Best Mac Text Editor For Note Taking -app -apps

On those rare occasions I'm forced to use a Mac, there's one tool I can't do without: the nvALT note-taking application. Deft mode brings the nvALT experience to Emacs. Deft stores your notes as text files in a single folder on your computer.

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Programming is an activity prone to frustration and difficulty—even when done as a hobby. Creating a web, mobile, or desktop app is a big undertaking, and good note-taking skills are key to staying organized and not succumbing to stress, despair, and burnout.

• Taking advantage of a screen recording tool in different cases can bring tremendous convenience to our digital life, with which you are allowed to make a vivid video to show some abstract ideas, grab gaming audio to keep favorite streaming sound, record live chat to preserve impressive words, etc.
• With the text selected use the toolbar button, menu item or keyboard combination to copy text. Go to the new Word document and paste what you copied using the toolbar button (it looks like a clipboard), menu item (it is in the Edit menu) or keyboard combination (IBM=Ctrl+V, Mac=Command+V).

But most note-taking apps aren’t designed with programmers in mind, and they can be so difficult to use that they drive you to give up on notes entirely. Here are some of the best note-taking tools for programmers and coders.

1. Boostnote

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Pricing: Free

Boostnote is a prime example of a note-taking app for coders. It doesn’t have all the features of a modern note-taking app (e.g. it has Markdown formatting and folder-based organization but lacks web clipping or handwritten notes) but does have what all programmers love: snippets!

You can embed code blocks directly within normal notes, and you can create separate snippet-type notes that are specifically for collecting and grouping multiple code blocks in a single note. It also supports checkbox-based lists for task management.

The best part about Boostnote is that it’s free and open source, it’s cross-platform, and your notes will sync across all platforms you use Boostnote on.

If you’re going to use this tool on Linux, also check out our article on the best Linux distros for programmersThe 11 Best Linux Distros for ProgrammersThe 11 Best Linux Distros for ProgrammersLinux offers a thriving environment for coders and developers. Here are the best Linux operating systems for programmers.Read More.

2. MedleyText

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Pricing: $5/mo with 45-day free trial

MedleyText is very similar to Boostnote, with fewer features but a tighter focus on the features it does have: rich text formatting options, embedded code blocks within normal notes, and customizable themes and keyboard shortcuts. It’s excellent for highly-productive coders with big projects.

When you embed formatted code directly into notes, the app will automatically highlight the syntax. Or you can manually select which syntax highlighting language to apply to any given block of code. It supports over 40 programming languages as of writing this article.

While MedleyText was once free for local notes, that’s no longer an option. It’s now a premium app with a hefty free trial and worthwhile features like syncing via Dropbox and sharing notes via links.

3. Quiver

Platform: Mac

Pricing: $10 with free trial

Quiver is yet another app like the two above: you can mix and match text (in both Markdown and LaTeX formats) with embedded code inside notes. However, Quiver has a dedicated code editor right inside the app that’s cleaner and more responsive than its competitors.

As for syntax highlighting, this app supports over 120 programming languages. Cloud storage sync is available for Dropbox, Google Drive, iCloud, and more. And because notes are stored as JSON, you can safely use version control to track changes. Shared notebooks even allow for collaboration between teammates on large projects. It even has a web clipper!

If Quiver is so great, why is it listed third? Because it’s only available on Mac. While the Mac operating system can be a wonderful programming environment, Quiver is not an option for programmers who routinely hop between other operating systems.

4. OneNote

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free

OneNote is the best note-taking app, period—but until recently, it lacked syntax highlighting abilities which programmers so desperately need. Fortunately, thanks to a free add-on released by a GitHub user, OneNote can now do syntax highlighting for code.

The add-on is admittedly a bit clunky, but it’s nice to know you can finally use OneNote for storing code notes. Since OneNote is one of the best ways to take notes as a student, this is particularly good news for students in programming and engineering curriculums.

OneNote is also great for collaborative projects due to note sharing. And best of all? It’s completely free and available on nearly every major platform, both desktop and mobile. (Except for Linux, sorry!)

