Goodnotes vs Notability
On the evidence we track, Notability leads this comparison with a composite score of 64/100. Scores are only directly comparable because these tools share a category; the full breakdown and every source is below.
Capabilities
Feature-by-feature on the axes that matter for note taking. “-” means undocumented, not absent.
What each one is
The product in its own terms, so the numbers below have context.
Goodnotes
A note-taking application that enables handwritten note-taking on devices with stylus support, PDF annotation, AI-powered features, and synchronization across multiple platforms and devices.
Notability
LeaderA note-taking platform combining traditional note-taking with PDF markup, audio lecture recording, and AI capabilities including transcription, summaries, and interactive learning tools. Designed for individual learners and team collaboration.
Pricing
List pricing as published by each vendor, with the date we read it. Always verify at the source before you buy.
Goodnotes
Free tier available. Paid subscriptions include 7-day trial.
- FreeFree
- Core note-taking
- PDF markup tools
- Limited audio recording
- Watermarked exports
- Link sharing for collaboration
- Essential7-day free trial
- Unlimited files
- Unlimited audio recording
- Export without watermark
- Removed import size limits
- Subscriber Specials
- +1 more
- Pro7-day free trial
- All Essential features
- Private link sharing
- Real-time collaboration hosting
- Advanced Goodnotes AI
- Goodnotes AI for Meetings
- +2 more
- Teams-
- Cross-platform support across Apple, Android, Windows
- Single Goodnotes Account with synced document library
- EnterpriseContact sales
- Additional privacy controls
- Option for notes to stay off cloud
Notability
LeaderFree tier; $11.99–$99.99/yr for individuals; $60–$180/yr per user for teams
- StarterFree
- All editing tools & content
- Add PDFs and docs directly into your notes
- Access to 20,000+ note-taking templates
- 7-day version history
- Lite$11.99/yr (regular $14.99/yr)
- Unlimited notes
- Third party backups (iOS only)
- Plus$15.99/yr (regular $19.99/yr)
- YouTube link-to-note conversions with transcripts & summaries (limited)
- AI-powered quizzes & flashcards (limited)
- Audio transcription (limited)
- 30-day version history
- Pro$79.99/yr (regular $99.99/yr)
- Unlimited transcription & AI-powered summaries in real time
- Unlimited YouTube link-to-note conversions with transcripts & summaries
- Unlimited quizzes & flashcards
- Unlimited live audio transcriptions
- Chat with your notes for explanations & quicker learning
- +1 more
- Business$60/user/yr
- Unlimited note-taking and PDF annotation
- Centralized user admin and billing
- Admin-based feature controls
- Shared note libraries for real-time team collaboration
- AI-powered summaries (limited)
- +1 more
- Business Pro$180/user/yr
- Chat with your notes for explanations
- Audit Log
- Intune MAM (Mobile Application Management) integration
- Custom ContractContact sales
- Custom payment terms
- Dedicated support
- Control & flexibility
Platform & deployment
Where each product runs and how it can be hosted. A dash means undocumented, not unsupported.
Integrations
What each product connects to. Counts come from the vendor's own integration directory where one exists.
Goodnotes
- Dropbox
- OneDrive
- Google Drive
- GIPHY
- Claude
- ChatGPT
Notability
Leader- Intune MAM
Goodnotes or Notability: which one depends on you
A composite score cannot know your constraints. Describe them and both get re-weighted against what you actually need, with the evidence behind every position.
Free to run, no account needed to start. How the evaluation works
Comparison generated from independently-sourced facts. Every value links to its source and retrieval date. See the method.