Best note taking app with a stylus?

**mikos** · 03-05-2012, 04:43 PM

Ok, I will be finally picking up an iPad for work and want to get a note taking app that I can use in meetings with a stylus. Instead of tapping away, I would love the ability to write notes for speed sake as well as just not being the guy who taps on his iPad during a meeting.

Can anyone recommend a some good candidates?

Here's some features I'd be looking for.

- Some sort of "wrist protection" so I can rest my writing hand on the screen without incident.
- Scribble to text conversion, but done when I say so. It's fine if the conversion is quick but I've seen a lot of lag in some programs and want to be able to just do it after I finish writing for speed sake.
- Flexible formats, .doc is preferred but probably not a possibility.
- Whiteboard abilities. Not critical but some drawing abilities would be nice.

**ctt1wbw** · 03-05-2012, 04:54 PM

NoteLedge might be what you are looking for. It has a moveable wrist guard and it's quite a nice app.

**Alli** · 03-05-2012, 05:54 PM

I don't believe there's an iOS app yet that gives you text recognition. I recommend Notability. It has a very smooth feel to the writing, and is quite intuitive.

I believe there are a few other threads covering this if you take a look.

**doublebullout** · 03-05-2012, 11:34 PM

There are several that do text recognition, such as Phatpad, Writepad, Ghostwriter and Myscript Memo. After trying these and multiple other note taking apps (Notability, Penultimate, Upad, Soundnote, Note Taker HD, Notes+, Noteshelf, Touchwriter HD, maybe a few others I've forgotten about) I came to two conclusions.

(1) Pen and paper is faster, more versatile, and less cumbersome.
(2) Typing notes with the standard Notes app is the fastest way to take notes with an iPad.

If you're determined to take handwritten notes with an iPad, I'd suggest Upad and Noteshelf. These were the apps with the smoothest and fastest inking IMO. They both have efficient controls. Despite their popularity, I'd advise against Penultimate (too much like writing with a crayon) and Note Taker HD (the UI is a mess.)

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**Leanna Lofte** · 03-06-2012, 12:08 AM

My favorite is Noteshelf, but it doesn't have handwriting recognition.

I'll be posting an App vs. App review and video of Noteshelf vs Notability vs Remarks soon, if you want to hold out for that

I already have a full review and video up of Noteshelf: http://www.imore.com/2012/02/10/app-handwritten-notes/

**doublebullout** · 03-06-2012, 05:51 AM

One thing I really like about Noteshelf is that it has options to export pages directly to Evernote as an image. This has two big advantages when using Evernote. (1) The free Evernote account can search handwriting in images (but not .pdf files,) and (2) the mobile Evernote app displays image files automatically, but makes the user download the .pdf before viewing.

Leanna, if you have time to add another app to your comparison review, try Upad. It has great shape drawing tools that the other apps don't have. It also easily supports drawing and making notes on imported .pdfs.

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**mikos** · 03-06-2012, 03:21 PM

Very good comments, thanks everyone. I am picking up an iPad 3/HD/whatevertheycallit and will be using it for work. My handwriting is horrible and I realize that when I look at my notes from a meeting, I sometimes cannot even read my own chicken scratch. I also remember things better when I write them, as opposed to typing.

And isn't it an iPad, not an iTap? Just saying...

**MOverlund** · 03-07-2012, 11:48 AM

I like Penultimate, but while the idea of using the stylus appealed to me enough to grab it, I really don't find myself using it much for writing.

That may be because my handwriting is horrid.

I do like to sketch out ideas occassionaly, and it's great for that.