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GoodNotes vs NotePlan 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…

NotePlan

Starting at $4.99 /Month

  • Free Trial
  • Individuals
  • Medium Business

NotePlan is full featured yet easy to use note taking software designed specifically for college students. A dual panel view allows students to organize and search their notes in an intuitive way. It will help you rememb…

GoodNotes vs NotePlan — at a glance

FeatureGoodNotesNotePlan
Rating
Reviews
Starting price$7.99$4.99 /Month
Free trial No Yes
Free version No No
Best forLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small BusinessIndividuals, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsMobile - iOS, Installed - MacSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac
API
Support modesOnlineOnline
Data residencyUSGlobal

Key differences between GoodNotes and NotePlan

  • Pricing: GoodNotes starts at $7.99, while NotePlan starts at $4.99 /Month.
  • Free trial: NotePlan offers a free trial; GoodNotes does not.
  • Target audience: GoodNotes is built for Large Enterprises and Medium Business, while NotePlan targets Individuals and Medium Business.
  • Deployment: GoodNotes supports Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac; NotePlan supports SaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - Mac.

GoodNotes vs NotePlan — 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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NotePlan - 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.

NotePlan

Best for college students needing simple, organized academic note-taking.

Choose if
  • You are a college student seeking an intuitive dual panel note interface.
  • You want to organize and search homework notes efficiently with custom symbols.
  • You prefer a lightweight, easy-to-use tool tailored for individual or small group study.
Consider alternatives if
  • You require collaborative note-taking features for large teams or enterprises.
  • You need integration with project management or extensive workflow tools.

GoodNotes: Best for handwritten note-taking on iPad and iPhone with smooth, customizable writing. NotePlan: Best for college students needing simple, organized academic note-taking.

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

NotePlan is full featured yet easy to use note taking software designed specifically for college students. A dual panel view allows students to organize and search their notes in an ... Read More about NotePlan

Entry Level Pricing

  • Starts from $7.99
  • Starts from $4.99 , Billed Yearly

Free Trial Availability

  • No free trial
  • Free Trial available

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.4/10

8.5/10

Best Company Size

Small BusinessMedium Business
Individuals1-50 employees
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Software Demo

Demo

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How do GoodNotes and NotePlan Compare on Features?

Total Features

4 Features

6 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Compare GoodNotes and NotePlan 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
      • $4.99 , Billed Yearly

      Pricing Plans

      • Not Available
      • Personal

        • All features

        • All devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone

      • Business

        • All features

        • All devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone

        • Priority support

        Show more +

      Pricing Page

      GoodNotes pricing
      NotePlan pricing

      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.

      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

      No user reviews or ratings available to determine buyer sentiment.

      What buyers like

      • Dual panel view for organization
      • Student-focused features
      • Intuitive search functionality

      Common complaints

      • Limited to student use
      • No collaboration features mentioned
      • May lack advanced formatting

      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

      • Dual panel view for intuitive note organization

      • Customizable symbol library for personalized note-taking

      • Designed specifically to support academic workflows

      • Limited information on pricing and plans

      • No available user ratings or reviews to assess reliability

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      No Customers information available.

      Cult of Mac

      Cult of Mac

      MacStories

      MacStories

      Hosting Advice

      Hosting Advice

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Overview

      2 Screenshots

      Daily notes

      2 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      Top Alternatives to GoodNotes and NotePlan 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 NotePlan?
      GoodNotes and NotePlan 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 NotePlan offer a free trial?
      NotePlan offers a free trial. GoodNotes does not.
      What is the starting price of GoodNotes vs NotePlan?
      GoodNotes starts at $7.99. NotePlan starts at $4.99 /Month.
      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 NotePlan?
      Top alternatives to NotePlan include Evernote, Amanote, RemNote, Microsoft OneNote, TickTick.

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