The 8 Best AI Note-Taking Apps in 2025

I’ve tried nearly every AI note-taking app out there; some were clunky, others missed key moments, and a few just dumped transcripts without context. But these 8 tools helped me stay organized without adding more chaos. 

What’s an AI note-taking app?

A note-taking app is a digital application that allows users to capture, organize, and store information in a digital format. It's a tool for recording thoughts, ideas, or important information, offering features like text writing, creating lists, recording audio, and taking pictures, all within a digital notebook.

From turning spoken words into clean transcripts to summarizing long conversations into bullet points, these tools act more like assistants than traditional apps.

And then comes the best part, Automation. Some AI note-taking apps (like Lindy or Krisp) can auto-record meetings without you lifting a finger. Others, like Notion AI, can rewrite, summarize, and even rephrase messy notes to make them more structured.

But it’s not just about meetings – some AI-powered note-takers (like Google Notebook LM) turn your notes into interactive Q&A tools, i.e., you can ask them things like “What were the three main decisions from last week's meeting?” and get an instant answer. Others, like Granola, focus on privacy and work offline.

The 8 AI Note-Taking Apps: TL;DR

1. Lindy: Best for automation and integrations
2. Granola: Best for live meeting transcription and privacy
3. Krisp: Best for instant meeting notes 
4. Apple Notes: Best for Apple users
5. Notion: Best for project management
6. Google’s Notebook LM: Best for deep research and document insights
7. Evernote: Best for cross-device sync
8. Reflect: Best for beginners
   

The 8 Best AI Note-Taking Apps in 2025

1. Lindy: Best for automation and integrations

What does it do? Lindy is an AI meeting assistant that transcribes, summarizes, and syncs notes automatically across your workflow.

Who is it for? Ideal for teams and individuals who want automated meeting notes and task extraction with extensive integrations.

We built Lindy as more than just a note-taker, but a full-fledged AI agent platform with a meeting assistant that fits right into your workflow. Once connected to Google Calendar and Zoom, Lindy joins your meetings, transcribes conversations with over 99% accuracy, and generates structured summaries and task lists without needing constant input.

What makes Lindy different is how it goes beyond basic transcripts. Instead of dumping raw text, Lindy identifies key takeaways, action items, and even assigns deadlines. It syncs those insights directly with tools like Slack, Notion, Asana, and Google Docs, keeping your team aligned without any extra work from you.

To make the experience even smoother, Lindy offers prebuilt templates for different types of meetings, like stand-ups, strategy calls, or client reviews, so you don’t have to format everything from scratch. 

You can also switch between leading AI models like GPT-4, Claude, and Gemini, depending on the type of response or tone you prefer for your notes.

Lindy also supports customization. You can train it to take notes in specific formats, prioritize certain types of meetings, and answer follow-up questions later by pulling info from past calls instantly. During testing, asking things like “What did Jennie say about the budget update?” felt natural, and the responses were spot-on.

Available across web, desktop, and mobile platforms, Lindy lets you take real-time notes anywhere, including physical meetings. With a generous free plan and AI automation, it’s the smartest option for anyone trying to bring order to their note chaos.

Pros

• Customizable summaries and note styles
• Extracts action items with deadlines automatically
• Lindy Academy for 24/7 access to tutorials and guides

Cons

• Premium pricing for the full feature set
• Learning curve for deeper customization

Pricing

• Free plan: 400 monthly credits, 400 tasks, 1M character knowledge base
• Pro ($49.99/month): 5,000 credits, 5,000 tasks, 20M character base, premium actions, basic phone support
• Business ($299.99/month): 30,000 credits, 30,000 tasks, phone support, priority help, advanced automation

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2. Granola: Best for live meeting transcription and privacy

What does it do? Granola transcribes and summarizes meetings directly on your Mac, prioritizing local processing rather than cloud-based storage.

Who is it for? Great for solo professionals who prioritize offline transcription and data privacy.

Most AI note-taking apps sound promising until you're bogged down with bots, permissions, or half-useful transcripts. Granola takes a refreshingly simple approach. It runs locally on your Mac and captures meetings without needing to join the call as a bot or notify anyone. There are no awkward pop-ups, no cloud syncs, and no fuss.

