# Goodnotes: AI Notes, Docs, PDF — Note taking, Planner & Journal

> AI-powered note-taking, document creation, and collaboration app. (iPhone/iPad app by Goodnotes Limited.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Goodnotes Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708570616)
- Category: Productivity, Education
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.70/5 from 443,569 App Store ratings · 6,325 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 18.6 · 1013 MB
- Languages: Korean, Dutch, German (Germany), Russian, Vietnamese, European Spanish, American English, Italian, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified, China) and 5 more
- Released: 2019-01-15
- Data updated: 2026-08-27
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602/reviews.md

## What is Goodnotes?

Goodnotes has always been the place to capture your ideas — from quick notes to big plans. Now, it goes further. With powerful AI and new ways to capture information, Goodnotes helps you connect the dots, unlock insights, and turn ideas into action.
*Existing Goodnotes 5 users can continue to use Goodnotes 5 indefinitely or upgrade to the new Goodnotes. Either way, your notes are safe!* 

For professionals: Increase productivity at work
■ Whiteboard + Goodnotes AI: Brainstorm, mind-map, and diagram freely on an infinite canvas that grows with your ideas. Enhanced diagramming tools and real-time collaboration make it easy for teams to workshoP & ideate together, while Goodnotes AI helps you capture and organize key takeaways instantly.
■ Goodnotes AI Audio & Meetings: Stay fully present in every conversation while Goodnotes does the work for you. AI-powered transcription and live summarization automatically capture discussions and turns them into clear meeting minutes. After the meeting, merge transcripts with your own handwritten or typed notes to create polished, shareable documents in seconds.
■ Text Documents + AI: Create documents that think with you. Enjoy a superior typing experience with rich inline blocks, build on ideas with external insights, and collaborate seamlessly with teammates. With AI-powered summarization, automated note generation, and transcript support, turn rough notes and meetings into finished content faster than ever.
■ Present your notes, slides, and content directly from Goodnotes when you connect your device via AirPlay or HDMI to an external screen.
■ Use Laser Pointer to guide your audience's attention during your presentation.
■ Export your handwritten and typed notes to email, print, or share them anywhere as PDFs.
■ Send a link to your notebooks to work on the same notes.
■ Import documents by emailing them to your custom Goodnotes email.

For students: Ace your exams with ease
■ Record audio notes that are magically synced to the exact moment you write: perfect for lectures, seminars, and presentations.
■ Take handwritten notes that stay fully searchable: instantly find any word across every class notebook, even mid-lecture.
■ Study and practice straight from your notes with study Sets: flashcards built on active recall and spaced repetition.
■ Use AI to summarize, shorten, change the tone of your words, and turn messy handwritten or typed student notes into polished, structured study material.

For planners and journalers: Let your creativity flow
■ Plan your week, month, or year with built-in and importable planner templates, fully customizable to match how you plan.
■ Keep a daily journal alongside your planner. Combine handwriting, typed reflections, photos, and stickers on the same page.
■ Use Goodnotes AI to summarize a week's worth of journal entries into key themes and takeaways.
■ Customize the size and color of your paper templates to create the planner or journal you want.
■ Add, create, or import stickers, stamps, washi tapes, images, and more.

Digital notebooks: unlimited notebooks for the price of a single physical one
■ Combine handwriting and typed text on one page, alongside images, stickers, diagrams, and doodles.
■ Create digital notebooks, planners, and journals with customizable paper templates, including Blank Paper, Ruled Paper, Cornell Paper, Checklists, Planners, and more.
■ Navigate long documents with ease. PDF tables of contents are automatically imported, or create custom outlines yourself.
■ Back up all your handwritten and typed notes to Google Drive, Dropbox, or OneDrive, and use iCloud to sync across iPad, iPhone, and Mac — so your notes are always safe.
■ Edit your handwriting by resizing it, changing the text color, or moving it to another spot on the page.
Privacy Policy: https://www.goodnotes.com/privacy-policy
Terms and Conditions: https://www.goodnotes.com/terms-and-conditions

## Key features

- AI-powered transcription and summarization
- Infinite whiteboard canvas
- Digital notebooks with customizable templates
- Study Sets for flashcards
- Presentation mode with laser pointer
- Real-time collaboration

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**Subscriptions**

| Subscription | Price | Period |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Goodnotes Pro (Yearly) | $35.99 | per year |
| AI Pass (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Goodnotes 6 (1 Year) | $9.99 | per year |

