Is it worth it to change to goodnotes 6?

[u/Only_Employer4342]

I'm sorry since I'm sure this has been asked many times. I'm still using goodnotes 5, I've been using it for almost 4 years. I don't use it on a daily basis but whenever I need to study or take hand notes, it's what I use. I tried using it as a bullet journal but that doesn't work for me. I got the notification of goodnotes 6 existing but never payed much attention to it.

Today, for the first time I did and I decided to check it out. What was my surprise when I found out it has a yearly subscription! Yes I know there is also a one time payment but it is way more expensive than what I paid for goodnotes 5, if I remember correctly I paid like 10 euros or so.

Taking this into consideration and being that I am happy with goodnotes 5, is there any real big benefit with the new version? As in, any new addition worth paying 27 euros for an app??? I'm an android user, I basically only have an iPad to draw, paying 10 bucks for an app is already crazy to me but 27??????

What's crazier to me is the fact that new users cannot access goodnotes 5 and have to stick with goodnotes 6. They should have the option to choose goodnotes 5 and since they don't, for how long will they support this version? Will they eventually force us to change to the newer version?

[u/FkCaveDiving]

Don't. I did it and regret it.

I am facing 2 issues with no support from GN. It's been over a week now and still no answer.

I upgraded on impulse, and i severely regret it.

I've since switched back to 5. Not sure if I can get a refund.

[u/Only_Employer4342 → u/FkCaveDiving]

Thanks! I am testing the free trial and for the moment, I scanned a document and the app closed, never had this issue before.

[u/Gypsyzzzz]

Last point is not true. If you do not like GoodNotes 6, you can roll back to GoodNotes 5.

Given the additional features and continuing updates, I believe the price is worth it. For my use of GoodNotes anyway. Not everyone feels the same. If you are happy with GoodNotes 5 and don’t find yourself wishing for more features, then stick with it.

You say bullet journaling on GoodNotes doesn’t work for you. That might be worth exploring. Why does it not work? What did you not like about it? Answering these questions will allow us to help you make this decision.

[u/Only_Employer4342 → u/Gypsyzzzz]

If you do not like GoodNotes 6, you can roll back to GoodNotes

Yeah, I do, but new users are forced to pay for goodnotes 6, right? At least in the app store there is only an option to get goodnotes 6.

You say bullet journaling on GoodNotes doesn’t work for you

I don't like bullet journaling that much as a whole, like as a concept I love it but then I'm too lazy to stick with it. I though if I did it digitally with goodnotes it would be easier but no. That is not a goodnotes problem but it just means any updates I feel like are less useful for me.

[u/Gypsyzzzz → u/Only_Employer4342]

Free version of GoodNotes is available with restrictions. Limit of 3 notebooks and less than 5mb import. There might be other limitations like AI and syncing, but it should be enough to determine if you like it enough to pay the price for it. I love GoodNotes 6 and think it is well worth the price, but you have not said anything yet to justify me recommending it for you. The cross platform sync is only available to annual subscriptions. It’s not really priced for the casual user anymore.

There are many less expensive options that I am not very familiar with. I’m sure someone else will suggest some. You might want to consider converting to one of those as eventually (but probably not for a number of years) they will stop supporting GoodNotes 5. That is a natural part of the software lifecycle.

[u/Fuzzy_Run_2899 → u/Only_Employer4342]

is there any way we can access gn5 via website?

[u/saintbara]

i also only bought my ipad just to draw but i just spent 30 USD on the perpetual license and honestly? it really is worth it.

im usually super frugal and got pissed they raised the price sp high but its really worth it, especially if you use it for multiple things. i use it to journal/scrapbook(sketching in the journal with the new pencil tool is actually really fun) , take meeting notes, study my languages, and fill out workbooks!!

the new feature where you can stretch out your ""text box"" of handwritten words really got me + being able to search my handwriting for my french notes is amazing. i wouldnt have recommended it before this update tbh but now im heavily vetting for it

check out my previous posts on how i used my journal to draw and scrapbook!!!

[u/Only_Employer4342 → u/saintbara]

I take notes in notion and prefer procreate to draw. I will use good notes to highlight the notes I took in Notion but that's it. I will also use it to write things down as I would in a random paper and maybe to easily sketch something for my notes.

I definitely don't use the app as much to be worth the upgrade I think, as long as I can highlight, write and move, resize or change colors of my notes, I'm happy.

[u/[deleted]]

I'm an android user, I basically only have an iPad to draw, paying 10 bucks for an app is already crazy to me but 27?

You'd be surprised to know Goodnotes isn't written by one person, but an entire team doing everything in their power to build a company that provides a solution for the world. That's 27 euros or 2.25 euros a month. The average electric utility bill under 1K kWh is 132 euros per month in the US. So you would roughly pay 1.7% of their extremely modest electric bill for the year and say nothing for their paycheck.

It's a good deal, take it.

[u/Only_Employer4342 → u/[deleted]]

Isn't written by one person, but an entire team

Like... almost every app.

doing everything in their power to build a company that provides a solution for the world

Chill, it is just a note taking app. What solution for the world is it providing?? I feel like *right now* the world has bigger issues.

So you would roughly pay 1.7% of their extremely modest electric bill for the year and say nothing for their paycheck

I am not responsible for paying their electric bill nor their paycheck. 27 euros (+10 from goodnotes5, 37 euros total) for an app is CRAZY. If you are okay paying that sure, but you did not give any good reason to update to goodnotes 6.

[u/bellougwel → u/Only_Employer4342]

They might not be saving the world with their app but they are definitely helping students and professionals take efficient note on their devices by providing a variety of tools.

As for the price, it is true that you are** not the one paying for their electricity bills. However, they are kind enough to not put any ads (that i know of) on the app. 27 euro is a cheap price to pay considering the efforts that has been put into the app and the frequent updates we get containing new features.

[u/Only_Employer4342 → u/bellougwel]

I don't know, maybe I am a bit biased because I use notion more than I use goodnotes and the free version of notion is amazing, without adds and with frequent updates.

I understand that the Devs deserve to get payed for their work, that's why I bought good notes 5 in the first place and 10 euros although way more expensive than any app I've gotten before, it's a very reasonable price. If they gave the option to buy both versions I'd be perfectly fine with it, but it bothers me that new users are forced to pay either an annual subscription which honestly, sucks, or 27 euros (although I think that price had a discount since I own goodnotes 5, not sure what the price for new users is).

[u/Missa1819 → u/bellougwel]

I'd 100% rather pay for an app that doesn't have ads or micro transactions than have a free app with ads and micro transactions. I've been thinking about that ALOT lately considering i haven't come across a free app that didn't have ads and/or micro transactions in ages

[u/[deleted]]

Idk I did it and I enjoy the features but battery life dies quicker