And speaking of GitHub, if you haven’t yet tried Git for your version control, be sure to check out this free ebookThe Ultimate Guide to Git---Claim Your Free Ebook!The Ultimate Guide to Git---Claim Your Free Ebook!This guide covers everything you need to know in order to use Git properly, from explaining what is it and how it differs from other toolsRead More for help.

5. CherryTree

Platform: Windows

Pricing: Free

CherryTree is unlike most note-taking apps in that it’s more of a personal wiki. However, since pages can be nested under each other in a hierarchy, it’s more than good enough for taking notes. What makes it a wiki? You can insert links to any other page throughout the notebook.

There are other apps like CherryTree, including wikidPad and Zim, but CherryTree supports a special page type specifically for code. Use regular notes for ideas and tasks, use the code notes for snippets. As far as the page hierarchy, both types work the exact same way.

CherryTree is very fast, making it one of the best lightweight note-taking apps7 Lightweight OneNote and Evernote Alternatives7 Lightweight OneNote and Evernote AlternativesThough we love them, both Evernote and OneNote can be slow and bloated. If you've been looking for an alternative, here are a few lightweight note-taking apps you should consider.Read More.

6. Sublime Text

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Linux

Pricing: $80 with unlimited free evaluation version

As a programmer, you likely know about Sublime Text already. True, it’s a text editor and not a note-taking app, but it can certainly be used for taking notes: every note as a text file, and every code snippet in a separate language-appropriate file.

Sublime Text’s native features are excellent for increasing overall productivity11 Sublime Text Tips for Productivity and a Faster Workflow11 Sublime Text Tips for Productivity and a Faster WorkflowSublime Text is a versatile text editor and a gold standard for many programmers. Our tips focus on efficient coding, but general users will appreciate the keyboard shortcuts.Read More, and the ability to split into multiple editor panes is indispensable. But for note-taking and organization, it can get even better with a few free plugins.

SideBarEnhancements is a must-install for every Sublime Text user. It adds a number of improvements to the sidebar, mostly in the menu when you right-click files. PlainTasks incorporates a task-style to-do list right inside the editor. And MarkdownEditing is nifty if you want your notes to be taken down in Markdown.

Sublime Text is pretty costly, but the free evaluation period never ends. As long as you can deal with an occasional pop-up that reminds you to purchase the full version, you can use Sublime Text for free indefinitely.

7. TickTick

Platforms: Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web

Pricing: Free, Premium version for $28/year

TickTick is a to-do list app that’s pretty similar to other apps of its kind, but it has one subtle feature that makes it good for taking notes: every list item has a “description” field that’s basically an entire notepad.

As a programmer, you can use TickTick to track all of your tasks as individual list items and store whatever notes you need for each task. There’s no syntax highlighting or rich text formatting though, so it’s better for managing ideas than storing code snippets.

Plus, you get all the benefits of a full-blown to-do list app: folder organization, subtasks, recurring tasks, reminders, priorities, etc. TickTick has a free plan with a limited number of lists, and a paid plan for $28 per year.

If you’re checking out this note-taking tool list to help the programmer in your life, TickTick is actually one of many great gifts for programmers.

Tips for Becoming a Better Programmer

If all else fails, you can always stick notes right within your code as comments. It isn’t really the best approach because it can get messy (tips for writing cleaner and better code), but it’s an option for low-level notes pertinent to certain snippets. To learn to write better code, keep these professional sample code websitesTop 10 Professional Sample Code Websites for ProgrammersTop 10 Professional Sample Code Websites for ProgrammersLooking to learn and create applications with example code snippets? Here are the best free code sample websites to start with.Read More handy.

Either way, keep going and keep improving. And if you ever feel stuck, here are ways to overcome programmer’s block5 Ways to Beat Programmer's Block Right Now5 Ways to Beat Programmer's Block Right NowEvery programmer encounters an array of negative emotions over the course of their journey, and if left unchecked, these emotions can have a profound impact on progress -- even causing some to give up entirely.Read More.

Explore more about: Microsoft OneNote, Note-Taking Apps, Programming.

