# SMART Notebook for iPad — user reviews > 108 indexed App Store user reviews of SMART Notebook for iPad by SMART Technologies, rated 3.12/5 from 104 ratings. - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-notebook-for-ipad/id554245373/reviews - App overview in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/smart-notebook-for-ipad/id554245373.md - Rating breakdown: 5★ 38 · 4★ 9 · 3★ 13 · 2★ 15 · 1★ 29 ## What do users think of SMART Notebook for iPad? Overall sentiment: mixed **Pros** - ✍️ Excellent writing and stylus responsiveness - 🎓 Great for teaching and classroom instruction - 📱 Works well with iPad and Apple Pencil - 🆓 Free app for educational purposes - 📂 Can open and edit Notebook files from desktop - 🎨 Good drawing and annotation tools - 🔊 Sound recording feature works well - 📊 Useful for small group and one-on-one instruction - 💾 Easy file sharing via email **Cons** - 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezing - 💾 Data loss and unsaved work - 🔌 Google Drive and Dropbox integration broken - ⏱️ No auto-save functionality - 📺 No full-screen or presentation mode - 🚫 Missing core desktop features - ⚠️ App loses work when switching between apps - 🖊️ Limited pen colors and styles - 📦 Minimal file management capabilities - ⛔ No ungroup or unlock object features - 🔄 Inconsistent performance across devices - 🎬 Flash and animated objects don't work - 📝 Text editing issues and cursor problems - 🖐️ Poor palm rejection with Apple Pencil - ❌ No cloud storage integration **Commonly reported bugs** - App crashes when opening .notebook files - Freezes when advancing slides - Work disappears after closing app - Files not saving properly - App crashes when adding photos - Google Drive connection disabled - Dropbox integration not working - Erasing on iPad doesn't erase on Smart Board - Writing appears offset from stylus position - Files saved to wrong location - App gets stuck on save screen - Memory issues with large files - Animated graphics not functioning - Flash objects not displaying - Text cursor stuck at beginning of text box - Pen tool not working - Shapes not loading properly - App freezes when editing creative pen - Black screen on iPad launch - App won't delete properly - Files become blank after saving - Inconsistent file opening from cloud storage **Most requested features** - Full-screen and presentation mode - Auto-save functionality - Google Drive and Dropbox integration - Ungroup and unlock object features - More pen colors and line styles - Screen shade feature from desktop version - Delete individual objects (not just pages) - Group and ungroup objects - Laser pointer or cursor tool - Recording and video export options - PDF export functionality - Better file organization and search - Ability to reorder pages by dragging - Copy and paste slide functionality - More fonts and text formatting options - Transparent backgrounds for images - Hyperlink support - Activity Builder and Lesson Activity Toolkit games - Learning objects and gallery items - Timer and cover-up features - Eraser circle gesture (like desktop version) - OneDrive integration - Better toolbar customization - Anti-screen-lock feature ## Newest reviews (10 of 108) ### 2/5 — Unusable *2022-01-28* This app is horrible. When I try to open .notebook files in the app, the app either crashes immediately, or freezes when I try to advance to a new slide. The PowerPoint and Google Slides both handle robust multimedia presentations with ease. I won’t be using the Smartboard for my classrooms if I can’t review my slides on my iPad during prep time. ### 4/5 — Using it to teach online *2020-10-23, version 3.3* I have been using smart notebook to write lessons for years. I now use my iPad connected to my laptop and share my iPad screen in zoom. Since I teach high school math it was essential that I be able to write with a stylus to teach lessons. I would not be able to teach as easily if I didn’t have this app. It doesn’t connect to google drive but I can easily email myself the lessons and open them on the iPad. I hope this helps someone else. I would give it 5 stars if it didn’t have so few of the smart notebook other features like everyone else mentioned. ### 3/5 — Question *2020-09-28, version 3.3* I’m a teacher and I bought an iPad to teach online. But I can’t share the screen in the zoom app. Is there any way of doing that? ### 1/5 — Can’t open Notebook files into this app *2020-09-16, version 3.3* I have made many years of lessons on my computer, but can’t open any of them into the app because it can’t connect to Google or Dropbox. I wanted to teach online using this app, but instead I need to remake every lesson. ### 2/5 — OK *2020-06-18, version 3.3* This app could be better if I would know how to get activities to play and I a was so excited when I saw a SMART BOARD APP FOR IPAD! but it is sooooooo boring! Compared to the real notebook can you make it have all the cool stuff like the real smart board? Or the same controls and more? You would get amazing reviews! Everyone will love this app!!! And it will be the the best app in the WORLD! ### 3/5 — Good app but needs the following: *2020-05-07, version 3.3* 1. The ability to move the tool bar like you can on a SMART board. So many times when I’m writing and I get a line that shoots across the screen because my wrist touches the bottom. Sometimes the pen tool gets changed as well. 2. The ability to remove the side panels and have full screen. This way students won’t see the panels. 