7 Best Lecture Note Taker Apps for Students (2025 Guide)

#1. HoverNotes

HoverNotes is a Chrome extension that watches videos with you, generates AI notes, and saves them as Markdown directly to your file system. It’s designed specifically for learning from video on platforms like YouTube, Coursera, Udemy, and university lecture portals. Its main strength is that it analyzes visual information directly from the video frames, not just the audio transcript.

This approach ensures that crucial on-screen context—like code snippets, mathematical equations, or diagrams from a recorded lecture—is captured accurately. Unlike tools that only parse transcripts, HoverNotes watches the video alongside you to create comprehensive, structured notes in clean Markdown format.

#Key Strengths and Use Cases

HoverNotes is built for students who value data ownership and integration with tools like Obsidian.

• Local-First Privacy: Notes save directly to your computer as plain .md files, making it a perfect lecture note taker for Obsidian users. Your knowledge remains private and fully under your control, accessible even offline. You own the files.
• Timestamped Visuals: A single click captures a screenshot of the video, which is embedded directly into your notes. Each screenshot includes a clickable timestamp—one click returns you to that exact moment in the video. This is invaluable for reviewing complex visual explanations during exam prep.
• Distraction-Free Mode: Video mode blocks the distractions on a site and puts your notes right next to the content. This creates a split-screen view for focused learning without interruption.

#How It Works

After installing the Chrome extension, a HoverNotes panel appears next to any video. You can trigger the AI to generate notes, or manually type your own and use the free tools like timestamped screenshots. For a detailed walkthrough, you can learn more about setting up HoverNotes to connect it with your local note-taking app.

Key Insight: The ability to capture visual elements that audio transcripts miss is a critical differentiator. For STEM, coding, or any visually dense subject, HoverNotes provides a more complete record of the lecture than tools that only process spoken words.

Pros:

• Watches the video to capture visual details like code, diagrams, and equations.
• Saves notes as local Markdown files, ideal for Obsidian and data privacy.
• One-click, clickable timestamped screenshots for quick review.
• Works on any website with video, including university portals and local files.

Cons:

• Requires a Chromium-based browser (like Chrome, Edge, or Brave).
• Direct Obsidian vault integration requires a few initial setup steps.
• The free plan offers 20 minutes of AI note generation; heavy use requires a paid plan.

The free plan doesn't require a credit card, making it easy to test its capabilities on your own lecture content.

Website: https://hovernotes.io

#2. Otter.ai

Otter.ai is an AI-powered lecture note taker designed for automatic transcription. It excels at converting spoken lectures from live or pre-recorded sessions into searchable, timestamped text. For students in fast-paced courses, this means you can capture every word without frantically typing, allowing you to focus on the professor's explanation. Otter.ai integrates directly with meeting tools like Zoom, automatically joining your virtual classes to record and transcribe them in real time.

Its core strength lies in processing audio. You can upload existing lecture recordings (both audio and video files), and the platform will quickly generate a full transcript. Key features include speaker identification, which helps distinguish between the professor and guest speakers, and automatic summaries that distill long lectures into key points. This makes it an excellent tool for reviewing lecture-heavy courses before an exam.

#Key Features and Workflow

• Live Transcription: Connect Otter to your live online lectures for a real-time transcript, perfect for following along or catching missed details.
• Audio/Video Uploads: Have a saved lecture from your university portal? Just upload the file and let Otter do the transcription work.
• Search and Export: The entire transcript is searchable. You can find every mention of a specific keyword, copy key sections for your study notes, or export the full text.
• Collaboration: Study groups can share and comment on lecture transcripts, creating a central repository of knowledge for the group.

#Pricing and Access

Otter.ai operates on a freemium model. The free Basic plan offers 300 transcription minutes per month (30 minutes per conversation), which may be sufficient for a single class. For heavier course loads, the paid Pro and Business tiers provide more minutes and advanced features. Otter also offers an education discount for students with a valid .edu email address.

