Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Boostnote VS Notability

Compare Boostnote VS Notability and see what are their differences

Boostnote logo Boostnote

Boostnote is an open-source note-takingโ€‹ app.

Notability logo Notability

Combine handwriting, photos and typing in a single note to bring your projects to life. Use a wide range of note-taking and sketching tools to capture every detail. You can even add and annotate PDFs in Notability.
  • Boostnote Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-02-02
  • Notability Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02

Boostnote features and specs

  • Open Source
    Boostnote is an open-source application, allowing users and developers to review the code, contribute to its development, and ensure transparency.
  • Cross-Platform
    The application is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, macOS, and Linux, ensuring that users can access their notes from any device.
  • Markdown Support
    Boostnote supports Markdown, enabling users to format their notes with ease and create well-structured documents.
  • Offline Access
    Users can access and edit their notes even without an internet connection, making Boostnote a reliable tool for note-taking anywhere.
  • Developer-Friendly Features
    Boostnote includes several features aimed at developers, such as code syntax highlighting and snippets, making it a good choice for coding notes.

Possible disadvantages of Boostnote

  • Limited Collaboration
    Boostnote lacks robust collaboration features, which can be a drawback for teams looking to work together on shared notes in real-time.
  • Mobile App Limitations
    The mobile apps of Boostnote are not as feature-rich or polished as the desktop versions, which may limit usability on smartphones and tablets.
  • Complex Setup for Syncing
    Setting up syncing across devices requires the use of external services like Dropbox or Google Drive, which can be cumbersome for some users.
  • No Built-in Cloud Storage
    Unlike some other note-taking apps, Boostnote does not come with built-in cloud storage, requiring users to manage their own storage solutions for syncing notes.
  • Potential Performance Issues
    Some users have reported performance issues, particularly with larger notes or extensive use of code snippets, which can impact the user experience.

Notability features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Notability provides an intuitive and straightforward user interface, making it easy for users of all ages and technical abilities to navigate and use the app.
  • Multi-Platform Availability
    The app is available on iOS, iPadOS, and macOS, allowing users to access their notes across multiple Apple devices seamlessly.
  • Versatile Note-Taking
    Notability supports a wide range of note-taking formats, such as handwritten notes, text notes, audio recordings, and even web clips, enabling users to capture information in various forms.
  • Robust Annotation Tools
    Users can annotate PDFs and other documents easily with a variety of tools, including highlighters, pens, and shapes, enhancing the document review process.
  • Cloud Syncing and Backup
    Notability offers cloud syncing with services like iCloud, Google Drive, and Dropbox, ensuring that users' notes are backed up and accessible from anywhere.
  • Audio Recording Synchronization
    The app offers a unique feature that allows users to record audio while taking notes, with the ability to sync playback to match the timing of handwritten or typed notes.
  • Customizable Organization
    Users can organize their notes using dividers and subjects, allowing for a high degree of customization in how their notes are categorized.

Possible disadvantages of Notability

  • Platform Limitation
    Notability is only available on Apple devices, which excludes users who are on Android or Windows platforms.
  • Cost
    Although Notability offers a free version, many of the more advanced features are behind a premium subscription, which may be viewed as costly compared to one-time purchase apps.
  • Limited Export Options
    While the app supports exporting notes in formats like PDF, there are fewer options for exporting notes in other common formats like Word or Excel.
  • Learning Curve for Advanced Features
    Some users may find the more advanced tools and functionalities a bit complex, requiring additional time to learn and master.
  • Occasional Syncing Issues
    At times, users have reported experiencing delays or problems with the app's ability to sync notes across devices seamlessly.
  • Storage Consumption
    Given that Notability allows users to save audio recordings and high-resolution images within notes, the app can consume a significant amount of device storage space over time.

Analysis of Boostnote

Overall verdict

  • Boostnote is a good choice for developers who need a robust note-taking tool that caters specifically to their coding and technical documentation needs. Its open-source nature also allows for customization according to individual user preferences.

Why this product is good

  • Boostnote is a popular open-source note-taking application aimed at developers and programmers. It supports a variety of programming languages for syntax highlighting, Markdown support for structuring notes, and offline access, which are beneficial for users who need to manage code snippets or technical documents efficiently. Its cross-platform nature makes it accessible on different devices, although it might not have the collaborative features found in other note-taking apps like Evernote or Notion.

Recommended for

    Boostnote is recommended for developers, programmers, and technical writers who require a focused tool for managing code snippets, technical notes, and markdown documents. Itโ€™s especially valuable for those who prioritize offline access and open-source customization options.

