It might be hard to take notes, especially when you have to juggle long YouTube videos, lectures, and meetings. Free AI note-taking applications, on the other hand, make your life easier by automatically taking notes and keeping everything organized for you. You don’t need to worry about forgetting important information or scrambling to write it down!
We provide you with the top AI note-taking apps to stay organized, whether you need a bot-free AI note-taker for meetings, an AI video note-taker for YouTube, or just a note-taking app. To assist us in recommending the best, we tested these 10 AI Note-taking Apps on our team.
Two Types of AI Note Taker Programs
Artificial intelligence note-taking programs are usually bot-based and bot-free programs. While they’re designed for the same thing—record conversation, type out what people are saying, and report on meetings—there’s difference in functionality that impacts users’ experience, privacy, and meetings’ conduct.
Bot-activated AI note takers
They function by using a virtual assistant which attends meetings as a member and takes notes as well as capturing speech. The technique is not secret since everybody understands that the meeting is under recording. Other people might fear opening up whenever a bot sits in on the meeting. More importantly, organizations with stringent policies of privacy do not allow the sitting in of meetings by bots, which will make their utilization difficult in particular environments.
Bot-Free AI Note Takers
Botless AI note-takers work on the device level, recording directly from the system of the user without the necessity of a bot to be attending the meeting. This method helps to provide an even more individual, noninvasive, and natural meeting process since users never need to stress about an external bot being included. Without any bot in the room, users are less restrained and can discuss more freely, and this results in freer and more productive discussions. In addition, this method enhances security since audio processing is done locally, reducing risks associated with data transmission.
What to Look for in AI Note-taking Apps?
- Organization features: Note apps with organizational features like folders, tags, and decent search functions allow you to quickly categorize and get to your notes.
- Integration features: Make sure your note-taking application integrates harmoniously with other applications you constantly use—e.g., calendar applications, project management tools, and collaboration tools—to enhance your workflow.
- Simple user interface: Have an application with a user-friendly interface to easily access adding, editing, listing, and getting the notes at ease.
- AI support: Locate AI-enabled note-taking software that will allow you to summarize your notes, create transcripts of meetings and videos, edit or write notes with ease, and keep your notes better organized.
- Cross-device syncing: Choose an app that’s synchronized on all the devices you have so you can take your notes wherever you’re located—office, home, or on the move
Comparison Table
| App | Best for | Standout Feature |
|---|---|---|
| Notion | Collaborative, customizable workspace | customization options |
| Evernote | Organizing extensive notes | Powerful search and organization features |
| Microsoft OneNote | Flexible note-taking | Easy canvas to add text |
| Apple Notes | Seamless integration with Apple devices | Simple, clean user interface with iCloud syncing |
| Google Keep | Quick capture and organization with Google | Deep integration with other Google apps and services |
| Obsidian | Advanced note-taking with interlinked notes | Version history for notes |
| Joplin | Open-source enthusiasts who value privacy | Fully customizable and extendable with plugins |
| Simplenote | Fans of minimalism and distraction-free apps | Focus on plain-text notes and easy synchronization |
| Bear | Beautiful, minimalistic themes | Markdown formatting and focus mode |
| Gong | Minimalism , User – friendly | Integration with Zoom |
The 10 Best AI Note-taking Apps
1. Notion
Notion is a comprehensive productivity and collaboration tool that integrates note-taking, task management, databases, and project planning under one roof. It also allows users to organize workspaces according to their needs, and it can be used by an individual, a small team, or a large organization.
The tool works in cross-functional teams where there needs to be collaboration. Live editing and commenting are a natural way to ideate with remote teams, get and provide feedback in a rush, and stay on the same page.
Key Features
- Markdown page hierarchies supported formatting.
- Kanban boards, calendars, and to-do lists for project and task monitoring.
- Checkbox, tag, and date property databases that are customizable.
- Pre-built and user templates make setting up workflow easier.
- Integrates with over 70 tools, e.g., Zoom, Slack, and Jira.
