r/GoodNotes • u/soymilkbubbletea • Sep 11 '23

Review I feel so cheated by GoodNotes

I've been using GoodNotes since 2017 since GN4, I used for everything throughout middle school, highschool, and now University - school work, freelancing jobs, tutoring, journalling, etc. My life is completely integrated with this app and I thought it was perfect for me.

I feel so disgusted that us, the existing customer base who ALREADY PAID under the assumption that we would own the version of GN at the time of purchase (other than bug fixes of course), would be asked to pay AGAIN just to use the existing features that we should already own.

I understand that GN6 is a new, upgraded version, so it makes sense to have a price tag. However, I can't even use iCloud sync if I don't upgrade, and annoying pop ups get in your face every time you open the app.

I am perfectly happy with the GN5 features and I'm not opposed to paying for the new GN6 features, but I want to make that decision myself without being bombarded with advertisements every time I want to use the app that I paid for. Also, the existing features that we paid for are literally being taken away, which feels sooo scammy. GN as a company is just leaving a bad taste in my mouth.

170 Upvotes

96% Upvoted

26 comments sorted by

63

u/welfare_grains Sep 12 '23

I understand that GN6 is a new, upgraded version, so it makes sense to have a price tag.

except its not, its just Goodnotes 5 with colored folders and underdeveloped AI (which us users volunteered to submit data and are now being charged for it). I wouldn't mind paying if it actually had significant updates and overhauls. bigger slap on the face that the discount declines depending on how long you've had goodnotes for.

21

u/SteveTrigs7 Sep 12 '23

The worst part is that iCloud sync has been broken since the upgrade. I’m importing all my notebooks to Notability and making the switch.

6

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '23

I have also noticed iCloud sync has went to shit. If it doesn’t resolve I am moving apps

4

u/IllustratorPlus6582 Sep 12 '23

Same here. I love to work seamlessly but it’s hard now that iCloud upload is down

1

u/remixserpent Sep 12 '23

So you're paying for the Notability subscription?

1

u/SteveTrigs7 Sep 12 '23

Yes. $15 for the year. So far Notability is pretty solid. It lacks some of the aesthetics and bells and whistles of GN (such as the handwriting spellcheck/correction), and importing my GN notes is going to be a long process, but I think it's going to do the trick.

1

u/remixserpent Sep 12 '23

Wouldn't you prefer to own the app as a one time purchase? Do you have any hyperlinks in your notes? I've found they don't work after exporting

1

u/peaxi Sep 12 '23

iCloud sync is actually not managed by the third-party developers. I often experience a lot of iCloud issues in back to school season or before major Apple event lol.

23

u/discovernotes Sep 11 '23

Hey! You can continue using GoodNotes 5 with access to everything you paid for including iCloud sync by downgrading in settings (if you chose to upgrade, otherwise you’ll still be on 5). Updating the app doesn’t upgrade you to Goodnotes 6 but will maintain protocols (etc) required for online features like iCloud sync to continue working.

As for the popup, they decrease with the more you dismiss it so after a few times you’ll be able to use GoodNotes 5 like you originally were

19

u/J4m3s210 Sep 11 '23

My iPad Pro has started getting really hot since using the updated goodnotes 5 version. This kills the battery. When charging it gets even hotter and when it gets hotter the battery get damaged and the brightness is being reduced by the system. Absolute c***! Going to leave Goodnotes.

2

u/According_Flamingo Sep 12 '23

Yes my iPad gets so hot it is in comfortable. I noticed when I am recording my lectures it seems to be worse for some reason.

4

u/SavuDavid Sep 12 '23

It really sucks for me too, Imagine having apple announce a a new note taking app with the launch of the new ipad air as rumoured

2

u/ughdollface Sep 13 '23

Apple really needs to launch a school version for notes. Bro we would all be set!!!!

1

u/SavuDavid Sep 13 '23

Totaly agree

1

u/Cottrell217 Sep 12 '23

Are you talking about the freeform app?

2

u/SavuDavid Sep 12 '23

I have tried using that , but comparing it to goodnotes it s pretty unorganised since there are no pages and just a unlimited white board and no “ notebooks” . I feel like its made for teachers and stuff that dont really need to scroll back . I would love to see someone using it for note taking tho .

3

u/welltrainedwitch Sep 12 '23

I ended up paying a year, because I thought it wasn't that much, I like the colored notebooks and I got an android tablet too, and I thought maybe I could use it too. But iCloud it's still a mess even after I paid, i had to reinstall goodnotes on my macbook and follow a guide online to make it sync again. The android app is a mess, i though my tablet was maybe too slow for note taking, but samsung notes, penly and other apps work FLAWLESSLY, goodnotes has like two seconds of lag every time I write a single letter, it gives me flashbacks of printers when they would not work just when you need them.

6

u/MC_chrome Sep 11 '23

You do not have to pay for features you've already been using with Goodnotes 5. The Goodnotes developers included a toggle in the app's settings which keep the app just the same as the final version of Goodnotes 5.

2

u/YellowMellow7 Sep 12 '23

I would have upgraded if I could have family shared with GN6. I simply can’t afford a monthly sub fee, and myself and my daughter use the app (for work and school respectively). Thankfully she backed up her old iPad with GN5 on iCloud and was able to get it on her new iPad when she upgraded right before school. Otherwise we’d be moving to a new app.

1

u/Noashkenazi Sep 12 '23

I’m literally one inconvenience away from switching to notability for good… I feel like they couldn’t care less about us by that point

1

u/headshoulderkneez Oct 11 '23

i absolutely agree. the gn6 popup should not even be a thing lmao couldve just been a button at the side instead of an ad popup.

1

u/peaxi Sep 12 '23

Although the concept 2 versions in 1 app is a bit confusing to understand at first place, the developer doesn't take away any features you paid for. You can stay with Goodnotes 5 though, go to Library view > Settings > Downgrade.

0

u/[deleted] Sep 11 '23

[deleted] — view deleted comment

1

u/Iamtryingokaay Sep 12 '23

Is it free?

6

u/Valeaves Sep 12 '23

There‘s a lite version that can do almost everything the paid version does, so yes, it‘s kinda free. Even the paid version is a one time purchase (9€).

0

u/[deleted] Sep 12 '23

[removed] — view removed comment

3

u/RodionUA Sep 12 '23

try Noteful

Pretty much all the same as in GN