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Citing Sources

What can note-taking apps do?

A key part of citation management is connecting your notes to the sources that they came from. Note-taking apps can help keep track of references and also help to organize and make connections between ideas. There are many free note-taking and knowledge organization tools. 

Some ways to use note-taking apps for your research:

  • Store your research notes in one place
  • Use tags, links, or folders to track research sources
  • Organize, connect, and cross-reference notes and ideas
  • Create moodboards and mindmaps
  • Organize visual and media references
  • Collaborate more easily for group projects
  • Sync research across devices

Which note-taking app should I use?

There are many excellent note-taking tools and many offer a free version. Noteapps.info is a useful website for comparing features between apps and tools. 

Here are a few popular suggestions to get you started: 

Name 

Cost 

Strengths and special features 

Access and devices 

Image and media support 

Video Tutorial 

Capacities 

Basic: Free (includes most features) 

Pro: $12.99/month 

 

  • Unique networked structure is useful for research and linking concepts 

  • Supports concept mapping and visual relationships between ideas 

  • Object-based system, with custom object types 

 

Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android 

Supports embedding images, videos, audio, PDFs and other file types within notes 

Getting Started with Capacities 

Morpholio Journal 

Basic: Free 

JournalPro: $3.99/year 

  • Easy to use 

  • Mimics physical sketchbooks  

  • Sketching tools 

  • Includes features for architectural sketching 

iOS 

  • Import and annotate or manipulate images and PDFs 

  • Create collages and moodboards 

  • Audio notes 

 

Is This Architecture Sketching App Worth $4 

Notability 

Basic: Free 

Lite: $14.99/year 

Plus: $19.99/year 

 

  • Sketchbook-style, with drawing tools 

  • Handwriting recognition 

  • Multi-media support, including audio 

Mac, iOS 

  • Add images, GIFS, stickers, PDFs, and audio 

  • Manipulate images and annotate PDFs 

Getting Started with Notability 

Notion 

Free for personal use 

  • All-in-one workspace, including tasks, calendar, and databases  

  • Collaboration features 

  • Highly customizable 

Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android 

  • Supports embedding images, audio, and video within pages 

  • Gallery view for visual collections 

LinkedIn Learning: Learning Notion 

Obsidian 

Free for personal use 

  • Features bidirectional linking and graph view to link ideas 

  • Markdown-based 

  • Local file storage good for privacy 

  • Plugins available for customization 

Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android 

  • Supports embedding images in Markdown  

  • Plugins available to support more image capabilities 

Mastering Obsidian Playlist 

OneNote 

Free, and included in Microsoft 365 

  • Strong organizational hierarchy (notebooks, sections, pages) 

  • Easily integrate with Microsoft ecosystem 

  • Supports collaboration 

Web, Mac, Windows, iOS, Android 

  • Supports inserting images, video, audio, and PDFs  

  • Annotate and format images within notes 

LinkedIn Learning: OneNote Essential Training 

Upnote 

Basic: Free 

Premium: USD $1.99/month or USD $39.99 Lifetime 

  • Minimalist interface 

  • Tagging system 

  • Markdown notes 

Mac, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android 

  • Simple image insertion and formatting 

  • Record audio 

  • Attach PDFs but no viewing or annotating 

Being Effective with Upnote