Once set up, it can transcribe virtually any meeting, Zoom, Google Meet, Teams, or casual conversations at a café. 

The AI summarizes discussions, pulls out action items, and refines your notes without rewriting them beyond recognition. Without turning them into a generic rehash, it feels like a cleanup crew for messy transcripts.

You can ask Granola questions like “What decisions were made?” and it will search your transcript to give clean, specific answers. 

Granola also includes meeting templates, customizable layouts for 1:1s, sales calls, interviews, and more, to help you organize conversations without starting from scratch every time.

The best part? Everything stays on your device. Granola stores all transcripts locally, which makes it ideal for anyone dealing with sensitive conversations or confidential projects.

Pros

• Works entirely offline on macOS
• Supports custom meeting templates
• Answers questions based on transcript context

Cons

• No mobile or Windows support
• Pricey compared to similar tools

Pricing

• Free plan: 25 meetings, AI chat access, custom templates
• Individual ($18/month): Unlimited meetings, AI enhancements, full template access
• Business ($14/user/month): Team-wide sharing, consolidated billing, permissions
• Enterprise ($35/user/month): Local AI training opt-out, compliance controls, admin alerts

3. Krisp: Best for instant meeting notes 

What does it do? Krisp, originally known for its noise cancellation technology, records meetings on your desktop and instantly generates AI-powered summaries, action items, and transcripts.

Who is it for? Perfect for professionals who want quick post-meeting insights with minimal setup.

Krisp makes recording and reviewing meetings easy with one lightweight desktop app. Once installed on macOS or Windows, it automatically captures all your calls and turns them into searchable transcripts, concise summaries, and clearly labeled action items. 

Setup is quick, just log in, grant mic and camera permissions, and start recording.

The built-in noise cancellation feature aims to improve transcription quality by filtering out background distractions. In practice, though, the transcription isn't always spot on, even in quiet environments. 

That said, the AI’s ability to summarize meetings and extract relevant tasks works well and saves time when juggling multiple calls daily.

Krisp also offers a floating control panel that overlays your meeting screen. This panel lets you manage recordings and switch between modes without tabbing out. Once a meeting wraps, you can review everything inside the app, including summaries, discussion highlights, and answers to follow-up questions.

While it lacks a web or mobile version, Krisp does integrate with Slack, Zapier, and business-grade CRMs like HubSpot and Salesforce. 

You can also add up to 750 custom terms to improve accuracy based on your industry. It’s not flawless, but it’s fast, straightforward, and gets most of the job done.

Pros

• Simple desktop setup and usage
• Custom vocabulary for better accuracy
• Fast generation of summaries and tasks

Cons

• Requires app install to work
• Inconsistent transcription in quiet settings

Pricing

• Free plan: Unlimited recordings, 60 min/day noise cancellation, 2 AI notes/day, 7-day history
• Pro ($8/user/month): Multi-language summaries, video recording, AI Co-Pilot, Slack/Zapier integrations, 3GB storage
• Business ($15/user/month): Admin controls, CRM integrations (HubSpot, Salesforce), 30GB storage, analytics, dedicated manager

4. Apple Notes: Best for Apple users

What does it do? Apple Notes now uses built-in AI to transcribe, summarize, proofread, and organize your notes across iPhone, iPad, and Mac.

Who is it for? Perfect for Apple users who want smarter note-taking without switching to a new app.

Apple Notes has long been a reliable place to stash ideas, grocery lists, and quick thoughts. But with Apple Intelligence now built in, it becomes a much more capable tool for real-time note-taking and content cleanup. 

The new AI features are fully integrated, with no extra downloads, no subscriptions, and no additional setup if you’re already in the Apple ecosystem.

During meetings, you can record conversations and see real-time transcription right inside the app. Once you're done, hit “Summarize” and the AI will pull out the key points, reformat them into structured notes, and help you extract the most useful parts of the discussion. 

The output is clean and easy to scan, which saves you from sifting through an entire transcript later.

Apple also added proofreading and rewriting tools. You can select any section of your notes and have the AI improve clarity, simplify the language, or even adjust the tone. These features are especially helpful for students, content creators, or anyone who turns raw notes into polished writing.

