as best as possible for easy extraction. You can download Story Planner from App Store.

• Easy use as you customize everything yourself. 
• Instructions for setting up are available. 
• Best for organizing your work. 
• If you rush the syncing, you may lose some details. 

These 9 are some of the best-known writing and editing tools for your iPads and are available to download at a fee. Every known editor for iOS devices is well-designed and mainly easy to use, whether for school or work. 

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Notetaking: Handwritten or typed?

While there’s no “correct” way to write your notes, one of the things you’ll have to decide early on is whether you should handwrite or type them.

Based on the research we’ve seen, data suggest that taking notes by hand is better than using a laptop .  As with pen and paper, handwriting is slower, but it gives your mind more time to absorb what you’re writing.  While keyboarding is more efficient, for many notetakers, notes created in this way simply lack the sticking power that comes with using traditional methods.

With that in mind, most of the apps below are designed for handwriting your digital notes using your iPad and your Apple Pencil .

While some apps on our list have some keyboard-based functionality — like Nebo and Apple Notes — we’re looking at these apps through the lens of notetakers planning to handwrite their notes.

But however you choose to do it, keep in mind that taking notes is essential when you’re trying to learn something.  Creating effective notes has been proven to enhance recall and improve study sessions, resulting in greater academic success.

Find the best app and notetaking system that works for you and stick to it!

With thousands of positive reviews, Notability has certainly proven its worth to notetakers over the years.

This app is most well-known for its audio syncing feature, which allows you to record audio and sync it with handwritten notes while you write, but other apps like Goodnotes have caught on and added this feature, too. However, Notability also recently introduced audio transcripts, which include time-stamped text of your recordings.

To set itself apart, Notability also boasts some unique features. Multi-note support gives users the ability to open two notes and arrange them in the app for comparison or multitasking. The new Pencil tool provides the app with added versatility, allowing users to draw and sketch. 

By combining multitasking tools and technologies like handwriting recognition and math conversion, Notability makes it easier than ever to take notes during classes, meetings, conferences, and everything in between.

In late 2021, Notability switched from a one-time purchase app to a free plan with a premium subscription option called Notability Plus.  If you’re looking for an awesome app that doesn’t require an up-front cash investment, Notability is a great option to consider.

Coolest features

• Multi-note support allows you to easily compare and work on multiple documents at one time.
• Favorite presets make it simple to create and save your favorite tool colors for fast and easy reuse.
• Math conversion (premium only) allows you to convert handwritten calculations into common mathematical expressions.
• Pencil tool allows for drawing and sketching, with pressure sensitivity and tilt-activated shading.

Main limitations

• No iCloud syncing or backups on the free plan creates some risk for notetakers who don’t upgrade.
• Limited note edits on the free plan (resets monthly) means that hardcore notetakers could find themselves unable to continue taking notes without an upgrade.
• Limited organizational tools force users into a style of note-keeping that may feel restricted or insufficient.

Important details

• Pricing: Free plan available; $14.99 per year for the premium plan.
• Reviews: Notability is currently rated 4.7 out of 5 stars on the App Store with 286,000+ reviews.
• Platform:   Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.
• Links: Download app / View website .

Goodnotes 6

Goodnotes is a powerhouse for notetakers everywhere.  The app comes with everything you need to take notes, write music, mark up PDFs, and more.

One of the biggest differentiators between Goodnotes and other competitors is its abundance of organizational tools.  By default, Goodnotes allows you to create Notebooks and store everything within them.  This is a fundamental difference from a tool like Notability or Apple Notes, where your ability to organize is somewhat constrained by the software.

Of course, Goodnotes doesn’t stop there.  The app offers a powerful search function, onboard handwriting recognition , AI-powered tools, and much more. You can use these features to annotate and mark up your imported documents. The app also syncs with iCloud and third-party storage so that you can keep your notes with you at all times.

So, what’s the downside?

While there aren’t a ton of cons to Goodnotes, the lack of a favorites toolbar is a common feature that is (sadly) missing here.

