The BEST Notetaking Apps Ranked

Summary

In this video, the speaker reviews and ranks popular note-keeping tools used by hackers and pen testers, from S to D tier. Each tool is evaluated based on ease of use, features, backups, and portability. Highlights include Joplin earning S tier for its clean interface and functionality, while CherryTree and OneNote fall to C tier due to limitations in syncing and organization. The discussion emphasizes the importance of secure note storage, especially when handling sensitive information, and encourages viewers to choose tools wisely to enhance their note-taking efficiency.

Takeaways

• 😀 Note-taking tools vary widely in features, portability, and security, making careful selection important.
• 📝 CherryTree is user-friendly with organizational tools but lacks syncing capabilities and has potential corruption issues.
• 📚 GitBook is flexible and great for structured notes, but its confusing account management can be frustrating for individuals.
• 💻 Joplin stands out for its open-source nature, clean UI, and markdown support, making it an excellent choice for note-taking.
• 🔗 Obsidian allows for easy syncing with GitHub and has a straightforward interface, but image management can be cumbersome.
• 🌟 Notion is actively developed with strong collaboration features but raises concerns about security for sensitive information.
• 📄 Google Docs offers accessibility and flexibility, supporting markdown but requiring plugins for optimal use.
• 🗂️ OneNote provides a good organizational structure but may lead to disorganized notes if not managed carefully.
• 🚫 KeepNote is outdated and ineffective, making it a poor choice for modern note-taking needs.
• 🔄 Dropbox and GitHub, while excellent tools, are not specifically designed for note-taking and may fall short in this area.

Q & A

What criteria were used to rank the note-keeping tools?

The tools were ranked based on ease of use, features, backups, and portability.

Why is the security of web applications a concern for note-keeping?

Web applications increase portability but can pose security risks, as sensitive information may be stored on external servers.

What is CherryTree and what are its pros and cons?

CherryTree is a note-taking application packaged with Kali Linux, known for its logical hierarchy and formatting tools. However, it lacks easy syncing and is prone to file corruption.

What issues did the speaker encounter while using GitBook?

The speaker found GitBook's account ownership model confusing, resulting in multiple accounts and difficulties in sharing notes.

What features make Joplin an attractive option for note-keeping?

Joplin is open source, offers a clean UI, supports a split editor view, and has both standalone and cloud options.

Why does the speaker prefer Obsidian for note-taking?

The speaker appreciates Obsidian for its markdown support, simple layout, and the ability to sync notes with a private GitHub repository.

What are the potential drawbacks of using Notion?

While Notion is actively developed and has good formatting and integration features, it raises security concerns due to the sensitive information it may hold.

How does Google Docs fit into the note-keeping landscape?

Google Docs is versatile and accessible, supports markdown, and allows easy document sharing, though it requires plugins for certain functionalities.

What are the limitations of OneNote as mentioned in the video?

OneNote's layout can lead to messy note organization, and it has poor support for code blocks, making report conversion difficult.

What is the final verdict on KeepNote and Dropbox as note-keeping tools?

KeepNote is deemed outdated and user-unfriendly, placing it in D tier, while Dropbox is useful for storage but not designed for note-keeping, placing it in C tier.