Best Note-Taking for Styluses in 2025

Creating notes with a stylus is popular for those who use an iPad or Android tablet.

These applications rock when it comes to using them with a stylus, and we'd recommend checking all of them out, as many have different device access and use other devices like Apple Pencil and Surface tablet pencil. We've shortlisted those focused on handwriting, markup in PDF, and annotation.

What is the best note-taking for using with a stylus?

The ultimate note-taking app that uses a stylus is GoodNotes. It comes on many different devices and uses the stylus of each tool to better help you take handwritten notes.

1. GoodNotes

GoodNotes is famous as an iPad app, but it works with Windows PCs, tablets, and Android tablets that use styluses. It is renowned for better note management in one place. GoodNotes works well for iPad and stylus use as it can convert notes from sketches or handwriting to written text using AI, allowing you to keep your original handwriting.

Folders help you organize GoodNotes, and many people credit the organizational structure to be great, not just for notes with a handwriting focus. It is also affordable for unlimited notes and devices at $9.99 per year.

2. Noteshelf

Noteshelf focuses on being a great iPad stylus note-taking application. Similar to GoodNotes, it offers a good-quality experience with a focus on AI-based note-taking. You can use the handwritten AI feature to generate notes and add to any of your notes with AI-generated prompts for more accessible and better note management.

The best thing about Noteshelf is that it offers decent one-time pricing of $9.99, which allows you access to the AI features with credit limits but good access per month.

3. OneNote

OneNote is popular for sketching and using on Microsoft Surface or Microsoft PC touchscreen devices. Many people like it because it is hosted within the Microsoft 365 offering. It can annotate documents well and has easy-to-use sketch abilities without AI handwritten features. Microsoft OneNote does have AI capabilities when it comes to using Microsoft Co-Pilot and works well with Microsoft Teams.

4. Evernote

Evernote works very well for annotating PDFs. It allows you to make reasonable markups and even use the sketching ability to create easy-to-demo diagrams. It won't be as good as Noteshelf and GoodNotes, but it offers a generous way to get started alongside a more traditional structured application for note-taking.

5. Notability

Notability is one of the longer-standing note apps with stylus abilities. It also works well for handwriting detection and math use, as well as for solving math questions using MyScript. Notability doesn't have as many AI-based features as Noteshelf and GoodNotes.

Still, it offers some excellent abilities within Notability Plus that provide a good way to sync notes and take notes with good audio and handwriting features.

6. Noteful

Noteful is well regarded in the note-taking space for iPad users.

It has many features have given it highly-rated reviews in the App Store. Many people tend to credit it as one of the better ones for annotating documents. It also has powerful tag abilities and the ability to mark PDFs. This isn't the most attractive notes app on iPad, but it has the generous features for iPad use.