Debating between Goodnotes and Notability for your note-taking needs? This article compares their top features in a “goodnotes vs notability” showdown to help you make an informed choice. Discover which app suits your workflow best.
Key Takeaways
- Goodnotes excels with advanced handwriting recognition, customizable templates, and real-time collaboration, making it highly suited for users requiring extensive customization and organization.
- Notability stands out with its robust audio recording and transcription features, making it ideal for users who integrate audio notes into their workflow, despite its limitations in real-time collaboration.
- Price and platform compatibility vary, with Goodnotes offering a more economical and cross-platform solution compared to Notability’s Apple-exclusive ecosystem and yearly subscription model.
Overview of Goodnotes and Notability
In the realm of digital note-taking, Goodnotes and Notability are acclaimed champions, each brandishing a unique set of tools and features that cater to a diverse array of users. From students to professionals, these apps promise to enhance productivity and streamline workflow. With Goodnotes’ accolades, such as the Apple iPad App of the Year Award, and Notability’s stellar App Store ratings, it’s clear these are more than just upgraded Apple notes app alternatives. They are comprehensive note-taking tools designed for the modern user.
What is Goodnotes?
Goodnotes, launched by Time Base Technology Limited in 2011, is a digital notetaking powerhouse that goes beyond capturing handwritten notes. It harnesses the power of AI to elevate the note-taking experience with features like advanced handwriting recognition and customizable page templates.
Whether it’s organizing notes effectively in nested folders or utilizing the Elements tool for creating reusable components, Goodnotes offers a plethora of options for the discerning note-taker.
What is Notability?
Notability, a creation of Ginger Labs since 2010, stands out with its unique capabilities in audio recording and PDF annotation. Renowned for its simplicity and efficiency, Notability is a favorite among those who value seamless integration of typed notes with audio inputs.
With a focus on helping users capture notes effectively, Notability also simplifies mathematics with its math conversion feature, making it a versatile tool for a broad range of users.
Key Features Comparison
A comprehensive comparison of Goodnotes and Notability requires a detailed examination of their key differences. Both apps shine with robust features like handwriting recognition and document importing, yet they diverge in their specialties—Goodnotes with its AI-driven writing tools and Notability with its unmatched audio recording. We’ll scrutinize the specifics to understand how these features compare to each other.
Handwriting Recognition
Handwriting recognition is a cornerstone feature for both apps, turning scribbles into searchable text and allowing users to capture handwritten notes effectively. Goodnotes is celebrated for its accuracy, converting even messy handwriting with finesse, while Notability boasts support for a wider array of languages.
For those who frequently convert handwritten notes to digital text, these capabilities are game-changers, though Notability’s feature requires a subscription.
Audio Recording
Audio recording is where Notability truly sings, syncing every spoken word with written notes, providing a layered understanding of each recorded session. While Goodnotes has recently added audio features, including basic syncing, Notability’s advanced transcription service and precise audio-to-text alignment offer a richer note-taking experience, especially for students and professionals who rely on audio cues.
Importing Documents
Both apps excel in importing documents, making it a breeze to annotate PDFs with the stroke of an Apple Pencil. Goodnotes and Notability enable users to import a variety of file types, including images and web links, but Goodnotes takes the lead with a more intuitive interface for annotating imported objects.
This makes it easier for users to manage documents and integrate them into their digital notebooks.
User Interface and Navigation
The user interface serves as our viewpoint for digital notes, and both Goodnotes and Notability offer clear and intuitive experiences. Goodnotes opts for a clean and minimalistic approach to its layout, while Notability emphasizes functionality with a customizable mobile toolbar.
Easy navigation is vital in a note-taking app, and these two apps offer distinct approaches, including a search tool, to help users find their way.
Interface Layout
Goodnotes provides a choice between list or grid layouts, offering users a tailored view of their notes, which can be accentuated with customizable covers and paper types.
On the other side, Notability’s interface includes a sidebar for subjects and notes, presenting everything in an organized fashion that appeals to users who prefer a minimalist and functional design.
Navigation Tools
Both apps feature robust navigation tools, with Goodnotes sporting a sidebar for quick access to shared and bookmarked note pages, while Notability’s sidebar improves access to dividers, subjects, and notes. Goodnotes’ infinite nesting folders provide a deeper level of organization, and Notability’s comprehensive sidebar navigation ensures all notes are just a tap away, showcasing their commitment to an organized note-taking experience.
