The Notewise Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Notewise in one document: what it costs, its grades, getting a refund, getting help and what else to look at. Read it here, or keep a copy.
Notewise
The Insider’s Guide
Handwriting canvas and AI notes for iPhone, iPad and Android
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Notewise’s own pages.
Made by ZIIKR Pte. Ltd. · checked Oct 9, 2026 · toolgpa.com
Contents
- 01WelcomeWhat it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
- 02What it costsEvery plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
- 03What it doesIts main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
- 04Where it standsIts grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
- 05The alternativesThe tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
- 06Quick answersThe questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
- 07About ToolGPAWho made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
ToolGPA put this guide together from Notewise’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Notewise’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 9, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
2.2
GPA, above 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Notewise is a note-taking app for iPhone, iPad and Android from ZIIKR that combines a freeform handwriting canvas with AI notes. One note can hold handwriting, typed text, audio, PDFs, documents and web links, and the subscription plans add transcription, AI chat over notes, sync and real-time collaboration. A free Classic tier and a one-time Classic Unlimited purchase cover the offline canvas without AI or cloud features.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Notewise, taken from its own pages and our grades.
- 1
Best for handwriting, PDFs and recordings in one AI-backed note
Notewise lets one note hold handwriting, a PDF, a lecture recording and typed text, then points AI at all of it, on iPad and Android.
- 2
Paid plans start at $2.42 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $2.42 per month, billed yearly ($28.99); Classic Unlimited is $16.99 one-time.
- 3
There is a free plan
Classic Free: up to 10 canvases of up to 50 pages each, with document import and the video feature, kept on the device. No AI, sync or cloud storage, and the watermark stays.
- 4
It runs on 2 platforms
iOS and Android.
- 5
Mixed-source notes
A single note can hold typed text, audio recordings and transcripts, handwriting, PDFs, documents, slide decks, images and website links, and AI works across all of them.
- 6
Handwriting canvas
A freeform canvas with pens, brushes, highlighter, lasso, shapes, tables, sticky notes, rulers and connectors for diagrams. The advanced canvas tools need a paid plan.
- 7
PDF and document annotation
PDFs, slides and other documents of up to 1 GB import for highlighting, comments and drawing: up to 50 pages per document on Classic Free and 3,000 on paid plans.
- 8
A 2.2 GPA, above 12 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 9
Keep it
To replace Notewise you would be making a bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
Notewise at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $2.42 per month, billed yearly ($28.99); Classic Unlimited is $16.99 one-time
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- 7-day free trial on Starter; cancel during the trial and you are not charged.
- Runs on
- iOS, Android
- Made by
- ZIIKR Pte. Ltd.
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 2.2 GPA, fair
The report card
Best for handwriting, PDFs and recordings in one AI-backed note
Notewise lets one note hold handwriting, a PDF, a lecture recording and typed text, then points AI at all of it, on iPad and Android. Paid plans start at $28.99 a year. But AI, sync and storage are subscription only, AI pauses when monthly credits run out, there's no desktop app or integrations, the browser only views notes, and if you stop paying your cloud notes are deleted after 30 days.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | B | Basic is $28.99 a year, which is $2.42 a month, for AI notes, transcription, sync and 1 GB of storage. That sits in the lowest-priced quarter of this category, which ends at $2.99. Pro, at $10.83 a month billed yearly, is in the dearest tenth, so stay low down the list. |
| Free plan and trial | C | Classic Free gives you 10 canvases of 50 pages each, on the device only. No AI, no sync, and a watermark that stays on every page. Ten canvases is a cap you'll meet in a term. The 7-day trial is on Starter, not on free. |
| Features | C | Pens, shapes, tables, connectors, PDFs up to 3,000 pages, transcription in 20+ languages and chat that points at the passage it quoted. The listing's own gaps are the catch: AI pauses when your monthly credits run out, the browser only views notes, and there are no integrations at all. |
| Ease of use | C | No store rating on record, and there's setup in front of you: an account and one of five plans, a credit allowance to keep an eye on, and a canvas with a full toolbox rather than a page you just start typing on. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | iPhone, iPad and Android, so phones and tablets only. A browser can view synced or shared notes, but that needs a Notewise Cloud subscription and it's for reading. No desktop app, and the listing shows no integrations. |
An A is worth 4 points, a B 3, a C 2, a D 1 and an F nothing. The GPA is the average of the five.