Analysis of Notability

Overall verdict

  • Overall, Notability is considered a good software option for those in need of a comprehensive note-taking solution. Its combination of features, ease of use, and cross-platform availability makes it a valuable tool for a wide range of users.

Why this product is good

  • Notability is a popular note-taking application known for its versatility and user-friendly interface. It allows users to take handwritten or typed notes, annotate PDFs, and record audio during note-taking sessions. The app is highly favored by students, educators, and professionals for its seamless integration across devices, customizable features, and ability to organize notes efficiently.

Recommended for

  • Students looking for a tool to organize lectures and study materials
  • Professionals needing a reliable app for meetings and annotations
  • Educators who want to create interactive lesson plans and resources
  • Anyone seeking a versatile app for personal or professional note-taking and organization

Boostnote videos

Best Note Taking Software - Boostnote (Free)

Notability videos

Notability on the iPad | Walkthrough & Review โœ๏ธ

More videos:

  • Review - NOTABILITY VS. GOODNOTES 5 - Best iPad Note-Taking App (2021)
  • Review - The ULTIMATE Notability vs GoodNotes 5 Comparison Video! (2022)

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to Boostnote and Notability)
Note Taking
50 50%
50% 50
Productivity
100 100%
0% 0
Task Management
0 0%
100% 100
Tag
100 100%
0% 0

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare Boostnote and Notability

Boostnote Reviews

8 Best Free Google Keep Notes Alternatives for Easy Note-Taking
Boostnote is a note-taking app designed specifically for coders. It supports rich text and markdown language, making it ideal for writing code snippets. Boostnote offers real-time cloud sync and support for over 100 programming languages. It works on all major desktop platforms and is free to use.
The 7 Best Note-Taking Apps for Programmers and Coders
The best part about Boostnote is that itโ€™s free and open source, itโ€™s cross-platform, and your notes will sync across all platforms you use Boostnote on.

Notability Reviews

15 Best Notability Alternatives 2022
Notability is one of the most popular and reliable apps when it comes to creating handwritten, typed, or visual notes. Despite its notoriety, Notability is not without its shortcomings and may not be the best note-taking app for everyone.
Which App is Best for Taking Notes?
Notability also offers a unique audio recording option. You wonโ€™t find it in Good Notes. When using the app, users can record audio files while taking notes. When playing back audio, Notability will animate when the text was added to the page during the recording so that itโ€™s easy to know what prompted you to write something down.
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Boostnote might be a bit more popular than Notability. We know about 6 links to it since March 2021 and only 5 links to Notability. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

Boostnote mentions (6)

View more

Notability mentions (5)

  • Why do they make it so complicated?
    You are using a third party app (https://notability.com) for notes. Itโ€™s very likely it has it set to sync with iCloud as a default - in order for you to be able to access said notes from other devices as well. Source: about 3 years ago
  • Anyone else dislikes studying with soft copy notes?
    When I used ipad in sec school I found Notability to do wonders in making/editing notes, bonus if you have an apple pencil to go with it. Editing PDF, adding pics, arranging texts and diagrams, exporting, importing etc. Source: over 3 years ago
  • GoodNotes 5 is Now the Better Option than Notability
    If you were looking for a great writing option in the past, you often would have been recommended Goodnotes 5 or Notability, as often times it simply came down to personal preference. Both offered similar feature and worked great on the iPad with the Apple Pencil, so it was easy to see why both were pretty evenly matched with only a couple features or abilities to seperated them. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Pen down some thoughts in my journal after catching up with a designer friend.
    Oh nice! I think IPads have digital journals you can use so you can still doodle, draw maps, etc. Hereโ€™s one I found thatโ€™s highly rated: Notability. Source: over 3 years ago
  • What are your most used tools/products for essay writing?
    Notability - allows me to take notes on my iPad during lectures. Source: over 3 years ago

What are some alternatives?

When comparing Boostnote and Notability, you can also consider the following products

Joplin - Joplin is a free, open source note taking and to-do application, which can handle a large number of notes organised into notebooks. The notes are searchable, tagged and modified either from the applications directly or from your own text editor.

Evernote - Bring your life's work together in one digital workspace. Evernote is the place to collect inspirational ideas, write meaningful words, and move your important projects forward.

Standard Notes - A safe place for your notes, thoughts, and life's work

OneNote - Get the OneNote app for free on your tablet, phone, and computer, so you can capture your ideas and to-do lists in one place wherever you are. Or try OneNote with Office for free.

Workflowy - A better way to organize your mind.

Simplenote - The simplest way to keep notes. Light, clean, and free. Simplenote is now available for iOS, Android, Mac, and the web.