Comparison

Spotxel® Reader vs Goodnotes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Spotxel® Reader

This app allows you to capture images of microplates, detect and measure color signals, and analyze sample concentrations. It supports various assay formats and can save, load, and export data.

Highlights
  • Capture microplate images
  • Detect and measure color signals
  • Analyze sample concentrations
  • Save and load assay setups
  • Export assay data to PDF
  • Supports row, column, and microarray formats
Features
Read full description

Spotxel® Reader is a free, feature-complete app for image-based microplate-reader workflows and colorimetric assay analysis. Use Spotxel® Reader to capture or load a microplate image, align the well grid, select the measured color channel, quantify well signals, define standards and unknowns, calculate a standard curve, derive unknown concentrations, review well data, and export assay results. The guided, page-based workflow includes Camera, Image Analysis, Assay Setup, Standard Curve, Well Data, Assay Report, Purchases, and Settings. Key features: - Capture or load microplate images for analysis - Quantify colorimetric well signals from plate images - Select the measured color channel - Align the well grid manually or with the Align Grid beta feature - Save and load reusable grid profiles - Define standards, unknowns, well names, and notes - Import and export assay setup CSV files - Calculate standard curves and unknown concentrations - Review sortable per-well signal and concentration data - Export well data as CSV - Create PDF assay reports - Organize generated files in the Spotxel Reader workspace under On My iPhone or On My iPad - Select camera and default microplate grid settings - Rotate and flip images and grids - Customize the interface with color profiles and light or dark appearance modes - Access expanded in-app help and documentation All analysis features are available in the free version, which includes a small advertising placement. The optional Perpetual License and auto-renewable 3-Month Subscription remove advertising. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Goodnotes

Capture ideas, brainstorm, and create polished documents with powerful AI tools. Transcribe meetings, generate summaries, and organize notes effortlessly for work or study. Plan your life and journal your thoughts with customizable templates and creative freedom.

Highlights
  • AI-powered transcription and summarization
  • Infinite whiteboard for brainstorming
  • Handwritten and typed note organization
  • Customizable planner and journal templates
  • PDF annotation and document import
  • Study sets with flashcards
  • Presentation mode with laser pointer
Features
Read full description

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 your iPhone or iPad 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 on your iPhone/ iPad 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 on your iPhone or iPad 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 on your iPad. 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

Screenshots

Spotxel® Reader4 screens
Goodnotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Spotxel® Reader at 100% against Goodnotes's 34%. Spotxel® Reader also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.6). Goodnotes's advantage is rating (4.7 vs 2.4) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Spotxel® Reader sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Goodnotes sells 9 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Goodnotes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Goodnotes has 468K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 100% of Spotxel® Reader's written reviews are positive against 34% of Goodnotes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Spotxel® Reader ships an update every 2 months, Goodnotes weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 5, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 5 level
Spotxel® Reader versus Goodnotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSpotxel® ReaderGoodnotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.4 (7 ratings)4.7 (468K ratings) — better
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better33.8% of reviews
Number of ratings7468K — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsWeekly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
Best chart rank—#105 — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size43 MB778 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSicasys Software GmbHGoodnotes Limited

Customer experience

Spotxel® Reader

All ratings7 ratings
Positive42.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative57.1%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Goodnotes

All ratings466,714 ratings
Positive93.4%
Neutral1.9%
Negative4.6%
Written reviews6,775 reviews
Positive33.8%
Neutral11.2%
Negative55.0%

Bugs and requests

Spotxel® Reader

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Goodnotes

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

Requested features

5 requests
  • 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

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Spotxel® Reader

One-time1
  • Time-Unlimited License$8.99
9 purchases

Goodnotes

Subscriptions4
  • AI Pass (Monthly)7 Days trial$9.991 Month
  • Essential (Yearly)7 Days trial$11.991 Year
  • Essential (Yearly)1 Year trial2 variants$11.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Goodnotes Pro (Yearly)7 Days trial$35.991 Year
One-time5
  • Goodnotes 6 Free TrialFree
  • Marketplace Content$1.99
  • Marketplace Content$9.99
Show 2 more
  • Goodnotes 6 One-Time Payment$28.99
  • Special Edition$35.99

Questions

Is Spotxel® Reader free?
Spotxel® Reader is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Goodnotes free?
Goodnotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Spotxel® Reader or Goodnotes?
Goodnotes is rated higher. Spotxel® Reader averages 2.4 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Goodnotes averages 4.7 from 468K ratings.
Do Spotxel® Reader or Goodnotes have ads?
Neither Spotxel® Reader nor Goodnotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Spotxel® Reader or Goodnotes?
Spotxel® Reader ships an update every 2 months, and Goodnotes weekly. Most recently, Spotxel® Reader was updated on November 2, 2026 and Goodnotes on November 5, 2026.

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