Notes Writer vs Penbook

Notes Writer8.1Visit Penbook8.0Visit

Higher score Notes Writer #7 in Handwritten Notes Software 8.1/10 Free plan Free plan✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Notes Writer

vs

Penbook #8 in Handwritten Notes Software 8.0/10 Free plan · 7-day trial Free planFree trial✓ 0 of 5 features Visit Penbook

• Notes Writer fits best

  Apple users organizing notes and annotated PDFs

• Penbook fits best

  Apple Pencil users who want planners and templates

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Side by side

Feature	Notes Writer 8.1/10 Visit ↗	Penbook 8.0/10 Visit ↗
At a glance
Editor score	8.1	8.0
Ranking	#7 in Handwritten Notes Software	#8 in Handwritten Notes Software
Best for	Apple users organizing notes and annotated PDFs	Apple Pencil users who want planners and templates
Pricing model	Free plan + paid	Free plan + paid
Starting price	Free plan	—
Free plan	✓	✓
Free trial	—	7 days
Deployment	Desktop, Mobile	Mobile, Desktop
Platforms	macOS, iOS	iOS, macOS
Support	Email, Docs	Email
Integrations	5 integrations	2 integrations
Built for	Solo, Small business, Mid-market	Solo, Small business
Features Notes Writer 0/5 · Penbook 0/5
Handwriting to text	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
PDF annotation	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Audio recording	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Offline mode	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Shared note editing	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Specs
Primary platform	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
OCR languages	Not checked yet	Not checked yet
Our review
Pros	Combines typed, handwritten, and sketched notes with PDF annotation Search, scanning, form signing, and document organization in one app Exports to PDF, ePub, HTML, TXT, Markdown, and other formats	More than 400 stationery types and layouts, with page and cover customization Imports PDFs as notebooks for annotation and editing Searches handwritten notes and syncs devices through iCloud
Cons	Available on Apple platforms rather than across desktop and mobile ecosystems Real-time collaboration is not established as a core capability Optional AI features may not suit users seeking a strictly manual workflow	Free use is limited to one notebook at a time Premium export and unlimited notebooks require a paid plan Apple-focused platforms and a narrow integration set
Our verdict	Notes Writer brings typed, handwritten, and sketched notes together with document editing and PDF tools for people who organize notes alongside working documents. Its feature set suits students, teachers, writers, researchers, and… Read the review →	Penbook centers handwritten notes, planners, journals, and study notebooks on customizable digital paper. It is aimed at Apple-device users who prefer writing with Apple Pencil, another stylus, or a finger and want more structure than a… Read the review →

Strengths and trade-offs

• Notes Writer — where it wins

  • Combines typed, handwritten, and sketched notes with PDF annotation
  • Search, scanning, form signing, and document organization in one app
  • Exports to PDF, ePub, HTML, TXT, Markdown, and other formats

  Where it doesn't

  • Available on Apple platforms rather than across desktop and mobile ecosystems
  • Real-time collaboration is not established as a core capability
  • Optional AI features may not suit users seeking a strictly manual workflow

• Penbook — where it wins

  • More than 400 stationery types and layouts, with page and cover customization
  • Imports PDFs as notebooks for annotation and editing
  • Searches handwritten notes and syncs devices through iCloud

  Where it doesn't

  • Free use is limited to one notebook at a time
  • Premium export and unlimited notebooks require a paid plan
  • Apple-focused platforms and a narrow integration set

• Notes Writer8.1/10 · Free plan

  A flexible Apple note app with handwriting, PDF annotation, scanning, and export tools.

  Visit Notes WriterFull verdict →
• Penbook8.0/10 · Free plan · 7-day trial

  A stationery-rich handwriting app for Apple devices, with PDF annotation and planner pages.

  Visit PenbookFull verdict →