• Notebook creation tools provide an unparalleled level of customization for notebooks and notes.
• Infinite, nested storage enables users to store folders within folders and create an organizational structure that suits their needs.
• Favorites section allows you to locate any note, document, or page in seconds from a single location.
• Text conversion is clunky and difficult to deal with.  It works well, but converting handwritten text to typed text is a tedious process.
• Lack of a favorites toolbar means that you’ll need to reformat your tools each time you select or change them.  While the app saves some settings, like pen width and color, resetting your tools still feels more involved than it should be.
• Pricing: Limited free plan available; $9.99/year subscription or $29.99 one-time purchase from the App Store for the full version.
• Reviews: Goodnotes 6 app currently has 4.7 stars derived from a total of 238,000+ reviews. 
• Platform:   Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac. Beta version for Windows and Android.

Goodnotes is most often compared against Notability, and the two apps have had a friendly rivalry for years.  Read our in-depth comparison of both apps.

Apple Notes

Believe it or not, Apple Notes has been around since the early days of digital notetaking.  The app launched with the first version of iOS, way back in 2007.  Originally, it was a mobile version of the Notes app that has been (and continues to be) a staple on the Mac operating system.

Why does all that matter?  Because the Notes app is older than any other app on our list, and its longevity makes it clear that it isn’t going anywhere.

As a notetaking app, Apple Notes has come a long way.  Like most of the other notetaking apps, it comes with the usual tools (pens, highlighters, etc.), and they’re all arranged in a toolbar that can be moved around on the screen for added workspace customization.

But, while Apple Notes might seem a bit bland, it has a few unique features that will surprise you.

You can open a Quick Note on your iPhone or iPad without even opening the Notes app. This allows you to quickly jot down a thought, save content from the web or another app, and more. Once you’re done, Quick Notes will appear in their own folder in the app so that they’re easy to find later.

Apple Notes is also one of the few notetaking apps that is set up to create tables and interactive checklists . 

But even though this app has a lot of things going for it, Apple Notes isn’t as robust as some of the other apps. The app lacks audio recording features (but you can dictate your notes).  It also treats PDFs and other imported files as attachments instead of integrating them into your notes, meaning that editing is limited to annotation and markup.   

On the other hand, as part of the Apple ecosystem, you can trust that Apple Notes works on any version of iOS, and on any iOS device, whether you have an iPad Pro or iPad mini.  You’ll also find native software for Apple Notes on macOS and watchOS, so you can get notes on your Mac and Apple Watch.

Overall, Apple Notes lacks the flexibility that you’ll see with most of the other notetaking apps listed here, but it’s still a formidable tool, especially for occasional notetakers.

• Natively supports handwriting and typing on the same page using various inputs, including fingers, on-screen keyboard, Apple Pencil, and Apple Keyboard.
• Allows shading when drawing with the Apple Pencil .  Tilt your Apple Pencil to enable shading.  You can also press more firmly to create a more intense shading effect.
• Recognizes handwritten phone numbers, dates, addresses, and other data.   Will enable other options for recognized text, like scheduling events or calling phone numbers directly from the Notes app.
• Native iCloud syncing across all Apple devices.
• Lacks many customization features, including the ability to create templates or create deeply nested organizational structures.
• No onboard syncing for non-iCloud storage .  While it’s possible to do this with a little work if you want to back up your notes to Dropbox, Google Drive, or Box, it’s not as simple as flipping a switch.
• Limited PDF annotation and markup capabilities force you to conduct these tasks elsewhere — typically using the Markup tool inside the file or image itself. 
• Pricing: Free!
• Reviews: Apple Notes is currently rated at 4.8 stars with just 214,000+ reviews.
• Platform:   Available for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, and Mac.

Unlike traditional notetaking apps, which offer a blank page for you to jot down notes, LiquidText is more of a study and research tool designed to help you parse PDFs and other documents.

It works like this: When you open a file in LiquidText, the document is imported into a digital workspace.  In the workspace, your document takes half of the screen, and the workspace takes the other half.

As you read your document, you can highlight and mark up your text as you would in any other notetaking app.

You can also grab snippets of text and pull them to the opposite side of the screen.  As you do this, LiquidText will transform these excerpts into small cards that you can move around the workspace.

As you gather data from your document, you can consolidate it into groups, draw lines and make connections between those details, and much more.

