AI note taking apps have become essential in 2025 for students and teachers trying to keep up with fast lectures, online resources, and exam prep. The right AI note taker app doesn’t just record words—it summarizes, organizes, and even generates flashcards or quizzes to make studying easier and smarter.
Here are the 10 best AI note takers in 2025 for education. All which I have thoroughly tested, provdiing with quick overviews, pros, and cons to help you decide which is right for you.
Table of Contents
- How I Picked the Top AI Note Takers
- Best AI Note Taking Apps
- Model Comparisons: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
- Quick Comparison Table
- Which AI Note Taker is Best for Different Student Types
- Final Thoughts & Recommendation
How I Picked the Top AI Note Takers
I focused on note apps that:
- Improve learning and retention with AI-powered summaries, quizzes, and study guides.
- Handle different input types (lectures, PDFs, handwritten notes, recordings).
- Work smoothly across platforms (phones, tablets, desktops).
- Provide affordable/free options for students and teachers.
- Integrate with leading AI models like ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini.
Best AI Note Taking Apps Ranked
1. NotebookLM (Google)
Summary: NotebookLM is Google’s AI note-taking app built on Gemini. It transforms class readings, slides, and recordings into summaries, audio overviews, quizzes, and flashcards, making it one of the most complete study companions in 2025.
Pros:
- Upload PDFs, Docs, Slides, and more to generate summaries and study guides.
- Audio Overviews let you review while multitasking.
- Deep integration with Google’s student ecosystem (Docs, Drive, Gmail).
Cons:
- Advanced features tied to paid tiers.
- Works best if you’re already in the Google ecosystem.
- Limited support for handwriting.
2. Notion AI
Summary: Notion AI combines productivity with smart note-taking. Students use it as an all-in-one workspace for lectures, projects, and tasks, with AI assistance for summaries, Q&A, and research.
Pros:
- AI adds summarization, writing, research mode, and model choice (GPT, Claude).
- Huge template library and community support.
- Great for mixing personal study with group work.
Cons:
- Full AI features require Business/Enterprise plans.
- Learning curve for setup and customization.
- Not built for live audio transcription.
3. Otter.ai
Summary: Otter.ai is one of the best real-time transcription tools for lectures and meetings. It captures spoken words live, then creates searchable transcripts with summaries and speaker identification.
Pros:
- Accurate, real-time transcription with speaker labeling.
- Creates automatic highlights and summaries.
- Mobile app works well in classrooms.
Cons:
- Free tier has time limits.
- Summaries can miss details depending on audio quality.
- Limited study-aid features (like quizzes/flashcards).
4. MeetGeek
Summary: MeetGeek is designed for meeting transcription and summaries, but it works well for recorded lectures too. It’s especially good at turning long sessions into bullet-point overviews and searchable content.
Pros:
- Records and summarizes meetings/lectures automatically.
- Supports multiple languages.
- Generates action items and highlights.
Cons:
- Built for business first, education second.
- Paid plans needed for frequent recording.
- No handwriting/stylus input.
5. PolarNotes (With AI Assistant)
Summary: PolarNotes AI is the leading AI note taker for students and teachers. It takes class content—lectures, slides, documents—and organizes it into study-ready formats like outlines, flashcards, lesson plans, interactive quizzes and more.
Pros:
- Education-first design with student workflows in mind.
- Secure, with impressive offline access.
- Great at converting raw content into study material for students and teachers.
- Includes an adorable AI polar bear assistant to make using it extremely fun and enjoyable
Cons:
- Focused on education usages primarily
6. Evernote AI
Summary: Evernote is a veteran note-taking app now enhanced with AI. It helps with organizing typed notes, web clippings, and PDFs, plus new AI tools for summarization and editing.
Pros:
- Cross-platform sync and offline access.
- AI boosts productivity by summarizing and reorganizing notes.
- Strong search functionality.
Cons:
- Limited handwriting/audio features.
- AI rollout is regional and gradual.
- Free tier is restricted.
7. Coconote
Summary: Coconote is a newer AI app designed for students. It turns lectures into organized notes, flashcards, and quizzes, even pulling in multimedia to enhance study sessions.
