The following Free or Low-Cost Assistive Technology programs, software, websites, and apps focus on different forms of Notetaking Support. The information about the following applications has been summarized from the applications’ websites and/or from experience testing the applications. We update this page approximately once a year. Please refer to the applications’ websites for the most up to date information.
This page was created by the Augsburg University CLASS Office. To reference our resource pages, please correctly cite Augsburg University CLASS Office.
Notetaking
Evernote
Features:
- A one-stop place to collect notes, files, web clippings, and images with the ability to access them on virtually any device
- Collect and find your information easily
- A tool for researching, planning events and everyday organizational use
- Collaborate with others on projects using the sharing features
- More Information: Evernote Website
Cost: Free or monthly subscription for Personal and Professional version
Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS; Android
GoodNotes
Features:
- Digital note taking applications that allows users to personalize their notes, organize, record audio, access notes on multiple devices, and more
- Limitless version includes handwriting recognition and importing documents
- More Information: GoodNotes Website
Cost: Free for 3 notebooks and $9.99/year for unlimited
Compatibility: iOS, Mac
iAnnotate
Features:
- Annotate PDF, Word Doc, PowerPoint, and image files with this app
- Use the typewriter, pen, highlighter, stamp, note, underline, photo, voice and other tools to annotate your document
- Import PDFs or compress and export for secured sharing with others
- More Information: iAnnotate Website
Cost: $9.99
Compatibility: iOS
Microsoft OneNote
Features:
- Take all your notes in OneNote by typing, writing with a touchscreen, importing pictures, video, web links, and other resources
- Ability to record your lecture with this program
- Divide up your classes and work by notebook, section, and pages
- Using OneDrive online, share your OneNote document for others to work on and interact with
- Search your notes for the ability to easily find what you need
- More Information: OneNote Website
Cost: Free with an Office account
Compatibility: Windows; Mac; iOS; Android
Notability
Features:
- Write, type, or annotate using highlighters your notes using the all-in-one notetaking app
- Ability to take pictures and audio record with the sound being linked to your notes
- Use Google Drive, Dropbox and Box to import, export and share documents such as PowerPoints and take notes directly on them
- Organize all your notes in one place
- More Information: Notability Website
Cost: Free and Plus version with annual subscription
Compatibility: Mac; iOS
Note Board
Features:
- A web application that creates a note-taking board to gather notes
- Ability to upload PDFs, Docs, images, and website links (varies between demo and premium version)
- Create multiple note-taking boards
- Collaborate with others by sharing your note-taking board
- Customizable background and note style
- More information: Note Board Website
Cost: Free for Basic and $3/month for Premium
Compatibility: Online Resource; Chrome and Edge extension
Notebook – Notes, To-do, Journal
Features:
- Create personalized notebooks with customizable style settings
- Insert audio recordings up to 30 minutes and supplemental images within your notes
- Allows for drawing, tagging notebooks for easy navigation, adding to-do list items, and setting reminders
- More information: Notebook Website
Cost: Free for Notebook Essential and $19.99/year subscription for Notebook Pro
Compatibility: iOS; Android; Mac; Windows; Online Resource
Noted.
Features:
- Note taking application with a time-stamped audio recording feature synced with typed notes
- Draw, record, type, or dictate notes
- Export, import, and adjust notes, documents, and recordings within the app
- More information: Noted Website
Cost: Free for Noted Basic and Noted+ at a subscription cost
Compatibility: iOS: Mac, iPhone, iPad, apple watch
Obsidian
Features:
- Private note-taking app that allows users to connect their notes to each other
- Users can link between their notes and through the graph feature they can “visualize the relationship between [their] notes” (Obsidian, 2024)
- Includes a brainstorming space called Canvas
- More information: Obsidian Website
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Windows, iOS, Android, Mac, Linux
Simplenote
Features:
- Distraction free note taking platform
- Works across devices
- Create searchable notes and to do lists
- More information: Simplenote Website
Cost: Free
Compatibility: iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux
UpNote
Features:
- Distraction free note-taking space that can hide menu items and other distractions while taking notes through focus mode
- Users can create custom notes with different themes, fonts, colors, highlighting options and more
- Additional features available in the premium version
- More information: UpNote Website
Cost: Free or $1.99/month
Compatibility: Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android
YiNote
Features:
- Take notes while watching videos
- Generate a PDF of notes
- Includes timestamps of notes
- By clicking on the timestamps generated with the notes, this will take you to the exact place in the video the note was taken
- Ability to watch videos with multiple people at the same time with the same notes
- More information: YiNote Website
Cost: Free
Compatibility: Chrome, Firefox, and Edge extension
Download a printable copy with live links of the list of Free and Low-Cost Assistive Technology for Notetaking AT Support, please click on the following link: Notetaking AT
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