Compare GoodNotes vs Noteful
Find apps
Search by app name or feature. Pick features to filter the list (apps must match every selected feature). Click an app to add it to your comparison below.
Your comparison:
GoodNotes
Noteful
GoodNotesNoteful| GoodNotes | Noteful | |
|---|---|---|
| Links | ||
| Website | Visit | Visit |
| App Store | Install | Install |
| Google Play | Install | — |
| Main | ||
| Task management | ± | ± |
| Tags / labels | ± | — |
| Habit tracking | − | − |
| Notes templates | — | + |
| Integrated templates | — | + |
| Calendar view | ± | ± |
| Weekly view | ± | — |
| Week at a glance | ± | — |
| Weekly templates | + | — |
| Daily planning | ± | — |
| Monthly planning | ± | — |
| Time blocking | − | − |
| Planner & calendar segregation | + | + |
| Offline mode | + | + |
| Notes | + | — |
| Templates | + | — |
| Better for personal use | — | + |
| Better for team use | — | − |
| 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 | + | + |
| Dark mode | — | + |
| Notification support | — | ± |
| Page rotation | — | ± |
| Custom fonts (incl. third-party / installable) | — | ± |
| Drag & drop | — | + |
| Left-handed layout / support | — | ± |
| Flexible scrolling (horizontal & vertical) | — | + |
| Customizable toolbar | — | + |
| Special features | ||
| AI assistance / AI features | — | − |
| Attachments & embedded media | + | + |
| Add images / stickers | — | + |
| Stickers | — | ± |
| Interactive checklists / checklist support | ± | ± |
| Highlighter / colored highlighting | — | + |
| Handwriting & stylus | ||
| Apple Pencil support | + | + |
| Handwriting / stylus support | + | + |
| Palm rejection | + | + |
| PDF annotation / markup | + | + |
| Handwriting to text conversion | + | ± |
| Search in handwriting | + | ± |
| Special features | ||
| Audio recording | ± | + |
| Meeting notes workflow | — | ± |
| Add web links | — | ± |
| Privacy / encryption | ± | — |
| Projects / folders | + | + |
| Nested folders / depth | — | ± |
| Document tabs | — | ± |
| Tags & filters | — | + |
| Search | + | + |
| Import documents & media | — | + |
| PDF hyperlink navigation | — | ± |
| Page bookmarks | — | ± |
| Presentation mode | — | ± |
| Multi-note / split view | — | ± |
| Synchronize & backup | ||
| Cloud sync | — | ± |
| iCloud / Google Drive sync | — | ± |
| Auto backup | — | ± |
| Notes / tasks sharing | — | ± |
| Collaboration / sharing (incl. team) | — | − |
| 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
Noteful
Pros
- Ink engine and UI stay tuned for long handwriting sessions on iPad
- Layered notebooks keep original PDFs clean while annotations stack separately
- Hash-tag style nested tags flex wider than strict folder trees
- Audio recording can stay aligned with what you were writing when you review
- One-time Pro pricing undercuts flagship subscription note suites for similar basics
Cons
- Apple-ecosystem focus leaves Windows and Android shoppers on other apps
- Brand footprint and third-party template economy are smaller than GoodNotes-class leaders
- Power features still roll out gradually compared with decade-old competitors
- Store descriptions still gate some conveniences behind the Pro purchase
- Handwriting search and AI extras are not marketed as headline strengths