Free Note-Taking Tools I Used in College (And Which One I Still Use Today)

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Taking effective notes in college is more than just writing things down—it's about organizing information so you can actually use it later.

Over the years, I tried multiple free note-taking apps, each with its own strengths and quirks.

In this post, I’ll walk you through the 3 main tools I personally used: Notion, OneNote, and Evernote—and I’ll tell you which one I still use today (and why).

Why I Switched From Paper to Digital Notes

At first, I was a pen-and-notebook person. But I kept running into problems:

  • I couldn’t search for anything quickly

  • I forgot notebooks at home

  • Group study meant rewriting notes digitally anyway

So, I tried going digital—and never went back.

  1. Notion

I used Notion mostly for structured class notes and organizing course materials.

Pros:

  • Fully customizable pages

  • You can embed videos, PDFs, checklists, calendars

  • Great for organizing multi-subject dashboards

Cons:

  • Takes time to set up properly

  • No handwriting support

  • Slightly slower on older devices

Best for:
Students who love organizing and want everything in one place—notes, tasks, schedules, and more.

  1. Microsoft OneNote

This was my go-to during my first year because of how intuitive it felt.

Pros:

  • Supports both typing and handwriting

  • Works well with a stylus or tablet

  • Familiar layout (like real notebooks with sections)

Cons:

  • Syncing between devices wasn’t always smooth

  • Formatting gets messy if you import/export too much

  • UI can feel outdated

Best for:
Students who want to handwrite notes or sketch diagrams during lectures.

  1. Evernote

I used Evernote when I wanted fast, simple note capture—especially for research notes or web clips.

Pros:

  • Fast, lightweight

  • Web clipper is great for saving articles and references

  • Tag system helps organize notes by topic

Cons:

  • Free version has syncing limits (2 devices only)

  • Some features are locked behind a paywall

  • Less academic-friendly formatting options

Best for:
Quick note capture, reading summaries, and organizing research materials.

Which One I Still Use Today (and Why)

I still use Notion—even after graduating.
It gives me the flexibility to manage not just study notes, but also personal projects, content ideas, and even budgeting.

That said, I also occasionally use OneNote when I need to take visual or handwritten notes during meetings or webinars.

Tips for Choosing the Right Note-Taking App

  • Pick one based on how you study: typing, handwriting, visuals?

  • Try it for one subject first before moving everything

  • Don’t over-customize—it’s easy to get lost in aesthetics

  • Sync with cloud so you never lose your notes

Final Thoughts

There’s no one-size-fits-all when it comes to note-taking tools. The best app is the one that matches your learning style and that you’ll actually use consistently.

Try a few of these free tools and see which one makes you feel more organized and in control.
For me, going digital with my notes was one of the best decisions I made in college.

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