App Reviews

7 Note-Taking Apps and Websites Reviewed

• By
• 12/12/13

Common Sense Media’s service Graphite, which offers independent ratings and reviews on learning apps and websites, has compiled this list of its top note-taking apps and websites. For complete reviews, and for each app’s "Learning Rating," visit the Graphite website.

1.  Popplet

Price: Free
Concepts: Effective communication, expression, digital creation
Grade Levels: 1-8

Popplet is a click-and-drag platform that gives students a quick way to organize information or craft presentations. The intuitive design offers easy upload of content, comments, info/data and collaboration. Read the full review. 

2.  Mural.ly

Price: Free
Concepts: Collaboration, project-based learning
Grade Levels: 2-12

Mural.ly is a website where kids can save text, video, and images to a virtual corkboard to share, use for presentations, or catalog for future use. Can be used to facilitate classroom group projects. Read the full review.

3.  Subtext

Price: Free
Concepts: Reading comprehension, critical thinking, asking questions
Grade Levels: 4-12

Subtext is a digital reader app that allows multiple users to annotate and discuss a text in its margins, turning the solitary act of reading into a highly engaged, fun, and collaborative activity. Read the full review. 

4. Notability

Price: $2.99
Concepts: Brainstorming, self-direction, group projects
Grade Levels: 6-12

On a single page of notes, students can type, write, draw, highlight, record audio, cut, paste and even insert content captured from websites. Notability is a great tool for brainstorming ideas and for collaborative group projects. Read the full review.

5. Skitch

Price: Free
Concepts: Working efficiently, using and applying technology
Grade Levels: 6-12

With the ability to take notes by hand and annotate images and text, visual learners should respond well to Skitch's style. Users will need an Evernote account to help organize notes and save creations. Read the full review.

6. Diigo

Price: Free
Concepts: Discussion, group projects, investigation, social media
Grade Levels: 7-12

More than just a bookmarking tool, Diigo lets users collaborate, collect, comment on, and share info online. Educators can set up student and group accounts to help students collaboratively organize research. Read the full review.

7. Citelighter

Price: Free, paid Pro version
Concepts: Text analysis, applying information, thinking critically
Grade Levels: 8-12 

Citelighter helps students tackle the tough work of organizing and collecting online research. Students can use it to capture an article with a click: grabbing excerpts, saving citations, and automatically creating a bibliography.