GoodNotes vs Notability: Which Note-Taking App Should You Choose?
~Choosing between GoodNotes and Notability is one of the biggest decisions for digital note-takers. Both apps are excellent, but they have different strengths that might make one better for your needs.
In this comprehensive comparison, we'll break down everything you need to know to make the right choice for your study style and workflow.
Quick Overview: GoodNotes vs Notability
Before we dive deep, here's the key difference:
- GoodNotes – Best for organization, customization, and aesthetic note-taking
- Notability – Best for audio recording, live annotations, and lecture capture
Both work beautifully with digital stickers and planners, so aesthetics lovers can thrive on either platform!
GoodNotes: Strengths & Features
Organization Champion
GoodNotes excels at organization. You can create unlimited folders, subfolders, and notebooks. The folder system is intuitive and perfect for students managing multiple classes or projects.
Customization King
GoodNotes offers more customization options, including:
- Custom notebook covers
- Multiple paper templates
- More pen and highlighter options
- Easy import of custom templates and planners
Shape Tool
The automatic shape recognition in GoodNotes is fantastic. Draw a rough circle or rectangle, hold, and it becomes a perfect shape. Great for diagrams and mind maps!
Best For
- Aesthetic note-takers who love decorating with digital stickers
- Students who need heavy organization
- Digital planner enthusiasts
- Visual learners who use lots of colors and diagrams
Notability: Strengths & Features
Audio Recording Integration
Notability's killer feature is audio recording that syncs with your notes. Record a lecture while taking notes, and later tap on any word to hear what was being said at that exact moment. This is incredible for reviewing complex topics!
Live Annotations
Notability makes it easy to import PDFs (like lecture slides) and annotate directly on them. The annotation tools are smooth and responsive.
Simpler Interface
Some users prefer Notability's cleaner, more straightforward interface. There's less to learn, making it easier to just start taking notes.
Best For
- Students who record lectures
- People who annotate lots of PDFs
- Those who prefer simplicity over customization
- Audio learners who benefit from playback
Head-to-Head Comparison
Writing Experience
Both apps offer excellent Apple Pencil support, but GoodNotes has a slight edge with more pen options and better pressure sensitivity settings. Notability's writing is smooth but has fewer customization options.
Sticker & Template Support
GoodNotes wins here! It's easier to import and use digital stickers, washi tape, and custom planners in GoodNotes. The "elements" feature lets you save frequently used stickers for quick access.
Search Function
Both apps can search handwritten text, and both do it well. GoodNotes has a slight advantage in searching across multiple notebooks at once.
Price
GoodNotes is a one-time purchase, while Notability moved to a subscription model (with a free tier available). If you want to avoid subscriptions, GoodNotes is the better value.
Which One Should You Choose?
Choose GoodNotes If:
- You love customizing and decorating your notes
- Organization is a priority
- You want to use digital planners and stickers
- You prefer a one-time purchase
Choose Notability If:
- You record lectures frequently
- Audio sync is important to you
- You prefer a simpler interface
- You annotate lots of PDFs
Or... Use Both!
Many students use both apps for different purposes—Notability for lecture recording and GoodNotes for organized study notes and planning. There's no rule saying you can only pick one!
Make Your Notes Cuter on Either App
Whichever app you choose, you can make your notes aesthetic and personalized with our digital stationery collection. Our stickers and washi tape are designed to work beautifully in both GoodNotes and Notability.
New to digital planning? Check out our free digital downloads to get started!
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