# Goodnotes vs NoteEase

The clearest difference is monetization model: Goodnotes at free with in-app purchases against NoteEase's subscription. Goodnotes also leads on ratings volume (455K vs 66) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). NoteEase's advantage is review sentiment (42% vs 34%) and iOS requirement (14.1 vs 18.6). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Goodnotes sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and NoteEase sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Goodnotes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Goodnotes has 455K ratings behind it against 66, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews complicate that: 34% of Goodnotes's written reviews are positive against 42% of NoteEase's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Goodnotes ships an update weekly, NoteEase monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 24, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Goodnotes | NoteEase |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (455K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602/reviews)** | [4.4 (66 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteease-recording-made-easy/id1571634854/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **455K** | 66 |
| Positive reviews | 33.6% of reviews | **41.7% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Best chart rank | **#86** | — |
| Size | 794 MB | 113 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **14.1** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Goodnotes Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708570616) | [Hangzhou Jiadi Bozhong](https://appshunter.io/developer/1506720843) |

## What reviewers say

### Goodnotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602)

**Currently charting:** #86 Top Grossing · Productivity, #115 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights with advanced AI features. This app offers tools for professionals, students, and creatives, including infinite whiteboards, AI-powered transcription and summarization, and customizable digital notebooks.

**Highlights:** 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

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Pass (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Goodnotes 6 (1 Year) | $9.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Goodnotes Pro (Yearly) | $35.99 | per year |
| Bunny Oasis Stickers | Free | one-time |
| Medicine-Academia Sticker Shee | Free | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $1.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $6.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $8.99 | one-time |
| GoodNotes 5 Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $10.99 | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 One-Time Payment | $28.99 | one-time |
| Special Edition | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 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

**What reviewers complain about**

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

**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

**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


### NoteEase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteease-recording-made-easy/id1571634854)

This app digitizes handwritten notes and photos, allowing for easy annotation and organization. Capture, edit, and share your visual and text-based ideas across devices for a streamlined workflow.

**Highlights:** Convert photos to digital notes, Annotate existing photos, Type and format text notes, Stylus support for drawing, Organize and archive notes, Sync and share across devices

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yearly member | $4.49 | per year |
| Yearly member | $29.99 | per year |
| Xnotes永久会员优惠价 | $3.99 | one-time |
| Permanent member | $6.99 | one-time |
| Permanent member | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Goodnotes free?

Goodnotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NoteEase free?

NoteEase is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Goodnotes or NoteEase?

Goodnotes is rated higher. Goodnotes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 455K ratings, while NoteEase averages 4.4 from 66 ratings.

### Do Goodnotes or NoteEase have ads?

Neither Goodnotes nor NoteEase shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Goodnotes or NoteEase?

Goodnotes ships an update weekly, and NoteEase monthly. Most recently, Goodnotes was updated on September 24, 2026 and NoteEase on September 22, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*