1. What, no love for Evernote? I use it everyday. New CEO and no new funding may mean their days are numbered, but file format is XML so don’t let that stop you.

2. OneNote still cannot do syntax highlighting. That link goes to a buggy github repo with 6 contributors and a list of long-open issues. It can also crash your entire Office suite on win7.

   For me, all it too was one missing parenthesis in my coding notes to crash the program - and OneNote. Repair and reinstall don't help. But getting rid of it makes OneNote usable again.

   You should make clear that Microsoft OneNote doesn't offer any syntax highlighting functionality - and those using that open-source repo are doing to at their own risk.

3. Lol. If you combined all these tools, and gave them a decade to improve, together they wouldn't come close to org-mode.

4. I'm using Simplenote. It is something similar to Boostnote and available for Windows, Linux, and Android. However, the greatest feature here is a sync across all devices, so, after adding a new note I can immediately edit it using my smartphone. Lovely experience.

5. I've been using Typora.io instead. Not just for note-taking and using its Markdown (a must-have when I take down notes) but the fancy way of drawing graphs and charts with mermaid and flowchart command in Typora.

6. I've been a paying customer of TickTick for years now. It is the best app I own. I also use SimpleNote on my phone, tablets, and PCs because of firewalls that prevent me from using Evernote and OneNote.

7. Leo Editor

8. Nothing can beat Emacs org-mode..
   Markdown, equations, source code, to do list..
   It handles all in an elegant way.

9. Cherrytree is available on Linux. Has been for a long time. Native not Wine.

10. Notion.so seems more an option that included all of the above. Notes, tasks, code snippets.

11. Zim (personal Wiki) and Emacs’ Org mode are also great.

12. Restructured Text (with and without Sphinx) is my go to tool for taking notes. Table of contents, logical separations via folders and files, and outputs to multiple formats (with Sphinx and/or pandoc). So if I need to generate a PDF, I got that. Epub? Done. Html? Got that too. Restructured text may be a bit to get used to, but the benefits outweigh the learning investment. Best of all, I don't have to rely on someone else's editor, which is always painfully lacking some feature of some sort. I can use my own editor, which means less context switching, which means more productivity.

13. I ended up just using Atom with a few packages. Boostnote was close to what I was looking for, but I ended up going another route due to the way the notes are saved (not .md files and not names I pick).

14. There's also MWeb which is similat to Quiver. More features but worse synching.

15. We just launched Cacher (www.cacher.io), which is a cloud-based code snippet organizer. It features labels, teams and desktop clients for Mac, Windows and Linux. If you're away from your machine, you can access the web app at: app.cacher.io.

Note taking apps are more useful than you might think. Taking notes the traditional way with pen and paper works just fine for some, but if you have a smartphone or tablet, using an app specifically designed for note taking can truly change the way you get things done.

Whether your note taking style demands minimal design and slick gesture-based functions, or advanced organization and cataloging of various forms of media, chances are there's a notes app out there that's right for you.

Here are 10 of the absolute best you should consider trying out, whether you are using Windows PC, Android device, iOS, or another operating system.

of 10

Evernote: Organize All Your Notes Into Categorized Notebooks

What We Like

• Available for Windows, Mac, Android, and iOS devices.

• Use on the web; browser extensions available.

• Excellent search function for notes.

What We Don't Like

• Free basic plan is limited in features.

• Monthly cost for premium plan is pricey.

Practically everyone who has ever looked into trying a note-taking app has almost certainly come across Evernote—the app that comes in right at the top of the note-taking world. This incredibly powerful tool is built for creating notes and organizing them into notebooks, which can be synced across as many as two devices. All free users also get 60 MB of space for uploading files to the cloud.

A few of the most unique features of Evernote include the ability to clip web pages and images, search for text inside images and use it as a collaborative tool to share and work on notes with other users. Plus or Premium subscriptions will get you more storage, the opportunity to use more than two devices and access to more advanced features.

• iOS
• Android
• Mac
• Windows
• Web

of 10

Simplenote: Note Taking for the Minimalist

What We Like

• Design is minimalist and simple.

