Notability

Handwriting and synchronized audio recording are central to Notability's approach to digital notes. On an iPad, Apple Pencil input supports writing and annotation, while typed text can share the same note. When audio is recorded during note-taking, the app links the recording to the writing, allowing a tap on a note to revisit the corresponding part of the discussion. That connection is useful for students reviewing lectures and professionals returning to meeting details that brief notes did not fully capture.

PDF annotation also lets existing documents become working material rather than separate references. Notability offers subscription-based access to expanded features, with access depending on the plan. It suits people whose thinking starts with handwriting and who value recorded context alongside their notes. Its distinction is the close relationship between written marks and audio playback, rather than a primarily text-based knowledge database.