- Summarizes text, writes for you, and automates boring tasks.
Pros
- merges some tools into a single area
- Rich database capabilities, allowing for structuring of content
Cons
- Steep learning curve with fully featured toolset.
- Lateness in editing large data sets or complex pages.
- Offline capability on a limited basis; requires internet connection to be maximally functional.
Pricing
- Free
- Plus ($10/user/month)
- Business ($15/user/month)
- Enterprise (Custom plans)
G2 Rating:
4.7/5
2. Evernote
Evernote is an all-around note-taking and organization software that can assist users in capturing, organizing, and accessing information on different devices. In addition, it provides note-taking, task management, and collaboration tools for both personal and professional use.
Evernote’s search feature, powered by AI, is fast and intuitive. It is also effective across PDFs, documents, and images, so searching through numerous notes and content is never a problem.
The Tasks feature allows you to list steps of a project and delegate tasks to others, an excellent method of organizing your team on the move.
Key Features
- Create and organize notes with rich text formatting, images, attachments, and handwriting. Add reminders, create to-do lists, and insert tasks into your notes to facilitate planning.
- Use your phone’s camera to scan and digitize paper documents, business cards, and hand-written notes
- Take advantage of robust search features, including text recognition inside images and PDFs.
Pros
- Evernote’s user-friendly design makes it convenient for users to create and manage notes easily.
- Compatible on different platforms, such as Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android.
- High-end search functionality enables users to easily find information in notes.
- The Web Clipper functionality allows users to clip web content directly into their notebooks.
Cons
- Some customers consider Evernote’s premium pricing to be somewhat steep in relation to the competition.
- The free version does come with limitations, including fewer device synchronizations and lower storage capacity.
- Evernote has accrued many features over the years, which in some users’ opinions have made the application overly complicated and unfocused.
Pricing
- Personal Plan costs $14.99 per month
- Professional Plan begins at $17.99 per month
G2 Rating:
4.5/5
Suggested Blog: Evernote Alternatives
3. OneNote
Its an electronic note-taking software that enables users to take, organize, and share their notes. Additionally, it integrates flawlessly with the Microsoft Office package, which has made it a favorite among users for both personal and business purposes. It is simple to insert a formula, a table, or an image into the same note. it is a natural experience of note-taking and journaling. OneNote templates offer a convenient place to begin organizing your notes, from planning a project to tracking tasks, or even journaling.
Key Features
- OneNote simulates an actual notebook, organizing content into notebooks, sections, and pages. It makes information easy to organize and access.
- Users can insert text, images, audio recordings, and drawings into notes, accommodating different content types.
- The app allows for handwritten notes, which can be translated to editable text, providing greater freedom for individuals who write by hand.
- OneNote allows multiple individuals to collaborate on a single notebook at the same time, making teamwork and team project management possible.
Pros
- OneNote works well with other Microsoft applications, including Outlook and Teams, making users in this environment more productive.
- Hierarchical structuring of sections and pages at the notebook level enables fine-grained structuring, meeting stringent note-taking requirements.
- OneNote provides a full range of features for free, including value without subscription.
Cons
- Temporary delay or syncing between devices has impacted some users, preventing real-time access to notes
- Some features are dependent on the internet connection, making offline capability restricted
Pricing
- Microsoft 365 Personal: $6.99/month
- Microsoft 365 Family: $9.99/month
G2 Rating: 4.5/5
4. Apple Notes
Apple Notes is an in-built, complimentary note-taking app that sits on iOS and macOS hardware, intended to enable users to capture and hold their ideas, documents, and thoughts securely within Apple’s environment.
It’s still the easiest app if you’re in the Apple universe—invoke it whenever on your Mac from the bottom-right corner of the screen, and it appears in good faith. Syncing is generally fantastic; cutting something on the phone and then being able to paste it on your desktop is magic. Those little things that make the experience.
Key Features
- The app allows users to insert different text styles, create checklists, and add tables to notes, all of which greatly improve readability and organization.
