kitio.aiGoodnotes vs Heptabase
A side-by-side look at pricing plans, free tiers, features, pros and cons, updated for 2026. Goodnotes has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $12 for Heptabase.
At a glance
Best for
Category
Pricing model
Starting price
Free plan
Made by
Based in
Rating
Key features
- Handwritten notes
- PDF annotation
- Handwriting search
- AI math and summaries
- Audio recording
- Card-based whiteboards
- PDF highlighting
- YouTube transcripts
- AI agent
- Local-first data
| Feature | Goodnotes | Heptabase |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Handwritten note-taking app with AI search, math help and summaries | Visual whiteboard notes app for research and deep learning |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Free trial |
| Starting price | $11.99/yr | $11.99/mo |
| Free plan | Yes | No, 7-day trial |
| Made by | Goodnotes | Heptabase |
| Based in | – | – |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
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Pricing compared
Goodnotes has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $12 for Heptabase.
Free plan
Cheapest paid plan
Top plan
Free trial
5 plans
Free
Free
- Up to 3 files, 5MB imports
- 20 mins of audio recording
Essential
$11.99/yr
- Unlimited files
- Unlimited audio recording
- Limited AI capabilities
Pro
$35.99/yr
- Real-time collaboration
- Sync across devices
- AI capabilities
Teams
$120/yr
- Per seat
- SAML SSO and domain control
- Consolidated billing
Enterprise
Custom
- Customizable solutions
- Microsoft Intune App SDK
3 plans
Pro
$11.99/mo
- Unlimited notes, whiteboards, tags
- Unlimited collaborator invites
- AI agent (Gemini models)
- 100 AI credits / month
Premium
$23.99/mo
- Unlimited PDF uploads and OCR
- Unlimited Q&A with basic AI
- AI tutor
- 1,800 AI credits / month
Premium+
$71.99/mo
- Everything in Premium
- 33% discount on AI credits
- 8,100 AI credits / month
Prices in USD, checked Oct 28, 2026 or later. Plans change often, so confirm on each tool's site before you buy.
Pros and cons
Goodnotes
- Excellent handwriting experience
- Works across many devices
- Good for studying
- Free plan limits notebooks
- AI features are paid
Heptabase
- Great for visual thinkers
- Strong PDF workflow
- Works offline
- No free plan after trial
- Less suited to quick capture
Which one should you choose?
Choose Goodnotes if you want:
- Excellent handwriting experience
- Works across many devices
- Good for studying
Watch out: free plan limits notebooks.
Choose Heptabase if you want:
- Great for visual thinkers
- Strong PDF workflow
- Works offline
Watch out: no free plan after trial.
Goodnotes vs Heptabase FAQ
What is the difference between Goodnotes and Heptabase?
Goodnotes: Handwritten note-taking app with AI search, math help and summaries. Heptabase: Visual whiteboard notes app for research and deep learning. Both are productivity tools.
Is Goodnotes or Heptabase cheaper?
Goodnotes has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $12 for Heptabase.
Do Goodnotes and Heptabase have free plans?
Goodnotes: Yes. Heptabase: No, 7-day trial.
Who makes Goodnotes?
Goodnotes is made by Goodnotes.
Who makes Heptabase?
Heptabase is made by Heptabase.
Which should I choose, Goodnotes or Heptabase?
Choose Goodnotes if you value excellent handwriting experience and works across many devices. Choose Heptabase if you value great for visual thinkers and strong pdf workflow.