In an era in which notebooks and paper notebooks have been relegated to the background, computers such as Macs are essential for managing notes. Whether it’s jotting down an address, making a shopping list, keeping the minutes of a meeting, or taking notes in class, we can find great tools designed for macOS. That is why in this article we collect the most outstanding applications for this, also taking into account those that synchronize with other computers such as iPhone or iPad through iCloud.
Notes apps on the Mac App Store
There are many note applications present in the Mac app store. Its main advantage over those downloaded on the internet is that some parameters such as security or optimization of it are guaranteed, since they are two of the essential requirements for Apple agrees to have them in the Mac App Store. On the other hand there is the issue of updates, which although the internet is also updated, with these it is possible to configure automatic downloads without having to worry about doing it manually or by going to the developer’s website.
Microsoft OneNote
Other tools in the Microsoft suite such as Word, Excel or PowerPoint are well known, but perhaps not so well. If you have not heard of it before, you have to know that it is probably one of the most complete applications for managing notes. Beyond the typical interface for taking quick notes, it offers us a compendium of utilities that are very helpful on a day-to-day basis. From writing memos, sketching, or taking simple notes. It is even possible to make drawings, although this with a trackpad or mouse is somewhat cumbersome. In any case, you can customize each note to be different and organize them in a very intuitive way.
Schedule
With such a name, this application leaves little doubt as to its usefulness. Its most powerful functions include the possibility of having a powerful text editor with multiple formats, creating shared notes and having custom templates to have them at hand by default. However, it has many other utilities such as those related to project management and the perfect organization that can be achieved. It is also possible to add tasks for the day as an agenda and to visualize everything in a very clear way.
Bear – Private Notepad
Beyond being a note management app, Bear offers a great writing experience without distraction. It is more focused on text editors who seek to remove barriers when writing and focus on what interests them. You can create various formats, differentiate phrases or words with labels, add tasks for a specific day, put links to other notes and much more. Being cross-platform, it is perfectly synchronized with the respective iOS and iPadOS apps.
iA Writer
This application follows the line of the previous one, since its main functionality is once again that of promoting writing without distractions. Its minimalist interface, modalities such as the focus on a certain part that is being written, its good organization and great optimization have also served it to be awarded several times as one of the best applications available in the App Store. It is cross-platform, although unfortunately it will have to be paid twice, once on the Mac and once on iOS or iPadOS.
Notebook – Take Notes, Sync
Not all are applications that require a lot, since there are other simpler ones like this that can be very useful and even be combined with some other. His mission is to create notes quickly as if it were a classic post-it. It has a multitude of highly visual designs that will later serve to better identify the notes in the different pads that can be created and viewed at a glance. It has the possibility of creating lists and even making voice recordings within the same notes.
Notability
Perhaps this is not the first time that you know of the existence of this application, since it is one of the most popular on devices such as the iPad due to its tremendous possibilities of working with Apple Pencil. However, in macOS it does not fall short, since it offers interesting tools with which to create your own workflow and get to have on the computer a digital notebook identical to the one you would have on paper, although with the always appreciable advantages that digitization offers. Its synchronization with the mentioned iPadOS or iOS app is perfect, being able to have all the notes on each device almost instantly.
Noted.
The highlight of this application is that it allows you to perfectly combine classic written notes with voice memos. In fact it is possible to pass these notes to text in a really easy way. It is an ideal application for meetings, since it takes audio very well, eliminating all external noise that is foreign to what you want to target. Perhaps it is not suitable for this for all types of users, but for professionals it is a tool to always have at hand on the Mac.
GoodNotes 5
Like Notability, this application is one of the most popular on iPad, so it will also be interesting to download if you combine note taking on this device and on the Mac. In the desktop app, it also offers a minimalist interface focused on creating notes in an organized way and without limiting creativity. If there is something to highlight about it, it is that it removes any barrier and allows you to reorganize and adjust the content and margins even after the note is written, as well as allowing you to add images and even audiovisual content. Without a doubt, one of the most recommended also for synchronization issues.
Native Notes app
Apple Notes, also known simply as Notes, is the default application found on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Its interface is very consistent with the rest of the company’s native applications. With a simple and minimalist interface you could have more than enough without having to download absolutely anything.
It lacks certain functionalities that are provided by others mentioned in this article, but it maintains others such as the creation of tables and lists or the possibility of scanning documents using an iPhone or iPad. Its synchronization, as is evident, is perfect and takes place in seconds (although it depends on the internet connection). It is possible to create folders and subfolders and even store some notes only on the Mac. If your use is going to be easy, it could be worth it.