- Addition of images, videos, drawings, and documents to notes is also supported in the app, giving a full note-taking experience.
- Tags, new with iOS 15, allow efficient tagging of one’s notes, and Smart Folders will automatically organize notes by these tags.
- Users can collaborate with others in real-time by sharing notes, making collaboration and knowledge exchange easier.
- Notes can be password-protected using Touch ID or Face ID so that sensitive material is not accessed.
Pros
- Apple Notes integrates seamlessly with other Apple apps and services, offering a unified user experience.
- The app is intuitive and simple in design and very easy to use for users of all levels.
- Being a free app with no subscription cost, Apple Notes has a solid feature set without any extra fees.
Cons
- Apple Notes is limited to Apple devices only, limiting use for other-platform users.
- Collaboration is present but features are extremely rudimentary compared to other note-taking apps.
Pricing
- 50 GB: $0.99/month
- 200 GB: $2.99/month
- 2 TB: $9.99/month
G2 Rating:
4.8/5
5. Google Keep
Google Keep makes it easy to capture a range of content, such as notes, lists, photos, and audio, and keep it all on a virtual bulletin board. For instance, you can share a shopping list and view updates in real-time as items are crossed off—no need for exchange of messages.
As with Apple Notes, anything more advanced or sophisticated you need from the tool is a struggle. You would expect Google to do more to integrate the Keep experience with Google Tasks and Calendar, but it hasn’t happened. They remain separate experiences, which can be annoying if you desire an all-in-one software or experience.
Key Features
- Available through web browsers and mobile applications on Android and iOS, with the ability to synchronize notes across devices.
- Users can create time-based or location-based reminders to ensure that important tasks are not forgotten.
- Permits sharing of notes and lists with others, allowing real-time collaboration.
Pros
- Simplicity and compatibility with other Google products make it an excellent note-taking application.
- Instant syncing of notes between devices provides immediate access to current information.
- Includes all features with no cost, so it has broad appeal for many users.
Cons
- No standalone desktop apps mean that users are forced to use web-based access for desktop use.
- Does not support a hierarchical structure such as notebooks or folders, using only labels for classification.
Pricing:
Free: Totally free to use with a Google account
G2 Rating: 4.5/5
6. Obsidian
Obsidian is a solid option for individuals looking for a personal and flexible note-taking application. In addition, its strengths are data ownership, flexibility, and strong linking capabilities. But prospective users need to be willing to have a learning curve and lack native collaboration features. Obsidian is great if you are spending a lot of time in the tool itself. If you’re looking for integration or collaboration features where you publish out information or tasks to help your productivity pipeline, it’s not designed for that.
Key Features
- Obsidian saves all the notes as Markdown files on the user’s hard drive, which means data privacy and control.
- Users can cross-link notes to allow a network-like organization of information.
- Graph View feature allows users to view how the notes are related to one another, which allows them easily to view connections and patterns in their knowledge graph.
- The application can be used on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android, which makes it highly accessible on any device.
Pros
- Obsidian is very customizable, which provides users with the power to personalize the application according to their requirements through themes and plugins.
- By being stored locally in Markdown, users are in complete control of their data without depending on the cloud.
Cons
- The robust customization and feature set can be overwhelming for new users, and time might be needed in order to fully leverage its capabilities.
- Obsidian does not have any collaboration features built-in, so it is not as ideal for team workflows.
- It takes a certain amount of Markdown and YAML understanding to be able to use advanced features, and not everybody will be drawn to this.
Pricing
- Personal: Free
- Commercial: $50/user/year
G2 Rating: 2.5/5
7. Joplin
Joplin is a free, open-source to-do and note-taking program that prioritizes the privacy of users and control over their data. It has a suite of features that can be used by people who want an adjustable and safe note-taking program. Its collaboration and sharing features are unintrusive. It enabled me to share my notes with colleagues, family, and friends and collaborate with them on the notes with ease. There was also the possibility of saving a note (on the web) and then sending others a link to it, a simple method of sharing task lists, company wikis, or meeting notes with a whole group of individuals.
