Based on 15 years of note-taking
experience, I’ve analyzed the strengths and weaknesses of a variety of apps to
find the combination that works best for me. In this post, I’ll offer practical
advice for selecting note-taking apps and building effective note-taking
habits.
This isn’t just a recommendation or
comparison; it’s a collection of personal experiences from various situations
I’ve encountered in the world of note-taking.
To start with the conclusion:
Additional Tips and App Recommendations from Google Gemini
Journey and Google Keep: Perfect for Travel Memories
Journey and Any.do: Ideal for Themed Trips
Lessons Learned Through My Note-Taking Journey
After using various apps for over 15 years,
here are some key takeaways:
Categorize what to record and keep
similar types of information in one app only. Dispersing
data across multiple apps can complicate management, so I consistently use a
single app for each type of record.
Choose apps that support smartphone and
PC sync, as well as cloud support. Although
most apps now offer these features, data syncing and accessibility are still
essential.
Opt for apps that allow quick and
intuitive recording. Simpler apps that make it
easy to jot down notes are more effective and make the note-taking process
enjoyable.
For over five years, I’ve consistently used
two types of apps. There are apps where I keep data separately, unable to
integrate it, and those that I actively use.
Apps That Survived the Competition
A. Surviving Apps
(Clicking the app name will take you to
the app's homepage)
l Journey: Ideal for journal-type records,
like diaries and travel logs. Its sleek design and convenient features make
revisiting cherished memories a pleasant experience.
l Any.do: Useful for recording and
achieving short- to medium-term goals. It’s great for managing schedules or
setting tasks for specific dates.
l Google Keep: Convenient for storing
materials from sources like YouTube or blogs and highly compatible within the
Google ecosystem, making it easy to access in various work environments.
l Naver Calendar: This app manages
important recurring events and anniversaries on a weekly, monthly, or yearly
basis, and its reminders ensure you won’t miss important appointments.
Local Korean service similar to Google Calendar
l Watcha: Great for logging content evaluations like dramas, movies, and books. Watcha’s extensive review data helps me
discover new content that matches my taste.
Local Korean service, similar to a combination of Goodreads, Letterboxd, and
Trakt.tv
B. Apps I Still Use, But No Longer for Note-Taking
l Simplenote: Handy for jotting down instant ideas for life or
business, though I’ve intentionally reduced its usage to integrate it with
Google Keep.
l GitMind: I use this primarily for brainstorming and organizing
complex thoughts, but I transfer long-term records to Google Keep.
l Naver Contacts: I keep contact information for past acquaintances
I’ve lost touch with, though it’s rarely updated.
l Google Calendar: An excellent app, though as a Korean, I find it
hard to part with Naver’s equivalent.
l Daybook: I keep cooking recipes and memories there, though I now
only refer to it for cooking rather than adding new notes. Local Korean
app for writing and organizing book reviews
Taking notes helps manage important dates,
recognize and solve key problems, and preserve good memories. Beyond mere recording, notes are essential tools for enhancing memory and problem-solving in daily life.
Past Disorder and Current State of Note-Taking App Usage
Over 15 years, I’ve used various
note-taking apps, some of which have faded from my memory. Let’s examine which
apps I used for specific purposes.
[Apps Used According to the Type of Record]
|
Note Type |
Apps Used |
Notes |
|
Recurring Events |
Naver Calendar, Google Calendar, Biz
Calendar |
Uses alarms, sharable |
|
Expenses |
Calendar (Expected Expenses), Easy
Household Account Book |
Manages expenses |
|
Photos & Videos |
QuickPic, Google Keep, Naver Notes,
Pocket |
Mostly local storage |
|
Income & Expenses |
Easy Household Account Book |
Sets budgets, manages spending |
|
Cooking Recipes |
Daybook, ColorNote, Google Keep, Naver
Notes, Pocket |
Daybook for my own recipes |
|
Restaurant Info |
Naver Maps, Google Keep, Naver Notes,
Pocket |
Info stored across apps |
|
Reviews |
Watcha, SeriesGuide, Book Flip,
Bukjeokbukjeok |
Watcha’s data is helpful |
|
Must-Watch Content |
Google Keep, Naver Notes, Pocket |
Stores YouTube, blog info |
|
Journal-Type Notes |
Journey |
Integrates photos, videos |
|
Tasks |
Any.do, MS To Do |
Useful for project management |
|
Car Maintenance |
Infocar, MyKia |
Syncs with ODB-II port |
|
Habit Formation |
HabitBull, HabitNow |
Helps build good habits |
Local apps like Easy Household Account
Book, Naver Maps, Book Flip, Book Juk Book Juk, Naver Notes, Daybook,
ColorNote, and Infocar play various roles specific to Korean users.
Easy Household Account Book: A
household budgeting app.
Naver Maps: In Korea, Naver Maps is much
more effective than Google Maps. This is because, as a divided country, Korea
considers geographic information to be a serious national security matter.
BookFlip and Book Juk Book Juk: These are
small-scale apps for recording book reviews, used primarily by Korean readers.
Daybook and ColorNote: Local note-taking
apps.
