I chose to write about notetaking apps because I used to take notes by hand, but after my injury that didn’t work for me anymore. I needed a faster, more efficient way to write, so I decided to try using notetaking apps. This is not a comprehensive list of all apps, but I have used these and found them to be helpful. I hope they can help you!

Google Docs

Pros

• can use on any computer–no downloads required
• basic–little learning curve
• free–only requires a gmail account

Cons

• few special features–not much beyond basics

Evernote

Pros

• can take photos and record audio–taking pictures is helpful for transferring handwritten notes
• webclipper–capture a full webpage instead of paraphrasing content
• storage renews every month

Cons

• $5/month membership to get more features–other apps offer more for free
• limited space–have to wait a month if you need more storage

Notability

Pros

• many options for notes–type, write, draw, record, and import images
• can record audio–syncs audio to point in typing

Cons

• costs $2.99 for iOS, $4.99 for Mac OS X
• audio syncing doesn’t help if you fall behind while typing

Conclusion

Of these notes apps, Notability is my favorite because of all the different methods it has for taking notes. I also like the ability to record audio and sync the audio to what you were typing when it was recorded. This has helped me to stop worrying about getting every word typed and freaking about if I missed something because I know I can go back and listen to the recording to get what I missed.