• Syncs to all your devices.

• Works with most popular platforms and devices.

What We Don't Like

• May be too simple for some users.

• Text notes only; no images or other media.

• No text formatting.

Evernote is great for note takers who need all the extra storage and fancier features, but if you're looking for a stripped down notes app with a clean and minimal interface, Simplenote could be the app for you. Built for speed and efficiency, you can create as many notes as you like and keep them all organized with just the basic organizational features you really need–like tags and search.

Simplenote can be used to collaborate with others and all notes are automatically synced across your account whenever changes are made to them. There's also a nifty slider feature that allows you to go back in time to previous versions of your notes, which are always automatically saved before you make any changes to them.

• iOS
• Android
• Mac
• Windows
• Linux
• Web

of 10

Google Keep: Use Cards to Make Note Taking Fun and Colorful

What We Like

• Organize with customizable labels.

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• Set time and location-based reminders.

• Free and well-integrated with the Google tech ecosystem.

What We Don't Like

• No desktop app; notes are available on the web.

• Maximum of 50 labels; no hierarchical label organization.

• Web clipper only saves URLs.

• No text formatting.

For a note-taking app that takes a more visual approach, Google Keep's card-based notes are perfect for people who want to see all their ideas, lists, images and audio clips in one place. You can color-code your notes or add other attributes to them so that they're easy to find and share your notes with others who need to access and edit them. Like Evernote and Simplenote, any changes made by you or other users you share your notes are automatically synced across all platforms.

To help you remember when you need to refer to your notes, you can set up time-based or location-based reminders so that you remember to do something at a specific place or at a specific time. And as an added bonus for when typing is too inconvenient, the app's voice memo feature lets you record yourself a message for a quick note in audio format.

• iOS
• Android
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• Web

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of 10

OneNote: Combine the Power of Microsoft With Your Notes

What We Like

• Compatible with Google Chrome, Apple Watch, and web browsers.

• Syncs well across all your devices.

• Lots of options for note formatting and design.

What We Don't Like

• No quick customizable tagging for simple organization.

• Notebook, section, and page structure is inefficient to navigate.

• Search functionality isn't as slick as Evernote or Google Keep.

Owned by Microsoft, OneNote is a note-taking app you'll definitely want to consider diving into if you regularly use the suite of Microsoft Office apps like Word, Excel and PowerPoint since the app is fully integrated with them. You can type, write, or draw using the free form of a pen and use powerful organization tools like pinning to easily find what you're looking for later.

Use OneNote to collaborate with others and access your most updated versions of your notes from any device. Perhaps two of its most unique features is the ability to capture an image of a whiteboard or slideshow presentation with automatic cropping and built-in audio recording so you don't have use an entirely different recording app.

• iOS
• Apple Watch
• Mac
• Android
• Windows Phone
• Windows
• Google Chrome Web Browser
• Web

of 10

Notebook: A Stunningly Visual Note Taking Experience

What We Like

• Design is bright and appealing.

• Text, checklist, photo, audio, sketch, and file cards.

• Supports Mac, Windows, iOS, Android, and web access.

• Customize notebook covers, use your own images.

What We Don't Like

• Needs more art for notebook covers.

• Not geared toward collaborative note-taking.

If you like the idea of Google Keep's card-like interface, then maybe you'll like Zoho's Notebook app too. Create a checklist card for your grocery items, a card for a story you're working on with inline images included throughout the text, a sketch card for some doodling or even an audio card of your voice.

Featuring some of the smoothest and most intuitive gesture-based functions, you can organize your notes into notebooks, reorder them, copy them, group them together or flick through them to easily find what you're looking for. Notebook is totally free and syncs everything across your account automatically so you always have your notes no matter which device you're using.

• iOS
• Mac
• Android
• Windows
• Web

of 10

Dropbox Paper: A Collaborate Note Taking App for Your Whole Team

What We Like

• Strong features for collaboration.

• Clean and uncluttered look.

• Add a variety of media; not just links.

What We Don't Like

• More complex than a simple note-taking app.

• Paper documents are separate from Dropbox folders.