Who Notewise is for
- Fits if you mix handwriting, PDFs and recordings and want to ask questions across all of it
- Works for people with an iPad and an Android phone who need the same notes on both
Who it is not for
- Skip it if you want to type up notes on a laptop, as there's no desktop app
- Tight if you're on Basic and lean on AI, because it gets about a third of Starter's credit allowance
- Not for you if you might lapse, since cloud notes are permanently deleted 30 days after a subscription ends
- Tight if you're staying free, with 10 canvases of 50 pages, no AI or sync, and a watermark on every page
- Watch out: the one-time Classic Unlimited at $16.99 has no AI, sync or collaboration, and costs $19.99 in the iOS app
Good to know
Good for
- Students and professionals who mix handwriting, PDFs and recordings
- People who move between an iPad and an Android phone or tablet
- Handwriting-only users who prefer a one-time purchase
Worth knowing
- Apps are offered for iPhone, iPad and Android; browser access is for viewing synced or shared notes and needs a Notewise Cloud subscription.
- Classic Unlimited has no AI, sync or collaboration, and its license is tied to the Apple ID or Google Play account it was bought with.
- AI features share a monthly credit allowance and pause when it runs out; Basic gets about a third of Starter's allowance.
- When a subscription ends, cloud notes are kept for a 30-day grace period and then permanently deleted.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$2.42
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Notewise has a free plan. Paid plans start at $2.42 per month, billed yearly ($28.99); Classic Unlimited is $16.99 one-time.
No AI, no sync, and a watermark that stays on every page.
Classic Free
$0
Up to 10 canvases of 50 pages each, with PDF, slide and document import. No advanced canvas tools, AI, sync or cloud storage.
Classic Unlimited
$16.99
one-time purchase on the website (Android); $19.99 in the iOS app
Unlimited offline canvases of up to 3,000 pages, advanced canvas tools and no watermark. No AI, sync or collaboration.
Basic
$2.42
per month, billed yearly ($28.99); $4.99 billed monthly
AI notes, chat, transcription and handwriting recognition with 0.3x AI credits, 1 GB of cloud storage, cross-device sync and real-time collaboration.
Starter
$3.08
per month, billed yearly ($36.99); $6.99 billed monthly
Everything in Basic with 1x AI credits, 10 GB of cloud storage and guided AI podcasts. Includes the 7-day free trial.
Pro
$10.83
per month, billed yearly ($129.99); $15.99 billed monthly
Everything in Starter with 3x AI credits and 100 GB of cloud storage, for heavy AI use and large note libraries.
The free plan
Classic Free: up to 10 canvases of up to 50 pages each, with document import and the video feature, kept on the device. No AI, sync or cloud storage, and the watermark stays.
Trying it first
7-day free trial on Starter; cancel during the trial and you are not charged.
Read from notewise.dev on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save 32% to 56% with yearly billing
Basic, Starter and Pro cost $28.99, $36.99 and $129.99 a year against $4.99, $6.99 and $15.99 a month, which works out about 52%, 56% and 32% lower over twelve months.
Stated on notewise.devLifetime license
Classic Unlimited as a one-time purchase
Classic Unlimited is bought once and does not renew: $16.99 on the Notewise website for Android, with iOS users buying it inside the app, where the US App Store lists $19.99.
Stated on notewise.devOther savings
Volume licenses for schools and businesses
Organizations can buy discounted one-time Notewise Unlimited licenses for a verified email domain, starting with a minimum of 20 licenses. Cloud sync is not included.
Stated on help.notewise.dev
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Notewise Cloud Basic Monthly”, against $4.99 in the United States, in dollars at the day’s rate. The four cheapest and the four dearest of 11.
| Country | Price there | In dollars | Against the US |
|---|---|---|---|
| Philippines | ₱ 299.00 | $4.76 | about the same |
| Canada | $6.99 | $4.91 | about the same |
| Indonesia | Rp 89ribu | $4.98 | about the same |
| Turkey | ₺249,99 | $5.08 | about the same |
| Brazil | R$ 29,90 | $5.97 | 20% more |
| South Africa | R99.99 | $6.05 | 21% more |
| United Kingdom | £4.99 | $6.60 | 32% more |
| Germany | 5,99 € | $6.71 | 35% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: iOS and Android
Handwriting canvas and AI notes for iPhone, iPad and Android. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: one-time purchase, AI features, real-time collaboration, meeting notes, transcription, notes, whiteboard.
iPhone, iPad and Android, so phones and tablets only.
