Alternatives
Best GoodNotes alternatives in 2026
Data compiled by Toolradar Updated How we rate
Cite this list: Toolradar, best GoodNotes alternatives 2026, toolradar.com/alternatives/goodnotes
4 direct alternatives to GoodNotes and 4 more tools in the same category, compared on pricing, features, and best-for use cases. Pick the right replacement without the marketing fluff.
Quick answer
- Evernote is the top alternative to GoodNotes on our list, followed by Microsoft OneNote and Notability.
- 7 of the 8 alternatives have a free plan, starting with Evernote.
- Highest rated: Fathom, 4.9 out of 5 from 7,187 ratings, Sep 2026.
- 8 alternatives
- 4 direct
- 7 with a free plan
Top 3 alternatives to GoodNotes
Evernote
#1 Top pickThe original note-taking app, still kicking after all these years
Starting price
From $14.99 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of October 2026
4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 10,296 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Best overall
Digital notebook for organizing everything
Starting price
From $6.99 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of October 2026
4.0 /5 across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot · 3,864 ratings, Sep 2026
Our take
Most reviewed
Notability
#3Transform your notes into knowledge with AI-powered summaries, quizzes, and flashcards.
Starting price
From $1.67 /mo
Cheapest paid plan, monthly, as of October 2026
4.6 /5 on G2 · 45 ratings, Mar 2026
GoodNotes vs 8 alternatives
| Tool | Starting price (Oct 2026) | Free plan | Rating | Fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | Price: $0.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.4 out of 5, from 263 ratings across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot (263) | |
| Price: $14.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.4 out of 5, from 10,296 ratings across G2 and Capterra (10,296) | Direct alternative |
| Price: $6.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.0 out of 5, from 3,864 ratings across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot (3,864) | Direct alternative | |
| Price: $1.67/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.6 out of 5, from 45 ratings on G2 (45) | Direct alternative |
 | Price: $0.99/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.1 out of 5, from 14 ratings on SourceForge (14) | Direct alternative |
 | Price: Usage-based | Free plan: No | 4.6 out of 5, from 13,842 ratings on G2 (13,842) | Same category as GoodNotes |
 | Price: Free + paid | Free plan: Yes | 4.6 out of 5, from 13,835 ratings on G2 (13,835) | Same category as GoodNotes |
 | Price: $18/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.9 out of 5, from 7,187 ratings across G2 and Trustpilot (7,187) | Same category as GoodNotes |
 | Price: $7/mo | Free plan: Yes | 4.7 out of 5, from 2,438 ratings on G2 (2,438) | Same category as GoodNotes |
Why people consider alternatives to GoodNotes
Goodnotes is a versatile note-taking application designed to help users capture thoughts, organize information, and collaborate effectively across various platforms.
Teams most often switch away when one of these starts to bite:
- Pricing at scale as usage or premium tiers add up.
- Missing integrations with the rest of your stack.
- Performance or scale limits as your needs grow.
- A specific feature gap you have hit in note-taking.
The 4 direct alternatives below cover the same core job (note-taking) with different trade-offs. The 4 tools marked "Same category as GoodNotes" fit the category but replace GoodNotes less directly.
GoodNotes by the numbers
Toolradar data: GoodNotes's entry paid plan ($0.99/mo, billed yearly) ranks #2 of 77 (joint) for price among the Note-Taking tools with a verified entry price and no stated unit, where the median is $7/mo. As of Oct 2026.
| Metric | GoodNotes | Peer median | Position (1 is best) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Entry paid plan | $0.99/mo, billed yearly | $7/mo | #2 of 77 (joint) tools with no stated price unit, verified price |
| Free plan | Yes | 84% have one | n/a |
| Listed as an alternative to | 6 tools | 1 | #42 of 202 (joint) |
| User rating | 4.4/5 (across the web, 263 ratings) | 4.5/5 | #30 of 52 (joint) tools with 20+ reviews |
| Compare-page visits, last 30 days | 30 visits | 46 | #43 of 61 (joint) tools with 20+ compare-page visits |
Each position is counted among the tools that have data for that row, as noted under it. A lower entry price ranks higher; prices are read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis. All Note-Taking data · How we compute this. Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source.
Cite this: Toolradar, “GoodNotes by the numbers”, Oct 2026.
Note-Taking leaderboards from Toolradar data
Toolradar ranks Note-Taking tools on one measure at a time, only where at least 8 tools have data. As of Oct 2026.
Lowest entry price, plans with no stated unit
Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis.
