Goodnotes vs Standard Notes
Side-by-side comparison of features, pricing, ratings, and alternatives.
Goodnotes is a digital note-taking app built around natural handwriting, letting users write, type, sketch, and annotate PDFs on a tablet, phone, or laptop. It syncs notebooks across devices and adds AI features such as summarization, semantic search, meeting transcription, and action-item extraction on top of the core writing experience.
Standard Notes is a privacy-first note-taking app that encrypts every note and file with audited, industry-standard end-to-end encryption before it ever leaves the device. Only the account holder holds the keys needed to decrypt their data, and the company positions itself directly against services like Evernote, Google Keep, and Notion on the grounds that those services cannot fully protect user data from employer or government access. The app syncs notes and files across unlimited devices on Windows, Mac, Linux, iOS, Android, and the web, and it keeps an offline copy of everything so notes remain accessible without an internet connection. Beyond plain notes, it supports markdown, rich text, task lists, code snippets, and spreadsheets through an extensible editor system, and its source code is open and independently security-audited. The company states it takes no venture capital and earns 100 percent of its revenue from paying subscribers.
- Very natural handwriting and PDF markup experience
- Broad cross-platform support including Windows and Android
- AI features add real productivity value beyond plain notes
- Strong data security certifications for business users
- Independently audited, industry-standard end-to-end encryption
- Generous free tier with unlimited notes and unlimited devices
- Fully open source and transparent about its security practices
- No venture capital funding, so incentives are aligned with paying users rather than investors
- Full AI experience requires a separate paid add-on
- Free tier is quite limited in storage and notebooks
- Best handwriting experience still favors iPad with Apple Pencil
- Extended editors and larger file storage are locked behind paid tiers
- Interface is more minimal than richer note apps like Notion or Evernote
- Built-in team collaboration features are limited compared to workspace-oriented note tools
More alternatives & similar tools
Alternatives to Goodnotes
View all →
A free, secure notes app with audited end-to-end encryption and cross-platform sync.
Alternatives to Standard Notes
View all →
The Verdict
AI-generated from listing dataStandard Notes offers stronger privacy with audited end‑to‑end encryption and unlimited free notes, while GoodNotes provides richer handwriting, PDF tools and AI but limits free storage.
Key differences
- •Standard Notes focuses on security and open‑source transparency; GoodNotes emphasizes handwriting, PDF annotation, and AI features.
- •Standard Notes’ free tier includes unlimited notes and devices; GoodNotes’ free tier is limited in storage and notebooks.
- •GoodNotes supports real‑time multi‑user collaboration; Standard Notes has limited team features.
- •Standard Notes is fully open source and independently audited; GoodNotes is proprietary with security certifications but no open code.
- •GoodNotes offers AI summarization and meeting transcription as paid add‑ons; Standard Notes does not provide AI capabilities.
Pricing & value
Standard Notes free tier gives unlimited notes and devices; GoodNotes free tier limits storage and notebooks.
Ease of use / learning curve
GoodNotes provides natural handwriting and template UI, whereas Standard Notes has a minimal interface.
Features & depth
GoodNotes includes handwriting, PDF markup, AI summarization, and real‑time collaboration; Standard Notes limited to note formats and extensions.
Integrations & ecosystem
GoodNotes integrates with Google Drive and meeting apps; Standard Notes only offers extensible editor add‑ons.
Collaboration
GoodNotes supports real‑time multi‑user collaboration; Standard Notes’ collaboration is limited.
Scalability
Standard Notes syncs unlimited devices and stores offline copies; GoodNotes syncs across platforms but no mention of device limits.
Support
Both provide help center and email support; Standard Notes adds community forum.
Security & privacy
Standard Notes has audited end‑to‑end encryption and open‑source code; GoodNotes has SOC 2 and ISO certifications but no open audit.
Migration / lock‑in
Standard Notes is open source and can be self‑hosted; GoodNotes is proprietary with no API.
Choose Goodnotes if…
Students or professionals who need handwriting, PDF annotation, AI tools, and collaborative whiteboards.
Choose Standard Notes if…
Privacy‑focused users needing unlimited free notes and open‑source transparency.
Common questions
Can I use either app for free without paying?
Standard Notes offers unlimited free notes and devices; GoodNotes’ free tier is limited in storage and notebook count.
Which app provides stronger privacy guarantees?
Standard Notes uses independently audited end‑to‑end encryption and open‑source code; GoodNotes relies on SOC 2 and ISO certifications but is closed source.
Do both apps support real‑time collaboration?
GoodNotes supports real‑time multi‑user collaboration; Standard Notes has limited team features and no real‑time editing.