In today’s fast-paced world, it’s not easy juggling multiple tasks and still trying to stay organized while at it. I have been in such shoes, and they weren’t easy to walk in.
I was constantly drained, confused, overwhelmed, and regularly missed important schedules and tasks. And even though I jotted down my daily tasks before starting my day, I still found myself missing out on those tasks.
Plus, I didn’t like how the paper reminders made my workspace untidy. If you’re currently having the same issue, technology has come to our rescue, providing us with lots of digital tools that help us capture and streamline our workflow.
One of the tools is Sticky Notes. It’s a digital note-taking application that comes with Windows 7, 8, and 10. The software allows you to take notes and stick them to your desktop quickly.
That means, rather than writing down your daily tasks on paper, you can just type them on the Sticky Note. It’s a more convenient way to jot down important information, reminders, or ideas.
The app helps you to organize and manage your tasks effectively. For example, you can create separate notes for different projects, categorize them by colors or tags, and arrange them in the order of priority.
The best sticky note alternatives for Windows include Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, Google Keep, Simplenote, Notezilla, Zoho Notebook, Microsoft OneNote, and Notezilla. However, the best will be Notezilla primarily because of its simplistic yet robust features.
It also offers more advanced features than Sticky Notes.
Why Should You Check Out Other Sticky Notes Alternatives For Windows?
No doubt, Sticky Notes has been a useful tool for digital note-taking on Windows. However, the app isn’t without drawbacks.
First, you have a few formatting options to work with. For example, you only get the basic text formatting like bold, underline, and italics.
However, if you’re looking for advanced formatting features like font styles, highlighting, and bullet points, the app is lacking. It’s also difficult to collaborate with your team members.
That is to say, you can’t assign tasks and provide feedback within Sticky Note. There are also no in-built tracking features to track your task completion, set due dates, or receive proactive reminders.
If you have been looking for alternative software, I’ve got you covered. I have compiled and reviewed a list of the best Sticky Notes alternatives for Windows devices.
The best part is that these alternatives come with better and more advanced features that allow you to manage your tasks and ideas and collaborate with your team.
Now, without much ado, let’s dive right in!
Best Sticky Notes Alternatives For Windows
1. Microsoft OneNote
Microsoft OneNote is a digital note notebook created by Microsoft that will help take care of all your note-taking needs. That’s one of the foremost similarities between the app and Sticky Notes – both are developed by Microsoft.
However, in terms of features and functions, OneNote is much more advanced. First, it allows you to create notes and even divide them into sections and pages.
That is to say, you can group your tasks under different pages. More so, it’s easy to navigate and find the notes right where you left them.
I love that you can revise your notes and highlight important dates or information for quick access. Also, the fact that the app syncs across all your devices means that you can always pick up from wherever you left off on any device.
Unlike Sticky Notes, OneNote takes it a notch higher by allowing for sharing and collaboration between team members. You can share ideas and create notes together with your team.
Ultimately, Microsoft OneNote works well on Windows and even Mac, iOS, and Android devices.
2. Evernote
Evernote is another powerful note-taking and task-management application you should check out. Whether you’re an executive, entrepreneur, or creative, you can easily capture and arrange your ideas and daily tasks on the app.
I love that Evernote’s interface is robust yet user-friendly. You can easily create and even assign tasks inside your notes, including due dates and reminders, to ensure that you don’t miss any deadlines.
More so, you can connect your Google Calendar to the app. This makes it much easier to keep your schedule.
Since your meetings sync with your notes, nothing will ever get lost in the shuffle. This feature isn’t available on Sticky Notes which gives Evernote an edge over it.
The app’s goal is to make sure that you remember everything on your table. To make it easier for you, you can supplement the text with images, audio, and documents.
Aside from your notes syncing automatically to all your devices, they also sync with your tasks and schedules ensuring that you get things done more easily. I also love the app’s flexible search feature that allows you to get what you need and when you need it, quickly.
Like Sticky Notes, Evernote is available for download on Microsoft Store. The app doesn’t work on Windows alone but also works on Mac, iOS, and Android devices. There’s a free trial to get you started before subscribing to the paid plan.
3. Google Keep
Google Keep is a personal note application you can use in place of Sticky Notes. The first feature you’ll notice once you start using the app is how easy it is to navigate. It’s a simple tool that can be assessed for free as long as you have a Google account.
I love that you can easily save your thoughts from wherever you are. And it can be done either from your computer, phone, or tablet. You can add lists, photos, and audio files to your notes for more clarity.
The fact that it is a Google product means that you can connect the app to your Google Calendar. So, it becomes easier to set reminders for each task on your note.