Counted among 77 tools with no stated price unit, verified price.
| # | Tool | Entry plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | ReadyTab | $0.58/mo, billed yearly |
| 2 | Apple Notes | $0.99/mo, billed monthly |
| 2 | GoodNotes | $0.99/mo, billed yearly |
| 4 | Fide Island | $1/mo, billed monthly |
| 5 | Enote | $1.67/mo, billed yearly |
Lowest entry price, per-user plans
Cheapest standard paid plan per month (annual prices divided by 12), read on vendor pages and compared only with tools priced on the same basis.
Counted among 9 tools priced per user, verified price.
| # | Tool | Entry plan |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Noty.ai | $3.33/user/mo, billed yearly |
| 2 | Obsidian | $4/user/mo, billed monthly |
| 3 | XMind | $4.92/user/mo, billed yearly |
| 4 | WebCatalog | $5/user/mo, billed yearly |
| 5 | Fellow | $7/user/mo, billed monthly |
Most visited, last 30 days
Distinct visitor sessions on the tool's Toolradar page over the last 30 days, with bots excluded by our analytics. A session counts once however many times it reloads the page.
Counted among 12 tools with 50+ visits.
| # | Tool | Visits |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Notion | 351 visits |
| 2 | Obsidian | 340 visits |
| 3 | Joplin | 339 visits |
| 4 | Simplenote | 336 visits |
| 5 | Logseq | 239 visits |
A position exists only when at least 8 tools have data for that metric. 86 of 202 Note-Taking tools have a verified price; the others publish none we could read (often "contact sales"). Advertising and placement fees are not inputs to any position. Visit counts include visits from every source. How we compute this. Cite this: Toolradar, “Note-Taking leaderboards”, Oct 2026. Data licensed CC BY 4.0. All Note-Taking statistics.
8 alternatives to GoodNotes
Direct alternatives come first, ranked by G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editor review. Tools marked "Same category as GoodNotes" follow, ranked the same way.
- 1
Evernote
Free plan Battle-tested at scaleThe original note-taking app, still kicking after all these years
4.4 /5 across G2 and Capterra · 10,296 ratings, Sep 2026
From $14.99/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
- 2
Microsoft OneNote
100% free Battle-tested at scaleDigital notebook for organizing everything
4.0 /5 across G2, Capterra and Trustpilot · 3,864 ratings, Sep 2026
From $6.99/mo, billed monthly
- 3
Notability
Free planTransform your notes into knowledge with AI-powered summaries, quizzes, and flashcards.
4.6 /5 on G2 · 45 ratings, Mar 2026
From $1.67/mo, billed yearly; free plan available
- 4
Apple Notes
100% freeFree note-taking for Apple users
4.1 /5 on SourceForge · 14 ratings, May 2026
From $0.99/mo, billed monthly
- 5
Notion AI
Free plan Battle-tested at scaleAI that works where you already work
4.6 /5 on G2 · 13,842 ratings, Sep 2026
Free plan available; paid prices not published
Same category as GoodNotes
- 6
Notion Calendar
Free plan Battle-tested at scaleUnify work and personal schedules with integrated deadlines and scheduling links
4.6 /5 on G2 · 13,835 ratings, Sep 2026
Free plan available; paid prices not published
Same category as GoodNotes
- 7
Fathom
100% free Higher rated by usersAI notetaker that summarizes your meetings so you can focus on the conversation.
4.9 /5 across G2 and Trustpilot · 7,187 ratings, Sep 2026
From $18/mo, billed monthly
Same category as GoodNotes
- 8
Fellow
Free plan Higher rated by usersTransform meetings into productive sessions with clear outcomes
4.7 /5 on G2 · 2,438 ratings, Sep 2026
From $7/user/mo, billed monthly; free plan available
Same category as GoodNotes
Frequently asked questions
What is the best alternative to GoodNotes?
Based on real-signal scoring (G2 and Capterra ratings, media mentions, and editorial review), the top alternatives to GoodNotes are Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Notability. Each solves the same core job with different trade-offs on pricing, features, and integrations.
Is there a free alternative to GoodNotes?
Yes. Microsoft OneNote is 100% free (no paid upgrade path) (Digital notebook for organizing everything). Freemium tools on this list offer a free tier with paid upgrades; they are not the same as fully free.
Why do people look for GoodNotes alternatives?
Common reasons teams switch away from GoodNotes: pricing that scales aggressively, missing integrations with the rest of their stack, performance or scale limits, or a specific feature gap in note-taking. The alternatives on this page solve the same core problem with different trade-offs.
Side-by-side comparisons
In-depth comparison pages for GoodNotes versus each alternative.
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