Alternatives · Note-Taking
Penbook alternatives
Penbook compared with 7 alternatives: Goodnotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Noteful, CollaNote and 2 more.
Penbook has a free plan. Paid plans start at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| PenbookThis tool | Free plan · from $4.99 | 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 |
| Noteshelf | Free plan · from $7.99 one-time | Yes | macOS, Windows, iOS, Android |
| Noteful | Free plan · from $6.99 one-time | Yes | iOS |
| CollaNote | Free plan · from $13.90 one-time | Yes | macOS, iOS |
| Inkflow | Free plan · from $12.99 one-time | Yes | iOS |
| Pencil Planner | Free plan · from $4.99/mo | Yes | iOS |
How each one differs from Penbook
- 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). Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
- Only Goodnotes lists macOS, Android and Windows apps.
- Goodnotes also covers transcription and whiteboard.
- Penbook also covers daily notes and templates.
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). Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Only Notability lists a web app.
- Only Notability lists macOS, Windows and Android apps.
- Notability also covers transcription.
- Penbook also covers daily notes.
Suits: Students recording lectures alongside handwritten notes
- 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. Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Only Noteshelf lists macOS, Android and Windows apps.
- Penbook also covers daily notes.
Suits: Students and teachers taking handwritten notes with a stylus
- Free plan · from $6.99 one-time
Noteful
Handwritten notes and PDF markup for iPad, with tags and layers
- Noteful starts at $6.99 one-time purchase (Noteful Pro, Lifetime). Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Penbook also covers daily notes and templates.
Suits: iPad users who write with Apple Pencil and prefer to pay once
- 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). Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Only CollaNote lists a macOS app.
- CollaNote also covers transcription.
- Penbook also covers daily notes.
Suits: Students handwriting notes on an iPad with Apple Pencil
- Free plan · from $12.99 one-time
Inkflow
Handwriting notebook for iPad and iPhone with movable vector ink
- Inkflow starts at $12.99 one-time in-app upgrade. Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Penbook also covers daily notes and templates.
Suits: Brainstorming and planning by hand on an iPad
- Free plan · from $4.99/mo
Pencil Planner
Handwritten planner for iPad and iPhone layered over your calendar
- Pencil Planner starts at $4.99 per month, or $19.99 per year. Penbook starts at $4.99 - $39.99 per in-app item (basis not shown); $49.99 lifetime.
- Penbook can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Pencil Planner also covers tasks and calendar.
- Penbook also covers daily notes and templates.
Suits: iPad users who want to handwrite a planner with Apple Pencil
Limits worth knowing in Penbook
- The free version is limited to a single notebook; unlimited notebooks and exports need Penbook Premium.
- The US App Store lists Penbook Premium at several amounts from $4.99 to $39.99 without stating the billing period for each.
- Penbook is built for iPhone and iPad. There is no Android, Windows or web version, and the App Store marks the Mac build as not verified for macOS.
- The Penbook 8 Live Paper engine appears only on iOS 27 or iPadOS 27, and only in newly created books.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Penbook?
The alternatives to Penbook in this directory are Goodnotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Noteful, CollaNote, Inkflow and Pencil Planner. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Penbook.
Is there a free alternative to Penbook?
Yes. Goodnotes, Notability, Noteshelf, Noteful, CollaNote, Inkflow and Pencil Planner have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Penbook alternatives work on Windows?
The Penbook listing does not include a Windows app. Goodnotes, Notability and Noteshelf list one.
Which Penbook alternatives work on macOS?
The Penbook listing does not include a macOS app. Goodnotes, Notability, Noteshelf and CollaNote 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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