The Zoho Notebook Insider’s Guide
Everything we know about Zoho Notebook 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.
Zoho Notebook
The Insider’s Guide
Card-based notes app with a web clipper, scanner and AI add-ons
Every plan, grade, refund rule and rival among note-taking apps, read from Zoho Notebook’s own pages.
Made by Zoho Corporation · 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 Zoho Notebook’s own pages, its app-store listings and our grades. Every fact in it is on Zoho Notebook’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
3.4
GPA, above 138 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade
Zoho Notebook is a card-based note-taking app from Zoho for iOS, Android, Mac, Windows, Linux and the web. Notes are saved as text, checklist, audio, photo, sketch or file cards and grouped into notebooks, alongside a web clipper, a document scanner and Kanban-style Noteboards. The free plan has no ads and includes 500 MB of cloud storage; paid plans add storage, OCR search and Notebook AI for transcription, mind maps and writing help.
To get you started, here are 9 things to know about Zoho Notebook, taken from its own pages and our grades.
The grumbles reviewers have are about sync and crashes, not about learning it.
- 1
Best for card notes on every device, from $19.99 a year
Reviewers report sync hiccups, notes doubling up and the odd crash, and if you don't want your notes as big tiles, look elsewhere.
- 2
Paid plans start at $1.67 a month
As its pricing page puts it: $1.67 per month, billed annually at $19.99 (Pro).
- 3
There is a free plan
Essential plan: sync across devices, 500 MB of cloud storage, up to 20 versions per note, 10 MB file uploads, 30-minute audio recordings, document scanning, tags and reminders.
- 4
It runs on 6 platforms
Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux, with a browser extension too.
- 5
Note cards
Each note is a card of a set type: text, checklist, audio, photo, sketch, file or Smart Card. Cards sit in notebooks with tags, reminders and nested collections.
- 6
Notebook AI and meeting notes
With Pro Plus, recorded or uploaded audio and video is transcribed into structured notes, long notes become mind maps, and text can be drafted, summarized or translated.
- 7
Web Clipper
Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge clip articles, screenshots and bookmarks, attach sticky notes to web pages and summarize pages with AI.
- 8
A 3.4 GPA, above 138 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 Zoho Notebook 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.
Zoho Notebook at a glance
- Pricing
- Free plan, from $1.67 per month, billed annually at $19.99 (Pro)
- Free plan
- Yes
- Free trial
- Free trial of the Business plan; a Pro trial is available on request through support.
- Runs on
- Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension
- Made by
- Zoho Corporation
- Category
- Note-Taking Apps
- Our grade
- 3.4 GPA, very good
- Store rating
- 4.7 on the App Store, 23,846 ratings
The report card
Best for card notes on every device, from $19.99 a year
Zoho Notebook is a notes app where every note is a coloured card, on every major device, with Pro at $19.99 a year. The free plan stops at 500 MB of storage and 10 MB a file, which photos and recordings use up fast, and AI transcription needs Pro Plus. Reviewers report sync hiccups, notes doubling up and the odd crash, and if you don't want your notes as big tiles, look elsewhere.
| Subject | Grade | Comment |
|---|---|---|
| Value for money | A | Pro is $19.99 a year on Zoho's site, which is $1.67 a month, under the $2.99 where the cheapest quarter of this category starts. That buys 100 GB and search inside your scans. Through the iPhone app it's $24.99 a year. |
| Free plan and trial | C | No ads, sync on all your devices and no cap on the number of notes. Storage is the cap you'll walk into: 500 MB in total and 10 MB a file, which a handful of photos and recordings eats. Recordings stop at 30 minutes, and boards at 4 lists. |
| Features | B | Text, checklist, audio, photo, sketch and file cards, a web clipper, a document scanner and Kanban-style boards cover the everyday job. But search inside scans needs Pro, AI transcription needs Pro Plus, and whiteboards need Business. |
| Ease of use | A | 4.7 from about 23,900 App Store ratings, the top band for a note app here, and the card layout takes minutes to understand. The grumbles reviewers have are about sync and crashes, not about learning it. |
| Platforms and integrations | A | Web, Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and Android, with clippers for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge. It hooks into Google Workspace, Slack, Zapier and IFTTT. |
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 Zoho Notebook is for
- Fits if you want a notes app for $19.99 a year or nothing, with lists, photos, voice memos and scans
- Works for teams already on Zoho CRM, Cliq or Mail, which it plugs into
Who it is not for
- Tight if you keep photos and recordings free: 500 MB in all and 10 MB a file (the App Store listing says 2 GB)
- Not for you if you want AI transcripts on Pro, since they need Pro Plus at $39.99 a year
- Skip it if you don't want notes as coloured cards, because there's no compact list
- Watch out: reviewers report notes doubling up or going missing after sync, and crashes
- Pricey if you buy in the iPhone app, at $24.99 a year for Pro against $19.99 on Zoho's site
Good to know
Good for
- Low-cost note-taking: Pro is $19.99 a year
- People who like notes laid out as visual cards
- Teams already using Zoho apps such as Zoho CRM, Cliq or Mail
- Recording meetings or lectures and getting transcripts on Pro Plus
Worth knowing
- The free Essential plan has 500 MB of cloud storage on Zoho's pricing page (its App Store listing says 2 GB), 10 MB per file upload and 20 versions per note.
