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GoodNotes vs Joplin Comparison

Last updated:

GoodNotes

Starting at $7.99

  • Large Enterprises
  • Medium Business

GoodNotes is the perfect app for taking hand-written notes on your iPad or iPhone. Our team created it to free users from the hassle of taking clear, legible, and reusable notes. It's helped millions of people, and Apple…

Joplin

Starting at Contact for pricing

  • Individuals
  • Large Enterprises

Introducing Joplin - the ultimate note-taking and to-do application that stands out for its seamless cloud-based synchronization. This free and open-source software organizes an unlimited number of notes into user-friend…

GoodNotes vs Joplin — at a glance

FeatureGoodNotesJoplin
Rating
Reviews
Starting price$7.99Contact for pricing
Free trial No No
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsMobile - iOS, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac
API
Support modesOnlineOnline
CertificationsGDPR
Data residencyUSGlobal

Key differences between GoodNotes and Joplin

  • Pricing: GoodNotes starts at $7.99. Joplin pricing is not publicly listed.
  • Target audience: GoodNotes is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while Joplin targets Individuals and Large Enterprises.
  • Deployment: GoodNotes supports Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; Joplin supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - Android, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Windows, Installed - Mac.

GoodNotes vs Joplin — find the better fit before you commit.

01

Which tool fits your team best

02

Which is actually cheaper for your team size

03

Where each product wins, per real buyers

Most Note Taking Software tools look identical on paper. This comparison cuts to the differences that matter — pricing structure, team fit, and what real buyers found after signing up.

GoodNotes - Note Taking Software
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Joplin - Note Taking Software
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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

GoodNotes

Best for handwritten note-taking on iPad and iPhone with smooth, customizable writing.

Choose if
  • You need an intuitive app optimized for handwritten notes and handwriting recognition.
  • You are a student, educator, or creative professional focused on personal productivity.
  • You want a simple, streamlined setup without complex integrations or collaboration needs.
Consider alternatives if
  • Your team requires advanced collaboration and workflow automation features.
  • You need extensive integrations with other enterprise software and app connectors.

Joplin

Best for

Individuals, Large Enterprises, Medium Business

GoodNotes typically suits Large Enterprises and Medium Business. Joplin tends to fit Individuals and Large Enterprises better. The right choice depends on your team size, workflow, and whether a free trial matters.

Description

GoodNotes is the perfect app for taking hand-written notes on your iPad or iPhone. Our team created it to free users from the hassle of taking clear, legible, and reusable notes. It's ... Read More about GoodNotes

Introducing Joplin - the ultimate note-taking and to-do application that stands out for its seamless cloud-based synchronization. This free and open-source software organizes an unlimited ... Read More about Joplin

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $7.99
  • Not Available

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.4/10

8.4/10

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
1-50 employees51-500 employees
Get pricing help
Get pricing help

Software Demo

Demo

No software demo available

Joplin has not given any software demo yet

If you're the owner of this profile, add your demo.Contact us

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Step 1 of 4

How big is your team?

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How do GoodNotes and Joplin Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

5 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare GoodNotes and Joplin on pricing

Review starting price, plan structure, and free-trial access side by side so you can see which option fits your budget and buying process.

Pricing Option

      Starting From

      • $7.99
      • Not Available

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      GoodNotes pricing

      Pricing information not available

      Other Details

      Organization Types supported

      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals
      • Freelancers
      • Large Enterprises
      • Medium Business
      • Small Business
      • Individuals

      Platforms Supported

      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Browser Based (Cloud)
      • Mobile - Android
      • Mobile - iOS
      • Installed - Windows
      • Installed - Mac
      • Browser Based (Cloud)

      Modes of support

      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online
      • 24/7 (Live rep)
      • Business Hours
      • Online

      API Support

      • Not Available
      • Not Available
      Get help choosing
      Get help choosing

      Security & Compliance

      Certifications, data handling, and security controls for IT and compliance evaluators.

      HIPAA

      ✗ No

      GDPR

      ✓ Yes

      Single Sign-On (SSO)

      ✗ No

      Multi-Factor Auth (MFA)

      ✗ No

      Data Encryption

      ✓ Yes

      Audit Logs

      ✗ No

      Data Residency

      🇺🇸 US
      🌐 Global

      GoodNotes User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      Buyer sentiment

      Users consistently praise GoodNotes for its intuitive interface and excellent handwriting features, though some find the feature set overwhelming and desire more integrations.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Handwriting recognition
      • Writing smoothness and customization

      Common complaints

      • Limited integrations
      • Complexity for new users

      Buyer sentiment

      Users appreciate Joplin's open-source nature and synchronization features but note limitations in collaboration and integrations.

      What buyers like

      • Ease of use
      • Synchronization reliability
      • Markdown support

      Common complaints

      • Limited collaboration features
      • Lack of official support

      Pros and Cons

      • User-friendly interface accessible to all ages and experience levels

      • Excellent handwriting recognition and search capabilities

      • Smooth writing experience with extensive customization options

      • Limited marketplace for additional apps and connectors restricts advanced functionality

      • Feature richness can be overwhelming without sufficient guidance

      • Seamless cloud-based synchronization

      • Support for Markdown and external text editors

      • Open-source and free to use

      • Lack of advanced collaboration features

      • No official customer support or SLA

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Overview

      2 Screenshots

      No screenshots available.

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      No videos available.

      Top Alternatives to GoodNotes and Joplin in 2026

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      Disclaimer: This research has been collated from a variety of authoritative sources. We welcome your feedback at [email protected].

      Frequently asked questions

      Which is better, GoodNotes or Joplin?
      GoodNotes and Joplin are closely matched with equal user ratings of -1.0. The right choice depends on your team size, budget, and specific Note Taking Software needs.
      Do GoodNotes and Joplin offer a free trial?
      Neither GoodNotes nor Joplin currently lists a free trial.
      What is the starting price of GoodNotes vs Joplin?
      GoodNotes starts at $7.99. Joplin starts at Contact for pricing.
      What are the top alternatives to GoodNotes?
      Top alternatives to GoodNotes include Evernote, Notes.io, Microsoft OneNote, UpNote, Notability.
      What are the top alternatives to Joplin?
      Top alternatives to Joplin include Evernote, Notes.io, Simplenote, Microsoft OneNote, UpNote.

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