Infocar: A local solution for managing car
maintenance and operation records. It integrates with the OBD-II port to
perform automatic diagnostics
3.1 Example of Excessive App Usage 1 – Mixing Multiple Apps Without Clear Categories
I used various apps, including Naver Maps, Google Keep, Pocket, Naver Notes, and Excel, to save information about restaurants and even kept images separately, resulting in complex management. Over time, I recorded data across different apps depending on the timing and situation, leaving some entries scattered and unorganized. This year, I started consolidating all restaurant information in Google Keep, although I haven’t migrated previous data yet.
 |
| [From left: Naver Map, Pocket, Naver Notes, Images saved in the mobile folder] |
3.2 Example of Excessive App Usage 2 – Cooking Recipes
I also split cooking recipes across multiple apps, like Pocket, Daybook, and ColorNote. I used Daybook specifically for recipes I tried myself, while other apps stored recipes found online. Currently, I don’t keep recipes separately; instead, I look up new ones on YouTube or blogs when needed. I’ve kept Daybook records only as a memory.
 |
| [From left: Pocket, ColorNote, Daybook, Google Keep] |
3.3 Example of Changing Apps 1 – Movie and Drama Notes
I used SeriesGuide (linked with Trakt.tv)
for movie and drama notes for a long time. However, after 4–5 years, I moved to
Watcha and manually transferred data. Watcha’s user-friendly features make it
my current go-to, though SeriesGuide still holds movies and dramas not found in
Watcha’s database.
 |
| [SeriesGuide & Watcha] |
3.4 Example of Changing Apps 2 – Book Notes
After moving movie and drama data, I also
transferred my book notes (not detailed reviews but general reflections) to
Watcha. General books were previously in “BookFlip,” while martial arts and
fantasy novels were recorded in “Book Juk Book Juk.” Now, Watcha helps me
manage my book notes more conveniently. My reading amount may have dropped, but
that's a secret!
.png) |
| [Book Flip, Book Juk Book Juk and Watcha] |
3.5 Example of Consistent App Usage – Journey for Journaling
I've been consistently using the
journal-style note-taking app Journey since 2018. Its clean
and stylish design has been satisfying, making it a favorite app to this day.
 |
| [Journey, list view] |
 |
| [Journey details] |
Shifting from PC to Mobile
Desktop/Laptop
Typing is convenient on a PC, but it isn’t
always accessible for quick, spontaneous note-taking. Many note apps now
support both mobile and PC, though this wasn’t always the case. With the shift
to smartphones, my frequency of note-taking has increased, and most of my
records are now made on mobile.
Smartphone
Due to its portability, the smartphone has become an essential tool for taking
notes, although typing is less efficient. Despite this, over 90% of my records
are now made on mobile, and data I once managed on my PC has also moved to my
smartphone.
My Note-Taking Style Over the Years
I’m not particularly good at organizing
notes into detailed categories, so I tend to jot down what’s needed at the
moment and sort it out later. I also tried out a lot of new free apps, which resulted
in many installed apps. Additionally, I prioritize backup, so I have duplicate
data stored in several places. In the past, I avoided cloud storage for
security reasons, but I now use it for convenience. Photos and images are still
managed offline and stored redundantly on local devices or external hard
drives, so they require organizing.
In Closing
With technology advancing rapidly,
AI-driven note-taking tools that automatically organize and consolidate our
notes are likely around the corner. However, no matter how much technology
evolves, the core of note-taking will always be ourselves, deciding
the purpose and method.
The five apps I’ve chosen will help me manage various information efficiently. I plan to continue using
these five apps as my main tools and streamline my notes and organization
process. I encourage readers to start their journey toward finding the right
apps and habits for note-taking, as I have.
P.S. This
is a recommendation from Google Gemini.
Journey and Google Keep: The Perfect Pair
for Travel Memories
With Journey and Google Keep, travel planning and memory-making are seamless. Journey is a beautiful digital diary for travel memories, complete with photos and reflections, while Google Keep keeps you organized with checklists, notes, and reminders.
Using Both Apps Together:
- Plan with Google Keep: Create
checklists for flights, accommodations, and must-visit spots. Use labels
to categorize and share lists with travel buddies.
- Capture with Journey: Document
each trip in a dedicated journal. Add photos, pin locations, and write
reflections.
- Post-Trip Organizing with Google Keep: Save receipts and create a "Memories" label for
future inspiration.
These two apps offer a perfect balance:
Journey captures the storytelling, while Google Keep manages tasks, with cloud
sync for easy access anywhere.
Journey and Any.do: Perfect for Themed
Trips
For a specialized trip like a photography tour, Any.do and Journey create a powerful synergy. Any.do keeps you on track with checklists for gear, location research, and reminders for tasks like charging batteries. Journey, in turn, serves as a visual diary to document your experiences and analyze your photos.
Specific Use Cases:
- Location Scouting: Use Any.do
for a list of spots, then Journey to document the best angles.
- Gear Checklist: Keep a
detailed gear checklist in Any.do and cross off as you pack.
- Photo Analysis: Create a
portfolio in Journey to reflect on each photo and technique.
This combo ensures thorough planning and
meaningful documentation, enhancing both your trip and your skills.
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