Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

Dropbox Paper VS Notability

Compare Dropbox Paper VS Notability and see what are their differences

Dropbox Paper logo Dropbox Paper

A collaborative document-editing service

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.
  • Dropbox Paper Landing page
    Landing page //
    2022-11-03
  • Notability Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-02

Dropbox Paper features and specs

  • Collaboration
    Real-time collaboration features allow multiple users to edit documents simultaneously, making it easier for teams to work together.
  • Integration with Dropbox
    Seamless integration with Dropbox cloud storage allows for easy access and management of files within the same ecosystem.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    Simple and clean interface makes it easy for users to create, edit, and manage documents without a steep learning curve.
  • Multimedia Support
    DropBox Paper allows embedding of various multimedia elements like images, videos, and links, enhancing the richness of the document.
  • Task Management Features
    Users can assign tasks, add due dates, and create to-do lists directly within documents, turning them into actionable workflows.
  • Markdown Support
    Supports markdown, making it useful for those who prefer writing with markdown syntax.

Possible disadvantages of Dropbox Paper

  • Limited Formatting Options
    Compared to other document editors like Microsoft Word or Google Docs, Dropbox Paper has fewer formatting tools and options.
  • Offline Access
    Offline functionality is limited, which can be a drawback for users who need to work without an internet connection.
  • Export Options
    Exporting documents to other formats like PDF or Word is less robust and can be inconvenient for users who need to use those formats.
  • Integration Limitations
    While Dropbox Paper integrates well with the Dropbox ecosystem, it has limited integrations compared to other productivity tools.
  • Performance Issues
    Some users report performance issues when dealing with large documents or teams, affecting the overall user experience.
  • Less Feature-Rich
    Not as feature-rich as competitors like Google Docs or Microsoft OneNote, lacking advanced features like AI-assisted writing.

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 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

Dropbox Paper videos

Dropbox Paper: Full Review (2019)

More videos:

  • Review - Google Docs vs Dropbox Paper
  • Review - How I Use Dropbox Paper to Run My Business

Notability videos

Notability on the iPad | Walkthrough & Review ✏️

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 Dropbox Paper and Notability)
Task Management
67 67%
33% 33
Note Taking
54 54%
46% 46
Project Management
87 87%
13% 13
Productivity
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 Dropbox Paper and Notability

Dropbox Paper Reviews

20 Obsidian Alternatives: Top Note-Taking Tools to Consider
Typically referred to as Paper, Dropbox Paper is a collaborative document editing software. According to the company, Paper is perfect for collaborating on creative work. With Paper, you can make meeting notes, assign to-dos or tasks, and mention people without leaving the document.
Source: clickup.com
8 Best Free Google Keep Notes Alternatives for Easy Note-Taking
Dropbox Paper is a powerful note-taking platform that allows for collaboration and integrates with Dropbox for seamless file sharing. It supports various media formats, including YouTube videos, code scripts, and audio recordings. You can create to-do lists, schedule work and meetings, and enjoy unlimited cloud storage and sync. Dropbox Paper is available on all major...
The best encrypted note taking apps
Dropbox Paper: Dropbox Paper is a familiar product to existing Dropbox users. It provides a very simple, minimalist text editor with a basic set of features for planning, distributing tasks, and working together - suggesting a more team-based usage context. Notes, as with all files on Dropbox, are not end-to-end encrypted. For Dropbox users, we recommend reading our blog on...
Source: www.skiff.com
The 11 Best Slite Alternatives in 2022- Free Tools Included!
Cloud storage giant Dropbox has its own Slite alternative known as Dropbox Paper. Paper is a collaborative document editor that brings coordination and creation in one place.
Source: remoteverse.com
Best Evernote Alternatives in 2021 for Serious Note Takers
Dropbox Paper is another powerful alternative to Evernote that’s ideal for team collaboration. In addition to allowing you to add and edit notes as a team, Dropbox Paper offers a task management tool that lets you assign to-do lists, add due dates, and mention team members in real time within the document. You can also drop a link to nearly anything in your note — YouTube...

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 won’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 it’s easy to know what prompted you to write something down.
Source: medium.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Notability seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 5 times since March 2021. 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.

Dropbox Paper mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of Dropbox Paper yet. Tracking of Dropbox Paper recommendations started around Mar 2021.

Notability mentions (5)

  • Why do they make it so complicated?
    You are using a third party app (https://notability.com) for notes. It’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: almost 2 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: about 2 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 2 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. Here’s one I found that’s highly rated: Notability. Source: over 2 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 2 years ago

What are some alternatives?

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

Quip - Quip is the modern productivity suite that simplifies your life and helps your team get work done faster.

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.

Google Docs - Create a new document and edit with others at the same time -- from your computer, phone or tablet. Get stuff done with or without an internet connection. Use Docs to edit Word files. Free from Google.

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.

Trello - Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It's free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.

Workflowy - A better way to organize your mind.