Android is getting a new note-taking app in April 2026, and I couldn’t be happier
It’s no secret that app developers seem to pay more attention to Apple platforms than Android or Windows. The list of iPhone-only apps I long for on Android is short, but notable. If I had to narrow it down to two iOS apps that I would like to use on my Android devices, the note-taking app Note and the travel app Flighty would be at the top of my list. It will be short in April, because Notability is finally getting an Android version.
Notability received a major upgrade last week that brought it closer to becoming a cross-platform note-taking app. It’s got a web client, which means you can access Nobility Notes on any device with a browser, including Android phones. The web client supports all basic Note features, such as live and transcribed recording, file uploading and editing, and tagging tools. Using the synchronization function of Nobility Cloud, notes created in iOS, iPadOS, or macOS applications will be available in the web client, and vice versa.
It’s the closest thing to true Android support Nobility has ever had, but a true Google Play Store version is coming soon. The company confirmed in a press release last week that Notability will reach Android beta testers in April 2026, offering an early look at the app’s user interface and features. Most importantly, the upcoming app is not just an iOS clone – it will have Android-specific features, such as lock screen note shortcuts.
There is no better note-taking app on Android
I find basic apps like Google Keep and Samsung Notes too limited for my needs, especially on tablets. It’s great for typing a passing thought on your Android phone or keeping a grocery list, but anything more than that will make you want to use fully featured note-taking apps. On the other end of the spectrum are apps like Notion, which are things again it’s powerful and confusing for my use cases. I’ve always thought Notability strikes a great balance between these two strengths.
I first purchased Notability ten years ago, and it helped me succeed in my high school and college studies. Since then, I’ve used Nobility to take notes during press conferences and interviews. Unfortunately, the one-time purchase option that I used to purchase Nobility in the first place is no longer available. Awareness now uses a subscription model, but also added a free version for the first time as part of the switch.
The best feature of Nobility is audio recording, transcription, and synchronization. When you’re writing or typing in Notability, you can record audio alongside the notes you take. Sound is synced to your actions in the Nobility app. When you play back an audio recording, you can tap a word or draw in your digital notebook and hear exactly what was said as you wrote it. This is useful when you revisit notes from meetings or lectures, as you can hear what the speaker or professor said at the time to refresh your memory.
Another relevant feature is shape recognition and handwriting, which is self-explanatory. When you draw a shape, Nobility’s software can recognize it and put it in the best possible shape. If you have bad drawing skills or bad handwriting like me, this helps. The app can also recognize your handwriting and convert it to text while offering full stylus, mouse, and keyboard support. There is support for importing documents, which I use instead of other markup tools like Adobe Acrobat.
You can sign up for the Android Experience waiting list now
You can sign up for the Nobility beta version now on the app’s website. The app will support all the features mentioned above while in beta, but more is on the way. Nobility is teasing the general release with “new AI-powered features with Nobility Learn, note-taking, Nobility gallery support, a phone-optimized version, and more advanced drawing tools.”
If you like productivity apps or note-taking tools, it’s worth signing up for the Nobility for Android beta. If you want to get an early look at the transaction, you can try the Nobility web client for free today. It’s one of the best apps for iOS, iPadOS, and macOS ever made, and it’s good that Android users will try it out soon.