- Mixed-source notes
- A single note can hold typed text, audio recordings and transcripts, handwriting, PDFs, documents, slide decks, images and website links, and AI works across all of them.
- Handwriting canvas
- A freeform canvas with pens, brushes, highlighter, lasso, shapes, tables, sticky notes, rulers and connectors for diagrams. The advanced canvas tools need a paid plan.
- PDF and document annotation
- PDFs, slides and other documents of up to 1 GB import for highlighting, comments and drawing: up to 50 pages per document on Classic Free and 3,000 on paid plans.
- Transcription and AI chat
- Subscriptions transcribe recordings in 20+ languages and answer questions about one note, all notes or a meeting still being recorded, pointing to the passage an answer came from.
- Interactive Tabs
- Captured notes can be turned into flashcards, quizzes, action items, decision logs or a custom format. Guided AI podcasts are limited to Starter and Pro.
- Sync and collaboration
- Subscriptions sync notes between iOS and Android with 1 GB to 100 GB of cloud storage, and add real-time collaboration on canvas and sharing by link with viewing in a browser.
Where it runs
- iOS
- Android
What it works with
Its own pages name no integrations.
Notewise is made by ZIIKR Pte. Ltd.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
12/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Notewise's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
It stands best on value for money (B, above 48 of 147) and worst on features (C, above 2).
Its paid plans start at $2.42 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 15 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.0 out of 4. 28 tools score higher and cost less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Notewise’s own letter is outlined.
- BValue for moneyAbove 48 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- CFeaturesAbove 2 of 147
- CEase of useAbove 5 of 147
- CPlatforms and integrationsAbove 31 of 147
Price against what you get
Each dot is one of 103 note-taking apps. Further left costs less; higher up scores better on features, ease of use and platforms. Notewise is the marked dot.
What paid plans start at, a month (each step along is roughly double) →
Keep it, or make your own?
Whether this is something you could build for yourself with an AI app builder, and what you would give up.
Keep it
To replace Notewise you would be making a bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes. That is not a weekend's work, with an AI app builder or without one.
That makes this kind of software worth paying for, not this one in particular: 126 of the 147 other note-taking apps grade higher. It costs $29.04 a year.
What you could make
- Notes: an app builder makes this well.
What you could not
- A bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- An endless canvas that stays smooth with hundreds of things on it.
- A real app for iOS and Android. Something home-made would be a web page.
- Several people working in it at the same moment.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Hooks into the device itself: handwriting.
What this rests on. Notewise’s listing: what it does, where it runs, what it plugs into and what it costs. It is a judgement about the kind of software this is. We have not built a replacement for it, and making your own means looking after it too. How we decide, and every tool’s verdict.
Part 05 · Alternatives
The alternatives
The tools it is most often weighed against, side by side
Goodnotes, Notability, Notein, Flexcil and Noteshelf
The 5 tools Notewise is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.6GPA
Goodnotes
Free plan · from $11.99/yr
Handwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant.
- Only Goodnotes lists a web app.
- Only Goodnotes lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Notewise also covers meeting notes.
- 3.4GPA
Notability
Free plan · from $14.99/yr
Handwritten notes with synced audio, transcripts and AI study tools.
- Only Notability lists a web app.
- Only Notability lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Notewise also covers meeting notes and whiteboard.
- 2.2GPA
Notein
Free plan · from $5.99
Handwriting notes, PDF markup and linked notes for Android tablets.
- Only Notewise lists an iOS app.
- Notewise can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Notewise also covers meeting notes and transcription.
- 2.2GPA
Flexcil
Free plan · from $8.99
PDF reader and handwriting notebook built around pen gestures.
- Notewise can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Notewise also covers meeting notes, transcription and whiteboard.
- Flexcil also covers templates.
- 2.8GPA
Noteshelf
Free plan · from $7.99 one-time
Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation for stylus devices.
- Only Noteshelf lists macOS and Windows apps.
- Notewise also covers meeting notes, transcription and whiteboard.
- Noteshelf also covers templates.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
13
Questions, each answered in a line or two
The short version of everything above, for when you only need the answer. Each one is told in full in its part of the guide.
Is Notewise free?
Notewise has a free plan. Classic Free: up to 10 canvases of up to 50 pages each, with document import and the video feature, kept on the device.
How much does Notewise cost?
