4.8
Goodnotes-style handwriting as a one-time purchase.
The iPad notebook default, with a three-notebook free ceiling.
Best for handwriting on ipad
Reviewed 16 September 2026 · Prices checked the same day
4.7
453K reviews
Goodnotes is the default iPad notebook, with 453,401 ratings. Essential is $11.99 a year, Pro is $35.99 a year, and AI Pass is a further $9.99 a month on top, checked 16 September 2026. The published free ceiling is three notebooks, three text documents, three whiteboards, and 100 MB of storage.
Paying monthly for AI features layered on an annual plan you already bought is the least honest pricing structure in this directory.
Pricing
subscription
$11.99/yr Essential; Pro $35.99/yr; AI Pass $9.99/mo extra
Free version
3 notebooks, 3 text documents, 3 whiteboards, 100 MB storage
Platforms
iPad · iPhone · macOS · Windows
If you live on an iPad, this still feels like the default. Pricing has gotten noisier every year. Check Noteful if you want the same job without a subscription.
Checked 2026-09-16
| Model | Subscription |
|---|---|
| What free actually includes | 3 notebooks, 3 text documents, 3 whiteboards, 100 MB storage |
| Cheapest paid tier | $11.99/yr Essential; Pro $35.99/yr; AI Pass $9.99/mo extra |
| Student pricing | None published |
Links from StudyApps include ref=studyapps.
3 notebooks, 3 text documents, 3 whiteboards, 100 MB storage Checked 16 September 2026.
Cheapest paid plan: $11.99/yr Essential; Pro $35.99/yr; AI Pass $9.99/mo extra. Prices checked 16 September 2026.
Handwriting on iPad
Free tier is a demo, not a course
Goodnotes-style handwriting as a one-time purchase.
Handwriting plus lecture audio on iPad, with Classic back as a one-time buy.
The notebook already on every iPhone and iPad, with no extra bill.