Some of these are common and some not so much. It just gives you more flexibility and some apps are favored depending on your style and preferability. One of the strengths of these apps is that they will sync across all your devices with one exception, Stickies.
- The most obvious is to use NOTES. This app has improved considerably since it first appeared and has a number of powerful features such as linking notes, folders, smart folders, nested folders, pinned notes, lists, and fast search. It syncs across all your other Apple devices.
- TEXT EDITOR – sort of hidden but access it in Applications or use Launch Pad (add to the DOCK if needed). It’s very simple and plain. No formatting or inserting pictures in text format. If you switch it to Rich Text Format you can format some and insert images.
- If you really want to format, insert images and other things, then use PAGES. It is a powerful word processor with tables, charts, images and more, and you can save in native format or in .docx format to share with Word users. PAGES has a special Note Taking template for a fast start.
- FREEFORM – can have text boxes. Great for brain storming, linking, images, and shapes help to get your ideas captured. Easy to share with other FREEFORM users for collaboration.
- VOICE MEMOS – just record your voice as a memo. Capture things on the go. You can change playback speed, share it, and more. It can be handy to take written notes and also use this to record so you can use playback to see if you understood what was said.
- NUMBERS – it can be used this way to put your text in blocks and it will auto-wrap. Use Option+Return to start a new line if you are making a list. For example one column could be a name or a timestamp and then the note could be adjacent.
- KEYNOTE – mainly a presentation app, but in Outline View, you can make “note cards”. You will need to try typing and then indenting with the tab key to see the results.
- CONTACTS – traditionally this is for maintaining names, company, phone, email and so on. There is a section at the bottom of the card, Notes. Here you can put any text you want to save to expand what you know about the person. You don’t need to be in edit more, just start typing. It can hold pages and pages of information. No formatting.
- CALENDAR – each event has a Notes section to expand and provide more information on the event. Put in reservations, parking instructions, common hobbies, favorite books…
- REMINDERS – All reminders have a section called Notes where you can add information about the task. Click on the “I” information icon on the right side to enter the Notes section. Minor formatting is available.
- STICKIES app – an old app that is still around. Find it in Applications or Launch Pad. These appear as small notes on your screen when the app is running. You can use the menu bar to make them float over other apps. They can be different colors. They only appear on a Mac and are available on the iPad or iPhone.
One more: Another way that I use, when I don’t want that thought to get away. If you have an iPad Pro and an Apple Pencil, you can tap the screen with the Pencil, even when the iPad is asleep, and it will awaken and open Notes so you can quickly write or type your thought.
Don’t forget that you can use CMD+Spacebar on you Mac for Search. Just type in the name of the app if it is not in your Dock to quickly access it.
This list is from MacMost.com. For Patreon members at only $5/mo you can have exclusive access to some of his very informative videos.