- Notebook AI (transcription, mind maps and generative AI) comes with Pro Plus, not with Essential or Pro.
- Whiteboards, the Teams workspace, the admin console and audit logs are part of the Business plan only.
- Prices vary by region and store: the US App Store lists Pro at $2.49 a month or $24.99 a year, above Zoho's web price.
Part 02 · Pricing
What it costs
Every plan, the free plan, ways to pay less and how prices have moved
$1.67
A month to start. There is a free plan too
Zoho Notebook has a free plan. Paid plans start at $1.67 per month, billed annually at $19.99 (Pro).
No ads, sync on all your devices and no cap on the number of notes.
Essential
$0
Sync across devices, 500 MB of storage, 20 note versions, 10 MB file uploads, up to 4 Noteboard lists, document scanning, tags and reminders.
Pro
$1.67
per month, billed annually ($19.99); $1.99 billed monthly
100 GB of storage, 100 note versions, 1 GB file uploads, OCR search, PDF annotation, emails into notes and co-owner sharing.
Pro Plus
$3.34
per month, billed annually ($39.99); $3.99 billed monthly
500 GB of storage, longer audio and video recordings, AI transcription up to 30 hours a month, AI mind maps and generative AI.
For Business
$4.16
per user / month, billed annually ($49.90); $4.99 monthly
1 TB of storage for up to 10 users (+100 GB per extra user), a Teams workspace, whiteboards, an admin console and audit log access.
The free plan
Essential plan: sync across devices, 500 MB of cloud storage, up to 20 versions per note, 10 MB file uploads, 30-minute audio recordings, document scanning, tags and reminders.
Trying it first
Free trial of the Business plan; a Pro trial is available on request through support.
Read from zoho.com on Oct 9, 2026.
Ways to pay less
Annual discount
Save up to 16% with yearly billing
Zoho's pricing page says yearly billing saves up to 16%. Pro is $19.99 a year against $1.99 a month, and Pro Plus is $39.99 a year against $3.99 a month.
Stated on zoho.comOther savings
Three-year plans for Pro and Pro Plus
Pro can be bought for 3 years at $49.99 and Pro Plus at $99.99, which is less than three yearly payments of $19.99 or $39.99.
Stated on zoho.comEducation
Free plan for students
Students who sign up with an educational institution email address get a free student plan, and Zoho says they also get Notebook AI at no charge.
Stated on zoho.comBy country
Lower price listed in Indian rupees
The price file that Zoho's pricing page loads, read on 9 October 2026, lists Pro at ₹99 a month and ₹999 a year in Indian rupees, against $1.99 and $19.99 in US dollars.
Stated on zoho.com
What the app costs elsewhere
Each country’s App Store price for “Notebook Pro”, against $2.49 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 |
|---|---|---|---|
| Turkey | ₺57,99 | $1.18 | 53% less |
| India | ₹ 129 | $1.33 | 46% less |
| Philippines | ₱ 129.00 | $2.05 | 18% less |
| Indonesia | Rp 39ribu | $2.18 | 12% less |
| South Africa | R47.99 | $2.90 | 17% more |
| Mexico | $59.00 | $3.24 | 30% more |
| United Kingdom | £2.49 | $3.29 | 32% more |
| Germany | 2,99 € | $3.35 | 35% more |
Part 03 · Features
What it does
Its main features, where it runs, what it works with and who makes it
7
Places it runs: Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android and Browser extension
Card-based notes app with a web clipper, scanner and AI add-ons. Here is what it does, as its own site describes it, and what it covers: works offline, AI features, meeting notes, transcription, notes, web clipper, kanban boards.
Text, checklist, audio, photo, sketch and file cards, a web clipper, a document scanner and Kanban-style boards cover the everyday job.
- Note cards
- Each note is a card of a set type: text, checklist, audio, photo, sketch, file or Smart Card. Cards sit in notebooks with tags, reminders and nested collections.
- Notebook AI and meeting notes
- With Pro Plus, recorded or uploaded audio and video is transcribed into structured notes, long notes become mind maps, and text can be drafted, summarized or translated.
- Web Clipper
- Extensions for Chrome, Firefox, Safari and Edge clip articles, screenshots and bookmarks, attach sticky notes to web pages and summarize pages with AI.
- Scanner and search
- The camera scans documents on every plan. Pro adds scanning of tables and business cards, plus OCR and object detection so search reaches text inside images and documents.
- Noteboards and Whiteboards
- Noteboards lay notes out in Kanban-style lists, up to 4 lists on the free plan. Whiteboards, a shared canvas for sketching and planning, come with the Business plan.
- Sharing and locking
- Notecards, notebooks and collections can be shared with other people or sent as public links, and Pro adds co-owner access. Notes and notebooks can be locked with a password, Touch ID or Face ID.
Where it runs
- Web
- macOS
- Windows
- Linux
- iOS
- Android
- Browser extension
What it works with
- Google Workspace
- Slack
- Microsoft Teams
- Zapier
- IFTTT
- Zoho CRM
- Zoho Cliq
- Zoho Mail
Zoho Notebook is made by Zoho Corporation.
Part 04 · Standing
Where it stands
Its grades against its category, and whether to keep it or make your own
138/147
Other note-taking apps it is graded above
Zoho Notebook's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 138 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 5.
It stands best on ease of use (A, above 133 of 147) and worst on free plan and trial (C, above 7).
Its paid plans start at $1.67 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 6 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
On features, ease of use and platforms it scores 3.7 out of 4. 1 tool scores higher and costs less.
Each grade against the category
Every bar is all 148 note-taking apps we grade, cut by the letter each got. Zoho Notebook’s own letter is outlined.
- AValue for moneyAbove 62 of 147
- CFree plan and trialAbove 7 of 147
- BFeaturesAbove 100 of 147
- AEase of useAbove 133 of 147
- APlatforms and integrationsAbove 128 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. Zoho Notebook 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 Zoho Notebook 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.
It is one of the better ones too: its GPA of 3.4 is higher than 138 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade. It costs $20.04 a year.
What you could make
- Notes, web clipper and kanban boards: an app builder makes these well.
What you could not
- A bot that joins your calls and turns the talk into notes.
- Speech turned into text you can trust.
- Apps for macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS and Android that stay in step with each other.
- It plugs into other products, Google Workspace, Slack and Microsoft Teams among them.
- AI features, unless you pay a model provider for each request yourself.
- Sharing with other people, which means accounts and invitations.
- The depth: we grade its features B, which means it covers the whole job.
What this rests on. Zoho Notebook’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
Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Google Keep, Notion and UpNote
The 5 tools Zoho Notebook is most often weighed against, with where each one differs from it.
- 2.6GPA
Evernote
Free plan · from $99/yr
Note-taking app with web clipping, tasks, calendar and AI search.
- Only Zoho Notebook lists a Linux app.
- Zoho Notebook also covers meeting notes, transcription and kanban boards.
- Evernote also covers templates, tasks and calendar.
- 3.8GPA
Microsoft OneNote
Free plan · from $9.99/mo
Microsoft's free digital notebook for typed, inked and audio notes.
- Only Zoho Notebook lists a Linux app.
- Zoho Notebook also covers meeting notes and kanban boards.
- Microsoft OneNote also covers dictation.
- 3.2GPA
Google Keep
Free plan · from $7/mo
Google's app for quick notes, lists and reminders.
- Only Zoho Notebook lists macOS, Windows and Linux apps.
- Zoho Notebook also covers meeting notes and kanban boards.
- Google Keep also covers tasks.
- 3.2GPA
Notion
Free plan · from $10/mo
Workspace for docs, wikis, databases and projects with built-in AI.
- Only Zoho Notebook lists a Linux app.
- Zoho Notebook also covers meeting notes, transcription, web clipper and kanban boards.
- Notion also covers databases, wiki and templates.
- 2.8GPA
UpNote
Free plan · from $1.99/mo
Cross-platform notes app with a lifetime purchase option.
- Only Zoho Notebook lists a web app.
- UpNote can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Zoho Notebook also covers meeting notes, transcription and kanban boards.
Part 06 · Questions
Quick answers
The questions people ask about it, each answered in a line or two
15
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 Zoho Notebook free?
Zoho Notebook has a free plan. Essential plan: sync across devices, 500 MB of cloud storage, up to 20 versions per note, 10 MB file uploads, 30-minute audio recordings, document scanning, tags and reminders.
How much does Zoho Notebook cost?
Zoho Notebook lists 4 plans. Essential: $0.
What platforms does Zoho Notebook work on?
Zoho Notebook is available on Web, iOS, Android, macOS, Windows and Linux.
Does Zoho Notebook offer any discounts?
Zoho Notebook publicly lists the following: Save up to 16% with yearly billing; Three-year plans for Pro and Pro Plus; Free plan for students; Lower price listed in Indian rupees.
How is Zoho Notebook rated?
Zoho Notebook's iPhone and iPad app averages 4.7 out of 5 from 23,846 ratings on the App Store in the United States, as read on Oct 5, 2026.
Is Zoho Notebook open source?
Zoho Notebook is not described as open source on its own site, as read on Oct 9, 2026.
Does Zoho Notebook work offline?
Yes, according to its own site. What works without a connection differs by plan and platform, so check the vendor's page for the detail.
What does Zoho Notebook integrate with?
Zoho Notebook's listing names Google Workspace, Slack, Microsoft Teams, Zapier, IFTTT, Zoho CRM, Zoho Cliq and Zoho Mail.
Does Zoho Notebook have a student discount?
Free plan for students. Students who sign up with an educational institution email address get a free student plan, and Zoho says they also get Notebook AI at no charge.
Does Zoho Notebook have a free trial?
Yes. Free trial of the Business plan; a Pro trial is available on request through support.
Who makes Zoho Notebook?
Zoho Notebook is made by Zoho Corporation.
What are the alternatives to Zoho Notebook?
The closest alternatives to Zoho Notebook in our directory are Evernote, Microsoft OneNote, Google Keep, Notion and UpNote.
How does Zoho Notebook compare with other note-taking apps?
Zoho Notebook's GPA of 3.4 is higher than 138 of the 147 other note-taking apps we grade, and level with 5.
Is Zoho Notebook good value for money?
ToolGPA grades Zoho Notebook A for value for money. Its paid plans start at $1.67 a month, against a middle price of $5.83 for the category: 6 of the 66 others that charge start lower.
Could I make my own version of Zoho Notebook?
To replace Zoho Notebook 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 Zoho Notebook’s own pages on Oct 9, 2026, and the grades were given on Oct 10, 2026. Based on Zoho Notebook's home, pricing, AI, integrations, web clipper, Linux and what's new pages as of 9 October 2026, its App Store listing and reviews, and Hacker News comments about it. Also tested with a demo account on 2026-06-01.
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 Zoho Corporation. Prices change, so check zoho.com before you buy.
- zoho.com/notebook/
- zoho.com/notebook/pricing.html
- zoho.com/sites/zweb/json/pricing/notebook-pricing-val.json
- zoho.com/notebook/ai/
- zoho.com/notebook/integrations.html
- zoho.com/notebook/web-clipper.html
- zoho.com/notebook/notebook-for-mac.html
- zoho.com/notebook/notebook-for-windows.html
- zoho.com/notebook/notebook-for-linux.html
- apps.apple.com/us/app/notebook-ai-notes-notepad/id973801089
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
- Zoho Notebook, kept up to dateEverything in this guide, with prices and grades as they are todaytoolgpa.com/tools/zoho-notebook
- 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, "Zoho Notebook: The Insider's Guide", checked Oct 9, 2026. https://toolgpa.com/tools/zoho-notebook
Know someone choosing between note-taking apps?
Send them this guide: toolgpa.com/tools/zoho-notebook/guide
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See our other guides
The best-graded note-taking apps after Zoho Notebook, 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 Zoho Notebook’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. Zoho Notebook is a trademark of its owner, and this guide is not made, paid for or approved by Zoho Corporation. Prices and plans change: check zoho.com before you buy.