3. Possibly a way for students to see what they need to see but have some part hidden that only I can see. Such as my notes for the lesson. ### 2/5 — Google drive integration not working *2020-04-11, version 3.3* I teach math and use a Smart board in my classroom. I was excited to see this app because our schools are closed and I have to teach online. The biggest problem that earned this 2 stars is that I still can’t save to my google drive and I can’t choose OneDrive as an option either. My school district uses OneDrive and I have to jump though hoops to save my work from the iPad to a drive. Can someone fix this please? It would be a 5 start app if they did. ### 2/5 — Terrible needs A LOT of improvement 😔 *2020-04-06, version 3.3* Just no ### 1/5 — Doesn’t connect to google drive! *2020-04-01, version 3.3* I have a new iPad and everything is up to date but Smart Notebook will not connect to my google drive. It says that this feature is disabled. Can this be fixed or addressed? ### 1/5 — Can’t upload previously made files *2020-03-27, version 3.3* I have Big Ideas Math smart lessons I wanted to use with this app, but cannot figure out how. Spent hours. Cannot seem to open it with this app. Would love help if this is possible. ## Most critical reviews (10 lowest-rated) ### 1/5 — They , need to delete this app *2023-12-17* This app is annoying. I haven’t even had it for 4 days I had to delete it it was so annoying. It wouldn’t even let me save my stuff I was trying to save it to my other device and straight up just kick me out. All of my stuff is gone. Do not get this app. ### 1/5 — I HATE IT!!!!!!!!!! *2023-07-26* So me and my best friend play teachers together over FaceTime, and I was the teacher. And I had made about 30 PowerPoints to play, but then when I was playing it, it kicked me off and I think that is COMPLETELY OUTRAGEOUS!!!!!!!!!!!! 😡😡😡😡😡😡🤬🤬🤬🤬. So what happened is I was on my like 10th powerpoint and it kicked me off. Then, when I went back onto the app, I saw nearly ALL my PowerPoints gone. I only had 4 PowerPoints because it had deleted 26. 😡😡😡 U should fix this app as soon as u can. Also, GIVE ME MY POWERPOINTS BACK BECAUSE YOU LIKE THEM SO MUCH, THAT U WANT TO TAKE THEM FOR Y O U R S EL F F F F F F F F F!!!!!!!! Anyways, cheerio! 😄 ### 1/5 — Total ball ache *2022-05-18* Got new iPad 2021 put this app and Google drive can’t be accessed when I download to iPad it won’t open there either a total and utter waste of time, unlike promethean ### 1/5 — Awful *2022-04-30* It is the weakest app that I have seen!!! Just awful ### 1/5 — Slow and no updates *2022-02-10* Every time I use it it’s slow and outdated LAST UPDATE WAS 4 YEARS AGO like seriously who is going to use a ancient version of a program. disappointed ### 1/5 — Seriously? *2021-02-11, version 3.3* Due to the app being unsecured, I cannot even get it to connect to my Google account. There hasn’t been an update in 3 YEARS!?!?Really, really, disappointed in SMART Technologies for failing their teachers during the hardest year of our lives. ### 1/5 — Pens don’t work and other stuff I don’t like *2020-11-23* When I tried to use the pens they didn’t work. And I couldn’t even get any of the shapes that I wanted. I also don’t like the set up at all. Over all I think this is the worst app I’ve ever downloaded. I hope you can fix this but until then it is the worst app ever ### 1/5 — Abandoned *2020-11-18, version 3.3* Crashes frequently, especially when accessing Notebook files from Google Drive. I’m an instructional technology coach in my district, and I’m steering teachers away from this app because it hasn’t been updated in years. ### 1/5 — Très mauvaise application *2020-10-19* Malheureusement cette application est très peu utile pour un enseignant au Québec. Nous utilisons principalement 365 office incompatible avec cette app. Aussi avant je pouvait mais je ne sais pas pourquoi je ne suis plus capable de connecter mon compte Google drive. ### 1/5 — GOOGLE DRIVE - FIX IT *2020-09-18, version 3.3* Why, in this day and age, you do not have the ability to upload or connect to GOOGLE DRIVE? This needs to be addressed. I am a math teacher who needs this for my students. One star can change to 5 if corrected. ## Most praised reviews (10 highest-rated) ### 5/5 — I have a question *2024-06-27* Does your app have in-app purchases? ### 5/5 — She is lying *2023-11-29* This App is so good and it doesn’t freeze so I’m lucky ### 5/5 — Fantastic *2023-08-21* Love this app. Lizzy Yarwood, I also plays teacher with my friends. I understand that the error is frustrating, but your language is preposterous. 😬😅 ### 5/5 — It is really good *2023-07-19* It is really good but please please why can I not rub out lines or change pen colour or the grey cover and the blue words so when you tap on them you go to safari and you can watch it whenever you want with little puzzle piece like smart notebook 19 please please please ### 5/5 — Great app! *2023-02-15* It is a really good app. I use it when I virtually teach my students, and in-person. ### 5/5 — It’s great for teaching *2022-10-09* I use this for teaching in my classroom ### 5/5 — BEEN LOOKING FOR THIS FOR AGES!! <3 *2022-09-21* My teacher uses this at school and I have been looking for this for ages, I use it to teach my sister. Amazing <3 ### 5/5 — Amazing! 🥰 *2022-03-18* I love this app it’s so great for kids like me to play schools with, and you can do what you want on it! But it would be cool if there was an update where you could put a timer on or have a cover up on it. ### 5/5 — How do you get on the Halloween maths *2022-01-21* Halloween maths how ### 5/5 — It's FREE and its EXCELLENT APP!!!! *2020-10-28* Don't know why I want to see the latest version of this app..maybe I want to get an upgraded one to see if there are a shapes that can be inserted. However, I end up reading the reviews of this app. It's sad to see a bad review for this app despite for giving it away for FREE to use for educational purposes. It is complete no problem for my iPad pro with the latest version iOS 14.1. The Apple pen works really well and responsive as well as if like I was writing on a real paper pad. I enjoy writing my signature because if that smoothly responsive app. I don't know why people gave a bad review after using it for free instead of asking to develop it to work for every device. My ipad pro is 5 years old and this app is just working as if like writing on a real paper. This app does not only reduce the use if a real paper helping the planet but the developer fave it to us for free after tones of tireless hours to develop this app. I must say thank you to the developer of this app. I can see that the last update was three years ago, 2017 and it's clearly you have abandoned it. But a BIG THANK YOU TO YOU WHOEVER YOU ARE. --- *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 2026-06-10.*