Goodnotes vs Evernote: Which is Better?
Both GoodNotes and Evernote are highly regarded note-taking apps, but they serve different purposes and cater to different types of users. GoodNotes excels at handwritten notes and digital paper for Apple users, while Evernote is a versatile note-taking and organization tool with a broader appeal, including both text-based and multimedia notes. Here’s a detailed comparison to help determine which is better based on your needs.
Overview of GoodNotes and Evernote
GoodNotes:
- Platform: iOS, macOS
- Focus: Handwritten notes, sketching, PDF annotation
- Target Audience: Apple users, particularly those who prefer handwritten notes, students, professionals, and creatives.
GoodNotes is a premium app that emphasizes handwriting and sketching. It provides a seamless experience for taking digital handwritten notes using an Apple Pencil or your finger. Additionally, it allows users to annotate PDFs and organize notes in notebooks.
Evernote:
- Platform: iOS, Android, macOS, Windows, Web
- Focus: Text-based notes, multimedia, document storage, and organizational features
- Target Audience: Users who need a comprehensive note management system that supports text, images, audio, web clipping, and more.
Evernote is a cloud-based note-taking app that excels in organizing content from various formats such as text, images, web clippings, and documents. It supports multi-device sync and is known for its cross-platform availability. Evernote is perfect for people who want an all-in-one solution for work, school, and personal life.
Key Feature Comparison
1. Handwriting and Drawing
- GoodNotes:
- Handwriting is a core feature of GoodNotes. It provides a smooth writing experience, especially with an Apple Pencil.
- You can choose from various pen styles, paper templates (like lined, dotted, and grid), and colors.
- It allows sketching and creating diagrams, which makes it ideal for people who prefer a pen-and-paper approach in a digital format.
- Pros:
- Excellent handwriting experience with Apple Pencil.
- Offers drawing tools and templates for creativity.
- Handwriting recognition (search handwritten notes).
- Cons:
- Requires an Apple device (iOS/macOS).
- Paid app with a one-time purchase.
- Evernote:
- Evernote allows for handwritten notes, but it’s not as polished or seamless as GoodNotes. You can write notes using a stylus or finger on touch-enabled devices, but it’s more of an afterthought compared to the core features.
- Pros:
- Supports handwritten notes on touch devices.
- Provides basic drawing tools.
- Cons:
- Limited drawing and handwriting experience compared to GoodNotes.
- Not ideal for detailed sketches or handwriting-heavy note-taking.
2. Organization and Structure
- GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes offers notebooks, folders, and tags to organize notes, which is a great feature for users who need a structured way to manage their notes.
- Notes can be grouped into folders, and you can use tags to help organize and retrieve notes quickly.
- Search functionality in GoodNotes can even recognize handwritten content, making it highly effective for finding specific notes quickly.
- Pros:
- Excellent organization through folders and tags.
- Handwriting search is a great feature.
- Cons:
- More suitable for Apple device users.
- May be over-complicated for users who don’t need complex organization.
- Evernote:
- Evernote is renowned for its organization tools, including notebooks, stacks, and tags. You can organize your notes into notebooks and group them into notebook stacks.
- Evernote also offers powerful search capabilities that index both text and images, making it easy to find specific information.
- Pros:
- Offers notebooks, stacks, and tags for strong organization.
- Cross-platform search functionality (text, images, and even handwriting).
- Cons:
- Organizational system may feel overwhelming for those with simpler needs.
3. Multimedia Integration
- GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes supports images, PDFs, and basic shapes and text to enrich your notes, but it’s primarily focused on handwritten content.
- It’s possible to insert PDFs and images, but audio and video aren’t as supported.
- Pros:
- Excellent for annotating PDFs.
- Allows for basic image insertions and shapes.
- Cons:
- Limited multimedia support (no audio or video).
- Lacks support for web clipping.
- Evernote:
- Evernote supports a wide variety of media types, including text, images, audio recordings, and attachments. You can also clip web pages directly into your notes, making it an excellent tool for research or collecting information.
- Pros:
- Supports text, images, audio, web clipping, and attachments.
- Web clipper allows you to save articles, pages, and research directly.
- Cons:
- While multimedia support is great, it might not offer as smooth or intuitive drawing capabilities as GoodNotes.
4. Syncing and Cross-Platform Support
- GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes syncs across iOS and macOS devices using iCloud. Unfortunately, it doesn’t have cross-platform support for Android or Windows users.
- Pros:
- Syncs well across Apple devices (iOS/macOS).
- Cons:
- Limited to Apple ecosystem (no Android/Windows support).
- Evernote:
- Evernote excels in cross-platform syncing. It works on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and even through the web.
- The app seamlessly syncs across all devices, ensuring you can access your notes no matter the platform.
- Pros:
- Available on multiple platforms (iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, Web).
- Syncs seamlessly across devices.
- Cons:
- Syncing is slower on the free plan.
5. Pricing and Accessibility
- GoodNotes:
- GoodNotes has a one-time purchase cost of about $7.99 on the App Store.
- It’s only available on iOS/macOS devices.
- Pros:
- One-time purchase with no subscription fees.
- Cons:
- Not free.
- Available only on Apple devices.
- Evernote:
- Evernote has a free plan with basic features, but advanced features (like offline access and increased upload limits) require a Premium subscription (around $7.99/month).
- Available on iOS, Android, Windows, macOS, and the web.
- Pros:
- Offers a free plan with basic functionality.
- Works across multiple platforms.
- Cons:
- Premium features require a monthly subscription.
- Some features (like syncing) are restricted on the free plan.
Which is Better?
GoodNotes is Better If:
- You are an Apple user and prefer a premium, handwriting-focused note-taking app with a rich feature set for PDF annotation and digital drawing.
- You need a structured system for organizing handwritten notes and want advanced features like searchable handwriting and folders.
- You prefer a one-time payment for an app with no ongoing costs.
Evernote is Better If:
- You want a cross-platform, cloud-based note-taking solution that supports a variety of media formats like text, images, audio, and attachments.
- You need powerful organization tools and web clipping for research purposes.
- You prefer a free plan or are willing to pay for a subscription for enhanced features and syncing across all devices.
Conclusion
Ultimately, GoodNotes is the better choice for Apple users who want a premium note-taking experience focused on handwriting and PDF annotation. On the other hand, Evernote is the better option for those looking for a cross-platform solution with multimedia integration, organization tools, and web clipping. Your decision depends on whether you prioritize handwriting and a premium experience (GoodNotes) or need versatile note-taking with robust organizational features across devices (Evernote).