Are you looking for an easy way to organize and save your notes online? Many note-taking applications are available on the web, but how do you know which one is the best for you?
Notability and GoodNotes are two of the most popular note-taking apps many students, professors, writers and entrepreneurs use.
Both provide various tools needed for note-taking, digital handwriting and sketching. However, regarding features, pricing and usability, there can be some key differences between these two apps.
This article will give you an in-depth comparison to decide which app best suits your needs – Notability vs GoodNotes. We’ll cover everything from their user interface design to the latest premium features.
Detailed Comparison – Notability vs Goodnotes
User Interface
Notability and GoodNotes provide a similar user interface, allowing users to find the tools they need quickly. Notability has an easy-to-use toolbar that gives you quick access to all the features.
It also supports three paper styles: blank, ruled and grid. On the other hand, GoodNotes includes various page templates that allow you to customize your notes according to your requirements.
Digital Writing
Both Notability and GoodNotes offer a range of digital writing tools that allow you to create handwritten notes and sketches. Notability supports Apple Pencil, Wacom Stylus and other compatible styluses.
It also allows you to record audio notes for easy playback later on. The app includes a variety of handwriting styles, such as fountain pen, marker and highlighter.
GoodNotes offers a wide range of pen styles, including ballpoint and felt tip pens, in addition to its custom shapes and handwriting recognition.
Organization
Notability has an intuitive folder system that helps you organize your notes into categories.
You can also use tags to find specific notes quickly. GoodNotes also provides several tools for organizing notes, including folders and tags. It also allows you to add bookmarks to specific pages for easy reference.
Pricing
Notability offers a free version with limited features, while the premium version is available for $7.99 monthly. GoodNotes has two monthly pricing plans – Basic and Premium – for $7.99.
Photos
Notability can add many images at once, but GoodNotes allows you to upload one image at a time. The GoodNotes approach is too time-consuming for a digital workflow in 2022.
Contrary to Notability, GoodNotes lets you crop your photographs yourself. Your photographs can be rotated and resized in both apps.
While Notability can concentrate on just one at a time, GoodNotes handles both simultaneously. Notability can add proper captions and wrap text around your photographs.
These two features are not available in GoodNotes. The programme can, however, enlarge or reduce your photographs.
Mode of presentation
The app’s interface is concealed in presentation mode so viewers can concentrate on your notes.
In Notability, 4 distinct laser pointer colours are available; in GoodNotes, there is only one. You can create streaks in your presentation with any laser pointer.
Notability makes a reference concealed from your audience using the Note Switcher. Several instances of GoodNotes do the same. During a presentation, it can be helpful to keep some notes confidential.
Auto backup
Notability can back up a maximum of five cloud services, as opposed to GoodNotes, which can only save up to three. Those who enjoy WebDAV and Box are likely to favour Notability.
Your notes should immediately sync and be backed up by a note-taking app. Most people utilize any of the three cloud storage options built into GoodNotes.
Both programmes provide PDF and native format backup. We adore GoodNotes since you can simultaneously save both forms.
We anticipate seeing that feature offered by more note-taking apps soon. Additionally, you can exclude specific journals and folders, which Notability does not offer.
Shapes
Both Notability and GoodNotes can draw arrows, curved lines, and normal and non-standard shapes. After you’ve sketched them, you can make changes to them (in either app).
Both programmes can automatically paint your shapes with hues contrasting their borders. However, the filling and border of circular forms are the same colour in GoodNotes. Both apps have a fixed and unadjustable auto-fill opacity.
Notability has a tiny edge over GoodNotes. The programme allows you to change the shape boundaries and clip them into the basic templates’ grids.
Different objects on the page are easier to rearrange thanks to the app’s pink guiding lines. They help sketch shapes, as well. We’re still experimenting with Notability’s ruler tool.
A global search
You may search through all of your notes from the main website of either app. You may search through your notes, scanned documents, and PDFs.
GoodNotes performs a better job of organizing your search results than Notability does. You may go straight along when you know what you’re looking for. Unlike GoodNotes, Notability allows searching within specific folders.
Support
Notability and GoodNotes both provide excellent customer support. Notability offers a detailed online help centre and an active user community where users can ask questions and get answers from experienced Notability users.
GoodNotes also provides an extensive knowledge base and email and live chat support.
Extra Features
Both Notability and GoodNotes offer a range of extra features to enhance your note-taking experience.
Notability includes text search, adding images and links to notes, and integrating with popular cloud services such as Dropbox and Google Drive.
GoodNotes also offers a range of advanced features such as OCR text recognition, handwriting-to-text conversion and document navigation.
The Bottom Line
In conclusion, Notability and GoodNotes are powerful note-taking applications with much to offer.
While Notability is an excellent choice for those who need quick access to features, GoodNotes offers more advanced features such as OCR text recognition and handwriting-to-text conversion.
Ultimately, your best choice will depend on your needs and budget.