While this approach to notetaking is more research-based, it’s definitely a game-changer for anyone looking to parse documents for key details and insights, as LiquidText offers a battery of tools that you won’t find in most other apps.

• Infinite workspace allows for a tidy collection of excerpts, comments, and handwritten notes.
• Adding multiple documents to a single workspace allows users to create projects centered around a theme or idea and assists in consolidating associated research. 
• Importing web pages as PDFs is quick and easy thanks to the built-in web browser.
• Ability to squeeze and expand documents during research makes critical details much easier to parse and compare.
• Snippets and text can easily be lost inside the workspace.  Because the workspace is infinite, it’s possible to misplace or forget your snippets if you don’t stay organized.
• Workspace often feels cramped, no matter how you choose to set it up.
• Not a great fit for everyone.   If you aren’t doing major research projects, this app probably isn’t for you.
• Note:   LIVE & LIVE Unlimited are both cloud-based subscriptions, and the subscription covers LiquidText on all devices.
• Reviews: LiquidText is currently rated at 4.6 out of 5 stars based on 6,000+ reviews.
• Platform:   Available for iPad, Mac, and Windows 10.

MarginNote 3

The second of the two research tools on our list, MarginNote is similar to LiquidText (featured above) in how it functions and operates.

MarginNote opens your document into a digital workspace where you can highlight and annotate PDFs or select excerpts from the text.

However, where LiquidText focuses on taking handwritten notes and marking up the document (all of which is possible in MarginNote), this software also allows for clipping notes, creating flashcards or mindmaps, and building study outlines.

One of the key differentiators in MarginNotes is that much of the mind-mapping generation can be done in a way that looks clean and crisp, with straight lines and blocks that feel sharp and organized.

MarginNote also allows you to compile a single set of notes from multiple sources or files, so if you have several books in a series or several documents where you should combine notes, MarginNote makes it easy to simplify that process.

While this app probably isn’t a replacement for an outright notetaking app like Notability or Goodnotes, it’s a great study tool for students who need to comb through a large number of documents and keep everything organized at the same time. 

• All notes can be edited and annotated , so you can add context to excerpts as you set them aside.
• Flashcard review helps you quickly review notes and study for exams.
• Auto Add to MindMap tool allows you to organize excerpts without a ton of dragging and dropping.
• Different viewing modes and setups can get confusing.   Though useful, it’s easy to get lost during navigation and find yourself struggling to pick up where you left off.
• Overabundance of features makes for a steep learning curve.
• Auto mind mapping tool can be difficult to set up.   The mind map is based on the table of contents, so some forethought is required in how you structure your notes.
• Upgrades:   OCR Pro for $1/month or $9.50/year.
• Reviews: MarginNote 3 is currently rated at 4.7 of 5 stars with 4,800 reviews.

LiquidText and MarginNote 3 are the top PDF annotation and research apps. Check out our comparison of the two here . 

Where apps like Goodnotes and Notability emphasize (and mostly stick to) the idea of handwritten notes, Nebo tries to marry the concept of handwriting and text together within its notebooks.

As with other apps on the market, you can draw freely using Note pages (formerly Freeform), but the app’s Document pages (formerly Regular) are where it really begins to shine.

All Document pages are lined sheets, and users have the option to write using an Apple Pencil or a keyboard.  If you choose to handwrite your content, Nebo shows how it’s interpreting your handwriting to text in real time.

You can also mix and match your handwriting and typed text or just convert your handwriting to text.  This adds an extra layer of flexibility to Nebo that you won’t really see in other apps.

With the free version, you’ll just have access to the basics, including a limited number of notebooks that you can create.  However, you can get a dictionary, convert PDFs, and share your content out in various formats by purchasing the appropriate upgrade pack for a relatively low cost.

It’s also worth pointing out that Nebo is cross-platform compatible, which makes it unique for users who are looking for one of the best iPad note apps that can exist outside of the Apple ecosystem.

