7 Best Free Notepad or Note-taking Apps for Android and iOS

Notepad is a very common app for smartphones, and it may already be pre-installed on your Android and iOS devices. If you do not like the default Notepad app or if you want more note-taking features, then you have very good options that I have listed below.

According to me, the Notepad app should have these three features: Make a note (also with handwriting), make to-do lists, and sync to the cloud. These are enough to take notes, but below I’ve listed apps that have more features to your needs. According to my tests, ads will not appear in the applications listed below.

The best notepad apps for Android and iOS / iPhone / iPad are:

1. Evernote

Evernote is more than a note-taking software, it helps you store photos, videos, audio, and files in a note, not just texts. You can create notebooks, checklists, and to-do lists in the app, and your data will be immediately synced on all devices.

As a basic (free) user, you have limited access to Evernote features, but I believe basic features are enough to take notes.

Get the Evernote app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

Read the best alternative apps to Evernote.

2. ColorNote

ColorNote is one of my favorite note-taking apps for Android, even though it’s currently available for Android, not for iOS. If you use the app, it sounds very simple, but it has great features behind the scenes like cloud sync, changing notes color, locking notes with a master password, and more

ColorNote on Google Play is the most downloaded and highly rated Notepad app.

Get the ColorNote app from Google Play or Apkmonk.

3. Google Keep

Google Keep is simply awesome, the app’s design gives you the experience of colorful paper notes, which we usually stick on the wall and desk, with the addition of multimedia content in notes, you can create notes and lists in the app. The best thing about Google Keep is free, with no payment plans, and no advertising.

Get the Google Keep app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

4. OneNote

OneNote is a full featured note-taking app that you can use to make notes like a pro. If you use Microsoft OneNote on your Windows PC, you will be more favorable with the mobile app. The Android and iOS versions of the app will give you a PC-like editing experience.

You can create notes, to-do lists, and notebooks in the app, and your data will be synced across all devices (if signed in). Photos can be inserted into notes, and do not forget to use the handwriting tool in the OneNote app.

Get the OneNote app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

5. Notebook

Notebook by Zoho Corporation is a beautiful note-taking app that you can like if you look through the notebook covers. You can make a checklist in notes, to-do lists, notebooks, attach multimedia contents, use handwriting tools and a lot more.

Zoho Corporation distributes this app for free without any ads.

Get the Notebook app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

6. Simplenote

Like their name, Simplenote is a simple note taking app that focuses on pure text notes instead of multimedia notes. To sync your data across devices, sign-in is required in the app. The app is free and there was no advertisement at all in it.

Simplenote has been developed by Automattic, which has developed WordPress CMS.

Get the Simplenote app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.

7. GNotes

With useful note-taking features, GNotes is one of the best free notepad apps for smartphones. You can add text, checklist, and multimedia content to your notes, as well as handwriting and painting tools are also available in the editor.

Sign in to the GNotes app and synchronize your notes on all devices

Get the GNotes app from Google Play or the iTunes App Store.