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Excalidraw vs GoodNotes

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

Excalidraw icon
Excalidraw
GoodNotes icon
GoodNotes

Excalidraw vs GoodNotes: The Verdict

⚡ Summary:

Excalidraw: Excalidraw is a free, open-source online whiteboard tool for sketching hand-drawn like diagrams. It has a minimal and intuitive UI with various drawing tools for easily creating flowcharts, UML diagrams, user journeys, wireframes and more. Great for brainstorming and collaboration.

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 Excalidraw GoodNotes
Sugggest Score 31 —
User Rating ⭐ 4.3/5 (17) —
Category Office & Productivity Education & Reference
Pricing Open Source —
Ease of Use 4.9/5 —
Features Rating 3.5/5 —
Value for Money 5.0/5 —
Customer Support 3.3/5 —

Product Overview

Excalidraw
Excalidraw

Description: Excalidraw is a free, open-source online whiteboard tool for sketching hand-drawn like diagrams. It has a minimal and intuitive UI with various drawing tools for easily creating flowcharts, UML diagrams, user journeys, wireframes and more. Great for brainstorming and collaboration.

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

Excalidraw
Excalidraw Features
  • Minimal and intuitive user interface
  • Hand-drawn like diagrams
  • Various drawing tools (pencil, eraser, text, shapes, etc.)
  • Flowcharts, UML diagrams, user journeys, wireframes, and more
  • Collaboration features (real-time editing, comments, version history)
  • Offline support
  • Customizable themes and color schemes
  • Export to various file formats (PNG, SVG, JSON)
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

Excalidraw
Excalidraw
Pros
  • Free and open-source
  • Easy to use and get started
  • Great for brainstorming and collaboration
  • Lightweight and fast performance
  • Regularly updated with new features and improvements
Cons
  • Limited advanced features compared to professional diagramming tools
  • Collaboration features may be limited for larger teams
  • No built-in support for real-time collaboration (relies on external tools)
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

Excalidraw
Excalidraw
  • Open Source
GoodNotes
GoodNotes
  • Not listed

⭐ User Ratings

Excalidraw
4.3/5

17 reviews

GoodNotes

No reviews yet

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Learn More About Each Product

Excalidraw
Excalidraw
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →
GoodNotes
GoodNotes
Reviews, pricing & alternatives →

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