While Otter excels at creating accurate text from audio, it's an audio-first solution. For more information on the nuances of creating notes from video, you can explore various methods to transcribe a YouTube video. It’s ideal for lecture-heavy courses where the spoken word contains the most critical information but misses on-screen visuals.

Website: https://otter.ai

#3. Notability

Notability is a digital notebook that bridges the gap between traditional handwriting and modern technology. It excels for students who learn best by marking up slides and drawing diagrams, allowing you to import lecture PDFs and write directly on them. Its standout feature is audio-note syncing; as you type or handwrite notes, Notability records the lecture audio and links it to your annotations. Tapping on a specific note later will replay the exact audio from the moment you wrote it, making review sessions very efficient.

While its roots are in manual note-taking, Notability has integrated AI tools to enhance the learning process. These features can automatically generate summaries of your notes or create flashcards from key terms. This makes it a comprehensive lecture note taker, combining the tactile feel of handwriting with the analytical power of AI. It’s particularly effective for visual learners who need to interact with lecture slides and diagrams.

#Key Features and Workflow

• Audio-Synced Notes: Record lecture audio that syncs perfectly with your handwritten or typed notes. This is a game-changer for clarifying confusing points during exam prep.
• PDF Markup: Import lecture slides, reading materials, or assignment sheets as PDFs and annotate them directly within the app.
• AI Study Tools: Paid tiers unlock AI-powered summaries and flashcard generation. Live transcription is also available.
• Cross-Device Sync: With cloud sync, your notes and markups are available across your iPad, Mac, and iPhone, creating a seamless study ecosystem.

#Pricing and Access

Notability offers a free Starter tier with limited editing and features, which is great for trying out the core functionality. The paid Plus plan unlocks unlimited editing and the full suite of AI tools, and it's priced affordably for students. While the best experience is on Apple devices, a web version offers viewing capabilities. The platform's strength lies in combining annotation with audio, a concept explored in different ways across various methods for how to take study notes.

Its main limitation is its Apple-centric design; the experience on other platforms isn't as feature-rich. It's an ideal choice for students already invested in the Apple ecosystem who want a single app for both note-taking and audio recording.

Website: https://notability.com/pricing

#4. Goodnotes

Goodnotes transforms your device into a smart digital notebook, excelling as a lecture note taker for those who prefer the feel of handwriting. It allows students to write, draw diagrams, and annotate PDFs directly on a tablet, just like on paper, but with the added power of digital organization. Its strength lies in combining the tactile experience of handwriting with features like searchable text and cloud sync across Apple, Windows, and Android devices.

The platform is designed for deep study workflows. You can organize your notes into distinct notebooks for each class and import lecture slides to mark up. Its audio recording feature syncs your handwritten notes to the lecture audio, allowing you to tap on a specific note and hear exactly what the professor was saying at that moment. This makes reviewing complex concepts highly efficient.

#Key Features and Workflow

• Audio Recording and Transcription: Record lectures while you write, and your notes will sync with the audio playback. Goodnotes also offers audio transcription to convert spoken words into text.
• Searchable Handwriting: The app’s OCR technology makes your handwritten notes fully searchable. You can quickly find keywords across all your notebooks, which is invaluable for exam prep.
• AI Features: With an optional subscription, you gain AI capabilities like generating summaries from your notes, creating practice quizzes, and getting help with math problems.
• Cross-Platform Support: Start your notes on an iPad, review them on your Windows laptop, and make quick additions from your Android phone.

#Pricing and Access

Goodnotes offers a limited free version that allows users to create a few notebooks to test the core features. The full experience is unlocked with a one-time purchase or an annual subscription, depending on the platform. The AI features are a separate subscription. Discounts are often available for educational institutions.

While Goodnotes is a top-tier lecture note taker for handwritten content, its primary focus is on what you write and hear. For learners whose courses rely heavily on visual demonstrations in videos, this approach might miss crucial on-screen context. To explore other methods that prioritize visual note-taking, you can learn more about productivity note taking tips.

