Choosing the right digital notetaking app can dramatically impact your productivity, whether you’re a student managing lectures or a professional juggling meetings and reports. The goodnotes vs notability debate continues to be a hot topic, especially in 2025, as both apps have received impressive feature upgrades.
This article takes an in-depth look at both Goodnotes and Notability, comparing them across functionality, user experience, and real-world use cases to help you choose the best digital notetaking tool for your needs.
Overview of Goodnotes and Notability
Both Goodnotes and Notability are iPad-focused notetaking apps with support for Apple Pencil, iCloud syncing, and cross-device usage. They allow handwritten notes, text input, importing PDFs, and organizing files digitally. While they serve similar purposes, their approach to interface design, editing tools, and user workflows differ greatly.
- Goodnotes was developed with a heavy focus on digital handwriting, offering precision, customization, and document management.
- Notability emphasizes a seamless audio + note capture workflow, appealing strongly to lecture-heavy and meeting-driven environments.
User Interface and Design
Goodnotes
Goodnotes features a clean, notebook-style interface. It mimics real paper with multiple templates and page styles. Tabs along the top allow users to switch between open notebooks, and the sidebar offers folders for better document management.
Notability
Notability goes with a streamlined layout. It’s more minimalist but offers fast access to recent notes and audio recordings. The sidebar is integrated and dynamically updates based on usage.
Verdict: Goodnotes wins on customization and file browsing, while Notability feels snappier for quick notes and multitasking.
Writing and Note-Taking Experience
Goodnotes supports an excellent inking engine with smooth pressure sensitivity and real-time rendering. It’s perfect for detailed handwritten work like math notes, diagrams, or calligraphy.
Notability also offers a fluid writing experience but emphasizes simplicity over customization. The key edge is its ability to link notes with audio in real-time.
Verdict: Goodnotes is ideal for handwriting enthusiasts; Notability shines in fast-paced environments with lots of speech content.
Organization and File Management
Goodnotes
- Folder and subfolder structure
- Easy drag-and-drop organization
- Starred/favorite documents
- Ability to move, duplicate, and rearrange pages
Notability
- Note categories with color coding
- Less intuitive folder system
- Notes can be auto-grouped by subject
Verdict: Goodnotes offers better document organization and feels more like a digital filing cabinet. Notability is better for users who don’t need deep folder structures.
Audio Recording Capabilities
This is where Notability really shines. You can record audio while writing notes, and each pen stroke is time-linked to the audio. When you play it back, the notes appear as they were written in sync with the recording.
Goodnotes recently added audio recording, but it’s not synced to writing and lacks the refined playback experience that Notability offers.
Verdict: Notability is the clear winner for lecture-heavy or meeting-based notes.
PDF Annotation and Markup
Both apps allow importing, annotating, and highlighting PDFs, but there are a few distinctions.
- Goodnotes offers a wide range of pen types, colors, shapes, and annotation tools.
- Notability has great highlighting features and makes quick annotations easier, though it lacks some of the depth of Goodnotes.
Verdict: For detailed markup, Goodnotes offers better precision. For quick edits, Notability is more convenient.
Cloud Sync and Cross-Device Support
Both apps support iCloud syncing and are accessible on iPad, iPhone, and Mac. Your notes will stay up to date across all devices as long as iCloud is enabled.
Notability also offers a Notability Web version in beta, aimed at enabling access via browser, while Goodnotes recently expanded with improved Windows and Android beta apps.
Verdict: Goodnotes may soon become the winner for multi-platform users, but Notability remains more stable across Apple devices for now.
Pricing and Value
| App | Free Version | Full Version Price | Subscription Model | One-Time Purchase |
| Goodnotes | Limited | $9.99 (one-time) | No | Yes |
| Notability | Free w/ limits | $14.99/year | Yes | No |
Notability moved to a freemium + subscription model in 2022. While the free version has limited features, premium includes unlimited edits and full audio support. Goodnotes remains a one-time purchase for full access.
Verdict: Goodnotes is more cost-effective for long-term users.
Ideal Use Cases for Students vs Professionals
- Students benefit from Notability’s synced audio-recording and faster note sorting. It’s perfect for live classes.
- Professionals may prefer Goodnotes for project planning, PDF signing, and note archiving.
- Designers and Artists enjoy Goodnotes’ pen precision and layout options.
- Researchers and Journalers appreciate Goodnotes’ powerful search and organization.
Verdict: Choose based on context—classroom = Notability, content creation = Goodnotes.
Accessibility and Shortcuts
Both apps support keyboard shortcuts, voice-over, dark mode, and left-handed writing adjustments. Goodnotes has a slight edge with more advanced gestures and zoom writing for accessibility Goodnotes vs Notability.
Updates and New Features in 2025
Goodnotes 6 (2025 Highlights)
- Enhanced AI handwriting-to-text conversion
- Shared notebooks for collaboration
- Windows and Android beta expansion
- Smart learning notebooks with flashcard generation
Notability 2025 Update
- Smart record summaries
- Real-time collaboration tools
- Web interface beta access
- Custom AI writing templates
Verdict: Both apps are rapidly evolving. Goodnotes is branching into AI-powered productivity, while Notability is refining its education-first ecosystem Goodnotes vs Notability.
Feature Comparison Table
| Feature | Goodnotes | Notability |
| Writing Precision | High | Medium |
| Audio Recording | Basic | Synced, Advanced |
| PDF Markup Tools | Extensive | Moderate |
| Organization System | Folder/Subfolder | Subject-Based |
| Cross-Platform Access | iOS, Mac, Beta (Windows/Android) | iOS, Mac, Web Beta |
| Price Model | One-time payment | Freemium + Subscription |
| Ideal For | Professionals, detailed notes | Students, lecture-based notes |
| AI Tools | Yes (Flashcards, AI pen) | Yes (Smart Record, AI templates) |
Conclusion
Both Goodnotes and Notability have come a long way, and the choice between them often comes down to specific use cases. If you’re a student attending lectures and need synchronized audio, Notability is unbeatable. If you’re a creator, thinker, or organizer looking for flexibility, precision, and power, Goodnotes will serve you better.
Ultimately, the goodnotes vs notability decision is less about which app is “better” and more about what you value most in your digital workspace. The good news? You can’t go wrong with either.
Ready to upgrade your digital note game? Try both apps for free and decide which one matches your workflow best.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which app is better for handwriting?
Goodnotes provides smoother, more precise writing tools with a better zoom feature.
Can you use both apps together?
Yes, many users import audio-rich notes from Notability into Goodnotes for more detailed organization.
Is there a free version of Goodnotes?
Yes, the free version allows limited notebooks, but you’ll need to upgrade for full features.
Does Notability still offer a one-time purchase?
No, Notability has moved fully to a subscription model.
Which is better for document signing?
Goodnotes excels in PDF markup and signature capture.
