Pen Journal vs GoodNotes

Struggling to choose between Pen Journal and GoodNotes? Both products offer unique advantages, making it a tough decision.

Pen Journal is a Office & Productivity solution with tags like journal, writing, notes, pen, minimalist, private.

It boasts features such as Freeform writing with pen and paper styled vectors, Distraction-free interface for private journaling, Minimalist design, Cloud-sync and backup, Export journal entries as PDF or image files and pros including Simple and focused interface, Aesthetically pleasing pen and paper style, Supports private journaling, Ability to export entries.

On the other hand, GoodNotes is a Education & Reference product tagged with handwriting, notes, annotation, sketching.

Its standout features include 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, and it shines with pros like Natural writing and drawing experience, Powerful organization with notebooks, Ability to search handwritten notes, Integrates well with other Apple products and services.

To help you make an informed decision, we've compiled a comprehensive comparison of these two products, delving into their features, pros, cons, pricing, and more. Get ready to explore the nuances that set them apart and determine which one is the perfect fit for your requirements.

Pen Journal

Pen Journal

Pen Journal is a minimalist journaling app that focuses on freeform writing with pen and paper styled vectors. It provides a simple, distraction-free interface for journaling privately on your device.

Categories:
journal writing notes pen minimalist private

Pen Journal Features

  1. Freeform writing with pen and paper styled vectors
  2. Distraction-free interface for private journaling
  3. Minimalist design
  4. Cloud-sync and backup
  5. Export journal entries as PDF or image files

Pricing

  • Free
  • Subscription-Based

Pros

Simple and focused interface

Aesthetically pleasing pen and paper style

Supports private journaling

Ability to export entries

Cons

Limited customization options

No collaboration or sharing features

Lack of advanced formatting or organization tools


GoodNotes

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.

Categories:
handwriting notes annotation sketching

GoodNotes Features

  1. Handwriting and drawing with Apple Pencil
  2. Annotate PDFs and documents
  3. Create and organize notes into notebooks
  4. Variety of pen styles and colors
  5. Shape recognition
  6. Zoom writing
  7. Search handwritten notes

Pricing

  • One-time Purchase

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