Notability vs Supernote (2026): which should you pick?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Notability grades higher than Supernote: 3.4 against 1.8 out of 4.0.
Checked Oct 9, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 · graded Oct 10, 2026 and Nov 13, 2026 by ToolGPA
Notability grades higher on value for money, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
Price, platforms and features side by side. The table says where each price was read and when.
Notability
Handwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools
Supernote
E Ink handwriting tablets with companion mobile and desktop apps
Which one is for you
Pick Notability if
- Fits if you record lectures and want to hear what was said when you wrote a line
- Works for students who revise from flashcards and quizzes made from their own notes
Look elsewhere if
- Tight if you're never paying, because the Starter plan stops at 5 notes
- Pricey if you pay monthly, with Lite at $4.99 a month against $14.99 for the whole year
- Skip it if you want AI summaries and unlimited transcription for little money, as those sit on Pro at $99.99 a year
- Watch out: audio recording starts at Plus, and the only free trials are 30 days on the Business plans
- Watch out: handwriting recognition, math conversion and audio playback sync are iOS and Android only, and YouTube conversion is web only
Pick Supernote if
- Fits if you want to write by hand and keep the notes without paying a subscription
- Works for people who read and mark up documents on a paper-like screen
Look elsewhere if
- Pricey if you only want to take notes: $359 for the tablet, and pens and folios cost extra
- Not for you if you want to try the product first, as there is no trial and only a 30-day return window
- Watch out: no price is given for Supernote Cloud or the partner apps
- Too light for typed notes, search and team sharing, since the device is built for handwriting
How we grade them
| 3.4GPANotabilityVery good | 1.8GPASupernoteWeak | |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | ALite is $14.99 a year and Plus $19.99, where notes apps here sit around $6 a month in the middle: a whole year for less than three months of the usual. Classic is $49.99 once if you hate subscriptions. Do pay yearly, though, since Lite month to month is $4.99, or $59.88 over a year. | C$359 for the Nomad and $505 for the Manta, bought once, with no subscription listed. It is hardware, so it sits next to other tablets like reMarkable at $399, not next to note apps. |
| Free plan and trial | CStarter is free with every editing tool, PDF import and 20,000+ templates, but it's 5 notes and that's your lot, which you'd pass in a week. The only free trials are 30 days on the Business plans. | FNothing is free: you pay for the tablet. A 30-day return window is not a trial. |
| Features | BHandwriting, typing and PDF markup on one page, with audio recorded and transcribed alongside and playback that follows the line you were writing. Plus makes up to 400 quiz questions a month, Pro adds live summaries. Handwriting recognition, math conversion and audio playback sync are iOS and Android only. | CE Ink writing, handwriting recognition, a custom Android-based system, microSD up to 2 TB and companion apps. Pens and folios are sold separately, and this is for handwriting more than for typed notes. |
| Ease of use | A4.76 from about 457,000 App Store ratings, the top mark on our scale. The plan list is the one chore: six of them, with different features on each. | CNo store rating on record. A device to set up and pair with an account, then learn its own system. |
| Platforms and integrations | AiPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android and the web, with iCloud, YouTube and school device managers like Jamf, Mosyle and Intune. That covers every device type, though YouTube conversion is web only and third-party backups are iOS only. | BCompanion apps for Mac, Windows, iPhone and Android, plus Supernote Cloud. No API or wider integration list is shown. |
| Best for | lecture notes with the audio attached | handwriting on an E Ink tablet with no subscription |
The GPA is the average of the five grades: an A is 4 points, an F is none. The full reasons are on each tool's page: Notability and Supernote. How we grade
Where they differ
- Notability also covers transcription and templates.
At a glance
| Notability | Supernote | |
|---|---|---|
| Pricing | Free plan | Paid |
| Starts at | $14.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Lite) | $359 one-time (Supernote Nomad) |
| Free plan | Starter plan: 5 notes with all editing tools, PDF and document import, access to 20,000+ templates and 7-day version history. | None |
| Free trial | 30-day free trial on the Business and Business Pro plans. | None listed |
| Web | ||
| macOS | ||
| Windows | ||
| iOS | ||
| Android | ||
| Made by | Ginger Labs | Supernote |
| Price read from | notability.com | supernote.com |
| Checked | Oct 9, 2026 | Nov 13, 2026 |
Worth knowing
Notability
- The free Starter plan is limited to 5 notes.
- Audio transcription and the AI quiz and flashcard tools start at Plus; real-time summaries, note chat and unlimited transcription are listed under Pro.
- Third-party backups are iOS only, and YouTube link-to-note conversion works on the web only.
- The plan comparison marks handwriting recognition, math conversion and audio playback sync as iOS and Android only.
Supernote
- Hardware purchase only: the price is for the tablet, and pens and folios are sold separately.
- Pages we read give no price for Supernote Cloud or the partner apps.
- The site lists a 30-day return window and a 2-year warranty, with conditions in its policy.
