Begone the days of messy note-taking and ineligible writing after trying to catch up with your lecturer. With the evolution of technology, there are many ways to quickly write down important notes, highlighting key information and watching back lectures to fully understand what you’ve learned. Here are some apps that can turn you into a note-taking maestro.

Evernote

Evernote is considered one of the most popular services, recommended by “Forbes” and “The Verge”, in simplifying the note-taking process. It is a cloud-based app that allows you to create, edit and share notes. It is easy to use even with several advanced options, including, advanced searching, PDF annotation, document scanning and team collaboration features, making it very useful when it comes to group projects. It also syncs your online lectures to your notes so you can track the notes you’ve taken to specific points of your lecture when playing it back. Evernote is completely free to download, which gives you the ability to sync between two devices, attach PDFs, files, photos, images, and documents. If you’re looking to do more with the app in a professional capacity, there is a monthly subscription service to access more tools and features which you’ll be required to pay after a 14-day free trial.

Microsoft OneNote

If you’re looking at services that don’t require you to pay monthly, Microsoft OneNote is a free application that helps shape your thoughts into a well-organised document that can be split into different chapters. It utilises the popular Microsoft Office 365 Suite to promote efficiency and improve the way you study. OneNote is accessible on many devices, so you can start working on your laptop, then update notes on your phone throughout the day, and you can even see the agenda for the day on your smartwatch. When it comes to organising big projects, your notes can be shared with your classmates to ensure everyone stays on the same page and it automatically syncs the progress and contribution. You can create new folders and separate them with chapters within the subjects so you can find your work easily.

Amplenote

Amplenote is a service with a goal to have all things you need to study in one application, bringing your ideas to life. It has four separate sections dedicated to what you want to put in:

• “Jots” helps you quickly write down any ideas that come to mind or something that you need to remind yourself about later.
• “Notes” transforms what you’ve written down in Jots to a fully thought-out plan.
• “Tasks” helps you break down your notes into reminders that need to be done to achieve your goal.
• “Calendar” helps you create a deadline on the tasks to ensure you complete them in a timeframe you’ve set.

Amplenote can be downloaded across many platforms, making it easy to access from your home computer to on-the-go with your tablet or phone.

GoodNotes

GoodNotes prides itself on being one of the best digital papers to note down, shape and share ideas on according to “Software Advice”. It is widely available for iOS, utilising iCloud to sync with all your Apple devices so you can continue your work and access your notes anywhere. The service provides many features like searching through your notes to find specific keywords, annotating PDFs and Powerpoints, organising your notes your own way and personalising your notebooks with a wide selection of paper templates to choose from. You can also record audio while you take notes, making it handy when you have lecturers who speak fast or if you need to listen again later. GoodNotes also has a flash card feature so you can learn more effectively in study mode. GoodNotes is free to download and allows you to have the first three notebooks for free. If you are looking to creating more, you can make a one-time payment of $15 to make as many as you like.

Miro

Miro is an application mostly used by businesses and can also be useful for university students as well. The service functions like a digital whiteboard and is used to communicate and collaborate with your fellow class members without the constraints of physical location. Miro can be used across many platforms, making accessibility easier for anyone who is studying at home or at the university campus. All updates from anyone involved in a project appears and is saved in real time so no-one will miss out on what has been discussed. The free edition of Miro gives you three editable boards to work with and you can invite individuals to join in. If you need extra features for your study, there are membership options with no limit on board additions.