Top 5 Note-Taking + Study-Organisation Apps Reddit Students Use to Keep Track of Lectures, Assignments, and Revision Plans

Staying on top of lectures, readings, assignments, and exam revision can quickly become overwhelming for students—especially with multiple classes demanding equal attention. Fortunately, today’s students don’t have to rely on scattered notebooks and memory alone. A reliable note-taking and study-organisation app can make all the difference in maintaining academic efficiency and reducing stress. Reddit communities, especially subreddits like r/college and r/GetStudying, are filled with advice from students who heavily rely on digital tools to stay ahead.

TLDR:

If you’re feeling overwhelmed with managing lectures, assignments, and revision, you’re not alone. Many Reddit students swear by specific apps for keeping everything in order. We’ve reviewed the top five most-recommended study-organisation and note-taking tools, based on real feedback from Reddit. Whether you’re a visual planner or an outline enthusiast, there’s something here to help you streamline your academic life.

1. Notion – The All-in-One Workspace

Why Reddit loves it: For students who need flexibility and visual organisation, Notion is a powerhouse. It’s an all-in-one workspace where you can take notes, build to-do lists, create databases, plan projects, and more. Its minimalistic interface, block-based content system, and rich formatting options give users endless customisation potential.

Popular features include:

• Customisable page templates for class notes, weekly planners, and course syllabi
• Kanban boards for tracking tasks and assignments
• Integration with Google Calendar for syncing due dates
• Shared pages for group projects or collaborative note-sharing

r/Notion regularly features productivity templates that students can clone and adapt, with entire planning dashboards suited to semester-long academic goals.

Drawback: Notion can be a bit overwhelming at the beginning due to its flexibility. Users often mention there’s a learning curve involved, but once you get the hang of it, it becomes indispensable.

2. OneNote – Familiar Yet Powerful

Why Reddit loves it: Microsoft’s OneNote remains a favourite among students who prefer a more traditional notebook metaphor. With a digital binder structure—comprising sections and tabs—OneNote mimics the feel of physical notebooks while adding rich digital functionality.

Students use it for:

• Handwriting and sketching diagrams with a stylus
• Organising lecture notes by subject across separate notebooks
• Audio recording lectures and syncing them to notes
• Easy syncing across devices via OneDrive

Redditors from r/OneNote and r/college highlight its seamless integration with other Microsoft tools like Word and Excel, as well as its ease of use for multi-device syncing.

Drawback: Some users mention that the Android version of OneNote lacks a few features compared to its iOS or Windows counterparts, which can occasionally create friction when switching between devices.

3. Obsidian – For the Markdown Lovers & Long-Term Learners

Why Reddit loves it: Obsidian is perfect for students who want deep knowledge organisation and long-term knowledge building. Built on plain text and Markdown files, it promotes a concept called “linked thinking,” wherein students create interlinked notes to better understand connections across topics.

Key highlights include:

• Backlinking notes to related concepts (ideal for revision and research writing)
• Offline functionality and local file storage for privacy-focused students
• Plugins for flashcards, citations, daily planning, and spaced repetition
• Graph view for visualising planning and content relationships

r/ObsidianMD is filled with detailed tips, plugins suggestions, and aesthetic setups shared by students and professionals alike.

Drawback: It’s not exactly plug-and-play. Redditors caution that Obsidian needs setup time, and that the Markdown approach may not suit students who prefer rich-text editing or more traditional UIs.

4. Todoist – Task Management for the Efficient Learner

Why Reddit loves it: While not strictly a note-taking app, Todoist is a frequent recommendation by students who prioritise task management. It’s used widely to track assignment due dates, plan daily or weekly goals, and break down larger tasks like exam prep into manageable components.

Standout features include:

• Natural language input (e.g. “Read Chapter 5 every Monday”)
• Priority tagging, categorisation via labels and projects
• Daily and weekly planning views
• Cross-platform compatibility with mobile, web, and desktop access

In subreddits like r/productivity and r/GetStudying, Redditors often share how they combine Todoist with Notion or Obsidian, using it specifically for action-based organisation while relying on other apps for in-depth note-taking.

Drawback: Limited functionality for actual note content; it’s geared more towards task management than academic content storage. However, it pairs excellently with other tools for a complete workflow.

5. GoodNotes – The Handwriting Lover’s Choice

Why Reddit loves it: For students with iPads and Apple Pencils, GoodNotes is a game-changer. It offers a paper-like writing experience that’s both intuitive and powerful. Particularly beloved by students in STEM and medical programs, GoodNotes makes it easy to sketch formulas, annotate PDFs, and combine visual and written learning.

Redditors praise it for:

• Effortless handwriting and diagram sketching capabilities
• Document organisation by notebooks and folders
• High-quality PDF annotation functionality
• Searchable handwriting – turn notes into searchable text

Subreddits like r/GoodNotes and r/MedicalSchool frequently feature stunning, hand-drawn notes that combine functionality with aesthetic appeal—perfect for visual learners.

Drawback: GoodNotes is only available on Apple devices, leaving Android or Windows users out of its ecosystem. Additionally, while it excels in handwriting, it lacks some of the more advanced planning tools seen in apps like Notion.

How to Choose the Right App for You

What works for one student might not work for another. The best way to decide is by evaluating your own learning and organisation style. Here’s a short guide:

• Prefer structure and visuals? Go with Notion.
• Want an intuitive, traditional note-taking experience? Try OneNote.
• Love connecting ideas and writing in Markdown? Opt for Obsidian.
• Need help tracking to-do items and goals? Use Todoist.
• Love handwriting your notes? Consider GoodNotes—if you have an Apple device.

Many Reddit users even combine two or three of these apps to create their ideal workflow. For instance, a student may take detailed notes in OneNote, schedule tasks in Todoist, and use Notion as a central hub for course resources and planning.

Conclusion

Digital note-taking and organisation tools have transformed the way modern students approach their studies. By incorporating apps like Notion, OneNote, Obsidian, Todoist, or GoodNotes into your academic life, you unlock a new level of focus and coherence across your lectures, readings, and revision. Reddit continues to be a goldmine for real-world insights and use cases, making it easier than ever to find the tools best suited to your style of learning and working. Try one or two of the apps above, and see how much calmer and more productive your study sessions become.