Key Features
- Users can input notes in Markdown to enable rich text formatting and simple organisation
- The application is available on Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, and Android for cross-platform use
- Synching of users’ notes on their devices across all platforms through Dropbox, OneDrive, WebDAV etc. is supported
- Joplin features a web clipper browser extension so users can clip web pages and screenshots directly into their notebooks
- The app provides end-to-end encryption in such a way that the notes remain private and secure
- Joplin supports numerous plugins, and users are able to expand its functionality according to their needs
Pros
- The open-source nature of Joplin allows the users to access every feature for free, which promotes transparency as well as the development of the community
- With local data storage and end-to-end encryption, the users have control over their data
- The availability of plugins and themes enables the users to tailor the application according to their preferences
Cons
- As an open-source product, Joplin depends on user forums for support, which might not offer immediate help
- The mobile apps do not have every feature that desktop versions have, such as rich text editing, and this creates a less consistent user experience
- Joplin does not provide native real-time collaboration, so it’s not as well adapted to team workflow
Pricing
- Basic: €2.99/month
- Pro: €5.99/month
- Teams: €7.99/month per user
G2 Rating: Not enough
8. Simplenote
Simplenote is a fuss-free note-taking application that syncs between several devices and operating systems, including Android, iOS, Mac, Windows, Linux, and web browsers. The notes are updated automatically in real time on all devices—there is no ‘sync’ button to find!
Simplenote is a lifesaver in such situations—it saves notes with each edit, so I can refer to what I had noted down days, weeks, or even months prior.
The interface is very much like Apple Notes, but without the ability to insert images or sketches.
Key features
- Organize your notes with tags and find them instantly using the instant search feature of this android notes app
- Collaborate with teammates and friends by sharing lists, posting instructions, or publishing online notes
- Write, view, and publish notes in Markdown
Pros
- Free to use
- Works on every device
- Syncs very quickly
- Simple, clean design
- Easy to find notes
- Share with others
- Saves note history
Cons
- No way to insert tables
- Has no aesthetic value
Pricing
Free for everyone
G2 rating: 4.2/5
9. Bear
Shiny Frog developed the note-taking app Bear exclusively for the Apple. It draws people who value both functionality and beauty in regards because it balances sophisticated features with a clean UI.
Bear is compatible with the iPad, iPhone, and Mac. If you’re in the Apple world and want something more aesthetically pleasing than Apple Notes, this is an excellent option.
Key Features
- Bear enables users to organize their notes using Markdown syntax, allowing for rich text formatting and organization.
- Hashtags can be assigned to notes, which makes it convenient to categorize and find them.
- The app supports linking notes to each other, allowing users to build an organized and well-connected body of knowledge.
- Bear recommends notes to be exported in a variety of formats such as PDF, HTML, DOCX, and JPG to enable users with options on how to save and distribute their content.
- Individual notes are encrypted by the users themselves with added privacy and security for their sensitive information.
- Notes are available to sync all Apple devices on the Bear Pro plan through iCloud so users may access their information anywhere.
Pros
- End-to-end Markdown support is for the plain text-in-the-format-that-I-pretend-I-can-do kind but with richness.
- Cross-note tagging and linking process enables smooth organizing and accessing of notes.
- Bear Pro has sophisticated functionality available at affordable prices that reach out to masses of individuals.
Cons
- Bear is limited to Apple platforms only, denying accessibility to consumers using other devices.
- Lack of real-time collaboration could be constraining for team workflows.
- Limitation of no web interface prohibits access to the notes from non-Apple devices.
Pricing
- Basic: Free
- Pro: $2.99/month
G2 Rating: 4.6/5
10.Gong
Gong is one of those sales tools that feels like they were specifically created for teams like ours. I’ve tried it, and this is the thing: it doesn’t simply record meetings—it really gets what’s going on during your sales calls. It learns patterns and tells you things to help you have better conversations with your customers. When you know how your clients interact, you can close more deals.