Notewise lists 5 plans. Classic Free: $0.
What platforms does Notewise work on?
Notewise is available on iOS and Android.
Does Notewise offer any discounts?
Notewise publicly lists the following: Save 32% to 56% with yearly billing; Classic Unlimited as a one-time purchase; Volume licenses for schools and businesses.
Does Notewise have a Windows app?
No Windows app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Notewise is listed for iOS and Android.
Does Notewise have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 9, 2026. Notewise is listed for iOS and Android.
Is Notewise open source?
Notewise is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Notewise have a free trial?
Yes. 7-day free trial on Starter; cancel during the trial and you are not charged.
Who makes Notewise?
Notewise is made by ZIIKR Pte. Ltd.
What are the alternatives to Notewise?
The closest alternatives to Notewise in our directory are Goodnotes, Notability, Notein, Flexcil and Noteshelf.
How does Notewise compare with other note-taking apps?
Notewise's GPA of 2.2 is higher than 12 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 9.
Is Notewise good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Notewise B for value for money. Its paid plans start at $2.42 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 15 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Notewise?
To replace Notewise you would be making a bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Notewise’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Notewise's own pages on 9 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-04.
Every tool we list gets five grades, A to F, each with its reason, and a GPA that averages them. How each is decided is at toolgpa.com/grades. This guide is ToolGPA’s own work; it is not made, paid for or approved by ZIIKR Pte. Ltd. Prices change, so check notewise.dev before you buy.
- notewise.dev/
- notewise.dev/pricing
- notewise.dev/pricing.md
- apps.apple.com/us/app/notewise-notes-pdf/id6480045936
- help.notewise.dev/articles/4937931-can-i-use-notewise-unlimited-across-android-and-ios-devices
- help.notewise.dev/articles/4813017-how-to-upgrade-to-notewise-classic-unlimited
- help.notewise.dev/articles/4988293-faq-for-admins-notewise-for-schools-and-businesses
- help.notewise.dev/articles/1425364-how-to-view-notes-on-the-web
Part 07 · About
About ToolGPA
Who made this guide, what else is on the site, and how to cite it
3,189
Tools graded, in 94 categories
ToolGPA grades software the way a school report grades a pupil: five subjects, a letter for each with the reason written beside it, and a GPA that averages them. Prices, plans and platforms are read from each maker’s own pages and dated, so you always know how fresh a figure is.
Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Every tool on the site has a guide like this one, free to download and pass on. It all lives at toolgpa.com.
3,189
tools graded
94
categories
426
price changes on record
579
apps priced in 12 countries
What else is on toolgpa.com
- Notewise, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/notewise
- How grades are givenThe rules behind every letter and every GPAtoolgpa.com/grades
- Value chartsWhat each tool costs against what it scores, for every categorytoolgpa.com/charts
- CompareAny two tools side by side, plan by plantoolgpa.com/compare
- Price changesEvery price rise and cut on record, each with its sourcetoolgpa.com/price-changes
- Prices by countryWhat apps cost on the App Store in 12 countriestoolgpa.com/prices-by-country
- Pay lessEvery public discount: yearly billing, students, nonprofitstoolgpa.com/save
- Keep or makeWhich tools are worth paying for, and which you could build yourselftoolgpa.com/keep-or-make
Scan for the live page
Prices and grades as they are today
Quoting this guide?
Please name ToolGPA and link to the live page, so readers can check the figures for themselves:
ToolGPA, "Notewise: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/notewise
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/notewise/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Notewise, each with an Insider's Guide of its own.
- Note-Taking Apps Insider's GuideEvery one of the 148 note-taking apps we grade, compared
- Microsoft OneNote Insider's GuideMicrosoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes3.8 GPA
- Goodnotes Insider's GuideHandwritten notes, PDF markup and whiteboards with an AI assistant3.6 GPA
- Joplin Insider's GuideOpen source Markdown notes with sync through a service you choose3.6 GPA
Choosing software? Every tool graded, every price dated.
Compare tools at toolgpa.com ›Everything in this guide is ToolGPA’s own summary of what Notewise’s pages, its app-store listings and public reviews said on the dates shown. Grades are our judgement under the rules at toolgpa.com/grades. Every grade, review and ranking on ToolGPA is our own judgement. No company can pay for a grade or change one. Notewise is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by ZIIKR Pte. Ltd. Prices and plans change: check notewise.dev before you buy.