3 Keys to Picking the Best Note App for You

In order for you to stay focused, you need a reliable note app to capture all your thoughts and ideas. But with so many different apps available, how do you go about choosing the right one? Here are 3 criteria you should keep in mind when selecting the best note app for you.

Speed
 
No matter what types of notes you take, you need to be able to capture them as quickly as possible.
 
Think about the last time a great idea popped into your head. Were you sitting at your desk in front of a blank screen? Or were you engaged in some other important activity?
 
Many of our best ideas and ‘a-ha’ moments come at the most inopportune times. That’s why it’s crucial for you to open your app and add your note as fast as possible. The speed at which you can add your notes allows you to get back to the task at hand.
 
When testing a note app, see how long it takes for you to open the app and then add a new note. Some apps are very large and thus take a long time to load. While others may launch quickly but need you to select 3 or more clicks to actually add the note.
 
Make sure you select an app that doesn’t slow you down from doing your best work.
 
Access
 
It may be called a note app, but that doesn’t mean that it should only exist on your mobile device. The most effective note taking app must be accessible in a variety of places. You need to be able to review and edit your notes whenever you want.
 
Cloud-based apps have certainly become the norm. But there are still many note taking tools that limit the places you can access your information.
 
Make sure that the note app you choose allows you to access your notes on your phone, tablet, web browser, and desktop. No matter where you go or what you’re doing, you need to be able to add and edit your notes with minimal effort.
 
Organization
 
We all capture our notes and ideas in different ways. There really isn’t one best way to take notes. Some of us use bullet points, some record narration, and others separate their notes into a variety of different categories.
 
So when analyzing a new app, make sure you can organize your notes in ways that work best for you. No matter how many great reviews or downloads a note app has, it won’t help you be more productive if you can’t structure your notes the way that you like.
 
Do you need folders to keep your personal and professional notes separated? Do you need tags or labels to add to specific ideas? Do you like being able to include colors so you can quickly identify certain notes. No matter what your style is, make sure that you can organize your notes in ways that are meaningful to you.
 
Question: What’s your favorite note taking app and why? Leave your answer in the comments below.