Another standout is the enhanced PDF support. You can annotate, highlight, sign, and export PDFs without leaving the app. It’s a small upgrade that makes Apple Notes more useful for business or academic work.

The only catch? It’s Apple-only. But if you’re deep into the Apple ecosystem, this is one of the most powerful free tools available.

Pros

• Supports live transcription and PDF markup
• Summarizes and rewrites notes with one tap
• Includes proofreading and tone adjustment tools

Cons

• No Android or Windows compatibility
• AI features can’t be fine-tuned or customized

Pricing

• Free: Included with iOS, iPadOS, and macOS (AI features available on newer compatible Apple devices only)

5. Notion: Best for project management

What does it do? Notion AI helps you write, organize, summarize, and translate content inside your Notion workspace.

Who is it for? Best for teams and solo users already working inside Notion who want faster writing and smarter organization.

Notion was already a powerhouse for note-taking, task tracking, and project documentation. But with the AI add-on, it becomes even more useful, especially if you spend most of your day writing or organizing thoughts. 

Notion AI helps turn messy notes into clean summaries, reformats raw input into structured pages, and even adjusts tone or translates content on the fly.

You don’t need to open a separate tool or learn a new workflow. Just type a spacebar command, and Notion AI is ready to help, whether you're drafting an internal update, brainstorming ideas, or cleaning up a meeting recap. 

The AI can summarize full transcripts, rewrite paragraphs, or create action items from rough outlines. I tested this with an hour-long meeting dump, and it generated a clean, readable summary in seconds.

It also shines when you need a second set of eyes. You can ask it to proofread content, rewrite in a more formal tone, or translate notes for cross-border teams. It’s helpful, intuitive, and nicely tucked into the Notion UI.

That said, the AI tool is not included in the base plan. It’s a separate $10/month add-on, which feels a bit steep if you're not already deep into the Notion ecosystem. But if you are, it’s hard to beat the convenience of having AI built directly into the space where all your work already lives.

Pros

• Summarizes messy notes into usable formats
• Supports tone changes and multilingual output
• Integrated natively within the Notion workspace

Cons

• AI add-on costs extra
• Lacks automation features for task workflows

Pricing

• Notion AI add-on: $10/user/month (annual) or $12/user/month (monthly), added on top of your existing Notion plan

6. Google’s Notebook LM: Best for deep research and document insights

What does it do? Notebook LM turns your notes, PDFs, and documents into searchable Q&A sessions, summaries, and audio briefings.

Who is it for? Best for researchers, students, and writers who want to extract insights from large files.

Google’s Notebook LM isn’t your typical note-taking app. It’s designed more like a personal research assistant that helps you process large volumes of information, such as essays, PDFs, lecture transcripts, and research articles. 

Instead of simply storing your notes, it actively analyzes them and makes them usable through summaries, document-level Q&A, and audio narration.

During my test, I uploaded a mix of resumes and YouTube transcripts, and Notebook LM generated structured takeaways.

I hadn’t even thought to look for it. The AI isn’t just summarizing, it’s identifying patterns, surfacing opportunities, and answering context-aware questions like “What are the candidate’s core strengths?” or “How does this topic connect with X?” That kind of semantic reading is rare in free tools.

The standout feature is Audio Overview. It doesn’t sound like robotic narration; it’s delivered by two conversational AI voices that pause, emphasize, and clarify key concepts as if hosting a podcast. It’s perfect for passive listening during walks or commutes.

Still, this is a solo tool. There’s no real-time co-editing or collaborative project tracking like in Notion or OneNote. You also need to feed it data manually and it’s only available on the web.

Pros

• Generates a podcast-style audio briefing
• Custom chat settings for response control
• Smart summaries and question-answering from uploads

Cons

• No collaboration or real-time editing
• Premium features require a Google One AI plan

Pricing

• Free: Upload up to 50 sources per notebook
• Notebook LM+ (via Google One AI Premium): $19.99/month, includes 500 notebooks, 300 sources per notebook, analytics, chat-only sharing, and advanced AI controls
• Student Discount: $9.99/month for eligible U.S. students, valid for 12 months

7. Evernote: Best for cross-device sync

What does it do? Evernote lets you take notes, manage tasks, and organize information across devices, now with AI-powered formatting and editing.