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| GoodNotes 5 Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |
| Bunny Oasis Stickers | Free | one-time |
| Medicine-Academia Sticker Shee | Free | one-time |
| Special Edition | $35.99 | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 One-Time Payment | $28.99 | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $1.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $6.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $10.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $8.99 | one-time |


## Chart rankings

- #96 in Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)
- #63 in Top Grossing · Productivity (US App Store)

## What do users think of Goodnotes?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 🚀 Excellent note-taking experience
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Smooth writing with Apple Pencil
- 📁 Powerful organization with folders and notebooks
- 🖼️ Ability to annotate PDFs and documents
- 🌈 Customizable paper styles and covers

**Cons**

- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Syncing and iCloud issues
- 🔍 Lack of flexibility with text input
- 🔍 Limited eraser and highlighting options
- 🔍 Subpar performance on Mac app

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Text box issues - unable to edit, resize, or move properly
- Handwriting recognition problems, especially with cursive
- Unreliable scrolling and page navigation
- Inconsistent behavior when using the zoom feature

**Most requested features**

- Add bullet point and formatting options for typed text
- Implement a full-screen writing mode
- Improve the straight line and shape tools
- Integrate audio recording and synchronization
- Allow more customization of the toolbar and interface

## Recent user reviews (10 of 6,325)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602/reviews.md

### 1/5 — Deleted my notes

*2026-08-25, version 7.1.16*

It signed me out and I signed back in and ALL my notes were deleted!!!

### 3/5 — Good app but didn’t even. Get to see it

*2026-08-25, version 7.1.16*

So I went on and had to. Sign in so I could revise but I had to give them my school and my email didn’t work on there apparently.

### 1/5 — Deleted ALL my notebooks/documents

*2026-08-25, version 7.1.16*

Deleted all of my documents, won’t let me redownload app without paying again WHAT? The yearly subscription for unlimited notebooks is very stupid, this app sucks and the developers are greedy. I wish I could give 0 stars.

### 1/5 — forcing me to buy Goodnotes 6

*2026-08-25, version 7.1.16*

I can’t even restore my purchase

### 1/5 — Hard to use

*2026-08-25, version 7.1.16*

Hard to use

### 3/5 — Best note app, except that it frequently requires login

*2026-08-24, version 7.1.16*

This is really the best note taking app. No need to repeat other reviews. The very annoying side is, it frequently says “Login session expired” and needs me to sign back in. Why would I need to do this? When I have something to jog down I want to do it asap before they slip away from my head.

### 1/5 — FIX THE DAMN SYNCING

*2026-08-24, version 7.1.16*

THERE IS NO REASON WHY MY DOCUMENTS DO NOT SYNC OVER TO OTHER DEVICES WHEN I HAVE AMPLE STORAGE AND SPACE. GOODNOTES USED TO BE THE BEST AND NOW IT SUCKS. FIX THAT. ALL THE POINTLESS UPDATES AND I CAN TYPE NOTES ON MY LAPTOP THAT WILL NOT TRANSFER OVER TO THE APP ON MY IPAD. I USED TO RAVEEEEEEEE ANOUT GOODNOTES BUT IM STARTING TO SEE WHY EVERYONE HATES THIS APP SO MUCH.

### 5/5 — Excellent for college

*2026-08-24, version 7.1.16*

This app is so good for note taking and staying organized. Every feature feels intentionally designed and useful. The UI/UX are great and user friendly.

### 1/5 — Doesn’t keep your imported docs unless you keep the app running.

*2026-08-24, version 7.1.14*

Just what it says. Even with iCloud sync on, if you close the app your imported docs and any notes are gone when you launch again.

### 5/5 — Good notes

*2026-08-24, version 7.1.16*

Goodnotes is an amazing app I’ve tried other ones but this one is completely free no subscriptions no ads I love it I use it for all my classes and it’s very simple to use I love Goodnotes

## Frequently asked questions about Goodnotes

### What does Goodnotes do?

Goodnotes is a digital note-taking and organization app that helps users capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights. It offers features like AI-powered transcription, summarization, infinite whiteboards, and customizable digital notebooks for professionals, students, and creatives.

### What are the key features of Goodnotes?

Key features include AI-powered audio transcription and summarization for meetings and lectures, an infinite whiteboard canvas for brainstorming and diagramming, digital notebooks with customizable templates, and Study Sets for active recall flashcards. It also supports real-time collaboration and presentation mode.

### How much does Goodnotes cost?

The app offers a free version with in-app purchases. Existing users of Goodnotes 5 can continue using it indefinitely or upgrade to the new version. Pricing for additional features or full access is available through in-app purchases.

