Goodnotes vs Notability
Updated October 2026 · AppBreakup editorial
Goodnotes
A handwriting-first notes app for tablets, with PDF markup and AI study tools.
Notability
A handwriting and audio notes app that syncs your writing with recordings.
The short answer
Both are tablet-first handwriting apps that now run on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android and the web. Goodnotes suits people who want notebook-style organisation, paper templates and strong PDF markup. Notability suits students who record lectures, since its audio playback is synced to what was written. The biggest difference is notebooks and templates versus handwriting linked to recordings.
Goodnotes or Notability: our take
Goodnotes is built around the idea of digital paper. Notes live in notebooks with paper templates, stickers and shapes, organised in folders and searchable thanks to handwriting recognition, and handwriting can be converted to text. It handles PDF and slide markup well, adds typed notes, audio recording, presentation mode and real-time collaboration, and offers AI summaries and study material, with the full AI experience sold as an extra add-on.
Notability's signature feature is audio recording synced to handwriting: tap a word later and hear what was being said at that moment. On top of that come live transcription, AI summaries, chat with notes, quizzes and flashcards generated from notes, and turning YouTube videos into notes. It also annotates PDFs and slides well. Its iPad app is the most mature; the other platforms are newer.
Both are freemium with small free tiers. Goodnotes' free plan allows a limited number of notebooks, and paid Essential and Pro plans are billed yearly, with a 7-day free trial. Notability's free Starter plan allows 5 notes, and paid tiers are billed yearly or as a one-time option; its best AI features sit on the top tier, and business plans add collaboration with a 30-day trial. In both apps the best experience needs a tablet and stylus, and files are stored in each app's own format, which makes switching later harder.
Pick Notability for lecture-heavy study where recordings and transcripts matter. Pick Goodnotes for planners, notebooks, heavy PDF annotation and anyone who likes a paper-like structure. Trying both free tiers with a real class or meeting is the quickest way to decide.
Which should you pick?
Choose Goodnotes if…
- Students and professionals who take handwritten notes on a tablet
- Excellent handwriting and PDF markup
- Searchable handwriting and handwriting-to-text
Choose Notability if…
- Students who want handwritten notes linked to lecture recordings
- Audio recording synced with handwriting
- Live transcription and AI study tools
About each app
What is Goodnotes?
Goodnotes is a digital notebook app best known on the iPad, where people write by hand with a stylus on paper templates, mark up PDFs and slides, and keep everything in folders that are searchable thanks to handwriting recognition. It also has typed notes, audio recording, stickers, shapes, presentation mode and real-time collaboration, plus AI features that summarise notes and generate study material. It started on Apple devices and now also runs on Windows, Android and the web, and it has team and education plans with admin controls. A free tier allows a small number of notebooks; paid Essential and Pro plans, billed yearly, unlock unlimited notebooks and more features, and the full AI experience is an extra add-on. The trade-offs are that the best experience still needs a tablet and stylus, files use Goodnotes' own format, and AI costs extra. It suits students and professionals who prefer writing by hand.
What is Notability?
Notability is a note-taking app from Ginger Labs that grew up on the iPad. You can handwrite or type, import and annotate PDFs and slides, and record audio while you write, then tap a word later to hear what was being said at that moment. Newer features include live audio transcription, AI summaries, chat with your notes, quizzes and flashcards generated from your notes, and turning YouTube videos into notes. It now runs on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android and the web. A free Starter plan allows a handful of notes, and paid tiers, billed yearly or as a one-time option, unlock unlimited notes, longer version history and more AI; business plans add collaboration and admin features. The trade-offs are that the free tier is tiny, AI features are capped below the top tier, and its cross-platform apps are newer than the iPad app. It suits students who record lectures and want handwriting and audio together.
Side by side
| Attribute | Goodnotes | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan + paid | Free plan + paid |
| Open source | No | No |
| Self-hostable | No | No |
| Platforms | iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Web | iOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Web |
| Best for | Students and professionals who take handwritten notes on a tablet | Students who want handwritten notes linked to lecture recordings |
| Status | Active | Active |
Verified facts, compared
Facts both apps publish, checked on each vendor's own site.
| Fact | Goodnotes | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Free plan | Yes, limited | 5 notes |
Goodnotes vs Notability pricing
Goodnotes: free plan + paid
Goodnotes pricing pageNotability: free plan + paid
Notability pricing pagePlatforms
| Platform | Goodnotes | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Web | ||
| Windows | ||
| macOS | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android |
Goodnotes facts
4 of 4 verified- Free plan
- Yes, limited
- Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Start Free → Individual / Business Education Free $0 Free forever For individuals looking to have basic limited notes tool.”
- Free trial
- 7 days on paid plans
- Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Start Free 7 days free trial”
- Handwriting to text
- Yes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Convert handwriting to text”
- Platforms
- iOS/iPadOS, Mac, Windows, Android, web
- Checked Oct 25, 2026goodnotes.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Goodnotes for iOS/iPadOS Goodnotes for Mac Goodnotes for Windows Goodnotes for Android Goodnotes for Web Goodnotes Stickers Goodnotes for Android/Windows/iOS © 2026 Goodnotes.”
Notability facts
4 of 4 verified- Free plan
- 5 notes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Monthly Yearly One-time STARTER $0 free For everyday note-takers who want reliability. 5 free notes”
- Currency
- Prices in USD
- Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Prices listed are in USD and may vary | Cancel anytime.”
- Business trial
- 30 days
- Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Start 30-day free trial”
- Audio transcription
- Yes
- Checked Oct 25, 2026notability.com(opens source in a new tab)
- “Handwritten notes, live audio transcription, AI-powered quizzes and flashcards, and more.”
Pros and cons of Goodnotes
- Excellent handwriting and PDF markup
- Searchable handwriting and handwriting-to-text
- Templates, stickers and notebook organisation
- Available beyond Apple devices
- Free tier is very limited
- Full AI features cost extra
- Best experience needs a tablet and stylus
Pros and cons of Notability
- Audio recording synced with handwriting
- Live transcription and AI study tools
- Strong PDF annotation
- Apps beyond iPad, including Windows and Android
- Free Starter plan allows only 5 notes
- Best AI features are on the top tier
- Non-iPad apps are less mature
Other apps to consider
Goodnotes vs Notability: common questions
Is Goodnotes better than Notability?
Both are tablet-first handwriting apps that now run on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android and the web. Goodnotes suits people who want notebook-style organisation, paper templates and strong PDF markup. Notability suits students who record lectures, since its audio playback is synced to what was written. The biggest difference is notebooks and templates versus handwriting linked to recordings.
Is Goodnotes free?
Goodnotes has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Notability free?
Notability has a free plan, with paid plans for more features. See its verified pricing facts above for current limits.
Is Goodnotes or Notability open source?
Neither is open source.
Which platforms do Goodnotes and Notability support?
Goodnotes: iOS, macOS, Windows, Android and Web. Notability: iOS, macOS, Windows, Android and Web.