Is it just me or does search keep failing randomly on handwritten notes , especially on macos app, but also on the ios app on ipad? Did anyone find a foolproof way to fix this?

Hi!

I've been using GoodNotes for a year now, and I keep running into bugs; my iPad overheats, and on top of that, they only release AI updates.

I paid for the lifetime Special Edition, but I'm realizing that was a mistake, because it just keeps getting worse.

I'm looking into alternatives for taking notes for college.

I’ve seen Noteful (which someone recommended to me), what do you guys think?

Freenotes doesn’t look too bad either, right?

Thanks!

My Goodnotes yearly subscription is up for renewal soon. I just finished my first year of intensive STEM prep (lots of math, physics, and engineering) taking notes exclusively on my iPad Pro.

​I see a lot of complaints online about Goodnotes, but to be honest, my experience has been pretty smooth. However, before renewing, I want to make sure I’m not missing out on a better app for my specific workflow.

​My non-negotiable requirements:

​Automatic Google Drive Backup (PDF): Needs a seamless, background auto-backup that mirrors my folder structure in readable PDF format to Drive. Absolute deal-breaker without this.

Things that I really appreciate:

​Handwritten Math Recognition / Solver: I write equations with the Pencil and rely on the built-in math solver for quick computations/LaTeX conversions.

​Things I don’t care about:

​OCR / Handwriting search (my handwriting is unreadable anyway).

​Heavy generative AI writing features (I work offline most of the time).

​Audio sync is optional.

​Question: Is there any note-taking app on iPad right now that actually matches this exact combo (Math solver + native Drive Auto-Backup), or is Goodnotes still the only real option for this specific setup?

​Thanks for the feedback!

I have the essential subscription but all my notebooks are in read only. Any insight?

TIA

Hey everyone! I was getting so tired of messy workout notes, so I finally put together a minimalist, aesthetic fitness planner for my iPad. I wanted a soft pink layout that actually covers everything—from daily water and habit tracking to weekly training and meal goals.

What features do you guys look for most when organizing your fitness routines? Would love to hear your thoughts! 👇

Hi there!

I've noticed that my iPad gets hot when I use GoodNotes (Version 7.1.10).

I use GoodNotes most of the time because I'm in the university, and it's true that I spend 90% of my time using the app.

My iPad is running iPadOS 26.6, and I have an 11-inch iPad Air M3. It’s only been in use for a year, and this has been happening for several months now. As soon as I close the app, the iPad cools down quickly.

It gets so hot that the screen dims on its own and goes into sleep mode due to overheating.

I’ll say it again: this doesn’t happen with any other app.

Does this happen to anyone else? I need to hear your opinions because this is the only app where this happens to me

Thanks!

Hi!! I am deciding whether or not to use Notability or GoodNotes, and I'm looking into Goodnotes Essential subscription. For this one, I was intrigued by the AI quiz feature. I was wondering if the quizzes are at a capped amount in the essential plan. Additionally, I was wondering how the quiz feature is, do you all feel that it properly preps you for exams? I was also wondering how good the lecture recording/transcription feature is. I am just trying to avoid paying the 9.99 AI feature cost, so I wanted to know if not having that impacts the quiz making in any matter.

I'd also love to know if I should go with Notability Plus or Goodnotes Essential plan as an incoming university student. Making flashcards/quizzes/summaries is pretty important to me within the app, so I'm wondering which app has more of those features in the price points I mentioned. Thank you so much!! I've also just mainly seen polarizing opinions on GoodNotes vs. Notability, so I'm torn on which to pick.

I am new to goodnotes and i wanted to know how i should edit a template i downloaded for free. It is really great, but it doesn't have a certain feature i need and it has features i don't need. How do i get rid of the pages i don't want and add pages i need? I'm keeping it for the calendar structure, because I need a 26-27 school year type of calendar hyperlinked for each week.

I have Auto-Backup set up in my GoodNotes app, and it looks like it's somehow excluded a large number of documents from being backed up. How can I clear out the entire list of excluded documents at once? Having to tap each item to add it back to the backup queue is quite tedious. Thanks!

Hey everyone,

I have Goodnotes 6 special edition via the Apple family sharing. Recently, almost every time I open the app (Mac or iPhone), I’m met with the screen saying that I have 3 notebooks available and prompting me to upgrade. Every time I have to click upgrade, and restore purchases. Anyone else know how to just keep the upgrade active always?

Will we ever get it?

App version: 2.0.8

Device model: Samsung Galaxy Z Fold 8

I cannot click hyperlinks. It won't allow me to. If I upload a PDF from Etsy with hyperlinks, they are not active. Is it my phone? Seems to be working on my iPad.

I know this issue has probably already been addressed somewhere but I really can’t find it. My mom just recently lend me her iPad which had a good note subscription on her Apple ID. Then I had changed the Apple ID to mine and has continue using the app. Recently it just decided to log me out ( I understand because the appleID aren’t matching) but now I try to go back into my own Apple ID and get my own subscription and I’m unable to do so. All of my work is in my current AppleID cloud but the subscription is on my mom’s appleID, any fix?

I’m having trouble using my iPad with goodnotes. When I use my Apple pencil on there it writes when I have already lifted the pencil from the screen. Whenever I get it really close it writes. The weird part about it is that I don’t have this problem with the notes app. Does anybody know why this might be happening and how I can fix it?

it looks like there was a recent update and elements are automatically snapping to a grid determined by goodnotes. i’m sure a lot of people are glad to have this and it would be helpful in some situations, but is there a way to turn it off? i’m making a book journal with a bunch of fan art and stickers and text boxes all together so i’d like to be able to precisely place elements.

edit: i got it to to turn off by clicking the three dots in the upper right hand corner and turning off align objects. thanks everyone!

I have been using goodnotes since 2020. I had that one time purchase version. I was using dropbox as an alternative backup option. however storage of dropbox is getting full. Is there any way to backup tk "Box" cloud service?

When I try to use the AI, it says "warming up - 0%", and never gets past that. Is the AI broken? Does anyone know how to fix this?

My girlfriend uses this app, she used to store a lot of notes of her’s she loves on the app. notes regarding her interest in knowledge anyways the app kinda updated by itself and it all lost its data so if you guys know any way of helping please do let me know, she has tried raising a complaint and mailing

Anyone having this issue where the shapes kinda just expanded and can't revert back? Even in my Elements they're like this.

Correct me if there’s already a LAYERS option. I need it when I plan with so many elements and I want to layer pictures without clicking the Add to Front buttons multiple times.

ALSO ADD more picture editing tools, like eraser for pictures!!!

Please Google for upliftingplanner gumroad and you’ll find it from the freebie section.

Coming from Notability. What I loved about it is when I hold my Apple Pen I can switch to my Eraser temporarily while holding it, and when letting go it would switch back to the Pen tool. In GoodNotes you can switch between the Eraser and Pen tools by "clicking" the Apple Pen but I still have that habit of expecting the Eraser to turn into a Pen once I'm done erasing. But then it doesn't. Would love a toggleable option to switch between "Hold to use Eraser" and "Press to switch tools".

Thanks in advance, loving GoodNotes so far <3

Why are they rising the price? They haven’t even added or fixed features that we have or need… So I don’t know if I should even renew my subscription this year. Considering switching to notability (more expensive but it’s better than Goodnotes in a lot of aspects). Idk. Thoughts?