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NotePlan vs GoodNotes Comparison

Last updated:

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

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 vs GoodNotes — at a glance

FeatureNotePlanGoodNotes
Rating
Reviews
Starting price$4.99 /Month$7.99
Free trial Yes No
Free version No No
Best forIndividuals, Medium Business, Small BusinessLarge Enterprises, Medium Business, Small Business
CategoryNote Taking SoftwareNote Taking Software
PlatformsSaaS/Web/Cloud, Mobile - iOS, Installed - MacMobile - iOS, Installed - Mac
API
Support modesOnlineOnline
Data residencyGlobalUS

Key differences between NotePlan and GoodNotes

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

NotePlan vs GoodNotes — 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.

NotePlan - Note Taking Software
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GoodNotes - Note Taking Software
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Talk to an expert

Free PDF comparison

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Biggest differences

Start here before you go deeper into features.

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.

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

Description

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

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

Entry Level Pricing

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

Free Trial Availability

  • Free Trial available
  • No free trial

Spotsaas Score

What's this? ↗

8.5/10

8.4/10

Best Company Size

Individuals1-50 employees
Small BusinessMedium Business
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Software Demo

Demo

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Step 1 of 4

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How do NotePlan and GoodNotes Compare on Features?

Total Features

6 Features

4 Features

Unique Features

No unique features

No unique features

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Get Quote

Compare NotePlan and GoodNotes 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

      • $4.99 , Billed Yearly
      • $7.99

      Pricing Plans

      • Personal

        • All features

        • All devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone

      • Business

        • All features

        • All devices: Mac, iPad, iPhone

        • Priority support

        Show more +

      • Not Available

      Pricing Page

      NotePlan pricing
      GoodNotes 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

      🌐 Global
      🇺🇸 US

      NotePlan User Reviews & Rating Comparison

      Spotsaas Editor’s POV generated by AI

      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

      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

      Pros and Cons

      • 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

      • 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

      Positive Reviews

      No reviews available for the product

      No reviews available for the product

      List of Customers

      Customers

      Cult of Mac

      Cult of Mac

      MacStories

      MacStories

      Hosting Advice

      Hosting Advice

      No Customers information available.

      Media and Screenshots

      Screenshots

      Daily notes

      2 Screenshots

      Overview

      2 Screenshots

      Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

      video-0

      2 Videos

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

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