The pen, highlighter, and eraser are given 12 preset widths to choose from and the eraser allows you to choose whether you’d like to erase the whole stroke or just part of it. Notability also provides 32 preset colors but once again you can easily create your own custom colors. Yes, I’m talking about the purple polka dot background that they offer, but whatever works! You’re also given lined, graph and dotted paper all with four different variations and all in portrait.
In terms of paper, Notability allows you to choose from 15 different background colors, although some of them might be slightly odd for note taking.
Notability notes display shown on 11-inch iPad Pro (specifically in Dark Mode)Īt the top left of the page there’s an “Edit” option that allows you to change the name and color of each subject. When clicking on any subject in the left column, the notes within that subject are revealed in the right column. The left column contains all the dividers and subjects created. Notability opens up to a screen with two columns. You’re also able to turn on the “Auto-Deselect” feature which allows you to erase what’s needed and once the pencil is lifted up, it automatically goes back to the previous tool you had been using. The eraser only comes with 3 sizes and the options to erase just the highlighter or the entire stroke. These colors go for the highlighter as well. GoodNotes gives you 15 preset colors to choose from but you can make your own custom colors as well. It also allows you to have 3 preset colors of your own choice, 3 preset sizes of your own choice, and also gives you the option to use a Fountain, Ball, and/or Brush pen where you’re able to choose your own width. GoodNotes provides you with multiple paper categories to choose from including Essentials, Writing Papers, Music, and Planner that you can write on in both portrait and landscape. GoodNotes notes display shown on 11-inch iPad Pro (specifically in Dark Mode)
The bottom of the screen contains a Documents, Search, and Favorites tab allowing you to find the file you need efficiently. The user is able to see all the notebooks or folders in a grid format with the title and date they were created below them. GoodNotes opens up to a screen allowing you to choose your first file whether it be an image, notebook, folder, etc. Although it has its minor inconveniences, that’s all they really are… minor. I can’t stress how important it is for me to be able to organize folder after folder so I can come back to my device and find the exact notes I’m looking for easily and GoodNotes makes it possible for me, but Notability is really not that far behind. In terms of organization, GoodNotes takes the cake for me. I don’t mind this setup too much except for the fact that it’s slightly inconvenient because I have to make sure my note titles are extra organized since it won’t have that extra divider to help define it. To work around this what I’ve started to do is remove the first “Course 1” divider completely and rename the “Exam 1” subject to “Course 1”, once the term is over, and add that subject into a new divider named “Fall 2019.” This would look something like this: In my opinion, this is where the downside comes in since it doesn’t let me divide a divider, so I wouldn’t be able to place the divider “Course 1” into a folder named “Fall 2019.” This is slightly annoying because once I’m done with the Fall term I can’t simply close out of that divider and cover up any materials in it, so I don’t have to deal with that mess when Spring term comes around. Using the example from before, for Course 1 in the Fall 2019 term, my Notability setup would look something like this:
Notability organization shown on 11-inch iPad Pro (specifically in Dark Mode)
Notability allows you to add a “Divider” which groups subjects or a “Subject” which holds notes. I love this feature since it allows for as detailed organization as one would like. GoodNotes organization shown on 11-inch iPad Pro (specifically in Dark Mode)įor example, if I was taking Course 1 for the Fall 2019 term, I would create 2 folders and a notebook similar to this setup: GoodNotes allows you to have notes within notebooks within folders within folders and personally, I love having that intense amount of detailed organization. I’ve decided to judge them based on 3 categories that I need to have to thoroughly take notes while enjoying my note taking process: I’ll be comparing both so you can figure out which one is the best fit for you. Notability and GoodNotes are two similar yet very different note-taking apps that allow you to implement text, images, shapes, and more.