Best Note Taking Tools
Tools for capturing, organizing, and connecting your notes.
Hidden Gems on the Internet
Beyond the usual suspects—Google, Notion, Slack—there are tools that fly under the radar but deliver real value. This list highlights lesser-known picks that deserve more attention.
Some are open source. Others are free with no strings attached. A few have grown in popularity but still feel like discoveries. What they share is usefulness: each solves a specific problem well.
If you're tired of the same recommendations, these might surprise you. We've included tools for notes, diagrams, coding, reading, and more. No stock photos, no enterprise bloat—just tools that work.
-
Obsidian
Local-first notes with linked thinking. Power users love it.
-
Excalidraw
Hand-drawn diagrams. No signup required.
-
Replit
Code in the browser. Share projects with a link.
-
Photopea
Photoshop alternative. Runs in any browser.
-
Pocket
Save and read later. Clean reading experience.
-
Feedly
RSS reader. Follow your favorite sources.