Notability
Handwriting and PDF note-taking app with synced audio recordings, live collaboration and AI study tools.
Founded 2008
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Notability is a note-taking app from Ginger Labs that puts handwriting, typed text, imported PDFs and slides, images and audio recordings in one note. Recordings are linked to what you write, so on iOS and Android tapping a word plays what was said at that moment. Ginger Labs, founded in 2008, launched Notability on the iPad in 2010; it now also runs on iPhone, Mac, Windows, Android and the web. Notes sync through Notability Cloud, free on every plan, and editing works offline. A note can be shared by link to view in any browser, or edited live with other Notability account holders. Notes are organized in nested folders, with no database views or backlinks. The Learn AI tools (summaries, quizzes, flashcards, transcription) are limited on Plus and unlimited on Pro. The free Starter plan holds only five notes, and Classic is a one-time purchase.
Best for
Students and professionals who write by hand on an iPad and want lecture or meeting recordings, PDF markup and AI study tools in one app, rather than a linked knowledge base or a database workspace.
Pros
- Handwriting, typed text, imported PDFs and slides, and audio recordings that play back from the point you tap (iOS and Android)
- Edit offline and sync when you are back online; Notability Cloud sync is free on every plan
- Live co-editing through Notability Cloud on every plan, plus browser-viewable share links (up to 10 shared notes on Starter, 100 on Plus)
- Classic is a one-time purchase ($39.99 on notability.com, $49.99 in the App Store) with unlimited notes and handwriting recognition
- Pro removes the AI limits: unlimited transcription, quizzes and flashcards, real-time Smart Notes and chat with your notes
Cons
- The free Starter plan allows only 5 notes
- No databases or backlinks: notes are organized in nested folders
- Notes live in the app and Notability Cloud, not as files in a folder you choose; Third-Party Backup (Box, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, WebDAV) is one-way, iOS only and not on Starter
- AI is limited on Plus; unlimited use and chat with your notes need Pro ($79.99 a year on the website)
- No public API or Zapier connection; the integrations page only asks which integrations to build
From our tests
Screenshots of Notability from our hands-on tests. Each links to the full-size image; the test name leads to the task, how we judged it and the other tool's result.
Pricing
| Plan | Monthly | Yearly (12-month total) |
|---|---|---|
| Starter5 notes, all editing tools, PDF and document import, 20,000+ templates, 7-day version history | Free Free plan | |
| LiteWebsite sale price (list $14.99/yr, $4.99/mo): $11.99 billed yearly, $3.99 monthly; unlimited notes, third-party backup (iOS only), 7-day history | $3.99/mo | $11.99/yr ($1/mo) |
| PlusWebsite sale price (list $19.99/yr, $7.99/mo): $15.99 billed yearly, $5.99 monthly; limited AI (Learn), handwriting search and conversion, 30-day history | $5.99/mo | $15.99/yr ($1.33/mo) |
| ProWebsite sale price (list $99.99/yr, $19.99/mo): $79.99 billed yearly, $15.99 monthly; unlimited AI, live transcription, chat with your notes, 90-day history | $15.99/mo | $79.99/yr ($6.67/mo) |
| BusinessPer user; $60/year billed yearly, $6 billed monthly; 30-day free trial; Shared Libraries, admin controls, limited AI, 30-day history | $6/mo | $60/yr ($5/mo) |
| Business ProPer user; $180/year billed yearly, $18 billed monthly; 30-day free trial; unlimited AI, chat with your notes, audit log, Intune MAM, 90-day history | $18/mo | $180/yr ($15/mo) |
| Custom ContractTalk to sales; custom payment terms, dedicated support | Custom | |
Prices checked on .
Features
In Notes and knowledge
| Feature | Notability |
|---|---|
| Offline use | Yes · Edit offline, sync when back online |
| Local-first files | No · Notes in the app and Notability Cloud; export or one-way backup as PDF or Notability files |
| Databases | No · Nested folders (up to six levels); no database or table views |
| Backlinks | No · No note-to-note links documented; links are web hyperlinks and share links |
| Real-time collaboration | Yes · Live co-editing on Notability Cloud; every participant needs an account; Shared Libraries on Business |
| API | No · No public API; Zapier, n8n and IFTTT listed only as possible future integrations |
| Publish to web | Partial · Share links open in any browser; Publish to Gallery for the public community |
| Encryption | not listed |
| AI features | Yes · Learn: summaries, quizzes, flashcards, transcription; limited on Plus, unlimited plus chat on Pro |