Unlike Sticky Note, Google Keep allows users to set location-based and time-based reminders for all their tasks to make sure that they never miss a thing. The best part is you get to share your notes with family and friends.
For example, if you’re going shopping as a group, you can make a shopping list and share it with everyone. They will check off items as they purchase them. This way, there’s no need for text messages and unnecessary back and forth.
I’m equally impressed with the app’s search feature. You can quickly filter and search for notes either by color or using other attributes like images or audio notes.
You’ll find whatever you’re looking for in seconds. More so, your notes sync across your devices to ensure that they are always within reach. You can access them from any device you want – phone, tablet, or computer.
4. Simplenote
As the name implies, Simplenote provides a stress-free way to keep notes and manage your daily tasks. First off, the app makes sure that your notes are synced across all of your devices.
In addition to Windows, the app works on iOS, Android, Windows, Linux, and web browsers. This means that Simplenote can be used everywhere.
You don’t even need to use the “Sync” button as there is none. Your notes simply update across all your devices automatically and in real time.
While creating your notes, you can add tags to them so that you can easily find them. Best of all, you can share your to-do list with an accountability partner if you’re working with one.
Unlike Sticky Notes, Simplenote allows you to go back in time. That is to say, all changes you make on the notes are saved so that you can see what you noted last week, or even yesterday or last month.
Everything on Simplenote is completely free. Simply download the app from the Microsoft Store.
5. Zoho Notebook
If you’re looking for a more advanced digital note-taking app, then you shouldn’t miss out on Zoho Notebook. The app is super versatile and goes beyond creating notes.
It is described as the “most beautiful note-taking app across devices.” I love that the app gives you the freedom to create different types of note cards. And each is designed to complement the type of note you’re taking.
First, you can jot, list, record, sketch, and even snap what you need to remember with the Text Card. The Checklist Card ensures that your tasks are arranged in order of priority.
More so, the app comes with an in-built audio card that allows you to record meetings, lectures, and conversations. You can also add PDFs, Word documents, and Excel spreadsheets to your note card.
Once you’re done and save your content to Notebook, the app’s Smart Card formats the content to create beautiful note cards. Sticky Notes lacks this feature.
Most importantly, your notes are safe and secure and you can share them with your friends and co-workers.
I love that Zoho Notebook is very particular about privacy and ensures that you only share your notes with the people you trust. And they can’t share them with another person.
Finally, the app ensures that you never lose your notes. It syncs to the cloud and across your devices, ensuring that your notes are always backed up, up to date, and can be accessed from anywhere.
Zoho Notebook is free to download. You can try out the features before subscribing to the paid plan.
6. Joplin
Joplin is another beautiful note-taking app to consider. Released in 2017, the app has become one of the most popular free and open-source note-taking software for both desktops and smartphones.
Like Sticky Notes, Joplin works perfectly on Windows Operating Systems. It also works on iOS, Android, and Linux devices. The app allows you to capture your thoughts as they come and also make a to-do list each day.
I love that you can include images, videos, PDFs, and audio files in your notes for more clarity. Best of all, you can create math expressions and diagrams directly from the app.
As you can see, Joplin is much more advanced than Sticky Notes. You can even take photos with the app and save them to your note. There’s a lot you can do.
Additionally, you can share your notes with your friends, family, or colleagues and collaborate with them. Unlike Sticky Notes, you can publish your note online and share the URL with your friends.
Another feature to love about Joplin is that it allows you to access your notes from anywhere you are. That’s because it synchronizes with various devices including Dropbox and OneDrive.
So, you don’t have to worry about your notes or to-do list getting lost. More so, because the app is open source, your notes are saved in an open format ensuring that you have access to them always.
Turtl uses End-To-End Encryption (E2EE) to secure your notes such that no one else but yourself can access them. The app is free to download.
7. CintaNotes
CintaNotes is a simple note-taking app for Windows that you can use in place of Sticky Notes. It is a simple notes app specifically created for Windows.
You can take notes and draft your to-do list from anywhere, and also attach files and images to them. I love that the app automatically organizes the notes so that you can access them from different devices.
Aside from that, you can sort your notes into various sections, using hierarchical tags to set your tasks in order of priority. It’s also easy to search for and find missing notes thanks to the full-text search feature.
Most of all, CintaNotes ensures that your notes are stored safely. It automatically creates a notebook backup for you in case you lose your work.
Also, you can encrypt your notebooks with passwords to ensure that only those with the right password can access them. And whether you are online or offline, you can quickly retrieve your notes.
