8 Best Notes Taking Apps for Windows Laptops [Touchscreen Supported]
Choose the notes taking app the fits you best
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A note-taking app takes the stress of forgetting your pen and paper and lets you do everything from your tablet or laptop.
Check out our top picks for note-taking apps, all of which are compatible with touch-screen laptops.
Which are the best note-taking apps for PC?
Here’s a quick look at the best options. Find more in-depth descriptions below.
ClickUp | Task management with notes | Customizable notes, integrations (Notepad, Evernote), templates, team collaboration | ย โก๏ธGet it here |
Microsoft OneNote | Syncing across devices, multimedia notes | Password protection, sync across devices, web clipping, audio notes | ย โก๏ธ Get it here |
Notion | Collaboration and organization | Kanban boards, databases, cross-platform sync, customizable workflows | โก๏ธGet it here |
Evernote | Document organization and scanning | File organization, scanning, web clipping, audio recording | โก๏ธ Get it here |
Quip | Document and spreadsheet integration | Real-time collaboration, embedding, Excel-like features | โก๏ธGet it here |
Sticky Notes | Quick notes with reminders | Sync to OneDrive, text/image notes, pin notes to Start screen | โก๏ธ Get it here |
Simplenote | Basic, distraction-free note-taking | Tagging, note pinning, publishing with URLs | โก๏ธ Get it here |
Scrble | Handwritten notes on touchscreens | Auto-scroll, customizable backgrounds, image/PDF annotation | โก๏ธ Get it here |
1. ClickUp – note taking & task management
Digitally managing your work can easily get out of hand when there are way too many notes or way too many apps involved. That’s where ClickUp comes into play.
It’s an all-in-one productivity app with tons of useful features. Therefore, there are a few different ways to take notes with it.
ClickUp has its own note-taking features, plus it integrates apps like Notepad and Evernote, so you can pick your favorite tool, and also mix and match, depending on the type of your assignments.
Other key features of the app include:
- highly customizable
- modern & accesible UI
- nested subtasks & checklists
- automation of routine tasks
- time-saving pre-made templates
- chat & comments for teamwork
- multiple progress-tracking tools
ClickUp
Take customizable notes & stay on top of your game with tons of features and integrations.2. Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote comes with the Windows operating system and is available for free, or if you want the full Office 365, you can pay about $69 or so for it.
This app, which comes with the desktop version (OneNote) and a universal application, is fantastic for creating to-do lists, and projects and organizing your thoughts and other information.
The desktop version is meant for users of keyboards and mice, while the universal application that comes with the Windows 10 operating system is for touch tablets and laptops.
Besides being a note-taking app, Microsoft OneNote also helps you do the following:
- Sync your notes across your PC and other devices
- Password protects your files and notes
- Search for typed text and handwritten notes
- Capture web pages as notes, then add these to your Notes library
- Save content from Outlook
- Organizing your notes using the tabs and sections feature, based on each notebook you keep on your computer or device
- Access your notes from all devices and your computer
- Keep audio notes
- Add to-do lists next to your notes to keep track
โ Get OneNote
3. Notion
Taking notes has always been a task that was done with a pen and a small notebook, and that’s exactly the principle that our second pick follows.
The tool is available on all major platforms, including Windows, macOS, Android, and iOS, or as a web clipper. It allow smooth syncing between all of them.
Notion is a collaborative tool that acts, among other things, as a note-taking tool as well. Other than that, it has all the features a well-organized team may ever need, including:
- A system that helps you keep your notes organized where you can add any type of content.
- Kanban boards, tables, lists, and other tools that help you customize any workflow.
- Tools that let you turn your knowledge into easy-to-find answers.
โ Get Notion
4. Evernote
This popular note-taking app is ideal for use on Windows 10 and other operating systems, as well as the web and smart devices.
The app comes with different plans. You can get the free Evernote app with basic features, and an allowance of 60MB of file upload monthly, or you can get the Premium plan that gives you offline notebook access, integration with your emails, file searches, and much more.
Some of the tasks you can fulfill with Evernote include:
- Adding text
- Adding images, audio, and other files
- Organizing your files into notebooks
- Scanning documents such as handwritten notes, receipts, and other important documents with a simple snap of your phoneโs camera
- Note-taking
- Recording audio
- Clipping web pages for later using the appโs Web Clipper โ simply click the browser extension then save
- Save articles for reading later
โ Get Evernote
5. Quip
Quip is a versatile note-taking app. It works seamlessly on Windows and other devices, combining notes with documents and spreadsheets.
Unlike other apps, Quip saves each document or spreadsheet as its own file. It offers features like document embedding, team collaboration, and Excel-like spreadsheet functions, making it ideal for teams.
Some of its key features include:
- Document and spreadsheet integration
- Team collaboration with real-time updates
- Powerful search and embed features
- Excel-like spreadsheet functionality
- Web publishing and multiple format saving options
โ Get Quip
6. Sticky Notes
Remember the yellow sticky notes you use to leave a note on your fridge, or even on your laptop or PC so that you can remember stuff, or remind someone to do something?
Well, the Sticky Notes app has taken the paper out of the process and taken the place of the Post-It notes we used before technology made things easier โ minus the clutter.
Sticky Notes allows you to fulfill the following tasks:
- Take notes in form of text or images on stickies, the same way youโd write them on paper sticky notes (it also comes in different sizes and colors)
- Organize your notes neatly
- Pin your notes to the Start screen
- Sync your notes to OneDrive for seamless access across your computer and other devices
- Enable flight or calendar event features to keep up with your reminders
- Write Sticky Notes using a pen (for Surface Pro users or compatible tablets)
You can get Sticky Notes for free on Windows for use with your Windows 10 computer or device.
โ Get Sticky Notes
7. Simplenote
This note-taking app was recently availed for Windows, and, as its name suggests, is for simple note-taking.
Unlike other note-taking apps, Simplenote doesnโt have any complications, meaning you can only take notes, but you donโt get to add media files, clip web pages, or email integration.
There are no formatting options for your text, so itโs just like using your notepad and pen.
Simplenote lets you fulfill the following tasks though:
- Tag notes
- Pin notes for easier access
- Publish your notes with their very own URLs
- A simple interface makes for faster searches
โ Get Simplenote
8. Scrble
Scrble is a free note-taking app for Windows, ideal for Microsoft Surface or touchscreen laptop users. It offers customizable backgrounds like lined paper or whiteboards and supports stylus or finger input.
A standout feature is its auto-scroll, which seamlessly adds new pages as you write, eliminating interruptions. You can also import images and PDF documents for annotation. The app is free, with a $4 upgrade for the full version.
Key features:
- Customizable backgrounds
- Stylus or finger input support
- Auto-scroll for continuous writing
- Image and PDF import for annotations
- Free with an optional $4 upgrade
โ Get Scrble
Wrapping up
Do you use any of these note-taking apps? Share with us your experience in the comments section.
If you like using apps that make you more efficient and want to see more options, check out our Productivity Hub.
We also provide a large number of handpicked software suggestions for different types of activities. If you are interested in learning more, check our Software section.
Also, leave there any other questions or suggestions you may have and we’ll be sure to check them out.
That pretty much wraps up our list of the best apps that you can use to take notes. Let us know which of the ones above you’ve chosen as your favorite by leaving a message in the comments section below.
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