The Best GoodNotes Alternatives for Digital Notetaking

GoodNotes for iPhone and iPad has long been a go-to for digital notetaking, offering a seamless experience for handwritten notes, PDF annotation, and document organization. Its intuitive interface and powerful features, like searchable notes and iCloud sync, make it a favorite for many. However, various reasons might lead you to seek a GoodNotes alternative, such as platform compatibility, specific feature requirements, or a preference for open-source solutions. Whether you're on Android, Windows, or looking for a different workflow, there are excellent options available that can meet your digital notetaking needs.

Top GoodNotes Alternatives

If you're ready to explore other powerful tools that offer similar, or even enhanced, functionalities for digital handwriting, PDF annotation, and organizing your thoughts, look no further. We've compiled a list of top-tier GoodNotes alternatives that excel in various aspects of digital notetaking.

MetaMoJi Note

MetaMoJi Note, previously known as Note Anytime, is a robust GoodNotes alternative that functions as a notetaker, PDF annotation tool, and a digital scrapbook. Available across Freemium, Windows, Android, iPhone, Windows S, Android Tablet, iPad, and Kindle Fire platforms, it offers extensive features like PDF annotation, handwritten notes, collaborative writing, and integration with Dropbox and Google Drive. It's an excellent choice for users needing broad platform support and rich multimedia capabilities, even without an internet connection.

NoteLedge

NoteLedge Cloud stands out as a versatile multimedia notetaking app, making it a strong GoodNotes alternative. It allows users to take notes, sketch ideas, record audio and video, and organize content efficiently. Available as a Commercial product on Mac, Windows, Android, iPhone, Windows S, Android Tablet, and iPad, NoteLedge boasts features such as audio recording, drag-and-drop functionality, a web clipper, Apple Pencil support, cloud sync, and the ability to export to PDF. Its multimedia capabilities make it ideal for creative professionals and students.

xournal

For those seeking a free and open-source GoodNotes alternative, xournal is an excellent option for notetaking, sketching, and journaling with a stylus. Running on Linux and Windows, it provides essential features like handwritten notes, PDF annotation, and the ability to edit PDFs. Its open-source nature and support for Wacom Tablets make it a reliable choice for users who prioritize flexibility and community-driven development, especially on desktop environments.

MyScript Nebo

MyScript Nebo offers a unique and highly acclaimed handwriting experience, powered by MyScript Interactive Ink, making it a compelling GoodNotes alternative. Designed specifically for iPad Pro and modern Windows devices, and also available on Android and Chrome OS, Nebo excels in handwriting recognition and seamless notetaking. Its ability to convert handwritten notes into typed text and export to HTML provides a flexible solution for users who want the benefits of both digital and analog notetaking.

FiiNote

FiiNote is a highly convenient notetaking app, particularly strong as a GoodNotes alternative for Android users. Available across Freemium, Windows, Web, Android, and Android Tablet platforms, it supports Android versions from 2.0 to 4.3 and later, designed for both phones and tablets. Key features include handwritten notes, general notetaking, smart auto-align, and a built-in to-do list, making it a comprehensive choice for organizing various types of information on the go.

Notability

Notability is a truly integrated note-taking app, serving as a powerful GoodNotes alternative for iOS and Mac users. As a Commercial product, it's available on Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Notability's unique framework links notes with audio recordings, supports Apple Pencil, and offers features like handwriting recognition, iCloud sync, PDF editing, and various pen styles. Its robust audio recording and search capabilities make it ideal for students and professionals attending lectures or meetings.

Squid

Squid, formerly Papyrus, provides a natural handwritten notetaking experience on Android tablets, phones, and Chromebooks, making it a compelling GoodNotes alternative for the Android ecosystem. Available as a Freemium app on Android, Chrome OS, Android Tablet, and Kindle Fire, Squid allows users to write naturally, just like on paper. Its features include importing PDF files, an infinite canvas, combining PDFs, and robust notetaking capabilities, perfect for those who prefer a fluid, pen-on-paper feel on their Android devices.

Xournal++

Xournal++ is a highly regarded open-source GoodNotes alternative written in C++ for flexibility, functionality, and speed. Available for free on Mac, Windows, and Linux, it builds upon the foundation of Xournal with enhanced features. Xournal++ offers excellent PDF annotation, handwritten notes, LaTeX support for mathematical equations, and general notetaking, making it a powerful and customizable choice for users across different desktop operating systems who need advanced functionality without a cost.

Jarnal

Jarnal is another excellent open-source GoodNotes alternative that provides versatile capabilities for notetaking, sketching, journaling, presentations, and document annotation, including PDFs. Available for free on Mac, Windows, and Linux, Jarnal supports handwritten notes, general notetaking, and sketching. Its collaborative features make it suitable for group work, offering a robust and adaptable solution for users across various desktop platforms who value open-source flexibility.

INKredible

INKredible focuses on delivering an unparalleled handwriting experience on tablets, striving to be as good as, if not better than, pen on paper, making it a fantastic GoodNotes alternative for users prioritizing natural handwriting. Available as a Freemium app on Android, Android Tablet, and iPad, INKredible offers features like a highlighter, magnifying zoom, export to PDF, selectable text in PDF, text wrapping, and palm rejection. Its simple yet powerful design ensures a distraction-free writing environment for a fluid digital inking experience.

Ultimately, the best GoodNotes alternative for you will depend on your specific device, preferred features, and budget. Each of these apps offers unique strengths, from open-source flexibility to advanced multimedia integration and superior handwriting recognition. We encourage you to explore these options and find the perfect digital notetaking companion that aligns with your workflow and enhances your productivity.