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GoodNotes vs PDF-XChange Viewer

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

GoodNotes icon
GoodNotes
PDF-XChange Viewer icon
PDF-XChange Viewer

GoodNotes vs PDF-XChange Viewer: The Verdict

Last updated: May 2026 · Comparison by Sugggest Editorial Team

Feature GoodNotes PDF-XChange Viewer
Sugggest Score
Category Education & Reference Office & Productivity
Pricing Free

Product Overview

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

PDF-XChange Viewer
PDF-XChange Viewer

Description: PDF-XChange Viewer is a free PDF reader and editor for Windows. It provides basic PDF viewing and annotation features like adding text notes, highlights, shapes, freehand drawing, and more.

Type: software

Pricing: Free

Key Features Comparison

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
PDF-XChange Viewer
PDF-XChange Viewer Features
  • View, edit, and create PDF files
  • Annotate PDFs with highlights, notes, shapes, stamps, etc
  • OCR to make scanned PDFs searchable and editable
  • Digital signature support
  • Form filling
  • Tabbed document interface
  • Customizable interface and toolbars
  • PDF compression and optimization
  • PDF splitting and merging

Pros & Cons Analysis

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
PDF-XChange Viewer
PDF-XChange Viewer
Pros
  • Free and open source
  • Lightweight and fast
  • Intuitive and easy to use
  • Lots of annotation and editing tools
  • Supports many PDF formats
  • Active development and updates
Cons
  • Limited OCR capabilities in free version
  • Lacks some advanced features of paid alternatives
  • Occasional bugs or stability issues
  • No mobile app versions
  • Steep learning curve for some advanced features

Pricing Comparison

GoodNotes
GoodNotes
  • Not listed
PDF-XChange Viewer
PDF-XChange Viewer
  • Free

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