• Takes time to get used to.

If you already use Dropbox to store files in the cloud, you'll probably want to check out Dropbox Paper. It's a note-taking app that acts as a 'flexible workspace' built to prevent distraction while helping people work together. This app was built for collaboration, allowing users to chat with each other in real time while editing any document.

Don't be fooled by its minimal design–Dropbox Paper has lots of advanced features tucked away that are easy to access and intuitive to use once you're familiar with the app. Use it to create new documents, edit existing ones, see all your team activity in one organized list, post and reply to comments, prioritize documents and so much more.

• iOS
• Android
• Web

of 10

Squid: The Best App for Taking Digital Handwritten Notes

What We Like

• Designed for handwritten notes; use your finger or a stylus.

• PDF markup is easy.

What We Don't Like

• Not available for Mac or iOS devices.

• Not easy to sync with other devices.

Squid takes the old-fashioned pen and paper and modernizes it with digital features designed to enhance the note-taking experience. Just use your finger or stylus to handwrite notes just like you would on paper. Similar to Google Keep and Notebook, all your most recent notes will be displayed in a card-like interface for easy access.

Every note will have a toolbar at the top, which allows you to customize your ink, duplicate what you've written, resize it, erase mistakes, zoom in or out and so much more. The notes app also allows you to insert PDF files for markup so you can highlight text and insert new pages wherever you want.

• Android
• Chromebook
• Kindle Fire
• Windows
• Windows Phone

of 10

Bear: The Most Flexible Note Taking App

What We Like

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• Import notes from other apps.

• Simple, easy-to-use design.

• Export to a variety of formats, including PDF and JPEG.

• Supports Markdown.

What We Don't Like

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• Only available for Mac and iOS devices.

• Requires a paid plan to sync devices.

Bear is one of the most beautifully designed and flexible note taking apps currently available for Apple devices. Made for both quick notes and in-depth essays with advanced markup for options to insert images, links and more, you can enable the app's 'focus mode' to help you concentrate during longer periods of writing or note taking.

You can customize the theme and typography to fit your style, use a wide variety of editing tools to optimize your notes, quickly add to-dos to any individual note, tag any note with a specific hashtag and so much more. The core version of this notes app is free, but pro subscriptions are available if you'd like to take your writing or note taking to the next level with Bear.

• iOS
• Mac

of 10

Notability: Creative Note Taking for the Apple Fan

What We Like

• Good text formatting options.

• Text wrapping with images.

• Works well with Apple Pencil.

What We Don't Like

• Only for iOS devices.

• No free version available.

For the Apple fanboy or fangirl who loves to write by hand, draw, sketch or doodle, Notability is a must-have notes app for its incredible suite of advanced note taking tools. Combine your handwritten or drawn work with typed text, photos and videos and zoom in anywhere on your note when you need a closer look.

Notability also lets you do some pretty amazing things with PDF files, allowing you to add annotations on them anywhere, fill them out, sign them and send them off. Unlike many of the other apps in this list, Notability isn't free, but it's at least affordable.

• iOS

of 10

Notes: Basic, Minimal and Possibly All You Need As an Apple User

What We Like

• Handwrite notes and sketch with Apple Pencil.

• Organize notes with folders.

• Pin notes to the top of the list.

• Scan documents using device camera.

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What We Don't Like

• Only on iOS devices and Macs.

• Basic note-taking features.

• Only simple text formatting.

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Apple's very own Notes app is uncomplicated and super intuitive to use, yet still just as powerful as you need it to be for all your note-taking needs. The app's features include just the minimum essentials and all the notes you create within the app are neatly organized in the left sidebar. Although you can't organize your notes with hashtags, notebooks or categories, you can easily search through them by using the handy search field at the top to help you quickly find whatever you need.

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Create a checklist, insert photos, customize your text's formatting or even add another Notes user to share your list with so they can view and add information to it. Although it doesn't have all the bells and whistles that many other competing note-taking apps bring to the table, Notes is one of the few that really stands out for getting the job done in the simplest and quickest way possible.

• iOS
• Mac