Key features
Notability
- Handwriting, typing and document markup
- Notes combine handwriting, typed text, images and sketches on one page, and PDFs, documents and slides can be imported and written on.
- Audio recording with transcripts
- Lectures and meetings are recorded alongside your notes and transcribed, and playback follows the moment each note was written. Live transcription is unlimited on Pro.
- AI flashcards and quizzes
- Practice questions, quizzes and flashcards are generated from your notes: up to 400 questions a month on Plus and unlimited on Pro.
- Summaries and chat with your notes
- Pro generates real-time summaries of notes, imported documents and recordings and answers questions about a note in a chat. Meeting notes can also yield action-item checklists.
- YouTube link-to-note
- On the web, a YouTube link is converted into a note with a transcript and summary: 100 conversions a month on Plus, unlimited on Pro.
- Collaboration and shared libraries
- Notes can be shared by link and edited together live. Business plans add shared note libraries, centralized user admin and admin-based feature controls.
Supernote
- E Ink writing surface
- The Nomad has a 7.8-inch glass screen and the Manta a 10.7-inch flexible one, both with a frontlight.
- Handwriting recognition
- The Nomad's spec sheet lists handwriting recognition in more than 60 languages.
- Custom Android-based system
- Devices run Chauvet, an Android 11-based system built for writing, with expandable storage through a microSD card.
- Companion apps and cloud
- Partner apps for iOS, Android, macOS and Windows and Supernote Cloud are listed for moving notes off the device.
- Repairable Nomad
- The Nomad is designed so the battery, motherboard and microSD card can be replaced by the owner.
Plans
Notability
Starter$0
5 notes with all editing tools, PDF and document import, 20,000+ templates and 7-day version history.
Lite$4.99
per month, or $14.99 per year
Unlimited notes and third-party backups (iOS only), with 7-day version history.
Plus$7.99
per month, or $19.99 per year
Adds audio recording and transcription, handwriting search, up to 400 AI quiz and flashcard questions and 100 YouTube conversions a month.
Pro$19.99
per month, or $99.99 per year
Unlimited live transcription, real-time AI summaries, quizzes, flashcards and YouTube conversions, chat with your notes and 90-day version history.
Classic$49.99
one-time purchase
Unlimited notes with handwriting recognition and search, math conversion to LaTeX, live collaboration and Notability Cloud sync.
Business$6
per user / month, or $60 per user / year
Shared note libraries, central admin and billing, AI summaries and transcription. Business Pro is $18 per user / month or $180 per year.
Supernote
Supernote Nomad$359
one-time purchase
7.8-inch glass E Ink tablet with frontlight, microSD slot up to 2 TB and a replaceable battery.
Supernote Manta$505
one-time purchase
10.7-inch flexible E Ink tablet with frontlight and a microSD slot up to 2 TB.
Ways to pay less
Notability
- Annual discount
Yearly plans cost far less than paying monthly
Lite is $14.99 per year against $4.99 per month ($59.88 over a year), Plus $19.99 against $7.99 per month and Pro $99.99 against $19.99 per month. Business is $60 per user yearly or $6 monthly.
- Lifetime license
Classic one-time purchase
The Classic plan is a one-time purchase, regularly $49.99, with unlimited notes, handwriting recognition, live collaboration and Notability Cloud sync and no subscription.
- Education
Free for schools that manage devices
Schools managing devices through an MDM such as Jamf or Mosyle can use Notability for Education at no cost. It is similar to the Plus subscription and configurable by administrators.
- Other savings
Back-to-school sale: up to 20% off all plans
At the time of checking, the pricing page showed sale prices of $11.99 (Lite), $15.99 (Plus) and $79.99 (Pro) per year and $39.99 for Classic. No end date is stated.
Supernote
- Education
Student and teacher discounts
The site menu lists student, teacher, military and first-responder discounts; the amounts are on the linked pages.
Common questions
Which is cheaper, Notability or Supernote?
As of Nov 13, 2026, Notability starts at $14.99 per year, or $4.99 per month (Lite), and Supernote starts at $359 one-time (Supernote Nomad).
Which has a free plan, Notability or Supernote?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Notability has a free plan. Supernote does not.
Which platforms do Notability and Supernote run on?
As of Nov 13, 2026, only Notability lists a web app. Both list macOS, Windows, iOS and Android apps. A platform missing from a listing is one its maker's pages did not mention.
More comparisons
How this page was made
- The verdict at the top follows a fixed rule. When both tools are in the same category and either is in our top three for it, the verdict follows that ranking: the higher-placed tool is our pick. The top three weigh who each tool suits as well as its grades, so a pick can go against the GPA. Otherwise the page does not pick one and says which grades higher: the higher GPA first; on a tie, the one with a free plan, then the one that starts cheaper in dollars a month, counted the same way for both; if they are still level, what the choice depends on.
- The grades are our own, from each tool’s review or report card. The GPA is their average.
- Prices, plans and platforms come from each tool’s listing. The table above says where each price was read and when.
- The differences and the answers to the questions are worked out from those listings.