• Combining handwriting and typed text is an interesting concept that is hinted at in other apps, but Nebo really takes ownership of this feature.
• Handwriting and math conversions are second to none, and both features are included at no additional charge.
• Having both freeform and lined pages allow you to work in a way that suits you best.
• The ability to edit typed text using a stylus adds extra flexibility when editing, revising, or reformatting your text.
• Lack of templates, layouts, and other custom formats that you see in apps like Goodnotes, Notability, or Noteshelf .
• Formatting can be a pain.   While you can adjust text placement by dragging boxes around, fiddling with the indent tools to position text correctly inside the box (or on the page) can be tedious.
• Note pages feel subpar compared to competitors.   If you’re focused purely on handwriting, this app falls a little short in its feature set.
• Note: Packs are sold individually or can be purchased as a bundle for $8.99.
• Reviews: Nebo is currently rated at 4.7 of 5 stars with 29,000+ reviews.
• Platform:   Available on iPad, Mac, Windows, and Android.

In many respects, CollaNote is still a work in progress that has gained a massive following in recent years.  The app provides a rock-solid notetaking experience with simple and intuitive tools that look good and feel great to use.

Inside the notetaking interface, you’ll find a vast array of pen types and brushes, as well as a few extra goodies.

Just like Apple Notes and Notability, CollaNote actively distinguishes between a pen and a pencil, both of which provide a completely different writing experience. 

Interestingly, this app provides the largest and most varied selection of unique pens and brushes when compared to other notetaking apps — including major players like Goodnotes and Notability.  From vector pens to art and 3D brushes, you’ll have every tool you need to make your notes come to life.

This app also offers tools like the color fill tool to add color quickly and the curve tool to help when creating curved lines (great for charts and graphs).

For text boxes, the app makes it easy to add text and provides layering options that allow you to place your text over other objects.

You can even create flashcards to help you study.

And did we mention that you can collaborate with other CollaNote users by creating an account?  It’s that simple.

Even though CollaNote currently lacks some of the features you’d see in more mature apps, it’s well on its way to becoming a major player in the notetaking space.

• Robust notetaking toolkit gives you everything you’ll need to take great notes, including a pencil, a vast array of pens and brushes, a color fill tool, a curved line tool, and more.
• Collaboration features make it easy to work with other notetakers to generate a group or shared note. An account is required, and notes are stored in your account, not with CollaNote’s servers.
• Importing PDFs, images, and other multimedia is fast and easy.   With the exception of PDFs, media files reside within a note and are not imported as standalone objects.
• Limited to iPadOS and iOS only.   While this app does back up to iCloud, it currently offers no platform compatibility with Mac, Windows, or Android.
• User interface is an acquired taste.   The blocky windows and multiple toggles give the app a unique feel, but it may not be for everyone.
• Folders and notes lack customization features and fine-tuning that you see in apps like Goodnotes.
• Rigid organizational structure limits how you can format and organize your content.
• Pricing: Free version available; $11.90 one-time purchase from the App Store for Premium. 
• Reviews: CollaNote is currently rated at 4.8 stars with 12,000+ reviews.
• Platform:   Available for iPad and iPhone only.

Noteshelf is a great compromise between Goodnotes and Notability. You’ll find all the tools you need to take great notes on your Apple, Android, or Windows devices.

The interface provides a streamlined experience that’s easy to navigate, with plenty of customization features — from page templates and notebook covers to different pen types and the colors and sizing of your tools.

It even has a customizable toolbar that allows you to add or remove tools so that it only displays the ones that you like to use.

Noteshelf also offers one of the best interfaces when it comes to magnification. When you need to write smaller text or you want a closeup of your existing notes, the Zoom Box makes it easy to do. It’s highly customizable, and it loads the tool interface on the magnification bar, so you can quickly switch to what you need. 

Like Notability, Noteshelf features audio recording that you can attach to your notes. While it doesn’t sync with your text, being able to listen to a playback of a lecture or presentation can be extremely helpful. 

The sheer amount of organizational capabilities, Focus mode, Noteshelf AI, and advanced customization all make this app perfect for users who take massive amounts of notes. 

