When it comes to digital note-taking, Goodnotes and Notability are two of the biggest names in the game. Both apps promise to replace traditional notebooks with smarter, more organized ways to capture ideas, documents, and projects.
If you’re working on a computer, choosing between them isn’t always simple. Each one takes a different approach to interface design, organization, and advanced features — and those differences can have a real impact on your daily workflow.
In this guide, we’ll help you cut through the noise and figure out which note-taking app is the better choice for you.
Contents
- Goodnotes vs Notability: Key takeaways
- User interface & navigation
- Note creation & organization
- Writing tools & customization
- Extra features you’ll actually use
- Storage, backup & collaboration
- Pricing & subscriptions in 2025
- Goodnotes vs Notability: Final verdict
- How to add Goodnotes and Notability in Rambox?
Goodnotes vs Notability: Key takeaways
Before diving into the details, here’s a quick snapshot of how Goodnotes and Notability stack up against each other in 2025.
| Goodnotes | Notability | Verdict | |
| Free plan | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Subscription | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| One-time payment | ✓ | ✕ | Goodnotes |
| Platforms | Windows, Mac, Android, iOS, Web | Mac, iOS, Web | Goodnotes |
| Unlimited note-taking | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| Community gallery/templates | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Tape tool | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| PDF annotation | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Handwriting to text | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| Math conversion | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| Audio recording | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Audio transcription | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| Presentation mode | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Stickers | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| Flashcards | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Elements tool | ✓ | ✕ | Goodnotes |
| AI-powered tools | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Interactive exam practice | $ Paid version | ✕ | Goodnotes |
| Customization (templates, colors, toolbar) | ✓ | $ Paid version | Goodnotes |
| Search & OCR | $ Paid version | $ Paid version | Tie |
| Document tabs | ✓ | ✕ | Goodnotes |
| Folder depth | Unlimited | 5 levels | Goodnotes |
| Bookmarks | ✓ | $ Paid version | Goodnotes |
| Collaborative editing | ✓ | ✕ | Goodnotes |
| Note sharing | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
| Password-protected notes | ✓ | ✓ | Tie |
Both Goodnotes and Notability offer a desktop app and a web app. Which one should you use on a computer?
The smoothest setup is Rambox, which combines the comfort of desktop apps with the light footprint of web apps.
Rambox brings all your daily apps into a single, tidy interface. It’s more comfortable than using each service in the browser (fewer windows and tabs) and lighter than running multiple native apps (less memory and background load). Everything stays organized and a click away, which keeps your workflow fast and consistent.
- A quick example: You review notes from a client meeting in Goodnotes (in Rambox), then switch to Gmail in a single click to send a follow-up, hop to Calendar to schedule next steps, and jump into Slack/Teams to brief the team—without leaving the same workspace!
Now, let’s dig into how each app handles interface and navigation on desktop.
Goodnotes: clean grid/list + deep folders
Goodnotes opens to a tidy grid or list of your notebooks and folders. You can sort by name, date, or type, and organize with nested folders. Favorites and shared items live in the sidebar for quick access, and search helps you locate anything fast.
Notability: always-on sidebar + simple structure
Notability keeps things minimal. You organize with Subjects and Dividers, all visible from a left sidebar. Notes appear on the right in grid or list view, and you can sort by name or date. It also shines with multi-note split view, letting you place two notes side by side inside the app—great for quick comparisons.
Bottom line
- Prefer a “files and folders” mindset and hopping across notes with tabs? Goodnotes feels natural.
- Want a straightforward sidebar and fast note switching with split view? Notability keeps it simple.
Note creation & organization
The way you set up and manage your notes can make a huge difference, especially if you deal with lots of documents or classes.
Goodnotes: notebooks built your way
Goodnotes treats every new document as a “notebook.” You can pick a cover, choose the type of paper, and even mix different page styles inside the same notebook. Need graph paper for one page and lined paper for the next? No problem. On top of that, you can stack notebooks inside unlimited folders, color-code them, and add icons to keep everything neat. It’s perfect if you like a workspace that adapts to you.
Notability: quick notes, less setup
Notability takes the opposite approach. Hit the “new note” button and you’re ready to write immediately. Templates are available, but they apply to the entire note, so you won’t have the same flexibility as in Goodnotes. Organization is handled through Subjects and Dividers, which work like simple folders. It’s faster to start, but less customizable if you want different formats in one place.
Bottom line
- If you want structure, personalization, and the ability to tweak every notebook, Goodnotes gives you more freedom.
- If speed matters most and you prefer to open and write without setup, Notability gets the job done.
Writing tools & customization
The right toolkit can save time in meetings, workshops, or deep work sessions. Here’s how each app handles writing, editing, and tailoring your workspace.
