Goodnotes and Notability are two of the most popular apps for handwritten notes and PDF annotation on a tablet. Both now run on Apple devices, Android and Windows and both add AI study features, but they differ on free-plan limits, pricing and what each tier unlocks. Here's how they compare, based on each company's official pricing information as of November 2026.
| Feature | Goodnotes | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Organized handwritten notes and PDF markup | Lecture recording synced to notes |
| Free plan | Up to 3 files total, 5 MB imports, 20 minutes of audio recording, limited AI | 5 notes, 20,000+ templates |
| Cheapest paid plan | Essential: $11.99/year | Lite: $14.99/year list price (unlimited notes) |
| AI study features | Basic AI on Essential; advanced AI on Pro ($35.99/year); optional AI Pass $9.99/month | Limited AI quizzes, flashcards and transcription on Plus ($19.99/year list); unlimited on Pro ($99.99/year list) |
| One-time purchase | Special Edition (Apple devices only; availability varies by region) | Notability Classic |
| Platforms | iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, Windows, web | iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android |
| Individual student discount | None listed on the pricing page | None listed on the pricing page |
Prices and limits from each company's official pages and help docs as of November 2026. They change often — check the official site before you buy.
Best for: handwritten notes and PDF markup on a budget
Goodnotes is a digital notebook app for handwriting, typing and annotating PDFs, available on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, Windows and the web. The free plan allows up to 3 files in total (notebooks, whiteboards and text documents), 5 MB imports, 20 minutes of audio recording and limited Goodnotes AI. Essential costs $11.99/year and removes the file limit, with audio transcription and a basic summary, Ask Mode for text documents and math help. Pro costs $35.99/year and adds advanced AI features and Goodnotes Cloud sync across Apple and non-Apple devices. An optional AI Pass ($9.99/month) adds more AI credits. Essential and Pro include a 7-day free trial.
Why students use it:
Goodnotes is our pick for handwritten notes and PDF markup on a budget, but check each app's current pricing page and your school's recording policy before you commit.
Best for: recording lectures alongside your notes
Notability is a note-taking app for handwriting, typing, PDF annotation and audio recording, available on iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android (a native Android app launched in August 2026). Its best-known feature records audio while you write, so you can replay what was said at any point in your notes. The free Starter plan includes 5 notes and access to 20,000+ templates. Paid yearly plans list at $14.99 for Lite (unlimited notes), $19.99 for Plus (adds limited AI quizzes and flashcards, audio transcription and YouTube-to-note summaries) and $99.99 for Pro (unlimited AI features, live transcription and chat with your notes); notability.com was showing 20% off all plans when we checked. A one-time-purchase option, Notability Classic, is also available again.
Why students use it: