Noteful
Noteful is a digital note-taking and annotation app optimized for handwriting on iOS devices that blends fluid pen input with powerful document tools. You can write naturally using Apple Pencil or touch input; its custom ink engine records strokes as scalable vector ink, and you can switch between three brushes (ballpoint, fountain, highlighter), sizes, and colors. Beyond handwriting, Noteful supports importing PDFs and Office documents, annotating with typed text, images, and shapes, and layering multiple paper templates within a single notebook. Notes can be organized flexibly via hashtag tagging (including nested tags), rather than rigid folder structures, and you can browse content by tags or pin important pages. It offers a layer system so you can annotate without altering base content, hiding or reordering layers as needed. Editing tools include a precise eraser, lasso selection for moving or resizing content, unlimited undo/redo, and split-view multitasking.
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Notability
Combine handwriting, photos and typing in a single note to bring your projects to life. Use a wide range of note-taking and sketching tools to capture every detail. You can even add and annotate PDFs in Notability. It’s the perfect place to create and organize work, school, and life's information!
Experiment with different tools to create beautiful, hand-crafted notes and sketches. Continue to scale, rotate, and recolor your ideas and sketches until your notes are just how you want them. Once you're done, organize your notes with ease so you always know where to find what matters most.
Zoom in on the specifics, or explore the big picture by combining sketches, outlines, and type. Now you are ready to share your notes with colleagues or study partners through Google Drive, AirDrop, Email and Dropbox.
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Kilonotes
Kilonotes is a digital note-taking and PDF reading app designed to support students and professionals with an intuitive handwriting experience and versatile study tools. It allows users to record class notes, mark up PDFs, complete exercises, study online lessons, and organize reading notes in one place, positioning itself as a reliable study partner. The handwriting function mimics the natural feel of writing on paper, while customization options let you personalize notebooks and layouts. Kilonotes also includes a variety of photo editing tools and a split-screen function so you can take notes while watching videos or lectures. Its recording feature makes it easy to capture spoken content alongside notes for later review, and the app provides tools to quickly extract key points from study material. A unique card-based learning mode allows users to transform notes into flashcards to reinforce knowledge retention.
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Freenotes
Freenotes offers a digital note-taking experience that blends the feel of writing on paper with powerful AI enhancements. You get realistic pen strokes that mimic lifelike handwriting as you sketch or take notes, along with tools like handwriting-to-text conversion, stickers, and various brush styles. Your notes sync via iCloud and multi-cloud backups. Freenotes supports PDF annotation, letting you mark up, highlight, and translate text directly in your documents; you can also insert hyperlinks to other pages or external web content. It enables picture-in-picture video mode and split-screen support so you can take notes while watching course videos or lectures. With its built-in AI assistant, you can take a screenshot or upload a document and receive instant answers or content summaries. To stay organized, notes can be grouped into folders, and a quick search lets you locate what you need fast.
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