Goodnotes: structured typing with per-page control
Goodnotes lets you drop text boxes anywhere and format them with size and styling. The big win on desktop is layout freedom: mix different page templates inside the same notebook, use document tabs to jump around, and keep everything tidy with nested folders. Search and OCR are available in the paid version, which helps when your library grows.
Notability: fast typing with a lighter setup
Notability keeps typing straightforward: click and type. Formatting is accessible, and you can move or resize typed blocks with the lasso. Organization lives in the left sidebar (Subjects/Dividers), and split view inside the app makes it easy to compare two notes at once. Handwriting search/OCR and some power features sit in the paid version.
Bottom line
- Need reusable assets, per-page templates, and deeper pen controls? Goodnotes gives you more room to tailor your workflow.
- Prefer a quick, responsive writing experience with minimal setup? Notability keeps tools light and fast, with strong audio options when you need them.
Extra features you’ll actually use
Beyond typing and basic markup, these are the tools that can genuinely speed up your day-to-day work on desktop and web.
| Goodnotes | Notability | |
| Audio tied to notes | Audio recording with timeline-linked notes; transcription | Audio recording with timeline-linked notes; transcription |
| AI helpers | Summaries, quick Q&A/quizzes, explanations | Summaries, quick Q&A/quizzes, explanations |
| Study / recall tools | Flashcards and Study Sets | Auto-created flashcards from your notes |
| PDF markup | Highlight, comment, draw; precise straight-line highlighting | Highlight, comment, draw; snap-to-text highlighting |
| Reusable assets & stickers | Elements tool for reusable assets (logos, stamps, snippets); stickers | Stickers |
| Presentation | Presentation mode | Presentation mode |
| Community & add-ons | Community templates; add-ons marketplace | Community/Gallery templates |
| Collaboration & sharing | Real-time collaborative editing across platforms (including web) | Link sharing, web viewing, public gallery for viewing/reuse |
| Math & handwriting | Handwriting-to-text, OCR, math conversion | Handwriting-to-text, OCR, math conversion |
Bottom line
- If you need real-time co-editing, reusable assets, and deeper recall tools, Goodnotes has the edge.
- If you value streamlined audio workflows and quick text selection for PDFs, Notability keeps the process frictionless.
Storage, backup & collaboration
Keeping work safe and moving smoothly across teammates is where the two apps start to diverge.
| Goodnotes | Notability | |
| Sync across devices | iCloud syncing available | iCloud syncing on the paid plan |
| Auto-backup to third-party | Automatic backups to services like Drive/Dropbox/OneDrive | Automatic backups on the paid plan |
| Real-time collaboration | Live co-editing across platforms (including web) | No real-time co-editing; sharing only |
| Link sharing & web viewing | Share links for viewing; editors need the app | Share public links viewable in a browser; publish to gallery |
| Team setup (platforms) | Works on Windows, Mac, and Web (good for mixed teams) | Works on Mac and Web (best for Apple-centric teams) |
| Security | Password-protected notes | Password-protected notes |
Bottom line
If your priority is cross-platform teams and real-time editing, Goodnotes fits better. If you just need to share notes for quick viewing in a browser, Notability’s link sharing is simple and effective.
Pricing & subscriptions in 2025
The full Goodnotes suite of features can be unlocked with unlimited notebooks for $9.99 USD per year or $29.99 USD as a one-time purchase (only for IOS and MAC).
Notability offers three tiers: Starter (free), Plus ($20/year), and Pro ($99/year).
Goodnotes vs Notability: Final verdict
Both apps are excellent, but the choice comes down to platform and workflow.
Pick Goodnotes if you want:
- Cross-platform work (Windows, Mac, Android, Web).
- Deep organization (nested folders) and quick switching with document tabs.
- Real-time collaboration across devices.
- Reusable blocks with Elements and strong page-by-page customization.
- Flexible pricing, including a one-time purchase on iOS/Mac.
Pick Notability if you want:
- A simple, fast setup with a persistent sidebar.
- In-app split view to keep two notes side by side.
- Strong audio workflows tied to what you type or annotate.
- Easy sharing and web viewing (no live co-editing).
How to add Goodnotes and Notability in Rambox?
Adding apps like Goodnotes or Notability to Rambox is super easy. Just follow these steps:
- Click the “Add an app or workspace” button in your main tab or workspace.
- Type “Goodnotes” or “Notability” in the search panel on the left.
- Configure the application settings to your liking. Remember that you can choose a profile for the app (inherit from workspace, primary, private, incognito, or custom).
- Click “+Add,” and you’re done! Your app is now part of your Rambox workspace. It’s that simple!
Sounds good, right? Try Rambox for free! Just sign up, download the app and you can start enjoying all its features. No cards, no cheating, it’s that simple!
