Notability vs Google Keep

Notability8.7Visit Google Keep8.2Visit

Higher score Notability #5 in Note-Taking Apps 8.7/10 Free plan · 30-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Notability

vs

Google Keep #10 in Note-Taking Apps 8.2/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 3 of 3 features Visit Google Keep

• Notability fits best

  Students using handwriting, PDFs, and recordings

• Google Keep fits best

  Simple, free notes and shared lists

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Side by side

Feature	Notability 8.7/10 Visit ↗	Google Keep 8.2/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.7	8.2
Ranking	#5 in Note-Taking Apps	#10 in Note-Taking Apps
Best for	Students using handwriting, PDFs, and recordings	Simple, free notes and shared lists
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free
Starting price	$14.99/user/yr	Free plan
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	30 days	—
Deployment	Cloud, Desktop, Mobile	Cloud, Mobile, Browser extension
Platforms	Web, Windows, macOS, iOS, Android	Web, iOS, Android, Chrome extension
Support	Tickets, Docs	Email, Community, Docs
Integrations	6 integrations	7 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise	Solo, Small business, Mid-market, Enterprise
Features Notability 3/3 · Google Keep 3/3
Offline access	✓	✓
Note sharing	✓	✓
Real-time collaboration	✓	✓
Specs
Supported platforms	web, windows, macos, ios, android	web, ios, android, chrome_extension
Storage limit	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Integrations	iCloud, Dropbox, Google Drive, OneDrive, Box, WebDAV	Gmail, Google Calendar, Google Chat, Google Drive, Google Docs, Google Sheets, Google Slides
Our review
Pros	Combines typed notes, handwriting, PDFs, audio, and transcription Searches handwritten notes and links audio to annotations Supports collaboration and cloud storage across five platforms	Free notes, checklists, reminders, attachments, search, and sharing Real-time collaboration with offline access on Android and iOS Connects with Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Google Workspace
Cons	Many advanced AI and audio features require a paid plan Pro costs $79.99 per year, above the Plus tier The broad feature set may exceed simple note-taking needs	Narrower feature depth than more advanced note-taking apps Platform coverage is limited to web, Android, iOS, and Chrome Gemini list creation depends on eligible users or devices
Our verdict	Notability is a note-taking application for students, professionals, educators, and teams. It combines typed and handwritten note creation with PDF, document, and slide import and annotation. Notes can be organized into folders, shared by… Read the review →	Google Keep is a free note-taking and organization app for individuals, families, and teams that need quick access to text notes, checklists, reminders, and shared ideas. Notes can include photos, drawings, and audio recordings, while… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Notability — where it wins

  • Combines typed notes, handwriting, PDFs, audio, and transcription
  • Searches handwritten notes and links audio to annotations
  • Supports collaboration and cloud storage across five platforms

  Where it doesn't

  • Many advanced AI and audio features require a paid plan
  • Pro costs $79.99 per year, above the Plus tier
  • The broad feature set may exceed simple note-taking needs

• Google Keep — where it wins

  • Free notes, checklists, reminders, attachments, search, and sharing
  • Real-time collaboration with offline access on Android and iOS
  • Connects with Gmail, Drive, Docs, and Google Workspace

  Where it doesn't

  • Narrower feature depth than more advanced note-taking apps
  • Platform coverage is limited to web, Android, iOS, and Chrome
  • Gemini list creation depends on eligible users or devices

• Notability8.7/10 · Free plan · 30-day trial

  A flexible notes app for handwriting, PDFs, recordings, and AI study tools.

  Visit NotabilityFull verdict →
• Google Keep8.2/10 · Free plan

  A free, approachable choice for notes, lists, reminders, and lightweight collaboration.

  Visit Google KeepFull verdict →