Best Penly Alternatives in 2026
The top Penly alternatives are Goodnotes, Notability and MyScript Notes: 15 handwritten notes software our editors would look at instead of Penly, in our ranking order.
Penly: A paid Android app for stylus notes, PDF annotation, and digital planners. Where it falls short: available only on android..
Switching from Penly? For most handwritten notes software buyers the best Penly alternative is Goodnotes, built for cross-platform note takers and collaborative teams.
Why People Look for a Penly Alternative
- Available only on Android
- Requires a paid purchase; there is no free plan
- Google Drive syncing is limited to Android devices
- No free plan — 15 of the alternatives below have it
Quick Picks by What You Need
- Best overallGoodnotes9.2
Cross-platform note takers and collaborative teams
Visit Goodnotes - Best free optionGoodnotes9.2
Has a free plan (Penly has none)
Visit Goodnotes
All 15 Penly Alternatives, Ranked
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.
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Best forCross-platform note takers and collaborative teams
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.2 vs 7.0
A flexible digital notebook with offline editing, collaboration, and AI features.
9.2/10★★★★★Visit Goodnotes -
Best forStudents who want audio-linked notes and study tools
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 9.0 vs 7.0
A handwriting and study workspace with synced audio, AI tools, and collaboration.
9.0/10★★★★☆Visit Notability -
Best forHandwriting, math, and flexible page layouts
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.8 vs 7.0
A flexible handwriting app for notes, math, diagrams, and annotated PDFs.
8.8/10★★★★☆Visit MyScript Notes -
Best forBuyers seeking a low-cost, multi-platform notebook
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.6 vs 7.0
A low-cost notebook for handwriting, PDF annotation, and audio, with a free tier to start.
8.6/10★★★★☆Visit Noteshelf -
Best forApple users wanting feature-rich handwritten notes
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.4 vs 7.0
A broad Apple note-taking app that pairs Pencil writing with study and collaboration tools.
8.4/10★★★★☆Visit CollaNote -
Best forStylus users mixing notes with visual projects
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.2 vs 7.0
A visual notebook that combines stylus notes, PDF markup, audio and mood boards.
- Audio recording
- Handwriting to text
- PDF annotation
8.2/10★★★★☆Visit NoteLedge -
Best forApple users organizing notes and annotated PDFs
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.1 vs 7.0
A flexible Apple note app with handwriting, PDF annotation, scanning, and export tools.
8.1/10★★★★☆Visit Notes Writer -
Best forApple Pencil users who want planners and templates
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 8.0 vs 7.0
A stationery-rich handwriting app for Apple devices, with PDF annotation and planner pages.
8.0/10★★★★☆Visit Penbook -
Best forAndroid users annotating PDFs or teaching
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.9 vs 7.0
Android handwriting app for notes, PDF markup, signatures, and classroom presentations.
7.9/10★★★★☆Visit Squid -
Best forreMarkable users who need notes on other devices
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.8 vs 7.0
A companion app for reMarkable tablet users who want their notes across devices.
- Offline mode
- Handwriting to text
- PDF annotation
7.8/10★★★★☆Visit reMarkable -
Best forMobile users who want simple searchable notes
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.7 vs 7.0
A free mobile notebook for handwriting, PDF markup, and searchable notes.
- Audio recording
- Offline mode
- Handwriting to text
7.7/10★★★★☆Visit Kilonotes -
Best forDesktop users who want free PDF annotation tools
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.6 vs 7.0
A capable free desktop app for handwritten notes, drawing, and PDF annotation.
7.6/10★★★★☆Visit Xournal++ -
Best forLinux users who prefer an open-source canvas
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.5 vs 7.0
A free, open-source Linux canvas for handwriting, sketching and PDF markup.
- Offline mode
- PDF annotation
7.5/10★★★★☆Visit Rnote -
Best forCross-platform users who want flexible handwriting edits
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.4 vs 7.0
A handwriting-first app with reflow, split view, and shared whiteboarding.
7.4/10★★★★☆Visit Stylus Labs -
Best forOpen-source users syncing handwritten notes across devices
- Better than Penly:
- Free plan
- Editor score 7.3 vs 7.0
Open-source handwriting notes with encrypted sync and cloud or self-hosted options.
7.3/10★★★★☆Visit Saber
Penly Alternatives: Common Questions
What is the best alternative to Penly?
Goodnotes: #1 in our Handwritten Notes Software ranking, with an editor score of 9.2 out of 10. A flexible digital notebook with offline editing, collaboration, and AI features.
Is there a free alternative to Penly?
Yes. Goodnotes, Notability, MyScript Notes, Noteshelf and CollaNote have a free plan or a free tier (15 of the 15 alternatives on this page).
Why do people look for Penly alternatives?
Available only on Android; Requires a paid purchase; there is no free plan; Google Drive syncing is limited to Android devices.
How do I switch from Penly?
Export your data from Penly (most tools have an export in their settings). Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one. Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on. Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Penly.
How to Switch from Penly
- Export your data from Penly (most tools have an export in their settings).
- Sign up for the alternative; start on its free plan or trial if it has one.
- Import your export and set up the integrations your team relies on.
- Run both side by side for a short while, then cancel Penly.
Penly vs Each Alternative
| # | Tool | Free plan | Paid from | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 18 | Penly | No | 7.0 | |
| 1 | Goodnotes | Yes | 9.2 | |
| 2 | Notability | Yes | $14.99/user/yr | 9.0 |
| 3 | MyScript Notes | Yes | 8.8 | |
| 4 | Noteshelf | Yes | $9.99 one-time | 8.6 |
| 5 | CollaNote | Yes | 8.4 | |
| 6 | NoteLedge | Yes | 8.2 | |
| 7 | Notes Writer | Yes | 8.1 | |
| 8 | Penbook | Yes | 8.0 | |
| 9 | Squid | Yes | $4/user/yr | 7.9 |
| 10 | reMarkable app | Yes | 7.8 | |
| 11 | Kilonotes | Yes | 7.7 | |
| 12 | Xournal++ | Yes | Free | 7.6 |
| 13 | Rnote | Yes | Free | 7.5 |
| 14 | Stylus Labs Write | Yes | 7.4 | |
| 15 | Saber | Yes | 7.3 |
Reviewed by iTechGuides Editors · Editorial team · Updated Oct 2026
Last updated · How we research and update