Goodnotes
Mind mapping software
Note-taking software
Handwritten notes software
PDF editors
Study tools
Markup software
Education software
- Features
- Ease of use
- Ease of management
- Quality of support
- Affordability
- Market presence
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$11.99 per year
Free TrialFree version
Small
Medium
Large
- Education and training
- Arts, entertainment, and recreation
- Healthcare and life sciences
What is Goodnotes
Goodnotes is a digital note-taking application focused on handwritten notes, document annotation, and organizing notebooks on tablets and computers. It is commonly used by students, educators, and professionals to take structured notes, mark up PDFs, and manage study materials. The product emphasizes pen-first workflows, searchable handwriting, and library-style organization rather than real-time team whiteboarding.
Strong handwriting-first workflow
Goodnotes is designed around stylus input, with tools for handwriting, highlighting, shapes, and lasso-based editing. It supports converting handwriting to typed text and searching handwritten notes, which helps with retrieval in large notebooks. These capabilities align well with individual note capture and study workflows compared with collaboration-first visual canvases.
PDF markup and study features
The app supports importing PDFs and annotating them with pens, highlighters, and text tools. Users can organize class readings, worksheets, and reference documents alongside notes in the same library. This makes it practical for study and review scenarios where document markup and note-taking happen together.
Notebook organization and templates
Goodnotes provides a notebook-and-folder model that mirrors paper binders, which many users find intuitive for long-term organization. It supports page templates (e.g., ruled, grid, planners) and multi-page notebooks for structured note systems. This structure is useful for personal knowledge management where a persistent library matters more than a shared infinite canvas.
Limited real-time team collaboration
Goodnotes is primarily optimized for individual note-taking rather than multi-user, real-time facilitation. Collaboration features and shared-workspace controls are typically less central than in products built for team whiteboarding and workshops. Teams needing robust multiplayer editing, facilitation tools, and enterprise collaboration governance may find gaps.
Not a full PDF editor
While it supports PDF annotation and markup, it is not positioned as a comprehensive PDF editing suite. Advanced functions such as complex form editing, redaction workflows, or enterprise document lifecycle controls may require dedicated PDF tools. This can limit suitability for document-heavy legal or regulated business processes.
Mind mapping is not core
Goodnotes can be used to draw mind maps manually, but it does not primarily operate as a structured mind mapping system. Users typically do not get node-based controls, automatic layout, or diagram governance found in dedicated diagramming and mapping tools. For organizations standardizing on formal diagramming conventions, this may increase manual effort.
Plan & Pricing
| Plan | Price | Key features & notes |
|---|---|---|
| Free | $0 | Limited to 3 files (notebooks/text docs/whiteboards), 5MB import size, 20-minute audio recording limit, limited AI (Q&A 5 monthly questions), exports without watermark, core note-taking tools. |
| Essential | $11.99 per year | Unlimited files, all core note-taking tools, unlimited audio recording, downloadable templates & stationery, limited Goodnotes AI (quota-limited AI Q&A, Math, content co-editing, meeting summaries). 7-day free trial available. |
| Pro | $35.99 per year | Everything in Essential + advanced AI creation & Image Generation, Google Calendar & Drive integration, private link sharing & real-time collaboration, cross-platform sync (Apple/Windows/Android/Web). Limited availability; 7-day free trial available. |
| Special Edition | $35.99 one-time payment | One-time purchase (Apple-only access), unlimited files, core note-taking tools, unlimited audio recording, includes Cloud AI. (Existing GoodNotes 6 one-time purchasers retain this.) |
| AI Pass (add-on) | +$9.99 per month | Optional monthly add-on that unlocks full Goodnotes AI experience and much higher AI credit limits. 7-day free trial available for Essential users. |
| Enterprise / Education (Admin Console) | Contact sales / "Let’s chat" | Enterprise/Teams offering with Admin Console, SAML SSO, dedicated account management, advanced security/privacy controls. Enterprise page shows a "Start your 30-day free trial" flow for org-admin signups; pricing is bespoke and exact prices may vary by market. |
Notes: Exact prices may vary by market; some iOS-only features are indicated on the pricing page.
Seller details
Goodnotes Limited
London, United Kingdom
2011
Private
https://www.goodnotes.com/
https://x.com/goodnotesapp
https://www.linkedin.com/company/goodnotes/
