The Samsung Notes Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Samsung Notes 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.
Samsung Notes
The Insider’s Guide
Samsung's free note app for Galaxy phones, tablets and Galaxy Book
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Samsung Notes’s own pages.
Made by Samsung Electronics · checked Oct 5, 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 Samsung Notes’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Samsung Notes’s page too, where it is kept up to date. Checked Oct 5, 2026.
Part 01 · Overview
Welcome
What it is, who it suits, its grades and the ten things to know first
3.2
GPA, above 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Samsung Notes is Samsung's note-taking app for Galaxy phones and tablets, with a Windows version built for Galaxy Book PCs. Notes mix typed text, S Pen handwriting, images, voice recordings and imported PDFs, and sync between devices through Samsung Cloud with a Samsung account. On select Galaxy devices, Note Assist with Galaxy AI formats, summarizes, spell-checks and translates notes.
To get you started, here are 8 things to know about Samsung Notes, taken from its own pages and our grades.
No rating on record, so we go by the listing: it's already on the phone, you sign in with a Samsung account and notes sync.
- 1
Best for free notes and S Pen handwriting on a Galaxy
Samsung Notes is Samsung's free note app for Galaxy phones and tablets, with typed text, S Pen handwriting, PDF markup and voice recordings that play back in step with your writing.
- 2
It is free
Samsung Notes has no paid plan at all. The Microsoft Store lists the Windows app as a free download and the Google Play listing shows no price. Samsung says basic Galaxy AI features are free, while enhanced AI features may carry fees.
- 3
It runs on 2 platforms
Android and Windows.
- 4
S Pen handwriting
Handwriting can be altered, moved and converted to text, using pens, fountain pens, pencils and highlighters in a range of colors and thicknesses.
- 5
Voice recordings synced to notes
A recording made while you type or write is synced to the note, so playback follows along with what you wrote during a lecture or meeting.
- 6
PDF import and annotation
PDFs can be imported, written on and annotated. Notes export as PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, image or text files.
- 7
A 3.2 GPA, above 129 of 147
That is against the other note-taking apps we grade, on value, the free plan, features, ease of use and platforms.
- 8
Keep it
Samsung Notes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
Samsung Notes at a glance
- Pricing
- Free
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- None stated
- Runs on
- Windows, Android
- Made by
- Samsung Electronics
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.2 GPA, very good
The report card
Best for free notes and S Pen handwriting on a Galaxy
Samsung Notes is Samsung's free note app for Galaxy phones and tablets, with typed text, S Pen handwriting, PDF markup and voice recordings that play back in step with your writing. Sync needs a Samsung account, there's no iPhone, Mac or web version, the Windows app is built for Galaxy Book PCs, OneNote sync is gone on One UI 9, and Samsung says enhanced AI features may carry fees.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Free outright, in a category whose middle plan is $6 a month: the Microsoft Store lists the Windows app as a free download and Google Play shows no price. One small flag, from Samsung's own wording: basic Galaxy AI features are free, while enhanced ones may carry fees. |
| Free plan and trial | A | The full app costs nothing on Galaxy phones, tablets and Galaxy Book PCs, with sync through Samsung Cloud included and no cap on notes. You do need a Samsung account for sync and for locking a note. |
| Features | B | It covers the job: typed text, handwriting you can convert to text, PDFs you can write on, recordings synced to the note so playback follows what you wrote, folders, page templates, locked notes and export to PDF, Word or PowerPoint. Nothing a rival doesn't also do, mind, and shared notes are still labelled beta. |
| Ease of use | B | No rating on record, so we go by the listing: it's already on the phone, you sign in with a Samsung account and notes sync. On select Galaxy devices, Note Assist tidies the formatting and fixes the spelling for you. |
| Platforms and integrations | C | One family of devices: Galaxy phones and tablets, plus a Windows app made for Galaxy Book PCs, where Samsung says other Windows computers may have issues. No iPhone, Mac or web version is listed, and OneNote sync isn't available on devices running One UI 9. |
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 Samsung Notes is for
- Fits if you own a Galaxy phone or tablet with an S Pen
- Works for recording a lecture or meeting with the audio tied to your notes
Who it is not for
- Skip it if anything you own is an iPhone or a Mac, as there's no version for either and no web app
- Not for you if your PC isn't a Galaxy Book, since Samsung says other Windows computers may have issues
- Tight if you want the AI on an older device, because Note Assist needs a supported Galaxy on One UI 6.1 or later
- Watch out: Samsung says basic Galaxy AI features are free but enhanced ones may carry fees, and shared notes are still beta
- Watch out: OneNote sync isn't available on One UI 9, and syncing or locking a note needs a Samsung account
Good to know
Good for
- Galaxy phone and tablet owners, especially those with an S Pen
- Recording a lecture or meeting while taking notes
- Marking up PDFs by hand on a Galaxy tablet
Worth knowing
- Samsung documents the app for Galaxy phones, tablets and Galaxy Book PCs; no iPhone, Mac or web version is listed.
- The Windows app is optimized for Galaxy Book models, and Samsung says other Windows computers may have issues running it.
- Syncing with Microsoft OneNote is not available on devices running One UI 9; notes sync through Samsung Cloud instead.
- Note Assist needs a supported Galaxy device, a Samsung account and an internet connection, and shared notes are still labeled beta.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
Free
No paid plan at all
Samsung Notes is free to use.
One small flag, from Samsung's own wording: basic Galaxy AI features are free, while enhanced ones may carry fees.
Free
$0
The full app on Galaxy phones and tablets and on Galaxy Book PCs, with sync through Samsung Cloud using a Samsung account.
The free plan
The Microsoft Store lists the Windows app as a free download and the Google Play listing shows no price. Samsung says basic Galaxy AI features are free, while enhanced AI features may carry fees.
Read from apps.microsoft.com on Oct 5, 2026.
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
2
Places it runs: Windows and Android
Samsung's free note app for Galaxy phones, tablets and Galaxy Book. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: AI features, real-time collaboration, notes, templates.
Nothing a rival doesn't also do, mind, and shared notes are still labelled beta.
- S Pen handwriting
- Handwriting can be altered, moved and converted to text, using pens, fountain pens, pencils and highlighters in a range of colors and thicknesses.
- Voice recordings synced to notes
- A recording made while you type or write is synced to the note, so playback follows along with what you wrote during a lecture or meeting.
- PDF import and annotation
- PDFs can be imported, written on and annotated. Notes export as PDF, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint, image or text files.
- Folders, page templates and locked notes
- Notes are organized into folders and subfolders, with page templates such as grids and lined paper. Individual notes can be locked, which requires a Samsung account.
- Shared notes
- Up to 10 people, including you, can edit the same note at the same time on Galaxy phones and tablets, invited from contacts or by link. Samsung labels the feature beta.
- Note Assist with Galaxy AI
- On select Galaxy phones and tablets running One UI 6.1 or later, Note Assist formats notes automatically, summarizes them, corrects spelling and translates them.
Where it runs
- Windows
- Android
What it works with
- Samsung Cloud
- Microsoft Word
- Microsoft PowerPoint
- Smart Switch
Samsung Notes is made by Samsung Electronics.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
129/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Samsung Notes's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 8.
It stands best on free plan and trial (A, above 100 of 147) and worst on platforms and integrations (C, above 31).
Samsung Notes has no paid plan.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 2.7 out of 4. Nothing scores higher for less, though at least one tool matches that score at a lower price.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Samsung Notes’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- AFree plan and trialAbove 100 of 147
- BFeaturesAbove 100 of 147
- BEase of useAbove 47 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. Samsung Notes 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
Samsung Notes is free, so making your own would save you nothing.
And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces. It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade.
What you could make
- Notes and templates: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- Apps for Windows and Android that stay in step with each other.
- 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.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Samsung Notes’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
Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote, Goodnotes, Noteshelf and Apple Notes
The 5 tools Samsung Notes is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 3.2GPA
Google Keep
Free plan · from $7/mo
Google's app for quick notes, lists and reminders.
- Only Samsung Notes lists a Windows app.
- Only Google Keep lists a web app.
- Only Google Keep lists an iOS app.
- 3.8GPA
Microsoft OneNote
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Microsoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes.
- Only Microsoft OneNote lists a web app.
- Only Microsoft OneNote lists macOS and iOS apps.
- Only Microsoft OneNote lists a browser extension.
- 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 iOS and macOS apps.
- Goodnotes can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 2.8GPA
Noteshelf
Free plan · from $7.99 one-time
Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation for stylus devices.
- Only Noteshelf lists iOS and macOS apps.
- Noteshelf can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- 3.4GPA
Apple Notes
Free
Apple's free notes app for iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web.
- Only Samsung Notes lists Android and Windows apps.
- Only Apple Notes lists a web app.
- Only Apple Notes lists iOS and macOS apps.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
12
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 Samsung Notes free?
Yes. Samsung Notes is free to use.
How much does Samsung Notes cost?
Samsung Notes lists one plan. Free: $0.
What platforms does Samsung Notes work on?
Samsung Notes is available on Android and Windows.
Does Samsung Notes have an iPhone app?
No iPhone app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Samsung Notes is listed for Android and Windows.
Does Samsung Notes have a macOS app?
No macOS app was listed when its pages were read on Oct 5, 2026. Samsung Notes is listed for Android and Windows.
Is Samsung Notes open source?
Samsung Notes is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
What does Samsung Notes integrate with?
Samsung Notes's listing names Samsung Cloud, Microsoft Word, Microsoft PowerPoint and Smart Switch.
Who makes Samsung Notes?
Samsung Notes is made by Samsung Electronics.
What are the alternatives to Samsung Notes?
The closest alternatives to Samsung Notes in our directory are Google Keep, Microsoft OneNote, Goodnotes, Noteshelf and Apple Notes.
How does Samsung Notes compare with other note-taking apps?
Samsung Notes's GPA of 3.2 is higher than 129 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 8.
Is Samsung Notes good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Samsung Notes A for value for money. Samsung Notes has no paid plan.
Could I make my own version of Samsung Notes?
Samsung Notes is free, so making your own would save you nothing. And it is not the kind of software a weekend replaces.
Where this guide comes from
The prices, plans, platforms and features were read from Samsung Notes’s own pages on Oct 5, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Graded from this listing, whose facts were read from Samsung's own pages on 5 October 2026. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-07-22.
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 Samsung Electronics. Prices change, so check samsung.com before you buy.
- samsung.com/us/support/owners/app/samsung-notes
- samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10002888/
- samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10001469/
- samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10003702/
- samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10000941/
- samsung.com/us/support/answer/ANS10001384/
- samsung.com/us/support/troubleshoot/TSG10013306/
- play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.samsung.android.app.notes&hl=en_US&gl=US
- apps.microsoft.com/detail/9nblggh43vhv?hl=en-US&gl=US
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
- Samsung Notes, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/samsung-notes
- 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, "Samsung Notes: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 5, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/samsung-notes
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/samsung-notes/guide
ToolGPA elsewhere: youtube.com/@toolgpa
See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Samsung Notes, 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 Samsung Notes’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. Samsung Notes is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Samsung Electronics. Prices and plans change: check samsung.com before you buy.