Notability icon

Notability

Notability is a popular note-taking and annotation app for iOS and macOS. It allows users to take handwritten notes, type notes, record audio, annotate PDFs and more. Key features include advanced organization with search and tagging, auto-backup to the cloud, and easy sharing options.

What is Notability?

Notability is a versatile note-taking and annotation application developed by Ginger Labs. It is available for iOS and macOS platforms.

Some key features of Notability include:

  • Take notes by typing or writing with the stylus/Apple Pencil
  • Annotate PDFs and other documents
  • Record audio which syncs with notes
  • Advanced organization system with search and tagging
  • Auto-backup notes to iCloud or other cloud services
  • Share notes easily via email, AirDrop etc.
  • Supports a range of writing tools like pens, highlighters etc.
  • Intuitive user interface optimized for touch and stylus input
  • Cross-platform compatibility between iOS and macOS

Notability is popular among students and professionals to take notes, annotate documents, save lecture recordings, and organize research papers and meeting notes. Its seamless cloud sync makes it easy to access the same notes across iPhone, iPad and Mac.

The app costs $9.99 on the App Store with free upgrades. Many users find it to be amongst the best, if not the best note-taking app available for Apple devices currently.

The Best Notability Alternatives

Top Apps like Notability

Microsoft OneNote, GoodNotes, CollaNote, Flexcil, MyScript Nebo, Squid, Stylus Labs Write, iAnnotate, Noteshelf, Notesnook, Penultimate, Butterfly, HandWrite Pro, Foxit PDF Editor, Touchnotes, INKredible, Inkodo, Inkflow Visual Notebook, LectureNotes, WizNote, Soysauce Lab Noto, PDF Professional, Qept: Quick Notes Like Texting, Scrivano for Handwritten Notes, Zoho Notebook, TopNotes, myReach, WritePad, Notes Plus, SoftMaker FreePDF, Saber: Handwritten Notes, pdf-notes, NoteSuite, XNotes are some alternatives to Notability.

Microsoft OneNote

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GoodNotes

GoodNotes is a powerful notetaking and PDF annotation app designed specifically for iPad and iPhone. It allows you to write, sketch, and organize handwritten notes using the Apple Pencil, your finger, or a stylus.Some key features of GoodNotes include:Intuitive writing experience with Apple Pencil support, including pressure sensitivity...

CollaNote

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Flexcil

Flexcil is a feature-packed digital notebook and PDF annotation application designed for Android and iOS devices. It aims to replicate and enhance the experience of writing by hand on paper, while taking advantage of the conveniences afforded by digital technology.One of Flexcil's standout features is its flexible notebook system...

MyScript Nebo

MyScript Nebo is a feature-rich note-taking and handwriting recognition application developed by MyScript. It is available on Windows, iOS, and Android platforms and allows users to write naturally with a stylus, finger, or computer mouse and have their handwriting automatically converted into digital text.Some of the key features and...

Squid

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Stylus Labs Write

Stylus Labs Write is an AI-powered writing assistant designed to help anyone become a better, more productive writer. As you write in Google Docs, Stylus analyzes your text and provides real-time feedback and suggestions to strengthen your writing.Key features of Stylus Labs Write include:Clarity checks - identifies unclear...

IAnnotate

iAnnotate is a feature-rich PDF annotation and notation tool designed specifically for Apple Mac computers. It provides a user-friendly way for students, teachers, business professionals and others to easily annotate, organize and share PDF documents.With iAnnotate, you can quickly add text notes, highlights, underline text, drawings, stamps and more...

Noteshelf

Noteshelf is a versatile note taking and organization app designed specifically for mobile devices like iPads and Android tablets. It provides a range of features to take notes in different formats and keep everything organized.Users can take handwritten notes with an Apple Pencil or stylus, type out text notes...

Notesnook

Notesnook is a free online note taking and organizing software. It provides users with a variety of tools to easily capture ideas, thoughts, web content, images, and more in an organized notebook interface.Key features of Notesnook include:Intuitive rich text editor for formatting notes - add headings, lists, bold...

Penultimate

Penultimate is a digital handwriting app designed specifically for the iPad and iPad Pro. It allows users to take notes, sketch ideas, or hand draw images using an Apple Pencil or their finger directly on the iPad screen.The app is optimized to feel like writing with an actual pen...

Butterfly

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HandWrite Pro

HandWrite Pro is an innovative writing application designed specifically for handwriting text directly on a computer or mobile device. It provides an intuitive interface that feels like writing with a pen and paper, making it easy and natural to jot down thoughts and ideas.The app has powerful handwriting recognition...

Foxit PDF Editor

Foxit PDF Editor is a powerful yet easy-to-use PDF editing application for Windows, Mac and Linux operating systems. Developed as an alternative to Adobe Acrobat, Foxit offers a good balance of features and affordability for both home and enterprise use.Some key features of Foxit PDF Editor include:Intuitive and...