Note Organization Techniques
Effective note organization is a crucial element of any note-taking app, and both Goodnotes and Notability offer unique strategies to keep notes well-arranged. From infinite nesting folders to intuitive sidebars, these apps provide users with the tools to structure their digital notebooks in a way that complements their personal workflow.
Folder Structures
Goodnotes champions organization with its infinite nesting folders, allowing users to create a complex hierarchy of notes. Notability, while offering less depth with a five-level nesting limit, provides a straightforward way to structure notes using its sidebar, showing subjects and notes in a clear, accessible manner.
Tags and Bookmarks
Goodnotes enhances navigation with a sidebar that offers quick access to a suite of organizational tools, including shared documents and bookmarked note pages. This allows for a streamlined workflow, enabling users to quickly jump between important sections of their notes, a testament to Goodnotes’ commitment to an organized note-taking system.
Writing and Editing Tools
Creating the perfect note requires the right set of writing and editing tools. Goodnotes and Notability both offer a suite of tools including pens, highlighters, and erasers, but they differ in their customization options and functionalities.
From pen types to lasso tools, let’s explore how each app equips users for the task of note-taking with the pen tool.
Pen and Highlighter Tools
Both Goodnotes and Notability provide a variety of pen types and highlighters to cater to every handwriting style, from the elegance of a fountain pen to the precision of a fine-point pen. Goodnotes offers more customization in pen settings, while Notability provides a unique Pencil tool with vector-based ink and tilt-activated shading, ideal for those who sketch or prefer a more artistic approach.
Lasso Tool
The lasso tool is integral for moving and manipulating notes, and both apps excel here. Goodnotes offers additional flexibility, allowing users to move selected items across pages, providing an edge in reorganizing notes.
Notability, while limited to moving items on the same page, still offers a powerful lasso tool that is indispensable for editing and refining notes.
Text Boxes and Shapes
Text boxes and shapes are fundamental features for creating structured and visually appealing notes. Goodnotes offers extensive customization options for these elements, including adjustable sizes and colors. Notability also supports various shapes and allows users to autofill them, except when drawn with the Pencil tool, catering to users who value simplicity and speed.
Templates and Customization
Many notes rely on templates as their foundation, and both apps provide a range of options to jumpstart the note-taking process. While Goodnotes offers extensive customization, including custom page sizes and importing PDF templates, Notability provides a simpler, though limited, set of built-in templates, catering to users with different customization needs.
Built-In Templates
Goodnotes outshines with a vast array of built-in templates, from Cornell notes to creative designs, enabling users to choose the perfect backdrop for their notes.
Notability, though offering fewer built-in options, still provides essential templates like lined, grid, and dotted paper, ensuring users have the basic structures needed for effective note-taking and avoiding unfiled notes.
Custom Templates
Customization is key for those who want their digital notebooks to feel personal, and Goodnotes delivers by allowing custom page sizes and personal PDFs as templates.
Notability also supports importing custom templates, albeit only in PDF format, offering users a level of personalization within their note-taking experience.
Collaboration and Sharing
In today’s connected world, collaboration and sharing are indispensable, and note-taking apps are no exception. Goodnotes steps up with real-time collaborative editing, while Notability, despite its robust sharing features, falls short in collaborative note editing.
Let’s examine how these apps help users work together and share their creations.
Real-Time Collaboration
Goodnotes leads the charge in real-time collaboration, letting multiple users edit a document simultaneously, which sets it apart from Notability. This collaborative edge is ideal for teams and classrooms where shared notes and instant updates are crucial for productivity and engagement.
Sharing Options
Notability provides users with versatile sharing options, including public links with password protection for secure access to password protected notes. Goodnotes, while focusing on real-time collaboration, ensures shared content is accessible to users with an updated app version, reflecting each app’s approach to sharing and collaboration in their ecosystems.
Platform Compatibility and Integrations
Given the diversity of the digital workspace, platform compatibility is a crucial consideration when selecting a note-taking app. Goodnotes spans across multiple platforms including Apple devices and now beta versions for Android and Windows, while Notability remains within the Apple ecosystem.
This section explores how each app integrates across platforms and with third-party services.
Supported Platforms
Goodnotes has expanded its reach beyond Apple devices, offering versions for Windows and Android users, while Notability remains loyal to the Apple user base. This commitment to cross-platform availability makes Goodnotes a more versatile choice for users who work across different operating systems.
