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Notability alternatives: 5 apps ranked by verified data

Facts checked Oct 25, 2026AppBreakup editorialHow we rank

Common reasons people leave Notability: free Starter plan allows only 5 notes, and best AI features are on the top tier. We ranked 5 alternatives by how directly each one replaces Notability, 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
2Goodnotes logoGoodnotesFree plan + paidNoiOS, macOS, Windows +24 of 466.5
3RemNote logoRemNoteFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +34 of 459.6
4Apple Notes logoApple NotesFreeNomacOS, iOS, Web4 of 457.2
5Otter.ai logoOtter.aiFree plan + paidNoWeb, Windows, macOS +25 of 547.8
  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 Notability

    Free notebooks with inking and audio recording.

    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 Notability 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. Goodnotes logo

    2. Goodnotes

    Best for: Students and professionals who take handwritten notes on a tablet

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

    66.5

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notability

    Handwritten notebooks with a stronger focus on templates and organisation.

    Pros

    • Excellent handwriting and PDF markup
    • Searchable handwriting and handwriting-to-text
    • Templates, stickers and notebook organisation
    • Available beyond Apple devices

    Cons

    • Free tier is very limited
    • Full AI features cost extra
    • Best experience needs a tablet and stylus
    Visit Goodnotes Compare with NotabilityDetails 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 Goodnotes a good Notability alternative?

    Verified facts

    4 of 4 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, limited
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Free trial
    7 days on paid plans
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Handwriting to text
    Yes
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
    Platforms
    iOS/iPadOS, Mac, Windows, Android, web
    Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
  3. RemNote logo

    3. 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

    59.6

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notability

    Typed notes with flashcards and spaced repetition for exams.

    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 ×0.377
    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 RemNote a good Notability 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)
  4. Apple Notes logo

    4. Apple Notes

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

    FreemacOS, iOS, Web

    57.2

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notability

    Free on iPad, with sketching and audio transcripts.

    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 ×0.369
    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 Apple Notes a good Notability 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)
  5. Otter.ai logo

    5. Otter.ai

    Best for: Individuals and teams who want reliable live transcripts and summaries of video calls

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

    47.8

    score / 100

    Why switch from Notability

    If the lecture transcript matters more than handwriting.

    Pros

    • Live transcription with speaker identification
    • Works across Zoom, Teams and Google Meet plus in-person recording
    • AI chat across all your past meetings

    Cons

    • Free plan has tight minute and import limits
    • Bot auto-joining calls can surprise participants
    • Best accuracy is in English
    Visit Otter.ai Details and reviews
    How this score is calculated
    Editorial fit ×0.338
    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 Otter.ai a good Notability alternative?

    Verified facts

    5 of 5 verified
    Free plan
    Yes, 300 transcription minutes/month
    Checked Oct 25, 2026otter.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Starting price
    $8.33 per user/month, billed annually (Pro)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026otter.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Monthly price
    $16.99 per user/month (Pro)
    Checked Oct 25, 2026otter.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    Meeting platforms
    Zoom, Teams, Google Meet
    Checked Oct 25, 2026otter.ai(opens source in a new tab)
    HIPAA
    Add-on on Enterprise
    Checked Oct 25, 2026otter.ai(opens source in a new tab)

The best Notability alternative for…

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

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Notability alternative for most people

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebooks with inking and audio recording.

Apple Notes logo

Best Notability alternative for a free option

Apple Notes

Free on iPad, with sketching and audio transcripts.

Goodnotes logo

Best Notability alternative for a free plan you can upgrade

Goodnotes

Handwritten notebooks with a stronger focus on templates and organisation.

RemNote logo

Best Notability alternative for Mac

RemNote

Typed notes with flashcards and spaced repetition for exams.

Otter.ai logo

Best Notability alternative for Windows

Otter.ai

If the lecture transcript matters more than handwriting.

RemNote logo

Best Notability alternative for Linux

RemNote

Typed notes with flashcards and spaced repetition for exams.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Notability alternative for iPhone and Android

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebooks with inking and audio recording.

Microsoft OneNote logo

Best Notability alternative for working in the browser

Microsoft OneNote

Free notebooks with inking and audio recording.

Notability alternatives: common questions

What is the best alternative to Notability?

Microsoft OneNote ranks first right now. Free notebooks with inking and audio recording. Goodnotes and RemNote follow it in our ranking.

Is there a free alternative to Notability?

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

Is there an open-source alternative to Notability?

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

Which Notability alternatives work on Linux?

RemNote runs on Linux.

Why do people switch from Notability?

The complaints we hear most: free Starter plan allows only 5 notes; best AI features are on the top tier; non-iPad apps are less mature.

How is this list ranked?

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