• Advanced customization options, such as a variety of page templates, notebook covers, and tools, allow you to get creative with your notes.
• Zoom Box has the tool interface in the magnification bar so that switching between tools is quick and easy while working in this mode.
• Customizable Toolbar allows you to pick and choose what tools you want to see on your toolbar and leaves the rest out, so it’s exactly what you need.
• Multi-device compatibility allows you to use this app on all Mac devices (including Apple Watch), Windows, and Android devices.
• Free version limits how many notes you can take. You only get three notebooks to use on the free version, which likely isn’t enough for serious notetakers. Also, Noteshelf doesn’t offer any free trial on Android or Windows, so you can’t try it before buying it.
• Moving notes isn’t a simple process, making reorganizing your notes a bit of a pain. 
• Not cross-platform compatible. While there are Android, Windows, and iOS versions of this app, the three don’t talk to one another. You can hand off your notes between various Apple products (iPad, iPhone, Watch), but you won’t be able to send your notes from your iPad over to your Android tablet or PC.
• Pricing: One-time fee of $9.99. 
• Reviews: Noteshelf currently has 4.1 out of 5 stars on the App Store, but is relatively new with only 196 reviews.
• Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Apple Watch, Mac, Windows, and Android.

If you’re a productivity geek, Evernote is the perfect notetaking app for you. Not only does it have a dedicated section for taking notes, but it also incorporates different sections that’ll help you be more productive, such as a Tasks section for to-do lists and more.

The home dashboard is fully customizable (with an Evernote Premium Plan), so you can organize all your information in a way that makes the most sense for you. 

When you’re taking notes, you can choose from more than fifty templates . You’ll find a range of options for work, school, and personal categories. 

Evernote offers a rigid notetaking structure that makes it easy to get your thoughts on the page. Formatting is similar to Word or Google Docs, which doesn’t offer a lot of flexibility, but it does keep your notes neat and tidy. 

Unfortunately, this means that you can’t really mix handwriting and text. Like Apple Notes, it’ll keep these sections separate from each other. That’s because it’s not really meant for handwriting in general. You’ll have to enter Sketch Mode to draw or write, and once you’re finished, Evernote converts your work into an image to add to your note.

The app also has plenty of great features that’ll help you be more efficient, including an excellent web clipper (desktop only), audio recording features , and PDF markup tools .

With cross-platform compatibility and the ability to sync across devices in real time, Evernote can help you create the ultimate task management and productivity system.

• Dedicated Task section helps you keep on top of your to-do lists.
• Structured formatting feels familiar thanks to its similarity to word-processing programs and also keeps your notes neat and organized.
• Robust Web Clipper allows you to capture information from your desktop for later use.
• Cross-platform compatibility and real-time syncing allow you to work anywhere, anytime.
• Sketch mode is the only place you can handwrite, which can be annoying if you don’t like typing out your notes.
• Ability to connect to Calendar and add reminders to your task lists is locked behind a subscription.
• Only being able to sync two devices on the free plan means you’ll have to pick what platforms you prefer if you don’t want to pay for a subscription.
• Pricing: Limited free plan; $14.99/month or $129.99/year for the Personal plan; Professional plans available.
• Reviews: Evernote currently has 4.4 out of 5 stars on the App Store with 54,000+ reviews.
• Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, Mac, PC, and Android.

Microsoft OneNote

Wildly popular and completely free, OneNote is the go-to app for tens of thousands of users interested in taking effective notes.

Like Evernote, this app is geared more toward keyboard-based notetaking, but its handwriting component works beautifully and doesn’t make you switch modes or move to a different section to write. You’ll just hit the Draw tab at the top of the screen to access your writing tools.

OneNote only has one pen type, but you can change the size and color to fit your needs. 

And this is what makes OneNote truly unique.

This app’s Ink Color Selector is one of a kind, offering both solid and specialty options, like galaxy, marble, and glitter colors. 

OneNote also includes features like a Math Assistant and audio recording that are great for students and a web clipper to capture content from the internet and video recording, which is completely unique to this app (Desktop or Windows app only). 

Its onboard organization tools make it a great option for storage, especially for users already integrated with other Microsoft products like OneDrive, Word, Excel, etc.

• Ink Color Selector unlike any other app allows you to really get creative by choosing from options like galaxy, marble, and glitter colors.
• Math Assistant can solve equations for you, making it great for students or anyone who works with a lot of math equations.
• Free version with complete access to all its features. Subscriptions only necessary for storage purposes.
• Automatically opens to the last screen used, which can be annoying if you’d like to start a new note or find a different note.
• Only backs up to its own servers. You can’t create a backup to any other cloud service.
• Only 5GB of storage included on the free plan, which might not be enough if you plan to take a lot of notes.
• Note: You can get 100GB of storage for $1.99/month or purchase Microsoft 365 Personal with 1TB of storage for $6.99/month. (You also get the whole Microsoft suite and integrations.)
• Reviews: OneNote currently has 4.7 out of 5 stars with over 851,000 reviews.

