Do you take a lot of notes? Whether it’s daily to-do lists, notes for class, or just jotting down the various thoughts in our brains, it’s nice to have somewhere to write everything down. Sure, you could just open your Notes app, but physically writing something down helps you remember and learn more. It also feels nice to stop typing for a minute and write out the thoughts in your mind. If you worry about losing those notes if they aren’t digitized, then good news: We’ve got the best digital notebooks and more for you.
There are E Ink tablets, smart pens, and notebooks made to save digital files of your handwritten notes or drawings. You can save files as PDFs, images, and Word docs, or transcribe them to a text file in Google Docs to make all your notes searchable. Some of these devices can record too, which is great for lectures and interviews. If your notes need an upgrade, we recommend giving these a try. If you’re looking for true paper options, don’t miss our Paper Planners guide, and if you’re prepping for heading back to school, catch our Best Laptop Backpacks and Best Totes guides to stash the below picks and your other school supplies in.
Updated December 2024: We’ve added notes on the second-generation Amazon Kindle Scribe and why we still prefer Kobo’s digital notebooks to it. The Iskn Repaper tablet has also been moved to Honorable Mentions due to availability.
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Do You Need a Digital Note-Taking Device?
The short answer is no. These devices are expensive, usually costing several hundred dollars when a simple notebook and pen costs a few bucks. But if you like the physical act of writing over typing but need to have digital copies, they’re worth considering.
Pros:
- Digital notebooks are thin and light but hold hundreds of notes.
- You can transcribe your notes into text files, making them easier to read and manipulate.
- Depending on the device, you can export files as PDFs, Google Docs, Evernote files, and more.
- Instantly digitizes your art too.
Cons:
- Expensive.
- Need to be charged.
- Have a learning curve.
- Most smart pens need to be paired with an accompanying notebook. The upcoming Nuwa Pen promises smart notes on any paper. We’ll try it as soon as it’s available. As of this writing, it’s projected to start shipping in January 2025.