Compare GoodNotes vs Notability
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GoodNotes
Notability
GoodNotesNotability| GoodNotes | Notability | |
|---|---|---|
| Links | ||
| Website | Visit | Visit |
| App Store | Install | Install |
| Google Play | Install | Install |
| Main | ||
| Task management | ± | ± |
| Tags / labels | ± | ± |
| Habit tracking | − | − |
| Calendar view | ± | ± |
| Weekly view | ± | — |
| Week at a glance | ± | — |
| Weekly templates | + | — |
| Daily planning | ± | — |
| Monthly planning | ± | — |
| Time blocking | − | − |
| Planner & calendar segregation | + | + |
| Offline mode | + | + |
| Notes | + | + |
| Templates | + | + |
| Platforms | ||
| Windows | + | − |
| Android | − | − |
| Web | − | − |
| Linux | − | − |
| MacOS | + | + |
| iOS | + | + |
| Free version | ± | ± |
| Sync across devices | + | + |
| Calendar sync | ||
| Calendar sync | ± | ± |
| Integrated calendar | ± | ± |
| Synchronize with Apple Calendar | ± | ± |
| Synchronize with Google Calendar | ± | ± |
| Synchronize with Microsoft Calendar | ± | ± |
| Outlook sync | − | − |
| Interface | ||
| Themes / appearance presets | + | + |
| Special features | ||
| Attachments & embedded media | + | + |
| Interactive checklists / checklist support | ± | ± |
| Handwriting & stylus | ||
| Apple Pencil support | + | + |
| Handwriting / stylus support | + | + |
| Palm rejection | + | + |
| PDF annotation / markup | + | + |
| Handwriting to text conversion | + | + |
| Search in handwriting | + | + |
| Special features | ||
| Audio recording | ± | + |
| Privacy / encryption | ± | ± |
| Projects / folders | + | + |
| Search | + | + |
| Synchronize & backup | ||
| Export to PDF / other | + | + |
| Profile | ||
| Calendars | ± | ± |
GoodNotes
Pros
- Handwriting recognition and layout stay approachable on day one
- Global ink search digs through messy lecture stacks
- Toolbar organization earns praise in education workflows
- PDF markup, audio, and flashcards cover the study stack
- Feature depth matches anything in the App Store class
Cons
- Subscription price changes still spark backlash threads
- Lower-cost or one-time rivals pull budget-minded students
- Sync regressions still appear right after major releases
- Local-first and markdown stacks pull minimalists away
Notability
Pros
- Ink latency stays among the lowest on iPad
- Recording tied to typed points still wins lecture praise
- Layout stays minimal: open and go
- Math conversions and PDF markup cover STEM basics
- Polish matches what Apple fans expect from first-party apps
Cons
- Annual billing versus one-time rivals still sparks pushback
- Crash-and-recovery chatter spikes during finals windows
- Power organizers still pick GoodNotes for search and library scale
- Perceived value drops when discounted competitors match ink quality