You won’t get all these features on Sticky Notes. Thankfully, CintaNotes has a free plan that you can subscribe to and try out the features. If you find it intriguing, you can go for the paid version.
8. Notezilla
What better way to stay organized and write down ideas as they come to your mind without needing to change your task at hand? That’s the power of Notezilla.
The app is primarily designed to work on Windows Operating Systems. But it also works on smartphones. You will love the ease and simplicity that comes from using this app.
You can take quick notes right on your Windows desktop. But that’s not the best part. You can place the sticky notes right on top of other apps running on your desktop while working with other websites or programs. How convenient!
That aside, you’ll hardly miss out on any of your tasks. That’s because the app allows you to set reminders for the tasks written on your sticky notes.
That means you won’t need any other reminder software to do this for you. And if you’re like me who always has different programs opened on your desktop, Notezilla will ensure that you keep your desktop tidy.
You can move your sticky notes into folders named, “Memoboards.” That way, your desktop is neat, organized, and distraction-free. Unfortunately, this feature is missing on Sticky Notes.
I particularly love that Notezilla gives you the freedom to stick notes on web pages as you browse through them. That means you’ll automatically see the right note while accessing the website.
If you want to create a to-do list and check them off as your complete the task, Notezilla also has something for you. Its checklist sticky notes feature allows you to achieve that.
More so, you can insert pictures inside your sticky notes. You can either copy the images from websites and paste them inside the sticky note or import them directly from your computer.
Also, if you love popping colors, Notezilla gives you the freedom to design your sticky notes with different shades of colors and textures. You have unlimited colors to work with.
Plus you can quickly organize your notes using tags and labels for easy and quick access. Finally, Notezilla synchronizes across all your desktop devices ensuring that you have access to your notes from anywhere you are.
You can either subscribe or opt for a one-time payment.
9. Hott Notes
Hott Notes is another Sticky Notes alternative for Windows. The app is specifically designed to work on your desktop computers with a Windows Operating System.
One feature that is prominent with Hott Notes is how simple and user-friendly the interface is. That’s one major similarity it shares with Sticky Notes. Both apps are easy to use.
Hott Notes is also free to use and you wouldn’t encounter any annoying ad or spyware while using it. Aside from creating quick notes, you can also place the notes on your desktop so you’ll be reminded of the events anytime you open your computer.
The app also allows you to create checklists so that you can easily keep track of your tasks as you complete them. If you’re an artist or love scribbling images, Hott Notes also has something for you.
You can scribble your crazy picture to decorate your desktop. The pictures can be stretched to any size you want.
You’re also free to choose any color, theme, font, or translucency level for your notes. This feature is not available on Sticky Notes.
In addition to that, Hott Notes allows you to edit your notes. And it’s pretty easy to do! You only need to double-click on the body of the note, click on edit it and when you’re done with the corrections, hit “Done.”
You’ll most likely have a lot of notes on your desktop, to ensure that these are properly managed, the app comes with a Note Manager that allows you to trash some notes or archive them, making space for new ones.
Finally, Hoot Notes is free to use.
10. Milanote
If you’re looking for a note-taking app that will not only help you stay organized and also be creative as well, then you shouldn’t miss out on Milanote. Like Sticky Notes, Milanote is super easy to use.
It helps you to organize your ideas and projects visually. You can have them laid out on the visual boards. You can easily add your tasks and notes to this board.
Unfortunately, you won’t get this feature on Sticky Notes. In addition to that, the app supports all kinds of media files including JPGs, PDFs, and Word documents.
That means you can upload images and text files to your notes. Interestingly, you can save text, images, and links from a website.
For example, let’s say you’re working on a task and browsing through different websites for inspiration or ideas. The Web Clipper feature lets you capture and save these ideas from the web with a single click.
Also, the app syncs your notes across all devices, meaning anything you save in the app can readily be accessed when you’re back at your computer. I love that Milanote comes with a drag-and-drop interface that allows you to arrange your tasks however you want.
Most of all, you can collaborate with your team. You can brainstorm ideas and work with them wherever they are located.
Milanote is free to sign up. There are also paid plans.
Conclusion
As you can see all these tools work with Windows. The best part is that some of the apps also support Android, Mac, and iOS devices.
Of all tools reviewed above, my best pick is Notezilla. The app has both desktop and mobile versions. Plus it’s so easy to use.
You can quickly take notes right on your Windows desktop. Aside from that, you can place the sticky notes right on top of other apps running on your desktop while working with other websites or programs.
However, you should not be limited to my choice. You’re free to explore other alternatives and find the one that works for you.
