Verdict
Goodnotes is a capable handwriting and PDF note app, but a sizable share of recent reviewers describe sync failures, paywall confusion, and unresponsive support alongside the praise for its interface.
Best for
A student who annotates PDFs and handwrites notes with an Apple Pencil on a single device and doesn't rely on cross-device syncing to work flawlessly.
Dealbreaker
Sync between iPad, iPhone, and Mac is repeatedly reported as unreliable, with some users saying notes went missing after a reset, and the subscription/paywall system has locked out people who already paid.
The facts.
Pulled from the App Store, not written by hand. unverified
Price
Free
In-app purchases
Unknown
Ads
Unknown
Platforms
iPhone, iPad
Rating
4.7★ (452,823)
Version
7.1.19
Last updated
Sep 4, 2026
Released
Jan 15, 2019
Attributes
Native app
Category
Productivity, Education
What reviews consistently say.
Themes grouped from 200 App Store reviews. Source feed ›
Praised for
Subscription pricing and paywalls3 reviews
Value for money3 reviews
Import and export3 reviews
Ease of use and design3 reviews
Complained about
Subscription pricing and paywalls23 reviews
Sync and multi-device13 reviews
Crashes and stability8 reviews
Customer support6 reviews
Import and export5 reviews
Battery and performance3 reviews
Privacy and data handling2 reviews
Too expensive2 reviews
Where this comes from
23 of 200 recent reviews raised: Subscription pricing and paywallsApp Store reviews ›
13 of 200 recent reviews raised: Sync and multi-deviceApp Store reviews ›
8 of 200 recent reviews raised: Crashes and stabilityApp Store reviews ›
6 of 200 recent reviews raised: Customer supportApp Store reviews ›
5 of 200 recent reviews raised: Import and exportApp Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Battery and performanceApp Store reviews ›
3 of 200 recent reviews raised: Ease of use and designApp Store reviews ›
Listed at Free on the App StoreApp Store listing ›
Where we recommend it
The best note-taking apps ›Note apps that are well rated and still maintained, whatever they cost, each with its catch.
Alternatives with the same rule.
Every app here is rated 4.2 or better, has been updated in the last eighteen months, and has no significant number of reviewers reporting it broken. Price is not the rule on this list — some are free, some are not. Also with a catch.
Free · 4.7★ (1,062,957) · Updated Sep 14, 2026
Verdict. OneNote has deep organizational features (notebooks, tabs, media import) that people rely on for years of archiving, but a recurring chunk of reviewers hit sync failures and crashes across Apple devices.
Best for. Someone already inside the Microsoft 365 ecosystem who needs a note archive that imports varied media and doesn't mind troubleshooting sync occasionally.
Dealbreaker. Sync between Apple devices is repeatedly reported as broken or glitchy, and a notable share of reviewers describe outright crashes with no warning.
Free · 4.8★ (640,678) · Updated Dec 12, 2025
Verdict. Notes is free, built into iOS, and handles basic text, checklists, and handwriting-to-text conversion well, but a meaningful slice of reviewers report crashes (especially when drawing) and sync problems that have cost them saved notes.
Best for. Someone who already lives in the Apple ecosystem and wants a free, no-frills place for quick lists and reminders without installing anything extra.
Dealbreaker. Reviewers report the app crashing mid-edit (particularly with drawings) and iCloud sync occasionally wiping or failing to sync notes across devices, so it's a risky primary home for anything you can't afford to lose.
Free · 4.8★ (456,039) · Updated Sep 14, 2026
Verdict. Notability has a clean, well-liked interface, but a large share of recent reviews describe lost notes after sync failures, paywalled features that were previously purchased, and iCloud backup silently breaking. That's a heavy risk for an app whose whole job is storing your notes.
Best for. A student or professional who wants a polished handwriting and PDF markup tool for a single device and keeps separate backups of anything important, rather than relying on Notability's sync to hold their only copy.
Dealbreaker. Multiple reviewers report Notability stopped syncing to iCloud without warning and lost their notes, and others say features they'd already paid for were moved behind a new subscription paywall.