# Goodnotes vs ChatGPT

Goodnotes and ChatGPT both sit at 4.7 stars, but that hides the real split: 70% of ChatGPT's written reviews are positive against 34% of Goodnotes's. ChatGPT also leads on chart position (#1 vs #86) and ratings volume (11M vs 455K). Goodnotes's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, update cadence and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Goodnotes sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and ChatGPT sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $8.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Goodnotes against 4.8 for ChatGPT. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ChatGPT has 11M ratings behind it against 455K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 34% of Goodnotes's written reviews are positive against 70% of ChatGPT's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. Both last shipped on September 24, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Goodnotes | ChatGPT |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (455K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602/reviews) | **[4.8 (11M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatgpt/id6448311069/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 455K | **11M** |
| Positive reviews | 33.6% of reviews | **70.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | #86 | **#1** |
| Size | 794 MB | 227 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **18.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Goodnotes Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708570616) | [OpenAI OpCo, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1684349733) |

## 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


### ChatGPT

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chatgpt/id6448311069)

**Currently charting:** #1 Top Grossing · Productivity, #1 Top Grossing, #2 Top Free · Productivity, #2 Top Free (US App Store)

This app provides access to advanced AI capabilities, including text generation, image creation from descriptions, and voice conversations. It offers personalized advice, creative inspiration, and instant answers for various tasks, syncing history across devices.

**Highlights:** Image generation from text, Advanced voice conversations, Photo upload and transcription, Creative inspiration and ideas, Tailored advice and planning, Personalized learning assistance, Professional brainstorming

**Features:** Safari Extension, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support, Fun Camera support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ChatGPT Go | $8.00 | per month |
| ChatGPT Plus | $19.99 | per month |
| ChatGPT Pro 5x | $100.00 | per month |
| ChatGPT Pro 20x | $200.00 | per month |
| ChatGPT Plus | $200.00 | per year |
| 100 Credits | $4.00 | one-time |
| 500 Credits | $20.00 | one-time |
| 1000 Credits | $40.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful and versatile AI assistant
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🤖 Impressive conversational abilities
- 💡 Convenient mobile access to ChatGPT
- 🧠 Vast knowledge base on diverse topics

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional inaccuracies or inconsistencies in responses
- 🔖 Limited to pre-2021 data, lacking real-time updates
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data usage
- 🔍 Difficulty in navigating and managing conversation history

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected app crashes or freezes
- Issues with login and account verification
- Inconsistent performance on different iOS devices

**Requested features**

- Ability to integrate with other apps and services
- Support for voice commands and audio responses
- Enhanced search and organization of conversation history
- Customization options for the AI's personality and behavior
- Improved accessibility features for users with disabilities


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Goodnotes free?

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

### Is ChatGPT free?

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

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

ChatGPT is rated higher. Goodnotes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 455K ratings, while ChatGPT averages 4.8 from 11M ratings.

### Do Goodnotes or ChatGPT have ads?

ChatGPT shows ads; Goodnotes does not.

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

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

### Which is more popular, Goodnotes or ChatGPT?

Goodnotes currently peaks at #86 in the App Store charts, and ChatGPT at #1. Chart position reflects recent download velocity rather than total install base.

---

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