# Notability vs Google Docs

Notability and Google Docs both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 70% of Google Docs's written reviews are positive against 37% of Notability's. Google Docs also leads on ratings volume (3.2M vs 457K) and chart position (#9 vs #81). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notability sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month and Google Docs sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $199.99 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Notability against 4.8 for Google Docs. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Google Docs has 3.2M ratings behind it against 457K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 37% of Notability's written reviews are positive against 70% of Google Docs's.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Notability | Google Docs |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.8 (457K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notability-ai-notes-and-planner/id360593530/reviews) | [4.8 (3.2M ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 457K | **3.2M** |
| Positive reviews | 36.5% of reviews | **69.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Best chart rank | #81 | **#9** |
| Size | 411 MB | 348 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.5 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Ginger Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/318126112) | [Google](https://appshunter.io/developer/281956209) |

## What reviewers say

### Notability

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notability-ai-notes-and-planner/id360593530)

**Currently charting:** #81 Top Grossing · Productivity, #127 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture, organize, and enhance your thoughts with a versatile digital notebook. Seamlessly blend handwriting, typing, and multimedia to annotate documents, record lectures, and generate summaries. Ideal for students and professionals seeking to boost productivity and learning.

**Highlights:** Handwritten and typed notes, PDF and document annotation, Audio recording and transcription, AI-powered summaries and quizzes, Customizable organization, Cross-device sync

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notability Lite | $5.99 | per month |
| Notability Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| Notability Plus | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Notability Lite | $14.99 | per year |
| Notability Plus | $19.99 | per year |
| Notability Plus | $19.99 | per year |
| Notability Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Notability Plus | $29.99 | per year |
| Notability Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| Notability Classic | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for note-taking
- 👍 Smooth handwriting experience
- 📝 Excellent organization and file management
- 🎙️ Useful audio recording feature
- 🔍 Handwriting recognition and search

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues with iCloud
- 🔍 Limited search and organization options
- 🖍️ Frustrating highlighter behavior
- 🔒 Concerns about subscription model
- 🔧 Buggy after recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting corrupted
- Frequent crashes and performance issues
- Palm rejection problems after updates
- Inconsistent behavior when importing files

**Requested features**

- Improved folder/hierarchy organization
- More shape recognition and drawing tools
- Side-by-side viewing of multiple notes
- Ability to edit/rename audio recordings
- Better integration with other apps and services


### Google Docs

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/google-docs/id842842640)

**Currently charting:** #9 Top Free · Productivity, #58 Top Free (US App Store)

Create, edit, and collaborate on documents online in real time. Work together seamlessly with your team, even offline, and access a variety of file types. AI-powered features can help draft and refine content.

**Highlights:** Real-time collaboration, Offline editing, Template library, Multiple file type support, AI-powered drafting, Commenting and action items

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Google AI Pro (5 TB) | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Convenient and accessible
- 👍 Seamless collaboration
- 🔒 Automatic saving
- 💡 Offline functionality
- 👍 Versatile for various uses

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Laggy performance and input delays
- 👎 Limited formatting and customization options
- 🔍 Difficult to organize and navigate documents
- 👎 Compatibility issues with other platforms

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected crashes and document loss
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between apps
- Issues with image insertion and manipulation

**Requested features**

- Improved document organization with folders
- Expanded font and formatting options
- Better integration with Microsoft Office
- Smoother scrolling and navigation


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notability free?

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

### Is Google Docs free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notability or Google Docs?

Notability and Google Docs are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 457K and 3.2M ratings respectively.

### Do Notability or Google Docs have ads?

Neither Notability nor Google Docs shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notability or Google Docs?

Notability ships an update weekly, and Google Docs weekly. Most recently, Notability was updated on September 24, 2026 and Google Docs on September 24, 2026.

### Which is more popular, Notability or Google Docs?

Notability currently peaks at #81 in the App Store charts, and Google Docs at #9. 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.*