Third-Party Integrations
Third-party integrations enable note-taking apps to function seamlessly within a broader digital ecosystem. Goodnotes enhances its versatility with support for importing documents from services like Google Drive, while Notability’s integration with cloud services like iCloud ensures notes are synchronized across all Apple devices, catering to the needs of users with different preferences.
Pricing and Plans
Price often plays a decisive role, and both Goodnotes and Notability offer different pricing structures to accommodate users’ budgets and needs. From free versions with basic functionalities to paid plans with advanced features, let’s compare the financial implications of committing to one of these note-taking giants.
Free Versions
The free versions of Goodnotes and Notability provide a taste of their capabilities, with Goodnotes offering a range of features including AI typing and handwriting recognition, and Notability showcasing its PDF annotation and audio recording prowess. However, both apps have limitations in their free versions that can impact the user experience.
Paid Plans
When it comes to paid plans, Goodnotes presents a more economical subscription alongside a one-time purchase option, while Notability’s premium features are locked behind a yearly subscription. This comparison underlines the value proposition of each app, with Goodnotes emerging as a potentially more cost-effective choice for users looking for a comprehensive note-taking solution.
Customer Support and Resources
Apart from the app’s functionality, customer support and resources are essential for a smooth user experience. Both Goodnotes and Notability offer support channels and extensive knowledge bases, ensuring users have the help they need when they need it.
Let’s delve into the support landscape of these two apps.
Support Channels
Notability and Goodnotes provide various avenues for support, from email assistance to chatbots. Notability offers detailed troubleshooting guides for subscription restoration, while Goodnotes boasts a comprehensive help center with articles to assist users, showcasing their dedication to customer support.
Knowledge Base and Tutorials
Both Goodnotes and Notability understand that empowering users with knowledge is key to maximizing the app’s potential. Goodnotes has a rich library of tutorials and a community forum for peer support, while Notability’s website and in-app guides complement its own user forums. These resources are invaluable for both notability and digital note-taking journey, providing insights and tips to enhance the experience for new and seasoned users alike.
Pros and Cons
Every tool comes with its own set of advantages and disadvantages, and both Goodnotes and Notability are no exceptions. Goodnotes is revered for its interface and customization, while Notability is praised for its simplicity and audio features. However, challenges remain, such as Goodnotes’ document size and Notability’s absence of real-time collaboration.
Grasping these pros and cons is vital for users in selecting the app that best meets their distinct note-taking requirements.
Goodnotes Pros and Cons
Goodnotes shines with its:
- Lower subscription costs
- Extensive customization
- Advanced organization
- AI-powered tools
Its ability to facilitate collaboration and offer exam prep materials makes it a strong contender. However, the larger file sizes might be a setback for devices with limited storage.
Weighing these factors is essential for users who seek a rich and organized note-taking experience.
Notability Pros and Cons
Notability’s simplistic design and practical tools like tape and the Pencil tool cater especially to college students and those who prefer a straightforward approach. Nonetheless, the latest update’s teething problems, such as freezing issues and image pasting bugs, are points of contention for users who require a smooth and reliable note-taking app.
Summary
In the quest to crown the better note-taking app between Goodnotes and Notability, it’s evident that each app excels in different arenas—Goodnotes with its robust customization and organizational prowess, and Notability with its superior audio recording and simplicity. Your choice hinges on your specific needs, whether you prioritize collaboration, cross-platform compatibility, or the richness of features. Both apps are formidable tools, capable of transforming your digital note-taking into an art form.
Frequently Asked Questions
Can Goodnotes' handwriting recognition convert notes in multiple languages?
Yes, Goodnotes can convert handwriting to text in multiple languages, though Notability supports more languages overall. Consider your language needs when choosing between the two.
Does Notability allow for real-time collaborative editing?
No, Notability does not currently support real-time collaborative editing like Goodnotes.
Can I use Goodnotes on non-Apple devices?
Yes, Goodnotes is available on non-Apple platforms such as Android and Windows, as well as Apple devices.
Are the advanced features of Notability available without a subscription?
No, Notability's advanced features require a subscription to Notability Plus.
Can I import my own templates into Goodnotes and Notability?
Yes, you can import your own templates into Goodnotes and Notability, with Goodnotes offering more flexibility with custom page sizes.