Website: https://www.goodnotes.com/pricing

#5. Livescribe (official store)

For students who find that the act of handwriting solidifies memory, Livescribe offers a bridge between traditional pen-and-paper notes and a searchable digital archive. This lecture note taker system is built around smartpens that capture everything you write on special micro-dotted paper. When you enable audio recording on the pen during a lecture, every stroke is synced to the audio timeline. Tapping on a written word later replays the exact audio from the moment you wrote it, making it effective for clarifying confusing points in your notes.

Livescribe’s approach is unique because it doesn’t force you to choose between digital and analog. You get the tactile, screen-free benefit of writing by hand while simultaneously creating a digitized, cloud-accessible, and searchable backup. The system digitizes your handwriting and can convert it to text, making your handwritten notes as easy to search as a typed document. This is ideal for students who sketch diagrams or formulas that are difficult to replicate with a keyboard.

#Key Features and Workflow

• Pen-and-Paper Digitization: Write naturally in a notebook. Your notes are automatically captured and sent to the Livescribe+ companion app.
• Tap-to-Replay Audio: Record lecture audio with the smartpen. Later, tap any part of your written notes to hear what the professor was saying at that exact moment.
• Handwriting Transcription: The app can convert your handwritten notes into editable digital text, which you can then search, copy, and export.
• Cloud Access and Search: Your notes are synced and accessible across devices. You can search your entire library of handwritten notes for specific keywords.

#Pricing and Access

Livescribe is a hardware-based system, so the initial cost involves purchasing a smartpen (starting around $130) and proprietary dot paper. The official store frequently runs promotional bundles. While the companion app is free, the ongoing cost includes purchasing specialized notebooks and ink cartridges. The hardware investment makes it a more considered purchase than a software-only solution.

This system excels at capturing audio-synced handwritten notes but is dependent on its proprietary hardware. It cannot capture visual content directly from a recorded video lecture, like diagrams or code shown on screen.

Website: https://us.livescribe.com/

#6. Rocketbook (official store)

For students who find that handwriting is essential for memory retention but want digital organization, Rocketbook offers a unique hybrid solution. It’s a reusable smart notebook that combines the experience of pen and paper with cloud storage. You write notes during a lecture using a special Pilot FriXion pen, then use the free Rocketbook app to scan and digitize your pages. This makes it an excellent lecture note taker for those who feel disconnected when typing on a laptop.

The core appeal of Rocketbook is its simplicity and sustainability. Once you've scanned your notes, you wipe the page clean with a damp cloth and it’s ready for your next class. The app automatically sends your high-resolution scans to pre-configured destinations like Google Drive, OneNote, or your email. This workflow allows you to build a searchable digital archive of your handwritten notes without the waste or bulk of traditional paper notebooks.

#Key Features and Workflow

• Scan and Digitize: Use the Rocketbook app to capture your handwritten notes. The app automatically crops and enhances the pages for clarity.
• Cloud Integration: Set up shortcuts to send notes directly to specific folders in Google Drive, Dropbox, Evernote, OneNote, and more.
• Reusable Pages: The synthetic paper works with Pilot FriXion pens, which can be erased with water, allowing you to reuse the notebook endlessly.
• No Batteries Required: As a non-electronic device, it’s lightweight, durable, and never needs charging, making it a reliable companion for back-to-back lectures.

#Pricing and Access

Rocketbook notebooks are purchased with a one-time cost, with popular models like the Core starting around $34. This includes a pen and a microfiber cloth. The Rocketbook app is completely free. Compared to digital tablets or subscriptions, it's an affordable entry into smart note-taking, and the reusable nature eliminates the ongoing cost of paper notebooks.

While Rocketbook is fantastic for archiving handwritten work, converting those scans into searchable text requires using the OCR (Optical Character Recognition) features within the app or your chosen cloud service. If you want to organize these scanned notes alongside screenshots from video lectures, you can use them as one part of a comprehensive study guide maker workflow.

