We tested 20+ note-taking apps to find the best for professional work. These apps help you capture meeting notes, organize research, document processes, and build a personal knowledge base.
| Tool | Price | Platforms | Note Linking | Collaboration | Offline | Our Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Notion | Free | All | Good | Excellent | Limited | 9.4/10 |
| Obsidian | Free | All | Excellent | Limited | Full | 9.3/10 |
| Roam | $15/mo | Web/Mobile | Best | Good | Limited | 9.1/10 |
| Evernote | Free | All | Basic | Good | Full | 8.7/10 |
| OneNote | Free | All | Basic | Excellent | Full | 8.6/10 |
| Bear | Free | Apple | Good | Full | 8.5/10 | |
| Craft | Free | Apple/Web | Good | Good | Full | 8.4/10 |
| Logseq | Free | All | Excellent | Limited | Full | 8.3/10 |
Notion combines notes with databases, wikis, and project management. Build team documentation, meeting note templates, and knowledge bases in one connected workspace.
Obsidian stores notes as local Markdown files you own forever. The graph view visualizes connections between notes, and plugins extend functionality endlessly.
Roam pioneered block-level linking and daily notes workflow. Reference any block anywhere, query your notes like a database, and build genuine networked thought.
Evernote has the best web clipper for capturing content from the internet. OCR makes images searchable, and the mature platform handles large note collections.
OneNote is free and deeply integrated with Microsoft 365. The notebook/section/page structure works well for organizing work notes, and ink support is excellent.
Bear is the most beautiful Markdown note app for Apple users. Elegant design, smooth writing experience, and tag-based organization for personal notes.
Craft creates stunning visual documents with blocks, cards, and media. Share beautiful pages externally, and use the native apps for excellent performance.
Logseq is a free, open-source alternative to Roam. Local Markdown/Org-mode files, block linking, and daily journals without the subscription cost.
We tested each app for professional documentation and knowledge work.
Linked notes work best for knowledge that connects across topics - research, learning, creative work. Folder structures work better for project-based work with clear hierarchies. Many professionals use both: linked notes for thinking, folders for projects.
Notion is excellent for team documentation but can be overkill for personal notes. Pure note apps like Obsidian and Bear offer faster capture and better focus. Consider your primary use case: collaboration favors Notion, personal thinking favors dedicated note apps.
Not necessarily. OneNote, Logseq, and basic tiers of most apps are free. Paid tiers add sync, collaboration, and advanced features. If notes are central to your work, the $10-15/month for premium features is usually worthwhile.