Pros:
- Built for students’ study workflows.
- Flashcards and quizzes generated automatically.
- Mobile-friendly with a growing user base.
Cons:
- Still a new player; fewer integrations.
- Audio accuracy varies by recording quality.
- Less versatile for professional uses.
8. Goodnotes 6 (AI)
Summary: Goodnotes 6 is the go-to app for handwriting note-takers, now with AI support. It can convert math equations, clean up handwriting, and structure handwritten notes into usable formats.
Pros:
- Excellent for handwritten math/science notes.
- AI math conversion to LaTeX and clean typeset.
- Free for schools via Apple School Manager.
Cons:
- Optimized for iPad + stylus.
- Less useful for voice transcription.
- Paid features can get pricey.
9. Fireflies.ai
Summary: Fireflies.ai is a meeting and lecture capture tool that produces searchable transcripts and action items. It’s especially useful for group projects and collaborative classes.
Pros:
- Captures multi-speaker lectures with ease.
- Search transcripts for keywords.
- Generates action items and summaries.
Cons:
- Not tailored for individual study (no flashcards/quizzes).
- Free plan is limited.
- Can get cluttered with heavy use.
10. Notability (AI)
Summary: Notability combines recording + handwriting + AI summarization. Students who record lectures while writing notes can replay audio and let AI generate structured summaries and review aids.
Pros:
- Great for students who record and annotate lectures.
- AI creates summaries, quizzes, and flashcards.
- Syncs across iPad, Mac, and iPhone.
Cons:
- Most advanced AI features on paid tiers.
- iPad-centric, less flexible across platforms.
- Audio summaries depend on recording quality.
Model comparisons: ChatGPT, Claude, Gemini
- ChatGPT excels at conversational notes, detailed explanations, and creating flashcards.
- Claude shines for digesting long lectures or PDFs into concise, clear study notes.
- Gemini powers much of Google’s stack (NotebookLM, Google Docs, Slides) with strong cross-integration.
Many apps above use these models directly or indirectly, so your experience may vary depending on which AI they connect to.
Quick comparison table
| App | Best For | Strengths | Weaknesses |
| NotebookLM | Research & study | Summaries, audio overviews, flashcards | Paid features, Google ecosystem |
| Notion AI | All-in-one workspace | AI writing, research, collaboration | Expensive tiers, learning curve |
| Otter.ai | Live lectures | Real-time transcription | Limited study features |
| MeetGeek | Recorded lectures | Bullet summaries, multilingual | Business-oriented, no handwriting |
| PolarNotes AI | Students & teachers | Education-first, quizzes, outlines, and more | Focused primarily on education |
| Evernote AI | Typed note-takers | Summarization, editing, search | Limited audio/handwriting AI |
| Coconote | Student study flow | Quizzes, flashcards, multimedia | New, fewer integrations |
| Goodnotes 6 | Handwriting/STEM | Math AI, LaTeX conversion | iPad/stylus only |
| Fireflies.ai | Group projects | Searchable transcripts, actions | Not study-specific |
| Notability (AI) | Recording + writing | Record + annotate + AI summaries | iPad focus, paid AI |
Which AI note taker is best for different student types
- NotebookLM → Best for research-heavy students.
- Notion AI → Best for students who mix study with projects/tasks.
- Otter.ai → Best for lecture capture in real time.
- MeetGeek → Best for reviewing long recorded classes.
- PolarNotes AI → Best for exam prep and student-first workflows.
- Goodnotes/Notability → Best for iPad stylus note-takers.
Final thoughts & recommendation
In 2025, the best AI note takers are no longer just recorders—they’re study partners. Whether you need transcription, study aids, or an all-in-one workspace, the right app saves you hours and helps you retain more.
- For all-around study support, NotebookLM is the most feature-rich.
- For student-focused workflows, PolarNotes AI is a standout—simple, smart, and built for learning.
- For handwriting fans, Goodnotes and Notability are unbeatable.
👉 The bottom line: pick the app that matches your study style—AI note taking is now essential for staying ahead in class.
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