Goodnotes
Goodnotes is an innovative AI note-taking application compatible with a variety of platforms such as iOS, Android, Windows, Mac, and Web. I...
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What is Goodnotes?
Goodnotes is an AI-powered note-taking app designed as the ultimate note-taking experience for professionals who rely on tablets. It lets you capture thoughts however they come to you—through writing, typing, sketching, or speaking—rather than forcing you to take notes in a specific way. The app was truly made for tablets, delivering a writing experience better than paper where you can rest your hand, write quickly, cross out to erase, or convert handwriting to text.
Key features include seamless PDF annotation without friction, allowing you to mark up contracts, briefs, and reports just as you would on paper while searching annotations and collaborating with your team. Goodnotes offers cross-device synchronization so you can start on your tablet, continue on your phone, and finish on your laptop. The app includes Goodnotes AI that takes messy thinking to finished work, real-time collaboration across notebooks, documents, and whiteboards, enterprise-grade security with admin controls and encryption, audio recording with live transcription, handwriting search, handwriting-to-text conversion, 50+ paper templates, whiteboards, text documents, and the Lasso Tool for editing writing by resizing or moving it.
Goodnotes is ideal for professionals who use tablets daily, including doctors, engineers, consultants, voice actors, transformation managers, students in medical or graduate school, teachers, and teams that collaborate on projects. It's loved by millions of learners, creators, and professionals across 50+ countries and 150+ teams who use it daily for meetings, study, document workflows, training materials, and creative brainstorming.
Goodnotes pricing
Pricing model: Free
Free tier: Create up to 3 notebooks, most writing/drawing/annotation features available, access to Community Gallery with free templates, but handwriting recognition requires upgrade, file imports limited to 5MB, exported PDFs have watermarks, collaboration features restricted. 7-day free trial available with access to all features without restrictions (auto-renews unless canceled). Android/Windows & Web Yearly plan available. All Platforms Yearly plan includes iOS devices. In-App Purchases include Essential (Yearly) $11.99, Goodnotes Pro (Yearly) $35.99, AI Pass (Monthly) $9.99, Goodnotes 6 One-Time Payment $28.99, Special Edition $35.99, Marketplace Content $1.99-$9.99. Freemium users can upgrade to 10 or 20 notebooks if registered beta users.
Goodnotes pros
- Natural handwriting experience optimized for tablets with Apple Pencil
- Handwriting search finds any handwritten term across all documents
- Handwriting-to-text conversion even when handwriting is unclear
- Shape recognition technology draws perfect shapes and lines that snap into place
- Lasso Tool resizes or moves writing anywhere on the page
- Cross-device sync across tablet, phone, and laptop seamlessly
- PDF annotation without friction for contracts, briefs, reports
- 50+ customizable paper templates including blank, ruled, Cornell, graph, dotted
- Real-time collaboration across notebooks, documents, and whiteboards
- Audio recording with live transcription during meetings
- Goodnotes AI converts messy thinking to finished work
- Enterprise-grade security with admin controls and encryption
- Dark Mode reduces eye strain while taking notes
- Customizable pen color, thickness, and style (fountain pen, ball pen, brush pen, highlighter)
- Import photos, diagrams, and screenshots to decorate notes
- Export notes as PDFs to email, print, or share anywhere
- Share link to notebooks for asynchronous work and collaborative brainstorming
- Spelling check even for handwritten text
- Built-in laser pointer for presenting notes and slides directly from Goodnotes
- Organize notes into folders and subfolders with customizable notebook covers
- Elements tool saves frequently used stickers, images, text, formulas, diagrams
- Multi-tab interface opens several notebooks simultaneously for multitasking
- Cross out to erase naturally like on paper
- Workspaces create dedicated environments for every client, team, or company
Goodnotes cons
- Free version limited to only 3 notebooks permanently
- Handwriting recognition requires paid upgrade
- iPad to Web sync not yet available (coming soon)
- Goodnotes for Android/Windows/Web lacks full Goodnotes 6 iPad features
- File imports limited to 5MB for free users
- Exported PDFs have watermarks for free users
- Collaboration features restricted for free users
- Typing feature described as clunky and not very intuitive
- No word document-style typing within notebooks (only text boxes)
- Flashcards limited to text, picture, or written/drawing options only
- Cannot add text with pictures that aren't questions in flashcards
- Page deletion bug deletes wrong pages accidentally with no recovery
- Auto-word prediction sometimes doubles words incorrectly
- Marketplace access to regular free items lost without membership renewal
- iOS sync with Android/Windows/Web requires Share Link workaround
- No Family Sharing for all in-app purchases guaranteed
Frequently asked questions about Goodnotes
Can I sync my library across platforms?
Yes, your account for Goodnotes on Android, Windows, Web, and iOS is the same. If you're already using Goodnotes on Android or Windows, you can view your notes on the Web version too. However, syncing Goodnotes documents from iPad to the Web app is not yet available but coming soon.
What happens to my Goodnotes access if I don't renew my membership?
You'll still be able to use Goodnotes as a free user on your device. You can create and edit up to three notebooks, but you won't be able to share documents, can only import documents up to 5MB, lose access to regular free items from the Marketplace, and any exported documents will have a watermark.
Can I keep using Goodnotes after my membership expires?
Yes, your notes remain safe and you can open and review previous documents. However, as a free user you're limited to creating and editing up to three notebooks, can't share documents, can only import documents smaller than 5MB, and exports will have watermarks.
Can I change my plan when I renew?
Absolutely! At renewal time, you can stick with the All Platforms Yearly plan or switch to the Android, Windows, & Web Yearly plan. If you're also using Goodnotes on iOS devices, the recommendation is to renew your current All Platforms Yearly plan.
Are Goodnotes for Android, Windows, and Web and Goodnotes 6 on iPad the same app?
No, Goodnotes for Android, Windows, and Web does not offer the full range of features in Goodnotes 6 on iPad, but the team is committed to bringing more useful features to improve the product.
Can I sync my Android and Windows notes to Web?
Yes! Your account for Goodnotes on Android, Windows, and Web is the same. If you're already using Goodnotes on Android or Windows, you can view your notes on the Web version too.
Can I sync Goodnotes documents from my iPad to the Web app?
Not yet, but it's coming soon. In the meantime, you can share notebooks from Goodnotes to Windows, Android, or Web by enabling 'Use iCloud' in Goodnotes on iOS/iPadOS/macOS, opening the document, tapping Share icon, enabling Share Link to Collaborate, turning on 'Open Document on Web' in Sharing Settings, and sending the link.
How do I share notebooks between iOS and other platforms?
Use the Share Link feature: Make sure 'Use iCloud' is enabled in Goodnotes on iOS/iPadOS/macOS, open the document, tap the Share icon in the navigation bar, enable Share Link to Collaborate, tap Sharing Settings and enable 'Open Document on Web' (available in full version only), then tap Send Link to share.
What templates are available in Goodnotes?
Goodnotes offers 50+ note templates including blank paper, ruled paper, Cornell notes, graph paper, dotted paper, checklists, planners, to-dos, music paper, weekly planners, and more. You can also add custom templates to create your own notebook.
Does Goodnotes support real-time collaboration?
Yes, you can work together in real time across notebooks, documents, and whiteboards. Share a link to your notes to invite others to view, edit, and comment, eliminating back-and-forth and version chaos. This works across any device for modern workflows.