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Crossnote vs GoodNotes

Professional comparison and analysis to help you choose the right software solution for your needs.

Crossnote icon
Crossnote
GoodNotes icon
GoodNotes

Crossnote vs GoodNotes: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

Crossnote: Crossnote is a free and open-source note taking app for Windows, macOS and Linux. It allows users to organize notes into notebooks, supports tagging and categories, rich text formatting with Markdown support, and includes collaboration features like sharing and commenting.

GoodNotes: GoodNotes is a digital handwriting and note-taking app for iPad and iPhone. It allows you to take notes, annotate PDFs, sketch ideas, and organize notes into notebooks using the Apple Pencil or your finger. GoodNotes is intuitive, flexible, and great for students and professionals.

Both tools serve their respective audiences. Compare the features, pricing, and user ratings above to determine which best fits your needs.

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature Crossnote GoodNotes
Sugggest Score — —
Category Office & Productivity Education & Reference
Pricing Open Source —

Product Overview

Crossnote
Crossnote

Description: Crossnote is a free and open-source note taking app for Windows, macOS and Linux. It allows users to organize notes into notebooks, supports tagging and categories, rich text formatting with Markdown support, and includes collaboration features like sharing and commenting.

Type: software

Pricing: Open Source

GoodNotes
GoodNotes

Description: GoodNotes is a digital handwriting and note-taking app for iPad and iPhone. It allows you to take notes, annotate PDFs, sketch ideas, and organize notes into notebooks using the Apple Pencil or your finger. GoodNotes is intuitive, flexible, and great for students and professionals.

Type: software

Key Features Comparison

Crossnote
Crossnote Features
  • Organize notes into notebooks
  • Tagging and categorization
  • Rich text formatting with Markdown support
  • Collaboration features like sharing and commenting
GoodNotes
GoodNotes Features
  • Handwriting and drawing with Apple Pencil
  • Annotate PDFs and documents
  • Create and organize notes into notebooks
  • Variety of pen styles and colors
  • Shape recognition
  • Zoom writing
  • Search handwritten notes

Pros & Cons Analysis

Crossnote
Crossnote
Pros
  • Free and open source
  • Available on Windows, Mac and Linux
  • Good organization with notebooks
  • Markdown formatting support
  • Collaboration features
Cons
  • Limited features compared to proprietary options
  • Markdown formatting has learning curve
  • Collaboration requires user accounts
GoodNotes
GoodNotes
Pros
  • Natural writing and drawing experience
  • Powerful organization with notebooks
  • Ability to search handwritten notes
  • Integrates well with other Apple products and services
Cons
  • No web or Windows version
  • Less templates compared to competitors
  • Can be pricey compared to free alternatives

Pricing Comparison

Crossnote
Crossnote
  • Open Source
GoodNotes
GoodNotes
  • Not listed

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Learn More About Each Product

Crossnote
Crossnote
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →
GoodNotes
GoodNotes
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →

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