It doesn’t simply search for keywords like most other tools. Instead, it detects trends and provides you with real-time insights that matter. You can also customize it according to your business requirements so the data you receive is accurate and valuable.
One of Gong’s drawbacks is that it has its own customized pricing. You can’t find fixed prices on its website, and the pricing can be steep for small to medium-sized enterprises.
Key Features
- Integration with Zoom for live transcription and real-time captions
- Eliminates transcription mistakes with its speech-to-text model powered by AI
- 85% accuracy of transcription
- Customer insight and sales coaching
- Global languages supported
Pros
- Automated, cutting out human error
- Easy website to use
- Free integration into your existing tech stack
- Revenue intelligence ensures precision transcription
Cons
- No fixed costs
- There is no free trial
Pricing
Custom, consultation required
G2 rating : 4.2/5
How to Choose the Best AI Note-taking Apps for You?
With all the AI note-taking apps available, it can be hard to choose the right one. But if you pay attention to a few things, you’ll soon find one that suits you. Here’s what actually makes a great AI note-taker:
Accuracy Matters
If a note-taking app based on AI can’t accurately get your words, then it’s not even worth the time. Consider revisiting your notes and finding jumbled words or downright false declarations—it’s maddening and useless. Your note-taker needs to capture the conversations clearly and accurately so that you won’t need to second-guess. Look over user reviews before deciding or give one a try by accessing its free version and test its efficiency at picking up varied voices and accents.
Smart Summaries Save Time
No one needs to dig through pages of raw meeting notes in order to locate just one important detail. The top AI note-taking apps not only record, but summarize. They distill lengthy conversations into concise, well-structured insights, with highlights on key decisions, action items, and must-know takeaways. So in this manner, you can readily scan what matters most without taking up time going through unnecessary information.
Works During and After Your Meetings
A first-rate AI note-taker is not only useful after the meeting—it actually enhances discussions in the moment. A few apps provide real-time analysis, keeping teams on track, clarifying issues, or raising key points. Then, when the meeting ends, post-meeting summaries enable you to easily follow up. Combined, these features streamline collaboration and speed decision-making.
Easy to Use
Even the most sophisticated AI won’t be useful if it’s cumbersome or difficult to use. And a good AI note-taking app should also have a simple design that makes it easy to navigate. You need something that’s smooth and trouble-free without endless troubleshooting or a learning curve. The best tools are quick, reliable, and built to integrate smoothly into your workflow, so you can concentrate on your work—not on solving tech issues.
Final Thoughts
An AI Note-taking Apps is not only a meeting recorder but an engaged companion that revolutionizes the way you engage with meetings. With the precision of AI, it provides you with a precise transcript and smart summaries where no important point is missed.
With the proper AI-based solution, meetings are efficient, decisions are better, and follow-up is simple. Instead of wasting time on note-taking, you can relax, contribute, and let your AI pal do all the work for you.
FAQs
1.What is a bot-free AI note taker?
A bot-free AI note taker is an AI application that auto-transcribes, summarizes, and structures meeting, lecture, video, and discussion notes with no human intervention.
2.How does a bot-free AI note taker work?
A bot-free AI note taker functions by not using external bots or integrations that affect security. It processes audio, video, or text in-house to produce structured and dependable notes.
3. What is the best free AI note taker for meetings?
The best free AI note taker for meetings will be based on your own needs. Some provide real-time transcription, AI summary, and Zoom, Google Meet, and Microsoft Teams integration.
4.May I use an AI note taker for YouTube videos?
Yes, an AI video note taker can extract key points from YouTube videos automatically using speech-to-text transcription and content summarization, allowing users to capture key insights in a productive manner.
5.How does an AI note generator work?
An AI note generator employs natural language processing to translate spoken or written content into processed form, then translates it into structured notes, summaries, or action points according to context.
