You know what they say, right? If you want to remember something for the long haul, write it down on a piece of paper. The only problem with that is that paper is not the best way to take notes. You can search digital notes quickly, carry an entire Wikipedia in your pocket, and sharing and collaborating across oceans is as easy as a few taps. But handwriting has its benefits and allure which is why digital handwriting is still so popular today. There are a number of handwriting apps for iPhones and iPads that we will explore below. Why Apple? Because Apple Pencil offers a lot of features that even app developers love to use. Though it was designed to be used on iPads, you can use these apps on iPhones too.
Handwriting Apps for iPhones and iPads
Handwriting apps can be very intuitive too. You can learn or teach your kids how to write, draw, annotate, color, and much more using a single app. It really allows you to be creative and when you make a mess, just undo it. Simple, right? There are other reasons why you could and should consider using handwriting apps. For now, let’s take a look at some of the best handwriting apps for iPhones and iPads.
Also Read: Best Handwriting Apps for Android Note-Taking
1. Notability
Notability is a versatile note-taking app with handwriting support for not just in-app notes, but other files too. You can annotate PDF files, images, highlight text, and draw pretty much anywhere. That opens up a number of possibilities for taking notes. A lot of users like to save web pages. Now, use this uber handwriting app for iPad and iPhones to highlight or markup important sections easily.
You can work with and edit multiple notes at the same time which certain hyper-productive people will appreciate. There is a wide range of drawing tools to choose from, pencils in different colors, shapes, and then there is OCR which will turn handwritten notes into digital notes quickly. That goes for shapes too. Notability is a powerful app that is capable of doing so much more but is not platform agnostic. This handwriting app will cost you $8.99.
Pros:
- OCR
- Annotate PDF, webpage, image, etc.
- Edit multiple notes side-by-side
- Wide range of tools
- Color dropper, fonts, pencil,
- Audio recording with synced notes
- Doc scanner
- Cloud storage support
Cons:
- Apple only
Download Notability: App Store (Paid)
Also Read: Take a Picture of Handwriting And Convert to Text – Android Apps
2. Apple Notes
Apple Notes comes pre-installed on all Apple devices including iPhones and iPads. While not the most feature-rich app on the list, it supports handwriting and offers all basic and most used features. You can add to Notes from any part of the Apple ecosystem in a variety of formats like maps, notes, text, handwriting, checklists, audio recordings, scans, and more.
Sharing and collaborating on notes is easy but only so long as everyone is using an Apple device. Notes are saved in iCloud and you only get 5GB of free space. There are a number of brush styles to choose from and most of you will be happy with the result. One of the best free handwriting apps for iPhones and iPads.
Pros:
- Handwriting support
- Attachments in a variety of formats
- Audio recording
- Doc scanner
Cons:
- Not platform agnostic
- No OCR
- Limited to iCloud storage
Download Apple Notes: App Store (Free)
Also Read: 8 Best OCR Apps for iPhone to Scan Images to Text
3. Zohobook
I don’t recommend using Google Keep anymore? Zohobook features the same colorful notes but in a better layout with added organizational features like folders and smartcards. You can create notes in a variety of formats like text, audio, and handwriting on iPhones and iPad using Zohobook. That’s not all, it also works on Windows and Android, making it more ideal for cross-platform collaboration.
A fair number of drawing tools are available for those who like to scribble with Apple Pencil or Samsung Stylus. You can use your creations for creating Zoho notebook covers too. Notebooks in Zoho mean folders to store your notes and thoughts. Zohobook is free and will always be. A free handwriting app that works everywhere.
Pros:
- Free but no ads
- Handwriting support
- Audio recording
- Platform agnostic
- Doc scanner
- Attachments
- Smart cards
Cons:
- No OCR
Download Zohobook: App Store (Free)
4. GoodNotes
GoodNotes is another handwriting app for iPhones and iPads. It comes with a powerful set of tools meant for those who like to draw and write using Apple Pencil. Most common shapes like circles will be recognized and created automatically. It works equally well for annotations as it does for drawing and handwriting.
There are a number of thicknesses in pen and colors to choose from which offers more variety in drawing and sketching ideas. Searching through your handwritten notes is easy and quick. It also features a large template library where you will find covers and pages to use for taking notes. It will cost you $7.99.
Pros:
- OCR
- Annotate
- Handwriting
- Template library
- Attachments
Cons:
- Not platform agnostic
Download GoodNotes: App Store (Paid)
5. Evernote
Evernote is one of the best and most complete note-taking apps on the list. It comes with a number of features that you may not find on other apps. A handwritten note is just one of them. Evernote works as a file cabinet where you can store any kind of note, in any format, and you will find it at a later date with ease.
It is available on all platforms and works with a number of third-party apps. All kinds of notes are searchable whether it is text, handwritten, image, or other. What’s more? The free version of the app is good enough for most people but you can always upgrade.
Pros:
- Supports notes in all formats
- Search notes in all formats
- Handwritten and OCR
- Scans cards, pages, images
- Platform agnostic
- Record, audio, video
- Web clipper
- Annotate anything
- Templates
Cons:
- None
Download Evernote: App Store
Wrap Up: Handwriting Apps for iPhones and iPads
There are lots of options when it comes to apps that support handwritten notes. You can go ahead with Apple Notes itself if your needs are limited and you are deep within the Apple ecosystem. Notability is also a powerful option but again for Apple users only. Zohobook is not only free but works on all platforms. However, if you are willing to pay a little premium, I would suggest Evernote which is not only powerful but also platform agnostic. One of the best note-taking apps for iPhones and iPad ever.
