ApexDelight

Goodnotes vs Apple Notes: Which is Better?

• apexdelight
• April 14, 2025April 14, 2025
• 0

When it comes to note-taking apps for iOS and macOS, GoodNotes and Apple Notes are two of the most popular choices. Each offers a range of features designed to cater to different types of users. While both apps serve the purpose of digital note-taking, they have different strengths, interfaces, and functionalities. In this comparison, we’ll explore the key differences between GoodNotes and Apple Notes, highlighting their features, usability, and overall performance to help you decide which one is better for your needs.

Overview

GoodNotes:

• GoodNotes is a powerful note-taking app designed primarily for handwritten notes. It offers a sophisticated set of tools aimed at users who prefer to use their Apple Pencil for taking notes. Known for its intuitive interface, customizable notebooks, and excellent handwriting recognition, GoodNotes is particularly suited for people who want to digitize handwritten notes or work on sketches, diagrams, and annotations.
• Target Audience: Students, professionals, and anyone who prefers handwriting but needs the benefits of a digital system.

Apple Notes:

• Apple Notes is the built-in note-taking app that comes preinstalled on all Apple devices. It is designed to offer a simple, intuitive note-taking experience for users who need to jot down ideas quickly, organize information, and store different types of content such as text, images, audio, and scanned documents. Apple Notes is seamlessly integrated into the Apple ecosystem, allowing for synchronization across all devices through iCloud.
• Target Audience: General users who need a quick and simple note-taking solution, and those looking for seamless integration within the Apple ecosystem.

Key Features Comparison

1. Handwriting and Stylus Support

• GoodNotes: GoodNotes excels at handwritten note-taking and is particularly tailored for users who prefer writing with a stylus, such as the Apple Pencil. It offers a range of features, such as real-time handwriting recognition, the ability to convert handwritten notes into text, and the option to create custom notebooks with different paper templates (e.g., lined, grid, blank, etc.). The writing experience in GoodNotes is smooth, and it also allows users to annotate PDFs and sketch freely.
  • Pros:
    • Excellent handwriting recognition and conversion to text.
    • Customizable paper templates and notebooks.
    • Ideal for Apple Pencil users.
    • Annotate PDFs and draw easily.
  • Cons:
    • Not as integrated for text-based notes (though it has typing support, it’s more focused on handwriting).
• Apple Notes: Apple Notes supports handwriting and sketching with the Apple Pencil as well, but its handwriting recognition features are more basic compared to GoodNotes. Apple Notes allows users to jot down quick handwritten notes and create drawings, but it does not offer the same level of handwriting-to-text conversion or advanced annotation tools. However, it does support freeform drawing and basic sketches.
  • Pros:
    • Supports handwritten notes and sketching.
    • Integrated with iOS for a seamless experience.
    • Quick and easy for jotting down ideas.
  • Cons:
    • Basic handwriting and sketching support.
    • Lacks advanced handwriting-to-text features.

2. Organization and Structure

• GoodNotes: GoodNotes provides a comprehensive organizational structure for users who want to keep their notes in an organized manner. You can create notebooks and folders, which helps in managing different subjects, projects, or topics. The app allows users to easily search handwritten notes (thanks to its handwriting recognition technology), making it easy to locate content even in handwritten format.
  • Pros:
    • Notebooks and folders for better organization.
    • Search functionality even for handwritten notes.
    • Customizable notebooks and templates.
  • Cons:
    • Slightly more complex organizational system for users who need simple note-taking.
• Apple Notes: Apple Notes provides a simpler organizational system with folders and subfolders. It’s easy to create and organize notes, and there’s also a search function to quickly find specific content. Additionally, you can pin notes for easy access and use tags for categorizing content. The organizational structure is minimal and intuitive, which suits users who need a quick and straightforward note-taking app.
  • Pros:
    • Simple and intuitive folder system.
    • Search functionality to find notes quickly.
    • Ability to pin notes for quick access.
  • Cons:
    • Lacks more advanced organizational features (e.g., custom templates, notebooks).

3. Multimedia Integration

• GoodNotes: GoodNotes allows you to add images, shapes, diagrams, and text to your notes. It also supports annotations on PDFs, which makes it an excellent choice for students or professionals who need to interact with official documents. However, GoodNotes does not support audio notes or scanned documents, making it less flexible in terms of multimedia content compared to Apple Notes.
  • Pros:
    • Supports images, diagrams, and annotations.
    • Can annotate PDFs easily.
    • Great for creating structured, written documents.
  • Cons:
    • Limited support for audio or video content.
    • Does not offer scanned document functionality.
• Apple Notes: Apple Notes is much more versatile when it comes to multimedia integration. You can insert text, images, audio recordings, scanned documents, and web links. The ability to scan documents directly into your notes makes it ideal for users who need to keep track of physical papers or receipts. Additionally, you can organize these various media types into a single note for comprehensive documentation.
  • Pros:
    • Can add images, audio, scanned documents, and web links.
    • Document scanning is built-in.
    • More flexible for multimedia content.
  • Cons:
    • Lacks advanced annotation or diagramming tools.

4. Sync and Accessibility

• GoodNotes: GoodNotes syncs across iOS and macOS devices via iCloud, which means your notes will be available on all devices as long as you have an iCloud account. However, the syncing process can be a bit slower than Apple Notes, and there are limitations on how notes are exported or shared across different platforms.
  • Pros:
    • Syncs across iOS and macOS via iCloud.
    • Can export notes in PDF or other formats.
  • Cons:
    • Syncing can be slower compared to Apple Notes.
    • Limited cross-platform support outside the Apple ecosystem.
• Apple Notes: Apple Notes is built to work seamlessly across all Apple devices using iCloud. This makes it incredibly easy to access your notes from your iPhone, iPad, or Mac, with automatic syncing across all devices. If you’re deeply embedded in the Apple ecosystem, Apple Notes offers the best integration and syncing experience.
  • Pros:
    • Seamless syncing across Apple devices via iCloud.
    • Automatic backup and syncing with iCloud.
  • Cons:
    • Only available within the Apple ecosystem.
    • No support for cross-platform syncing with non-Apple devices.

5. Pricing

• GoodNotes: GoodNotes is a paid app, available for a one-time purchase, which includes all features. While it offers a rich set of tools, users have to pay upfront for the app, and there’s no free version.
  • Pros:
    • One-time purchase with no subscription fees.
    • High-quality features for handwritten note-taking.
  • Cons:
    • Paid app with no free version.
• Apple Notes: Apple Notes is free and comes pre-installed on all Apple devices. Since it’s built into iOS and macOS, users don’t have to pay for any additional features or upgrades.
  • Pros:
    • Completely free to use.
    • No additional costs for syncing or accessing features.
  • Cons:
    • Lacks some advanced features compared to GoodNotes.

Conclusion

Choose GoodNotes if:

• You’re looking for an advanced note-taking app focused on handwriting and stylus support.
• You want features like handwriting recognition, annotating PDFs, and custom notebooks.
• You’re willing to pay for a one-time purchase and prefer a more robust solution for writing and sketching.

Choose Apple Notes if:

• You want a free, simple, and versatile note-taking app for everyday use.
• You need multimedia support (audio, images, scanned documents).
• You value seamless syncing across Apple devices and are looking for an app that integrates well within the Apple ecosystem.

Ultimately, the choice between GoodNotes and Apple Notes depends on how you use notes and the level of complexity you need. If you’re a student or professional who takes detailed, handwritten notes and needs more advanced features, GoodNotes is likely the better option. If you want a more general, free, and integrated note-taking app, Apple Notes is the way to go.