Touchnotes

Touchnotes is a feature-rich note taking and organization app available for iOS, Android, Windows, and Mac devices. The app allows users to create handwritten notes using a stylus or finger, annotate documents like PDFs, capture photos directly into notes, record audio notes, and organize everything into customizable notebooks.Some key...

INKredible

INKredible is an iPad app focused on natural handwriting and note taking. It is optimized for use with the Apple Pencil, providing users with a smooth, pen-on-paper writing experience.Key features of INKredible include:Advanced palm rejection algorithms to prevent unwanted palm touches while writing.Pressure sensitivity that allows you...

Inkodo

Inkodo is a free, cross-platform note taking and knowledge management application. It has native apps available for Windows, macOS, and Linux, with its notes synced securely via end-to-end encryption across all platforms.With Inkodo, users can create rich text notes organized into customizable notebooks. Notes support features like tags, internal...

Inkflow Visual Notebook

Inkflow Visual Notebook is an innovative digital notebook app designed for visual thinkers. It brings the flexibility and creativity of paper note-taking to the digital space, allowing you to combine handwriting, drawing, typing, photos, file attachments and more into visually rich interactive notebooks.With Inkflow, you can take notes, sketch...

LectureNotes

LectureNotes is a free cross-platform note taking application designed specifically for students. It provides an easy-to-use interface for typing notes during a lecture or presentation. A key feature of LectureNotes is the ability to synchronize typed notes with recorded audio, allowing students to click on any part of their notes...

WizNote

WizNote is a feature-rich note taking and knowledge management app available for Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and Web. It allows users to easily capture ideas and information, organize notes into notebooks, tag content for improved searchability, supports adding images/attachments, sync everything securely to the cloud, and more.Some...

Soysauce Lab Noto

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PDF Professional

PDF Professional is a powerful PDF editor and converter for Windows. It provides a complete set of tools for working with PDF files, allowing users to create, edit, convert, annotate, secure, and optimize PDFs.With PDF Professional, users can easily edit PDF text, images, links, and pages. The editing tools...

Qept: Quick Notes Like Texting

Qept: Quick Notes Like Texting is a note taking and organization app designed for quick, on-the-go note capture using an interface similar to text messaging. It allows you to quickly type out notes, thoughts, lists, and more and save them to access and organize later.Some key features of Qept...

Scrivano for Handwritten Notes

Scrivano is a feature-rich note-taking and handwriting app designed specifically for Windows tablets and touch-screen devices. It allows you to take notes, sketch diagrams, import images, record audio notes, and more using your device's stylus or finger.One of Scrivano's standout features is its organization system. You can create multiple...

Zoho Notebook

Zoho Notebook is a cloud-based note-taking and organization app developed by Zoho Corporation. It allows users to take notes, add to-do checklists, audio recordings, images, and more to help organize thoughts and ideas.Key features of Zoho Notebook include:Intuitive and user-friendly interface for creating and organizing notesVariety of note...

TopNotes

TopNotes is a free, open-source note taking and organization app for Windows. It provides a fast and easy way to take notes, organize information, and access it quickly when needed.Some key features of TopNotes:Simple, clean interface for quickly creating typed notes or clipping content from the webOrganize notes...

MyReach

myReach is a comprehensive social media management platform designed to help brands, agencies, and marketers manage their social media presence efficiently. Some key features of myReach include:Post scheduling and publishing: Easily schedule and queue social media posts in advance to save time. Publish to multiple accounts and networks like...

WritePad

WritePad is a lightweight yet full-featured text editor and word processor for Windows. Developed by PhatWare, WritePad provides users with the basic tools needed for writing documents, letters, notes, and more.Some key features of WritePad include:Text formatting options like bold, italics, underline, font type and size, text color...

Notes Plus

Notes Plus is a popular note-taking and PDF annotation app developed specifically for the iPad. It takes advantage of the iPad's large screen real estate and touch capabilities to provide a natural handwriting and sketching experience.With Notes Plus you can write or type notes, sketch ideas, annotate PDFs, and...

SoftMaker FreePDF

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Saber: Handwritten Notes

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Pdf-notes

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NoteSuite

NoteSuite is a free and open-source note taking and organization software for Windows. It provides a simple yet powerful way to create, organize and find notes quickly.With NoteSuite, users can create rich text notes using formatting options like bold, italics, highlighting, hyperlinks, bullet points etc. Notes can be categorized...

XNotes

XNotes is a free and open-source note taking application available for Windows, Mac, and Linux. It provides a simple yet effective way to create, organize and manage all your text notes.Some of the key features of XNotes include:Intuitive and minimal interface for quickly jotting down notesSupport for formatting...