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Head-to-head · Note-Taking Apps

Goodnotes vs Obsidian

  • Updated Oct 2026
  • Both researched from official sources
  • 5 checks side by side
Higher score Goodnotes #4 in Note-Taking Apps 8.8/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Goodnotes
Obsidian #8 in Note-Taking Apps 8.4/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Obsidian

Goodnotes leads on 1 check, Obsidian on 0, and 4 are even. Who comes out ahead on the 5 yes/no, price and count checks where we have data for both products. The editor score weighs everything else too.

Our verdict

  • Highest scoreGoodnotes · 8.8/10
  • Free planboth
  • Free trialonly Goodnotes

Goodnotes scores higher on our rubric for note-taking apps: 8.8 against 8.4 out of 10; our editors rank them #4 and #8.

Goodnotes leads on storage limit: 5 GB versus 1 GB.

Goodnotes is the better fit for handwritten notebooks and PDF annotation. Obsidian is the better fit for networked-note and knowledge-management users.

  • Goodnotes fits best

    Handwritten notebooks and PDF annotation

  • Obsidian fits best

    Networked-note and knowledge-management users

Advertiser disclosure: iTechGuides is reader-supported. Vendors can pay for top positions in our rankings and for a place on other products' pages, and we may earn a commission when you click some links. Bought places stand at the number bought; this page and our disclosure say so. Paying vendors may get a fuller, more detailed review from our editors, and that review can change their score. How we rank.

Side by side

Feature Goodnotes 8.8/10 Visit ↗ Obsidian 8.4/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score 8.8 8.4
Ranking #4 in Note-Taking Apps #8 in Note-Taking Apps
Best for Handwritten notebooks and PDF annotation Networked-note and knowledge-management users
Pricing model Free plan + paid Free plan + paid
Starting price — $4/user/mo
Free plan ✓ ✓
Free trial 7 days —
Deployment Cloud, Desktop, Mobile Cloud, Desktop, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support Email, Community, Docs Email, Community, Docs
Integrations 6 integrations 13 integrations
Built for Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Goodnotes 3/3 · Obsidian 3/3
Offline access ✓ ✓
Note sharing ✓ ✓
Real-time collaboration ✓ ✓
Specs
Supported platforms web, windows, macos, ios, android Windows, macOS, Linux, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Storage limit 5 GB (best) 1 GB
Integrations Google Calendar, Google Drive, ChatGPT, Claude, Microsoft Outlook, Apple Calendar Notion, Airtable, Microsoft OneNote, Evernote, Apple Notes, Apple Journal, Google Keep, Bear, Craft, Roam Research, Logseq, Tomboy, Gnote
Our review
Pros
  • Handwriting, typed notes, whiteboards, PDFs, and audio in one app
  • Searchable handwriting plus AI transcription, summaries, and generation
  • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support
  • Local Markdown files with backlinks, graph view, and unlinked mentions
  • Canvas, daily notes, templates, properties, and community plugins
  • Desktop and mobile apps with optional sync and shared vaults
Cons
  • Free plan limits users to three notebooks and 100 MB storage
  • Cross-platform Goodnotes Cloud sync starts with the Pro plan
  • Advanced AI requires Pro or the separate AI Pass add-on
  • Cross-device sync is an optional paid service
  • Sync Standard includes one vault and 1 GB of storage
  • Publishing notes to the web requires a separate Publish plan
Our verdict

Goodnotes is a digital note-taking application for students, professionals, and teams who want handwritten notebooks alongside typed documents, whiteboards, PDFs, and audio. It supports digital ink, PDF import and annotation, signing,…

Read the review →

Obsidian is a local-first note-taking and personal knowledge-management app for individuals, researchers, writers, and teams. It stores Markdown notes as local files, then connects them through internal links, backlinks, unlinked mentions,…

Read the review →
  1. GoodnotesNote-Taking Apps 8.8Free plan · 7-day trial
  2. ObsidianNote-Taking Apps 8.4Free plan

Strengths and trade-offs

  • Goodnotes — where it wins

    • Handwriting, typed notes, whiteboards, PDFs, and audio in one app
    • Searchable handwriting plus AI transcription, summaries, and generation
    • Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, and Android support

    Where it doesn't

    • Free plan limits users to three notebooks and 100 MB storage
    • Cross-platform Goodnotes Cloud sync starts with the Pro plan
    • Advanced AI requires Pro or the separate AI Pass add-on

  • Obsidian — where it wins

    • Local Markdown files with backlinks, graph view, and unlinked mentions
    • Canvas, daily notes, templates, properties, and community plugins
    • Desktop and mobile apps with optional sync and shared vaults

    Where it doesn't

    • Cross-device sync is an optional paid service
    • Sync Standard includes one vault and 1 GB of storage
    • Publishing notes to the web requires a separate Publish plan
  • Goodnotes8.8/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

    A broad note-taking app for handwriting, PDFs, collaboration, and AI across five platforms.

    Visit GoodnotesFull verdict →
  • Obsidian8.4/10 · Free plan

    A flexible local-file workspace for connected notes, research, and personal knowledge.

    Visit ObsidianFull verdict →

More comparisons

All Note-Taking apps comparisons → · Full ranking →

Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026

Last updated · How we research and update