Evernote and Microsoft OneNote are the leading apps for productivity. Take a look at our comparison article here . 

Zoho Notebook

Similar to both Evernote and OneNote, Zoho Notebook is available on a variety of platforms and seamlessly syncs across your devices using its own cloud service. It was awarded Best App of the Year in the App Store in 2016 and has risen in popularity since then.

But as a notetaking app, it takes a different approach than most of the other available apps in this space. It has an aesthetically pleasing UI, and the available covers for your Notebooks are works of art. 

Individual notes inside the Notebooks are called Cards , and they look like little (brightly colored) sticky notes. You can change the background color on every note, making it easier to visually differentiate between topics.

On top of that, Zoho Notebook offers different Card types ( Checklist, Audio, Sketch , and more)  to match your notetaking needs.

Most of these are pretty self-explanatory, but the Smart Card is a really neat feature worth mentioning. When you want to save content from the internet or another app, Smart Cards automatically take that information and format it into a beautifully designed Card. 

Unfortunately, this is another app that’s geared towards typed text, and you can really only handwrite or draw when you open a Sketch Card . Even the Text Card isn’t super customizable - you can’t even change the font or text size. 

But, you can password protect your notes, share, and collaborate with others in real time, which are excellent features in any notetaking app.

• Beautiful UI and artwork make this app one of the most aesthetically pleasing.
• Post-it Note appearance and colors allow users to easily differentiate between individual notes. 
• Smart Cards automatically format saved content , keeping these notes nice and neat. 
• Lack of search capabilities in the free version can make it difficult to find your notes, especially if you have a lot of them. 
• Limited notecard sizes and storage on the free version mean that if you plan to take a lot of notes, you’ll need to upgrade. 
• Limited tools for handwriting and customization for typed text make it more difficult to get creative with your notes. 
• Pricing: Limited free version; $2.49/month or $24.99/year for the full version.
• Reviews: Zoho Notebook currently has 4.7 out of 5 stars with 22,000+ ratings.
• Platform: Available on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android, and Linux.

Pencil Paper Notebook: Penbook

If you’re looking for a notetaking app that’ll really let you get creative and customize your notes, Penbook might be the answer.

Like Zoho Notebook, this app offers a variety of beautiful Notebook covers, but it doesn’t stop there. With Penbook, you can choose from over 1,000 customization options!

There are page templates for every category, even super niche options for chemists, developers, and musicians. Once you’ve chosen a template, you can change the font, the background and accent colors, and decide how many pages to add to your notebook (don’t worry, you can always add more later!).

The best part?

You can mix and match templates throughout your notebooks, and each page could be something completely different.

If you’re too overwhelmed with all the options, you can choose from a variety of pre-made “Editions” that Penbook has already put together for you.

While the tools are pretty basic ( Pen, Pencil, Highlighter ), you can change the line thickness and color on each, and you can even customize or use hex codes to get the perfect shade. Once you have what you need, you can add up to six custom tools to your toolbar for easy access in the future. 

Unfortunately, navigation throughout the app isn’t as intuitive as we’d like, and there’s a bit of a learning curve when you get started. While the app does offer a user manual, it’s pretty long and involved, and there aren’t any video tutorials or quick guides to help you get going. 

• Highly customizable, with thousands of different ways to set up and personalize your notes. 
• Pre-made “Editions” help you skip the Notebook creation process so you can get right to taking notes.
• Live Paper automatically fills in the date and time when you create new pages, which can be handy for schedules, journals, and more. 
• Free version is basically just a free trial, as you only get a single Notebook. 
• Navigation isn’t intuitive, so it takes some time to learn how to use the app.
• Lack of organizational features makes it more difficult to find and keep track of your notes. 
• Pricing: Free version available; $14.99/yr or $49.99/lifetime for the full version.
• Reviews: Penbook currently has 4.6 out of 5 stars with 30,000+ ratings.
• Platform: Available for iPhone and iPad.

