Best Goodnotes Notes And PDF Apps

4.4(39 ratings)

Free

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A free, open-source note-taking app designed for handwriting and PDF annotation. Organize notes into folders, import documents, and export your work. It prioritizes privacy with local-first storage and optional iCloud backups.

ScribblePad: Notes & PDF by Sagar Seth

Handwriting notes & PDF markup

Strong Contender

5.0(3 ratings)

Free

A private, free note-taking and PDF annotation app for Apple devices. It offers natural handwriting, organization tools, and optional cloud backup to your own storage. Enjoy a distraction-free experience with no accounts or tracking.

Notewise - AI Notes, PDF, Docs by ZIIKR

Write. Record. Draw. Remember.

Worth Considering

Wellnote: AI Notes, PDF, Docs

4.6😐(294 ratings)

FreeIn-App Purchases

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Capture, organize, and interact with all your information in one place. This app combines writing, drawing, audio recording, and PDF annotation with powerful AI search and chat capabilities to help you learn and create.

What We Love

👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
🔄 Excellent cross-platform synchronization (Android, iOS, Mac, PC)
✨ Comprehensive feature set with tables, shapes, and drawing tools
🎨 High-quality dark mode implementation
📱 Works seamlessly across multiple devices
🔒 Lock object feature for protecting content
⚡ Responsive and helpful technical support
🎯 Great alternative to GoodNotes with competitive pricing
✍️ Smooth writing and annotation experience
📝 Good template customization options

Room to Improve

🐛 Frequent app crashes after updates
🐛 Handwriting and annotations disappearing randomly
🐛 Lasso selection tool includes unwanted background
🐛 App freezes and lags when highlighting large areas
🐛 Text input fields not functioning properly
💰 Basic features locked behind premium paywall
💰 Expensive subscription pricing relative to storage offered
🔋 Excessive battery drain due to real-time syncing
⏱️ Slow synchronization across shared devices and profiles
❌ Removed iCloud sync to force subscription adoption
📄 PDF import has unclear size limitations
🖊️ Limited drawing tools (missing pencil, waterbrush, crayon)
📋 No layers feature available
🎯 Lacks magnifying zoom box with auto-follow functionality

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