### What devices is Goodnotes compatible with?

Goodnotes is available on various devices, allowing users to capture ideas and access their notes across platforms. It supports features like AirPlay and HDMI for presentations, indicating compatibility with devices that can connect to external screens.

### How can Goodnotes help students?

For students, Goodnotes offers audio recording synced with handwritten notes, making lectures easy to review. It includes AI summarization and text perfection tools to refine typed content, and Study Sets for effective exam preparation using flashcards and spaced repetition.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 7.1.16 — 2026-08-24

- Fixed a crash affecting managed (VPP) devices.
- Fixed a layout bug where landscape pages couldn't be zoomed out or panned clear of the document sidebar.
- Fixed gray lines appearing along the Notification popover background in Dark Mode.
- Fixed an issue where math graphs weren't generated for duplicated or concurrently visualized equations.
- Fixed the Insert Graph tooltip on Mac not dismissing correctly.
- Fixed the paywall not resizing to fit narrower screens.
- Fixed a contrast issue that made the trial countdown pill hard to read.
- Fixed the image picker not opening from the toolbar in some cases.
- Fixed a layout bug where the textbox style popover showed extra spacing on first open.
- Fixed toolbar popovers opening above the sub-toolbar and covering it.
- Fixed a crash that could occur when restyling handwriting on large whiteboard pages.
- Fixed a scroll indicator not appearing when a popover overlapped the page edge.
- Fixed handwriting beautification quality degrading after repeated use in the same session.
- Fixed several issues with connectors in diagrams, including duplicate strokes and incorrect routing when zoomed out or rotated.
- Fixed an issue where formatting-only edits to connected shapes could be lost.
- Fixed sync reliability issues affecting document duplication and page copying.
- Fixed an issue where some previously-created textboxes couldn't be edited.
- Fixed text highlight rendering issues.
- General bug fixes and stability improvements.

### 7.1.14 — 2026-08-17

- Download language packs while recording, so transcription never has to wait.
- Redesigned the Share and Export menu, with new options including CSV export and presentation mirroring.
- Fix sync issues yourself with a new in-app option — no more reinstalling.
- Fixed an issue that could cause the app to hang while paging through documents.
- Fixed an issue where shared PDF pages could appear blank and comments could be created more than once.
- Fixed an issue where documents could fail to reopen after being closed while still loading.
- Fixed an issue where pasted text could lose formatting and highlight pills could render incorrectly when zoomed.
- Fixed several issues with audio recording and playback.
- Fixed an issue where the close button didn't respond on an unsaved tab, and connector strokes could duplicate with Apple Pencil.
- Fixed an issue where the secondary toolbar would be on top of the page in some situations. 
- General bug fixes and stability improvements.

### 7.1.12 — 2026-08-10

* Introduced Quick Diagramming. Tap any edge dot on a selected shape to instantly create a connected node and build flowcharts without switching tools.
* Connectors now automatically switch to a cleaner route when shapes are repositioned. Added the ability to add and remove control points on Connector paths for more precise editing.
* Added keyboard shortcuts for Text Document, including inline code, subscript, superscript, block quote, bulleted and numbered lists, to-do/checklist, add comment, paste without formatting, and table cell navigation.
* Fixed several visual polish issues across dialogs, coachmarks, and Search empty states under Liquid Glass.
* Fixed an issue where certain Vietnamese characters didn't display correctly when previewing files to import.
* Fixed an issue that could cause the app to hang during launch on some iPad models, and for users with a lot of saved preferences.
* Restored "More from Templates" in the Add Page menu for Education users.
* Fixed a rare crash during the erasure flow on shared iPad devices in Classroom, and added extra safeguards to keep student and teacher notes separate.
* Education: Fixed the Ask Classroom button text being truncated, and the Search result bar moving from the bottom of the screen in Teaching mode.
* Fixed a visual glitch where shrinking a shape containing text could leave ghosting on the canvas.
* Fixed an issue where the Lasso object menu could stop appearing after using circle-to-lasso.
* Fixed an issue where the Laser tool could get stuck.
* Fixed an issue with context menu ordering on iPhone when using long press.
* Fixed an issue where accepting an org invite while already a member could show a misleading error.
* General bug fixes and stability improvements.

