Three note-taking apps that make a perfect combination: Google Keep, Notepad, and Obsidian

Most people think that one note-taking app is enough. However, real-life experience shows that sometimes combining multiple tools is the most effective. Instead of using just one, the combination of Google Keep, Notepad , and Obsidian will fully meet all your needs.

Google Keep: Fast and versatile

Google Keep is a familiar starting point. With instant syncing across devices and tight integration with the Google ecosystem, Keep makes it easy to jot down quick notes, checklists, or notes for the day.

Keep's strength lies in its versatility: from text notes, to-do lists, photos, drawings, to audio recordings that are automatically transcribed into text. Features like labeling, color-coding, and reminders by time or location make it especially useful for managing everyday chores, like shopping lists.

Notepad: Simple and convenient

As your workload increases, taking notes directly in Google Keep can become a hassle. This is where Notepad , the default note-taking app on Windows, comes in handy.

Notepad is known for its simplicity. Just open the app and you have a space to jot down quick notes without being distracted by too many features. Recent updates have added rich-text support, Markdown, and even Copilot integration, while still maintaining its simplicity.

The big plus is speed: Notepad is almost always available on every Windows machine, suitable for quickly jotting down ideas that come to you without any additional complicated operations.

Obsidian: Intensive and creative

For those who need a powerful tool for long note-taking, reasoning, or writing, Obsidian is a great choice. The app is based on a 'vault' – a local data store that holds all of your notes, giving you the freedom to organize your content in your own way.

Obsidian is especially popular for its graph view and canvas . These help visualize the relationships between notes, connect ideas like a mind map, and aid in research and content creation. Users can drag and drop, link, color, and even turn the canvas into a virtual 'sticky notes board' to develop ideas.

Combine for maximum efficiency

Three apps with three different strengths make up a flexible note-taking system:

1. Google Keep for short notes, to-do lists.
2. Notepad for quick ideas, simple and hassle-free.
3. Obsidian for long notes, in-depth research and idea development.

This combination not only completely solves the problem of 'one app doing it all', but also helps users optimize work and study performance.

Kareem Winters

Update 02 October 2025