Website: https://getrocketbook.com/products/rocketbook-core

#7. Amazon (U.S.)

While not a lecture note taker itself, Amazon is the largest online marketplace for acquiring the physical hardware that powers your note-taking workflows. For students who prefer a tactile experience or need specialized tools, it’s an essential resource for comparing smartpens, AI recorders, reusable notebooks, and tablets. It allows you to find the perfect gear to complement your software, whether you're capturing handwritten notes that sync to the cloud or recording in-person lectures.

Amazon's primary strength is its vast selection and competitive pricing. You can browse devices like the Rocketbook for reusable paper, the Livescribe smartpen for digitizing handwriting, or dedicated AI voice recorders for offline audio capture. The extensive user reviews are invaluable for gauging real-world performance and reliability.

#Key Features and Workflow

• Wide Hardware Selection: Find everything from tablets and styluses for visual note-taking to specialized AI recorders that function as a hardware lecture note taker.
• User Reviews and Comparisons: Leverage thousands of customer reviews to compare different models and brands.
• Fast Shipping and Deals: Prime members benefit from rapid delivery. Look for bundles and discounts during Prime Day or back-to-school events.
• Accessory Ecosystem: Beyond the main devices, you can find essential accessories like cases, replacement pen tips, and charging docks.

#Pricing and Access

Amazon’s pricing is dynamic, with multiple sellers competing for most products. A Prime membership ($14.99/month or a discounted student rate) is highly recommended for free, fast shipping. When purchasing, pay close attention to the seller’s reputation and verify that you are buying a new model with a valid warranty.

This platform is the go-to starting point for building a physical note-taking toolkit. It’s where you can source the hardware that works with software designed for learning, creating a comprehensive system for capturing every detail of your lectures.

Website: https://www.amazon.com/

#Lecture Note-Taker: 7-Tool Comparison

#Choosing Your System: From Passive Watching to Active Learning

We've explored a range of tools, from AI-driven extensions like HoverNotes to digital handwriting apps like Notability. The central theme is clear: the right lecture note taker is the one that fits your study habits and transforms passive video consumption into an active, knowledge-building process. Simply watching hours of recorded lectures on university portals, Zoom, or YouTube leads to poor retention. The real learning happens when you engage with the material.

The goal isn't just to find a new app; it's to build a sustainable system for creating searchable, permanent knowledge assets ready for review. This means moving beyond scattered screenshots and disjointed text files to a connected library where every note is linked back to its original context in the video.

#Finding Your Fit: Key Questions to Ask

Before committing to a tool, consider your specific needs. Your choice of a lecture note taker should be deliberate.

• Where are your lectures? If your lectures are on multiple platforms like university portals, Coursera, and local video files, you need a versatile tool like HoverNotes that works anywhere there's video.
• What is your subject matter? For visual-heavy subjects like medicine, engineering, or coding, a tool that only transcribes audio is insufficient. You need something that captures on-screen diagrams and demonstrations with timestamped screenshots.
• What is your primary study tool? If you use Obsidian or another local-first tool, a system that saves notes as plain Markdown files is essential. This ensures you own your data forever, free from proprietary formats.
• Do you prefer typing or writing? If the tactile feedback of a pen helps you think, digital handwriting apps like Goodnotes or smart pens like Livescribe are excellent choices. If you value speed and searchability, a keyboard-first approach is more efficient.

Ultimately, the best lecture note taker is the one you consistently use. It should reduce friction, not add to it. Whether you choose an AI assistant to handle the heavy lifting or a smart notebook to bridge the physical and digital divide, the objective is the same: to build a personal knowledge base that serves you long after the final exam.

If your learning workflow is centered on video content and you value owning your notes in an open format, HoverNotes is built for you. It acts as your personal AI lecture note taker, saving timestamped screenshots and structured notes as Markdown files directly to your computer—perfect for Obsidian users. You can try HoverNotes for free and see how it transforms video lectures into a permanent, searchable part of your knowledge base.