### 7.1.10 — 2026-08-03

* Fixed crashes that could occur when opening the Change Color menu, using the Toolbar's More Options popover, switching to iCloud while offline, or starting Auto Backup with no files uploaded.
* Added Selective Eraser, allowing more control of the content type removed with the eraser.
* Added alignment guides and smart spacing when moving objects on the canvas, helping everything line up with consistent, even spacing without manual nudging.
* Get more space back on your Notebook pages by pulling the page down to close the secondary toolbar.
* Fixed color palette clipping in the Text Box Style and Change Color menus on iPhone, and corrected Image Crop's dark mode appearance under Liquid Glass.
* Fixed scrolling and delete issues in the object menu, a misplaced rotation handle, a flickering canvas element, and a glitch that could occur when scrolling between pages side to side.
* Fixed several issues with the Images tool.
* Fixed website links added via Add Link not working, a duplicated title after splitting notes, and slash-command sizing issues.
* Fixed text issues, including undo in text boxes, cursor tracking in Text Documents, and numbered list markers resetting while typing.
* Fixed issues with audio transcription and AI-generated diagrams.
* Improved security when opening certain legacy GoodNotes 4 files.
* Added a clear message when a document needs a newer app version to open and improved messaging when iCloud storage is full.
* Fixed sign-in appearing inside the settings popover for Goodnotes Education, the in-app keyboard not opening for the SSO email field in landscape mode, and Sample Lesson documents falling out of sync.
* Restored the audio sidebar automatically opening when a recording starts.
* General bug fixes and stability improvements.

### 7.1.6 — 2026-07-20

* Improved reliability by preventing crashes or hangs during handwriting recognition, page thumbnails, the study navigator, Library Search indexing, and large text-selection changes.
* Better protection for your work: fixed sync cases where unshared documents stayed visible, local unsynced work could be removed after certain sync errors, and web audio recordings only appeared after reopening a document.
* Fixed several image rendering issues where cached images, imported images, embedded thumbnail images, or updated child images could disappear or appear invisible.
* Improved exported and previewed content: highlighter colors on dark paper now look correct, cropped screenshots stay cropped, and highlighter or tape content moves with handwriting during whiteboard reflow.
* Fixed several toolbar and picker issues, including hidden bottom toolbars, inconsistent button colors, clipped eraser/font/line-height settings, missing Font back buttons, and popovers shifting when the keyboard is visible.
* Improved navigation and window-layout polish, including tab bar gaps after leaving Split View, inconsistent back buttons, compact account-menu animation, Settings menu widths, and clipped dropdown values.
* Improved text editing reliability: Enter works after IME composition on iPad, text document menus stay accessible in tight spaces, and text inside shapes no longer jumps when selected.
* Fixed link, search, and sharing controls: clearing search no longer returns you to the Library, Remove Link stays visible above the keyboard, and unavailable sharing toggles no longer snap back abruptly.
* Fixed visual issues in panels and popovers, including empty bookmarks overlapping headers, template metadata corners, iPhone document-action borders, outline modal backgrounds, transparent audio-list popovers, and the Mac inspiration gallery layout.
* Education: Improved audio, study, and class flows: transcription highlighting continues until playback ends, duplicate Class Folders are prevented, and Practice study sets stay visible after a back-swipe gesture.
* Fixed drawing and connector behavior: connector endpoints snap correctly, deleted elbow waypoints stay deleted, erasing unaffected content no longer changes Undo or Redo, and handwriting selection/reflow borders behave correctly.
* Fixed an issue where calendar integration could appear signed out after restarting the app.
* Image and media captions in text documents now work correctly with undo and redo.
* Copying a video block from a text document into a Notebook now copies only the video URL.
* General bug fixes and stability improvements.

## Apps similar to Goodnotes

| App | Rating | Price | Category |
| --- | --- | --- | --- |
| [Notability: AI Notes & Planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notability-ai-notes-and-planner/id360593530) | 4.8 (452,987) | Free | Productivity |
| [ChatGPT](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatgpt/id6448311069) | 4.8 (9,671,122) | Free | Productivity |
| [Google Docs](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640) | 4.8 (3,205,287) | Free | Productivity |
| [Microsoft OneNote](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/microsoft-onenote/id410395246) | 4.7 (1,058,866) | Free | Productivity |
| [Calendars: Schedule Planner](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calendars-schedule-planner/id608834326) | 4.7 (121,097) | Free | Productivity |
| [Evernote: AI Notes & Notebook](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/evernote-ai-notes-and-notebook/id281796108) | 4.4 (77,262) | Free | Productivity |

## More apps by Goodnotes Limited

- [Goodnotes Classroom](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-classroom/id6499033382)
- [Goodnotes极速版](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes/id6761123669)

All apps by Goodnotes Limited: https://appshunter.io/developer/1708570616

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-27.*