ZoomNotes provides an infinite whiteboard, making it a great choice for visual notetakers. 

As you might expect from the name, ZoomNotes offers the most impressive zoom range. It’s practically endless, making it easy to sketch out your thoughts and ideas without worrying about running out of room.

When you zoom in to get a better look or make adjustments or additions to your notes, the full view stays on your screen off to the right, allowing you to see the bigger picture while you work.

Another feature that sets this app apart is the ability to create a page within a page. These sub-pages can be separate notes, like a mind map of your full notes, a sticky note with key concepts or reminders, or even a full PDF document that relates to your notes. 

ZoomNotes goes the extra mile by adding linked sound recording, unlimited paper sizes/styles, Bookmarks , and more. It’s easy to completely customize your notes, especially with eight different pen types and unlimited color options. 

It syncs to iCloud and even integrates with your Apple Calendar and Apple Reminders, so you can easily manage your checklists and schedule. Importing, exporting, and sharing features round out this app, making it competitive with apps like Notability and Goodnotes.

• Infinite canvas provides endless room to write, draw, or sketch your notes and ideas.
• Incredible zoom range makes taking visual notes like mind mapping or sketchnoting super easy.
• Sub-pages allow you to create a page within a page. You can add PDFs, sticky notes, and more.
• Integrates with other apps like Apple Reminders & Apple Calendar . 
• UI is a bit clunky and not as user-friendly as most of the other apps.
• Limited tools on the free version make it hard to customize your notes the way you’d like. 
• Too many features make it overwhelming and difficult to learn.
• Pricing: ZoomNotes Lite is free; $7.99 one-time purchase for the full version on the App Store.
• Reviews: ZoomNotes is currently rated 4.5 out of 5 stars on the App Store with just 762 reviews.
• Platform: Available for iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

Other cool apps

Even though we’ve mostly covered handwriting applications for notetakers, there are some other cool apps out there that you might want to consider.

Many of these apps incorporate handwriting in some way, even if it's not their primary function.

• Agenda . This is a notetaking tool that uses your calendar as a way to tie your note to a fixed point in time.  Notes are attached to projects and can be assigned to a specific date so that you regularly refer back to them.  As you use the app and tag notes with data, those notes become recurring tasks on your agenda until you mark them as complete.  It’s an innovative way to combine notetaking and task management. 
• Freeform . Apple recently added this app to its extensive list of apps that come pre-installed on all Apple devices. It’s a digital whiteboard where you can add images, text, handwriting, and more. Whether you’re sitting down for a brainstorming session or you’ve got some ideas to map out, this app can help you do it. While Freeform is the perfect app to get creative and express yourself visually, you may want to stick to Apple Notes or one of the others mentioned for serious notetaking. 
• PDF Expert . Need to annotate or edit a PDF?  As a PDF editor, PDF Expert gives you total control over your PDF documents.  You can mark them up, edit them, convert files, take notes, and much more.  The app requires a subscription and can be a bit pricey, but it’s one of the most capable PDF tools out there.
• ThinkSpace . While you can use other notetaking apps to create mind maps, ThinkSpace is specifically designed to help you manage this task.  Create quick notes, organize them in a spatial way, add visuals, and more.  If you’re more of a visual notetaker, ThinkSpace is a great addition to your toolkit.

Use Paperlike to make the best notetaking apps for iPad even better

Without a doubt, having the right app can make the difference between success and failure when studying for the next exam or jotting down quick notes in a meeting.

Most of the apps on our list are free apps, so you can try them out and create simple notes and docs (handwritten or otherwise) with absolutely no risk.

If you’re planning to use the Apple Pencil or a similar stylus to take notes on your iPad, don’t forget to pick up a Paperlike so that you can improve your notetaking experience.

Paperlike transforms your screen from slippery glass into something that feels just like a real notepad or notebook so that you can scribble and jot notes with ease.

You can also make your iPad look and feel like your favorite notebook with our Folio Case and reduce hand cramping by using our Pencil Grips . 

Download an awesome app, pick up one of our Screen Protectors , and set yourself up for notetaking success.

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