GoodNotes Reviews & Ratings

5/5

“One of The Best Writing Experience”

My notes are on genuine paper because of the extremely smooth pen. Using the software to write and draw has been a real pleasure. The absence of dark mode is the one drawback I have encountered.

Pros : The pen feels smooth and the paper background feels realistic. It makes my notes have a natural feel to them.

Cons : There is no dark mode. I wish there were a dark mode option.

Switched from : Microsoft OneNote

Reason to switch : I needed a more natural handwriting experience and GoodNotes exceeded my expectations with its realistic feel.

4.8/5

“Precise and Easy, But Limited Pen Options”

The Zoom box is one of my favorite features since it allows me to write more accurately and concisely without creating a mess. I wish there were additional pen-style options, though. GoodNotes has fewer options than other note-taking apps.

Pros : I like to zoom feature. The zoom box while writing helps me be more precise when I want to write in smaller text.

Cons : I wish they had more pen selection options. There are fewer pen styles when compared to other note-taking apps. It limits my creativity.

Switched from : Fathom AI

Reason to switch : I wanted a more precise and flexible note-taking app, and GoodNotes gave me the precision and features I was looking for.

4.7/5

“Great for Creativity but Lacks Task Management”

Adding several layers is a tool I like since it allows me to stack text, objects, and photos. That said, GoodNotes does not have task management capabilities like checklists or reminders.

Pros : You can add multiple layers. I can add different elements like images and shapes on top of my notes without messing things up. It is like a digital whiteboard.

Cons : It lacks task management features. If you want task management features like checklists or reminders, you will have to look elsewhere.

Switched from : Asana

Reason to switch : Asana was not flexible in notetaking and lacked creativity, GoodNotes provided that.

4.7/5

“A More Organized and Efficient Way to Take Notes”

I can construct several notebooks and organize them into folders, which makes it easy to find things. The restricted sharing options and the fact that I am not always satisfied with how my notes appear when I share them are the only drawbacks.

Pros : I like how organized and easy to find the folders are. I can create different notebooks and organize them into folders.

Cons : It has limited sharing options. Even though I can export notes, I do not particularly like how they look when I share them with others.

Switched from : Evernote

Reason to switch : GoodNotes folder system is more efficient for me compared to Evernote’s.

4.6/5

“Simple and Effective Solution”

I have been using GoodNotes for a few months now. It is super easy to use, and I love how quickly I can start writing without having to deal with confusing settings. The handwriting feels natural.

Pros : It is super easy to use. I find it intuitive as I can start writing away without needing to figure out complex settings.

Cons : The app can get laggy, especially with large notebooks.

Switched from : Notion

Reason to switch : I wanted something that is better for handwriting notes and PDF annotation.

4.5/5

“Great for Annotations but Not So Much for Typing”

It is far superior to Google Keep for handwritten notes and has particularly good note-taking and highlighting capabilities. However, it is not the best option for everything because typing notes in GoodNotes does not feel as efficient.

Pros : It is good for PDF annotations. I can often annotate PDFs for work and school. GoodNotes also does a decent job of letting me highlight notes.

Cons : The app is built more for handwriting so when I am typing notes, it does not feel as smooth or efficient as other apps.

Switched from : Google Keep

Reason to switch : I moved from Google Keep to GoodNotes since I wanted a better tool for PDF annotations and handwriting.

4.5/5

“No Subscription Hassles but Takes Up Space”

It is great that there is not a membership fee. I only pay once to access all the features I require. The fact that it takes up a lot of room on my device, particularly as my notes accumulate, is a drawback.

Pros : There is no need for a subscription. I just paid once and I have all the features I need. No ongoing subscription, which is great.

Cons : It takes up quite a lot of space. The app and all my notes take up a lot of space on my device.

Switched from : Obsidian

Reason to switch : GoodNotes was simpler with all the features for a one-time fee. Obsidian was complex and overwhelming.

4.5/5

“Convenient and Reliable but It Drains Battery Fast”

I like that my notes are readily accessible on both my iPad and iPhone and that everything is seamlessly synchronized and backed up. It can be a little bothersome because I have found that using GoodNotes for a long time drains the power on my iPad.

Pros : It is great that I can access my notes on both my iPad and iPhone effortlessly. Everything gets backed up as well.

Cons : The batter drains when I am using GoodNotes for extended periods of time. It eats my iPad’s battery fast.

Switched from : ClickUp

Reason to switch : I was looking for an app that focused more on handwritten notes, and GoodNotes offers a better experience for that.

4.3/5

“Perfect for Customization but Lacks Cloud Storage Options”

I love that I can customize the feel of my notes by changing the type of paper, the color of the pen, and everything else. The only drawback is that it only syncs with iCloud, making it less versatile if you use Google Drive or other online services.

Pros : There are lots of customization options. It gives you the ability to change the paper types, colors, and pens so my notes are exactly how I want them.

Cons : There are limited cloud storage options. You can only sync it with iCloud, if you use Google Drive it is not as flexible.

Switched from : Coda

Reason to switch : Coda did not offer more control over how my notes looked and GoodNotes gave me all the customization I required.

4.2/5

“A Handwritten Search Dream but No Web Access”

It is shockingly effective and quite useful when I need to find something quickly. I do, however, miss being able to view my notes on my PC without having to use the app on my iPhone or iPad.

Pros : I like how I can search through my handwriting and it is surprisingly accurate. This is helpful while looking for something.

Cons : I have not been able to access notes on my computer without opening the app on my iPad or iPhone. It would be great if they made a web version.

Switched from : Microsoft OneNote

Reason to switch : I needed a more efficient way to organize and search for my notes and GoodNotes does that better.