One of the great advantages of always carrying your phone with you is that you have something to write on, and yes, although Google Keep is a fantastic application for doing so, it has never really convinced me. If we also take into account the number of applications that there are both in the Google Play Store and outside of it, it is worth looking for alternatives. Especially if, like me, you like Open source initiatives and getting rid of ads.
I did it and the result couldn’t be better: I found a totally free application that has converted me because of its simplicity, how well it works and that it is open source. In fact, Notally has become a must-have on my phone and I have reasons to.
What is Notally and how does it work?
I come up with ideas for articles often and I’m not always caught with something to write down beyond my phone, the same for general thoughts or simply when someone recommends me a book or a restaurant. Yes, Google Keep is fine, I have a Telegram channel where I’m the only one to share things, but sometimes I just want to take notes, simplicity and agility.
I found it on Notally, which is available for free on the Google Play Store and also on GitHub. Just install it and it will worksince you don’t need to register or log in. The design is extremely simple, so there are no complications and you don’t need a previous tutorial to get the most out of it and its appearance tends towards minimalism, something that helps not being bombarded with ads or finding them every time you take a step. However, you can configure interesting details such as the font size or how much fits.
The advantage is that the configuration is minimal, but it has a consequence to take into account: it does not allow you to save your notes and transfer them to another device since Store everything locally (to share with my computer, my other mobile or my tablet, I use Telegram), which can be interesting for privacy lovers.
From here, there is no learning curve: you open the app, hit the ‘+’ and create the note. There are two options here: either make it as a checklist or a blank page. Of course, just because it is so easy to use doesn’t mean it doesn’t have certain extras to enjoy a more complete experience, such as be able to add images or record audio.
For basic use where you only have a few notes, finding them is easy, but as you use it it is convenient to go creating tags, in my case I have some for recommendations, work or personal.
In short, if you want A simple and functional app for taking notesIf you don’t need the advantages of the cloud and you care especially about privacy and avoid ads, it’s worth a try.
Notally
Minimalist notes
Cover | Photo montage by Thomas Lefebvre on Unsplash and screenshot with Mockuphone