kitio.aiGoodnotes vs Notability
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 $1 for Notability.
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
- Live audio transcription
- AI note summaries
- Chat with your notes
- Quizzes and flashcards
- YouTube link-to-note
- PDF annotation
| Feature | Goodnotes | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Best for | Handwritten note-taking app with AI search, math help and summaries | Handwriting and audio note app with AI summaries and study tools |
| Category | Productivity | Productivity |
| Pricing model | Freemium | Freemium |
| Starting price | $11.99/yr | $14.99/yr |
| Free plan | Yes | Yes |
| Made by | Goodnotes | Ginger Labs |
| Based in | – | United States |
| Rating | No ratings yet | No ratings yet |
| Key features |
|
|
Both offer: PDF annotation.
Pricing compared
Goodnotes has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $1 for Notability.
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
6 plans
Starter
Free
- 5 free notes
- All editing tools
- 7-day version history
Lite
$14.99/yr
- Unlimited notes
- Third-party backups on iOS
Plus
$19.99/yr
- Limited AI quizzes and flashcards
- Limited audio transcription
- 30-day version history
Business
$60/yr
- Per user
- Shared note libraries
- Admin controls
Pro
$99.99/yr
- Unlimited transcription
- Unlimited AI summaries
- Unlimited quizzes and flashcards
Business Pro
$180/yr
- Per user
- Chat with your notes
- Audit log and Intune MAM
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
Notability
- Excellent handwriting experience
- Audio synced with notes
- Low yearly prices
- Free plan holds only 5 notes
- Unlimited AI only on the Pro tier
- Chat with notes is a Business Pro feature
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 Notability if you want:
- Excellent handwriting experience
- Audio synced with notes
- Low yearly prices
Watch out: free plan holds only 5 notes.
Goodnotes vs Notability FAQ
What is the difference between Goodnotes and Notability?
Goodnotes: Handwritten note-taking app with AI search, math help and summaries. Notability: Handwriting and audio note app with AI summaries and study tools. Both are productivity tools.
Is Goodnotes or Notability cheaper?
Goodnotes has the lower starting price: about $1 a month, against $1 for Notability.
Do Goodnotes and Notability have free plans?
Goodnotes: Yes. Notability: Yes.
Who makes Goodnotes?
Goodnotes is made by Goodnotes.
Who makes Notability?
Notability is made by Ginger Labs, based in United States.
Which should I choose, Goodnotes or Notability?
Choose Goodnotes if you value excellent handwriting experience and works across many devices. Choose Notability if you value excellent handwriting experience and audio synced with notes.