Best note taking apps for Android tablets 2025

Updated Apr 2025

Since i review many tablets with pen support on this blog and on my Youtube channel, I have also tested many note taking and handwriting apps over the years. In this article, you'll find my personal recommendations for those apps.

My recommendations only include apps that also support handwriting. In other words, apps that are not designed with handwriting as the focus won't be included, such as Evernote, Notion, Obsidian or even Google Keep (and I use this everyday).

Oh, if you're deciding which tablet to buy for note taking, check out this guide where I talk about the features you should look for.

I have actually made a video on this in July 2020, and back them my recommendations were Microsoft OneNote, , Inkredible, Wacom Bamboo Paper and Samsung Notes.

And below's my updated video as at April 2025:

Years have passed and now I will want to update my recommendations based on the following criteria:

• Cross platform support
• Price. Whether it's subscription-based or a one-time purchase
• Backup options. Whether there's backup and/or syncing
• How often is the app updated?
• Whether my handwriting style can be captured accurately (the apps below all can)

I've dropped Inkredible and Wacom Bamboo Paper as my recommendations as the apps haven't really improved or added features over the years, and other note taking handwriting apps are getting better.

So here are my updated recommendations:

1. Microsoft OneNote (free)

Microsoft OneNote is a very well known and popular note taking app that has been around since 2012 and still get updates in 2025.

The main selling point is this app is available on iPads, Android and Windows tablets. Backup and syncing is through Microsoft OneDrive.

Downsides?

1. Handwriting to text conversion feature is only available with Windows app. The Windows app has more features compared to the iPad and Android version.

2. Deleting a notebook doesn't seem to clear the cache so your old notebooks always appear on the list even if you can't open them. For those who like to have things organised, seeing a notebook that has been deleted but still shows up may be a deal breaker.

3. Some versions of the app may have moving letters before the letters actually settle down on the page.

2. Nebo (US$10 one time)

Nebo is quite a capable note taking handwriting app that has been around since 2017 and still get updates in 2025. Backup and syncing is through Google Drive or Dropbox. This app is available on iPads, Windows and Android tablets, and the feature set is consistent across the platforms.

This is a simple app that's easy to learn, understand and use. Essential note taking features are available, e.g. pen tools, text insertion, colours. Handwriting to text conversion is quite accurate.

While Nebo does not have as many features as Microsoft OneNote, I still prefer this app as cloud syncing works well.

3. Concepts (US$40 for the Essentials set, one time purchase)

Concepts is primarily a sketching app so it does not have common note taking features, e.g. text conversion, text editing tools. This app is available on iPads, Windows and Android tablets but only Windows and Android tablets share the same file formats.

The app is free to use but many useful tools are locked behind the paywall. Buying the Essentials tool set (USD 40, used to be USD 10) will unlock many tools, such as unlimited layers, ability to select object. While the Essentials tool set is a one time purchase, the purchase is tied to the platform and not your login, which means if you want to use the app on three platforms, you have to buy the Essentials set three times. The alternative is to pay for the USD 29/year subscription which will unlock the tools on all platforms with your login.

I love the many brushes and drawing tools available. And since this is a sketching app, you can make drawings easily beside your notes.

For the Android app, backup is through Google Drive, but there's no syncing which you can setup on your own using FolderSync Pro. Backup on iPad is through iCloud, and on Windows is through Microsoft OneDrive.

4. Samsung Notes (free)

Samsung Notes is the default note taking app on Samsung devices, and is an Android-only app. It used to be possible to use this app on Windows tablets that are not made by Samsung, but it's no longer possible.

Samsung Notes is among the best note taking app around, even when compared to apps on iPads and Windows tablets. The app is capable with many useful features. Backup is through Samsung Cloud and Microsoft OneDrive.

Downside is since this app only runs on Samsung devices, you're pretty much locked into the Samsung ecosystem if note taking is your primary activity.

While it is possible to find Samsung Notes from APK libraries to install on non-Samsung tablets, there are bugs that may affect the features, file syncing, or app stability.

5. Jnotes (US$ 9, one time purchase)

JNotes was released in 2022 and has updates in 2025. JNotes has so many note taking features that it's actually fun to use. There are many included stickers, graphics and tapes that you can apply on your notes for visual journaling.

It is possible to buy JNotes as a one-time purchase of USD 9, but it's not straightforward. The initial splash screen will advertise the yearly subscription which you should skip, then go into the settings to choose upgrade option and the one-time purchase will be made available).

Backup is through Google Drive and there's no syncing. I tried to import a backup file with JNotes on another device and it did not work. Notes are hidden in local storage.

Handwriting to text conversion is not that accurate.

6. Notein (US$12.50, one time)

Notein is a relatively new app released in 2023. This app is kinda similar to JNotes with stickers, shapes and tapes. There's handwriting conversion, double tap undo, side button customisation for many pens.

Backup and sync is through Google Drive and Microsoft OneDrive. There are some syncing issues with the latest version from Feb 2025. I could not get the notes from my phone to show up on my Android tablet, and the error message attributes that to not having the latest app which is not true.

Notes are hidden in local storage.

It's a promising app so I'm gonna put it on this list first and check back on the syncing problems in the future.

7. Flexcil(US$ 8, one time)

Available on iPad and Android but license are sold separately.

There are many tools, many stickers, many templates.

Google Drive sync works well. This is big selling point over Notein and JNotes since this also provides cloud backup.

There's no double tap undo, no handwriting conversion. Notes are hidden in local storage.

Others

Other note taking apps to check out are

Goodnotes (subscription): Has very limited features compared to iPad version. No side button eraser. Android and Windows versions are only subscrption based.

Notewise (US$ 14, one time, or subscripton): Has many tools and a huge marketplace. Can create table. Has double tap undo. Syncing requires subscription plan. Notes are hidden in internal storage. No stickers, no tapes.

Conclusion

I find it quite frustrating that some apps would hide the saved notes internally, and cloud syncing sucks or there's no cloud syncing, so there's just no way to backup your notes. Or if you backup your notes, I'm not sure whether you can actually restore them, e.g JNotes