Who is it for? Great for users who want a polished note-taking tool that blends personal productivity and light project management.

Evernote has been around for a while, but its 2025 version feels like a reboot. With new ownership and a full rebuild, it now comes with a smoother interface, calendar syncing, and AI-powered features. It’s no longer just a place to jot down ideas; it’s evolving into a hybrid workspace for notes, tasks, and planning.

The first thing I noticed was how intuitive the editor felt. Adding tasks directly inside notes, linking them to calendar events, and sharing notes in dedicated Spaces made everything more cohesive. 

I especially liked the “linked notes” feature. While writing a meeting summary, I connected it to an onboarding doc, and it instantly felt like I had a mini knowledge base, without needing to dig through folders.

Evernote’s AI can help clean up writing, translate text, and adjust tone, but unlike some competitors, it doesn’t auto-summarize or extract key points from meetings. It’s useful, but not as autonomous as tools like Otter or Mem.

If you’re using Evernote for work, the team features like shared spaces, custom tags, and centralized management can be handy. That said, you’ll need to upgrade, because the free plan is too limited for any serious use.

Pros

• Linked notes create easy internal references
• Connects notes to tasks and calendar events
• Reliable multi-device syncing and offline support

Cons

• Free plan is heavily restricted
• AI lacks auto-summarization or transcription

Pricing

• Personal ($10.83/month): 150,000 notes, 2,000 notebooks, 10GB/month upload
• Professional ($14.16/month): Adds AI editing, 20GB uploads, Acrobat Standard access
• Teams ($20.83/user/month): Shared Spaces, 10,000 notebooks, admin tools, centralized billing

8. Reflect: Best for beginners

What does it do? Reflect is a minimalist AI note-taking app available across macOS, iOS, and the web, focused on helping you organize and connect your thoughts with privacy in mind.

Who is it for? Great for solo users who want a fast, lightweight note-taking experience with privacy and subtle AI support.

Reflect isn’t trying to be the next big productivity suite, and that’s what makes it refreshing. It’s a distraction-free note-taking app that quietly adds AI where it helps, like summarizing long notes, generating daily tasks, or transcribing voice memos using Whisper. 

But Reflect is not built for big teams or complex workflows; it’s designed for people who want to think and reflect without friction.

The interface is fast and clutter-free. Notes feel more like a continuous journal than separate pages, making it surprisingly easy to scroll back and revisit older thoughts. It’s also one of the few tools that automatically connects related ideas using backlinks. 

Just type “[[ “ and a name or phrase, and it links everything connected to that term, almost like your notes are talking to each other.

Voice-to-text is solid when you're capturing solo thoughts, but not the best in multi-speaker situations like Zoom calls. The AI summaries work for organizing thoughts, but don’t expect anything groundbreaking. They help clean things up, not do your thinking for you.

Still, it’s ideal for personal reflection, journaling, and quiet productivity. If you want a tool that stays out of your way but supports your thinking process, Reflect is a solid pick.

Pros

• Clean, fast, and distraction-free interface
• Great for solo journaling and voice memos
• Backlinking resurfaces related notes effortlessly

Cons

• No Android or Windows support
• AI struggles with group transcription

Pricing

• 14-day free trial
• Paid plan ($10/month, billed annually): Includes GPT-4 access (limited), Whisper transcription, Kindle sync, offline mode, and end-to-end encryption

How I choose the best AI notes app

A lot of AI note-taking tools come with flashy features that look impressive, but in reality, I do not end up using most of them. What does matter is how well the app fits into my daily workflow without making things harder. 

So when I am testing AI note-taking apps, these are the six things I care about most:

1. Accuracy and intelligence: Not all AI notes apps are smart. Some just spit out raw transcripts and call it a day. I need something that understands context, captures speech clearly, separates speakers, and pulls out tasks or key decisions. Clean transcription and sharp summarization are not optional; they are the baseline.
2. Ease of use and setup: If I have to fight with settings or chase down APIs just to take notes, it is a no from me. A good AI note app should work right out of the box with minimal setup, no annoying plugins, and a clean, distraction-free interface.
3. Automation and workflow integration: If I am still doing most of the work, the AI note-taking software is not doing its job. I look for tools that can automatically record meetings, transcribe them in real time, and plug directly into the rest of my workflow, like Slack, Google Drive, Notion, Asana, or wherever I work. Bonus points if it can turn notes into tasks automatically.
4. Customization and flexibility: Everyone takes notes differently, and a one-size-fits-all approach does not cut it. The best AI tools for note-taking let me choose between full transcripts, bullet summaries, or custom templates. I want to feel like the app is adapting to me, not the other way around.
5. Security and privacy: Meeting notes often contain sensitive information, so I need to know my data is safe. That means end-to-end encryption, clear privacy policies, and ideally, an option to store notes locally. If the AI notetaking app is not transparent about how it handles my data, I am out.
6. Pricing and value: I do not mind paying if it is worth it. The best AI note-taking apps offer real value even at the free tier. I am not looking for fancy features I will never touch. I want something that earns its price by saving me time and making my work easier.

At the end of the day, a good AI note-taking app should feel like an assistant, not another task. If it helps me stay focused, organized, and a little less overwhelmed, that is a win.

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Which AI note-taking app is best for you?

If you want more than just a basic note-taker, Lindy is built to be your full-time AI meeting assistant. It doesn’t just sit in the background transcribing; it joins your meetings, captures key takeaways, highlights action items, and syncs everything to tools you already use like Google Docs, Slack, Notion, or Asana.

You can customize how your notes are taken, choose from prebuilt templates based on meeting type, and even switch between different AI models like GPT-4, Claude, or Gemini depending on your needs. It also lets you revisit past calls by simply asking a question, like you would with a real assistant.

Lindy is available on web, desktop, and mobile, and you can get started with a generous free plan. No credit card needed.

 Try Lindy for free.

Frequently asked questions

What is an AI note-taking app, and how does it work?

An AI note-taking app uses artificial intelligence to help you record, organize, and make sense of your notes automatically. These tools can transcribe meetings, summarize long conversations, extract key action points, and even let you search for past moments using simple questions. 

For example, Lindy joins your meetings, takes notes in real time, and syncs them to apps like Slack or Notion, turning scattered conversations into structured, usable information without manual effort.

Which AI note-taking app is best for meetings?

Lindy is one of the best note-taking apps if you're primarily looking to manage meeting notes. It joins your Zoom or Google Meet calls automatically, transcribes the conversation with high accuracy, and creates structured summaries with action items and follow-ups. 

You can even customize templates and ask questions like “What did I miss about the budget last Thursday?” For those who want searchable recordings without full automation, Otter.ai and Fireflies.ai are also reliable options with solid real-time transcription.

Can AI note-takers replace manual note-taking entirely?

No, but they can take over the bulk of the work. For meetings, research, or interviews, AI tools like Lindy can transcribe conversations, pull out action items, and generate clean summaries so you’re not stuck digging through raw transcripts.

But when it comes to creative thinking or subtle, nuanced discussions, a human touch still matters. AI can assist with structure and speed, but it’s not a full substitute for personal insight or context. Think of it as a helpful co-pilot, not the entire crew.

Is my data safe with AI note-taking apps?

Yes, but it depends on which AI note-taking app you choose. Tools like Granola act more like an AI notes organizer, storing everything locally with no cloud sync, ideal for privacy-first users. Others, like Lindy, offer end-to-end encryption, access control, and compliance with standards like SOC 2. Always review how each AI note app handles your data before uploading sensitive content or linking to external platforms.

Are there free AI note-taking tools available?

Yes, several AI note-taking apps come with free plans. Lindy, for instance, gives you 400 monthly credits for meeting joins and transcription. Otter.ai and Notebook LM also offer basic features at no cost. However, most free plans cap usage or limit access to advanced tools. If you're serious about using AI to organize notes long-term or need cross-platform support, a paid plan usually offers more flexibility and value.

What’s the difference between AI transcription and AI summarization?

AI note-taking typically starts with transcription, which converts speech into a raw text file. Summarization takes it a step further, analyzing that transcript to highlight action items, decisions, and key points. For example, a good note-taking AI app like Lindy gives you both a full transcript for reference and a clear, structured summary with task extraction. This saves time and makes meeting notes much easier to share or act on.