GoodNotes vs Notability: The Ultimate Guide for College Students

by Xiola Shop ~ January 11, 2023

When it comes to taking notes on an iPad, college students have a variety of options to choose from, but two apps stand out above the rest: GoodNotes and Notability. These apps offer a wide range of features that make them perfect for students looking to stay organized and productive during their college years.

GoodNotes for College Students

GoodNotes is a powerful note-taking app that allows users to create digital notebooks and organize notes by subject or class. It's also possible to import PDFs and other documents into GoodNotes, making it easy to annotate and take notes on class materials. One of the app's best features is its handwriting recognition, which makes it easy to search for specific notes or phrases within a notebook. Another great feature is the ability to write and draw with your Apple Pencil, making it perfect for those who prefer to take notes by hand. The app also has a wide range of templates for creating different types of notes, such as class notes, study guides, and research notes.

Pros:

Powerful note-taking capabilities
Handwriting recognition for easy searching
Wide range of templates for creating different types of notes
Ability to import and annotate PDFs Support for Apple Pencil

Cons:

May take some time to learn all the features
Some users may find the interface cluttered

Notability for College Students

Notability is another great note-taking app that is designed to be easy to use and intuitive. It allows users to create and organize notes by subject or class and also provides a wide range of tools for taking notes, including typing, handwriting, and drawing. Notability also includes a recording feature that allows users to record audio while taking notes, which can be useful for recording lectures or meetings. Another useful feature is the ability to import and annotate PDFs. Notability's user interface is a bit more plain compared to GoodNotes, but it is still a very solid note-taking app.

Pros:

Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
Recording feature for recording audio while taking notes
Ability to import and annotate PDFs Wide range of tools for taking notes, including typing, handwriting, and drawing

Cons:

User interface is plainer compared to GoodNotes
Some users may find that the app lacks some advanced features

Customizing Your Notes and Calendar

Both GoodNotes and Notability also provide a wide range of options for customizing your notes and calendar, making it easy to add a personal touch to your note-taking experience. You can add cute Kawaii stickers to your notes, change the background color and paper style, and even customize the layout of your calendar. Both apps also support Apple Pencil, enabling you to write or draw whatever you want in your notes, to make them more visually appealing and memorable.

GoodNotes and Notability are both great apps for college students who are looking for powerful and user-friendly note-taking apps. Both apps have a lot of useful features and are constantly being updated with new functionality. While GoodNotes is perfect for students who prefer to take notes by hand, Notability is better for those who prefer typing. It's wise to try both apps and see which one you like best and also to customize your notes and calendar to your liking.