Alternatives · Note-Taking
Noteful alternatives
Noteful compared with 7 alternatives: Goodnotes, Notability, CollaNote, Noteshelf, Flexcil and 2 more.
Noteful has a free plan. Paid plans start at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime). All 7 alternatives are free or have a free plan.
7 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| NotefulThis tool | Free plan · from $6.99 one-time | Yes | iOS |
| Goodnotes | Free plan · from $11.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Notability | Free plan · from $14.99/yr | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| CollaNote | Free plan · from $13.90 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Noteshelf | Free plan · from $7.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Flexcil | Free plan · from $8.99 | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Freenotes | Free plan · from $1.99 | Yes | iOS, Android |
| Penbook | Free plan · from $4.99 | Yes | iOS |
How each one differs from Noteful
- Free plan · from $11.99/yr
Goodnotes
Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant
- Goodnotes starts at $11.99 per year (Essential). Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
- Only Goodnotes lists macOS, Android and Windows apps.
- Goodnotes also covers transcription and whiteboard.
Suits: Handwritten notes on an iPad with Apple Pencil
- Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Notability
Handwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools
- Notability starts at $14.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Lite). Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Only Notability lists a web app.
- Only Notability lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- Notability also covers transcription and templates.
Suits: Students recording lectures alongside handwritten notes
- Free plan · from $13.90 one-time
CollaNote
Handwriting and PDF markup notes for iPad, iPhone and Mac
- CollaNote starts at $13.90 one-time (Lifetime Premium). Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Only CollaNote lists a macOS app.
- CollaNote also covers transcription and templates.
Suits: Students handwriting notes on an iPad with Apple Pencil
- Free plan · from $7.99 one-time
Noteshelf
Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation for stylus devices
- Noteshelf starts at $7.99 one-time on Windows; Premium is $9.99 one-time on Android. Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Only Noteshelf lists macOS, Android and Windows apps.
- Noteshelf also covers templates.
Suits: Students and teachers taking handwritten notes with a stylus
- Free plan · from $8.99
Flexcil
PDF reader and handwriting notebook built around pen gestures
- Flexcil starts at $8.99 (Premium) or $9.99 (Flexcil Standard) on the US App Store; basis not shown. Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Only Flexcil lists an Android app.
- Noteful can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Flexcil also covers templates.
Suits: Students who study from PDF textbooks and lecture slides
- Free plan · from $1.99
Freenotes
Handwriting and PDF annotation app with AI study tools
- Freenotes starts at $1.99 per week (Weekly Plus Member), or $9.99 per year. Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Only Freenotes lists an Android app.
- Noteful can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Freenotes also covers transcription, whiteboard and templates.
Suits: Students annotating lecture slides and revising with flashcards
- Free plan · from $4.99
Penbook
Handwriting notebooks and live planners for iPad and iPhone
- Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime. Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime).
- Penbook also covers daily notes and templates.
Suits: People who keep planners, journals or bullet journals on an iPad
Limits worth knowing in Noteful
- Made for iPad and iPhone only. The App Store shows it as "Designed for iPad. Not verified for macOS", and no Android, Windows or web version is offered.
- Layers and sync between devices are locked until the Noteful Pro upgrade is bought.
- The App Store listing requires iOS or iPadOS 16.4 or later.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Noteful?
The alternatives to Noteful in this directory are Goodnotes, Notability, CollaNote, Noteshelf, Flexcil, Freenotes and Penbook. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Noteful.
Is there a free alternative to Noteful?
Yes. Goodnotes, Notability, CollaNote, Noteshelf, Flexcil, Freenotes and Penbook have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Noteful alternatives work on Windows?
The Noteful listing does not include a Windows app. Goodnotes, Notability and Noteshelf list one.
Which Noteful alternatives work on macOS?
The Noteful listing does not include a macOS app. Goodnotes, Notability, CollaNote and Noteshelf list one.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 5, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.
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