Goodnotes vs Notability
Goodnotes takes the higher SoftwareScore, 56 to 54. That's close enough that fit matters more than the number. Both are scored on the same public formula. See how.
This is the definitive handwriting-app showdown, and it comes down to platform and workflow. Goodnotes is the stronger cross-platform pick (iPad, Mac, Windows, Android, and web) with excellent PDF markup and folder organization, though its Android app lags the iPad version. Notability is Apple-first and shines for lecture capture, thanks to audio recording that syncs to your handwriting so you can replay any moment. Choose Goodnotes if you need flexible PDFs and multi-platform support; choose Notability if you live on Apple devices and want recorded, replayable notes. Both are handwriting-first, so our typed-note scores understate them.
Goodnotes vs Notability: our take
Goodnotes takes the higher SoftwareScore, 56 to 54. That's close enough that fit matters more than the number.
Goodnotes pulls ahead on Sync (Sync 6 vs 5), which makes it the stronger pick for people who want something simple.
Notability doesn't out-score Goodnotes on any single axis in this matchup, so it mainly makes sense if you weight long-run user sentiment heavily.
The clearest divide is Sync (Goodnotes 6, Notability 5). If that axis is central to how you work, let it settle the choice.
On price they're close: Goodnotes is Free · $11.99/yr and Notability is Free · $15.99/yr, so cost is unlikely to decide it.
I used both, and I ended up keeping Notability. For my school lectures it was the better fit: the audio recording tied to my handwriting made reviewing afterward much easier, and the interface was simpler to work in during a live class. Goodnotes is the stronger planner and the better cross-platform choice, but for capturing and reviewing lectures, Notability won me over.