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Goodnotes alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Goodnotes: free tier is very limited, and full AI features cost extra. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Goodnotes, then by reviews, real visits and how recently each app's facts were checked against its own website. Microsoft OneNote currently ranks first.

Quick comparison

#AppPricingOpen sourcePlatformsVerified factsScore
1Microsoft OneNote logoMicrosoft OneNoteFreeNoWeb, Windows, macOS +21 of 372.8
2Notability logoNotabilityFree plan + paidNoiOS, macOS, Windows +24 of 466.5
3Apple Notes logoApple NotesFreeNomacOS, iOS, Web4 of 459.6
4RemNote logoRemNoteFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 457.2
5Evernote logoEvernoteFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +22 of 354.0
  1. Microsoft OneNote logo

    1. Microsoft OneNoteTop pick

    Best for: Handwritten and free-form notes inside the Microsoft ecosystem

    FreeWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    72.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Goodnotes

    Free notebooks with inking on Windows tablets and iPad.

    Pros

    • Free with a Microsoft account
    • Great pen and handwriting support
    • Tight Microsoft 365 integration

    Cons

    • Notebook structure can get messy
    • Exporting to other apps is awkward
    Visit Microsoft OneNote Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.387
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.15100
    Freshness ×0.1553
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Microsoft OneNote a good Goodnotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    1 of 3 verified
    Price
    Free with a Microsoft account
    Checked Oct 24, 2026onenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Sync
    Through OneDrive
    Not checked yetonenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android
    Not checked yetonenote.com(opens source in a new tab)
  2. Notability logo

    2. Notability

    Best for: Students who want handwritten notes linked to lecture recordings

    Free plan + paidiOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Web

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Goodnotes

    Handwriting plus audio recording synced to your notes, popular with students.

    Pros

    • Audio recording synced with handwriting
    • Live transcription and AI study tools
    • Strong PDF annotation
    • Apps beyond iPad, including Windows and Android

    Cons

    • Free Starter plan allows only 5 notes
    • Best AI features are on the top tier
    • Non-iPad apps are less mature
    Visit Notability Compare with GoodnotesDetails and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.3100
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Notability a good Goodnotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    5 notes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Currency
    Prices in USD
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Business trial
    30 days
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Audio transcription
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. Apple Notes logo

    3. Apple Notes

    Best for: Apple users who want quick, reliable notes that sync with no setup or extra cost

    FreemacOS, iOS, Web

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Goodnotes

    Free Apple Pencil sketching and scanning built into iPad.

    Pros

    • Free and preinstalled on Apple devices
    • Scanning, sketching, audio transcripts and inline maths
    • Shared notes and folders for family or small groups
    • Fast, reliable iCloud sync

    Cons

    • No Windows or Android apps, only iCloud.com in a browser
    • Weak export and no Markdown files
    • No backlinks, templates or plugins
    Visit Apple Notes Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.377
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Apple Notes a good Goodnotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Audio transcription
    Yes, live transcripts
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Inline maths
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Locked notes
    Yes, password protected
    Checked Oct 25, 2026support.apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free iCloud storage
    5 GB
    Checked Oct 25, 2026apple.com(opens source in a new tab)
  4. RemNote logo

    4. RemNote

    Best for: Students who want to write notes and study them as flashcards in one app

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Goodnotes

    Typed notes that become flashcards for revision.

    Pros

    • Flashcards created straight from notes
    • Spaced repetition and exam scheduling built in
    • Free plan with unlimited notes and cards
    • Works offline on desktop and mobile

    Cons

    • Busy interface with a learning curve
    • PDF and AI features are capped on the free plan
    • Less suited to general work notes
    Visit RemNote Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.369
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1585
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is RemNote a good Goodnotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Pro price
    $8 per month, billed yearly
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Founded
    2020, at MIT
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Offline mode
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026remnote.com(opens source in a new tab)
  5. Evernote logo

    5. EvernoteAcquired

    Best for: Capturing web clippings, scans and mixed media in one searchable archive

    Free plan + paidWeb, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android

    54.0

    score / 100

    Why switch from Goodnotes

    Typed notebooks, web clipping and document search.

    Pros

    • Excellent web clipper
    • Search inside images and PDFs
    • Mature apps on every platform

    Cons

    • Free tier is restrictive
    • Frequent plan changes since the acquisition
    Visit Evernote Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.363
    Reviews ×0.363
    Clicks (90 days) ×0.150
    Freshness ×0.1577
    Votes ×0.150

    0 counted reviews, 0 up and 0 down votes. Full formula

    Is Evernote a good Goodnotes alternative?

    Verified facts

    2 of 3 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, with limits
    Checked Oct 24, 2026evernote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Web clipper
    Yes
    Checked Oct 24, 2026evernote.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Owner
    Bending Spoons
    Not checked yetevernote.com(opens source in a new tab)

The best Goodnotes alternative for…

The highest-ranked app in this list for each need.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for most people

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebooks with inking on Windows tablets and iPad.

Apple Notes logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for a free option

Apple Notes

Free Apple Pencil sketching and scanning built into iPad.

Notability logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Notability

Handwriting plus audio recording synced to your notes, popular with students.

RemNote logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for Mac

RemNote

Typed notes that become flashcards for revision.

Evernote logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for Windows

Evernote

Typed notebooks, web clipping and document search.

RemNote logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for Linux

RemNote

Typed notes that become flashcards for revision.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for iPhone and Android

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebooks with inking on Windows tablets and iPad.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Goodnotes alternative for working in the browser

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebooks with inking on Windows tablets and iPad.

Goodnotes alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Goodnotes?

Microsoft OneNote ranks first right now. Free notebooks with inking on Windows tablets and iPad. Notability and Apple Notes follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Goodnotes?

Yes. Microsoft OneNote (free), Notability (free plan + paid), Apple Notes (free) and RemNote (free plan + paid) have a free option. Check each app's verified facts for current plan limits.

Is there an open-source alternative to Goodnotes?

None of the 5 alternatives in this list is open source.

Which Goodnotes alternatives work on Linux?

RemNote runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Goodnotes?

The complaints we hear most: free tier is very limited; full AI features cost extra; best experience needs a tablet and stylus.

How is this list ranked?

Every app is scored with the same published formula: how directly it replaces Goodnotes, reviews (weighted by verification), visits from AppBreakup, how recently its facts were checked against its own website, and reader votes.