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Notability

Productivity & Notes

3.6(47 ratings)

Notability is a powerful note-taking app designed for students and professionals.

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About Notability

Best for iPad users who take handwritten and audio-synced notes.

Notability is a note-taking app primarily designed for Apple devices that combines handwriting, typing, audio recording, and PDF annotation into a single workspace. It's particularly popular among students and educators who use iPads with Apple Pencil, as its ink engine provides a smooth and responsive writing experience. The app syncs notes across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud, and its standout feature is the ability to sync audio recordings with handwritten notes, so users can tap on any word to hear what was being said at that moment. It also supports importing and annotating PDFs, making it useful for reviewing documents and lecture slides.

Pros

Audio recordings sync perfectly with handwritten notes
Excellent Apple Pencil responsiveness and ink quality
Easy PDF import and annotation capabilities
Seamless iCloud sync across all Apple devices
Clean, intuitive interface with minimal learning curve

Cons

Only available on Apple platforms, no Android or Windows
Moved to subscription model, frustrating longtime paid users
Limited organizational structure compared to competitors like GoodNotes
No real-time collaboration features for team use

Use Cases

Best for students recording and annotating lectures with synced audio notes

Best for professionals annotating PDFs, contracts, and documents on iPad

Best for educators creating and distributing handwritten lesson materials

Best for anyone combining typed text and handwriting in a single note

Key Features

6 features

Handwriting recognition for notes

Audio recording synchronized with notes

PDF annotation and markup tools

Multi-device sync for seamless access

Customizable note templates and layouts

Image and GIF insertion into notes

SaasHunter Score

8.0/10

“You're a student or professional who needs advanced note-taking features in a one-time purchase format.”

Ease of Use

8.0

Features

9.0

Pricing

8.0

Support

7.0

Integrations

8.0

Best For

Freelancers 8Small Business 7Agencies 6Startups 6Enterprise 5

Integrations

iCloudGoogle DriveDropboxOneDriveAirDropBoxWebDAV

Productivity Notes Audio Sync Handwriting Digital Notes Traditional Note Taking

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Notability?

Notability is a note-taking app for Apple devices that lets users combine handwriting, typing, audio recording, and PDF annotation in one place. It's especially known for its synced audio feature and smooth Apple Pencil experience.

How much does Notability cost?

Notability is free to download with basic features, but a subscription (around $14.99/year) unlocks the full feature set including unlimited editing, iCloud sync, and additional tools. It previously used a one-time purchase model.

What are the main features of Notability?

Key features include handwriting with Apple Pencil, typed notes, audio recording synced to notes, PDF annotation, a variety of pen and highlighter tools, and iCloud syncing across Apple devices. It also supports importing images and documents directly into notes.

Who should use Notability?

Notability is ideal for students who want to record lectures while taking notes, educators who create handwritten materials, and professionals who annotate PDFs regularly. It's best suited for anyone in the Apple ecosystem who uses an iPad.

Is there a free plan for Notability?

Yes, Notability offers a free tier that includes basic note-taking functionality. However, full access to all features including unlimited editing and advanced tools requires an annual subscription.