Noteshelf vs reMarkable (2026): which should you pick?

Pick Noteshelf if

• Fits if you take handwritten notes with a stylus on an Android tablet or a Windows device
• Works for marking up PDFs, slides and scanned paper, paid for once

Look elsewhere if

• Tight if you're staying free, because you get 3 notebooks and no handwriting search
• Skip it if you need the same notebooks on an iPad and an Android phone, as nothing describes sync between them
• Pricey if you take the Weekly plan on Apple, at $7.99 a week against $14.99 once for Lifetime
• Watch out: the App Store shows yearly Premium prices from $19.99 to $49.99, so what you're offered may vary
• Not for you if you want to open notes in a browser, as there's no web version

Pick reMarkable if

• Fits if you want a screen with no apps or notifications for handwriting and reading
• Works for people who mark up Word and Google Docs files by hand

Look elsewhere if

• Pricey if you want colour or the pen bundle: prices shown are the starting configuration
• Tight if you skip Connect: files not touched in 50 days leave the cloud and the apps can't take notes
• Watch out: the site says it doesn't ship to every country, and sells from its own web shop
• Not for you if you want a try-before-you-buy: only a 50-day return period

Noteshelf

• The Free tier is limited to 3 notebooks, and handwriting recognition and search require Premium.
• Pricing differs by platform: $7.99 on the Microsoft Store, a $9.99 one-time upgrade on Android, and subscriptions or a lifetime purchase on the App Store.
• The App Store shows several yearly Premium prices between $19.99 and $49.99, so the price offered inside the app may vary.
• Sync uses iCloud on Apple devices and Google Drive on Android; the listings do not describe syncing between the two.

reMarkable

• Without Connect, only files used and synced in the last 50 days stay in the cloud, and the apps cannot take notes.
• Prices shown are the starting configuration of each tablet; the Marker and other bundles raise the price.
• The site says it does not ship to every country, and its tablets are sold from its own web shop.
• The pages do not list which operating systems the desktop and mobile apps support.

Noteshelf

Handwritten notes

Write with pens and highlighters modeled on real ones, turn rough strokes into clean shapes, and use a zoom box for precise writing.

Handwriting recognition

Converts handwriting to text and searches handwritten notes in 65 languages. Recognition and search are part of Premium.

PDF and document annotation

Import PDFs, documents, slides and images, then highlight, underline and write on them. A built-in scanner digitizes paper documents.

Audio recording

Record lectures or meetings while taking notes and replay them later. The Apple version can also record from an Apple Watch.

Noteshelf AI

Generates handwritten notes on a topic, summarizes pages, translates text and explains terms, drawing on a monthly allowance of AI credits.

Sync and backup

iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad and Mac, Google Drive sync between Android devices, and automatic backup to Google Drive, OneDrive, Dropbox or WebDAV.

reMarkable

Paper-like writing surface

Tablets have no apps or notifications; the screen is built for handwriting, reading and annotating documents.

Handwriting to text

Convert handwritten notes to typed text and select, move or layer work on the device.

Sync to phone and computer

Mobile and desktop apps let you view, organize and import files; taking and editing notes in the apps needs Connect.

Connect subscription

Adds unlimited cloud storage, handwriting search, templates, and sending notes to Slack or Miro.

Import Word and Google Docs

With Connect, Word files and Google Docs can be turned into notebooks to read and mark up with the pen.

Noteshelf

• Free$0

  3 notebooks with unlimited pages, hundreds of templates and Noteshelf AI for text with 30 monthly credits.

• Noteshelf for Windows$7.99

  one-time purchase on the Microsoft Store

  The Windows app for stylus devices, with handwritten and typed notes, audio recording, PDF annotation and handwriting search.

• Premium (Android)$9.99

  one-time purchase; local pricing may apply

  Unlimited notebooks, configurable digital diaries, handwriting recognition and search, and 100 monthly AI credits.

• Premium (iPhone, iPad and Mac)$7.99 to $49.99

  in-app purchase: weekly, monthly, yearly or lifetime

  The US App Store lists Weekly at $7.99, Monthly at $9.99, Yearly at prices from $19.99 to $49.99, and a Lifetime purchase at $14.99.

reMarkable

• Connect, monthly$3.99

  per month

  Optional subscription: unlimited cloud storage, handwriting search, note-taking in the apps, and sharing tools.

• Connect, annual$39.90

  per year

  The same Connect subscription billed yearly, described as 12 months for the price of 10.

• Paper Pure$399

  one-time, starting price

  Black-and-white paper tablet; the price shown is the starting configuration, with up to 3 weeks of battery life.

• Paper Pro Move$449

  one-time, starting price

  The most portable tablet, with a 7.3-inch color display and up to 2 weeks of battery life.

• Paper Pro$629

  one-time, starting price

  Full-size 11.8-inch color tablet with an adjustable reading light; higher configurations cost more.

Noteshelf

• Lifetime license

  One-time Premium purchase

  Premium is a one-time $9.99 fee on Android, and the US App Store lists a Lifetime Premium in-app purchase at $14.99 next to its subscriptions.

• Education

  Reduced prices for schools and businesses

  Noteshelf 3 is offered to schools and businesses at reduced prices through Apple School Manager and Apple Business Manager.

• Other savings

  30% off Premium for Samsung Galaxy users

  The Android page advertises 30% off the Premium upgrade as an offer exclusive to Samsung Galaxy users.

reMarkable

• Annual discount

  Connect annual billing: 12 months for 10

  Connect costs $39.90 a year instead of $3.99 a month, which reMarkable describes as 12 months for the price of 10.