Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GoodNotes VS Canva

Compare GoodNotes VS Canva and see what are their differences

Note: These products don't have any matching categories. If you think this is a mistake, please edit the details of one of the products and suggest appropriate categories.

GoodNotes logo GoodNotes

GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

Canva logo Canva

Canva is a graphic-design platform with a drag-and-drop interface to create print or visual content while providing templates, images, and fonts. Canva makes graphic design more straightforward and accessible regardless of skill level.
  • GoodNotes Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05
  • Canva Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-01-10

Canva is a web-based design platform allowing users to quickly and easily create stunning visuals. With various templates and tools, businesses can create professional designs for social media posts, presentations, flyers, and more. Canva also allows users to save templates and collaborate with other designers, making it great for teams working together on projects. Not only is Canva easy to use, but it is also affordable, making it an excellent option for businesses on a budget. Use Canva Teams to connect with your team members and work on a project from different locations, making tracking progress and managing deadlines easy. You can also upload and store files, assign tasks, and communicate with each other in one centralized place. With Canva Teams, you can quickly and easily create stunning visually pleasing visuals that effectively communicate the project's message.

GoodNotes

Pricing URL
-
$ Details
-
Release Date
-

Canva

Website
canva.com
$ Details
freemium $12.99 / Monthly (Pro)
Release Date
2013 August
Startup details
Country
Australia
City
Sydney
Founder(s)
Mel Perkins, Cliff Obrecht, Cameron Adams
Employees
2,000 - 4,999

GoodNotes features and specs

  • Handwriting Recognition
    GoodNotes offers OCR (Optical Character Recognition), making handwritten notes searchable and easily convertible to text.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The application features an intuitive and well-organized interface, making it easy for users to navigate and use.
  • Cross-Platform Syncing
    GoodNotes allows for seamless synchronization across multiple devices, including iOS and macOS, ensuring your notes are always up to date.
  • Variety of Paper Templates
    The app offers a wide array of paper templates and covers, allowing users to customize their notebooks according to their needs.
  • Collaboration Tools
    GoodNotes supports collaborative note-taking, allowing multiple users to work on a single document simultaneously.
  • Annotation Features
    Users can annotate PDFs, images, and other documents, making it versatile for different types of note-taking and review.

Possible disadvantages of GoodNotes

  • Platform Limitation
    GoodNotes is currently available only on iOS and macOS platforms, limiting its accessibility for users on other operating systems.
  • No Audio Recording
    Unlike some other note-taking apps, GoodNotes does not offer an audio recording feature, which could be a downside for users who like to sync notes with lectures or meetings.
  • Learning Curve
    Although the interface is user-friendly, some of the advanced features can have a steep learning curve for new users.
  • Subscription Model
    While GoodNotes offers a variety of features, it comes with a subscription cost, which may be a consideration for budget-conscious users.
  • File Size
    Notes and documents in GoodNotes can become quite large, potentially taking up substantial storage space on your device.
  • Limited Cloud Storage
    Although GoodNotes supports iCloud syncing, it does not offer integration with other popular cloud storage services like Google Drive or Dropbox out-of-the-box.

Canva features and specs

  • Document Creation
    Writing AI
  • Custom Prints
    Over 30 products to pick from
  • Presentations
    magic shortcuts, animations, recording
  • Websites
    Performance Tracking
  • Video Editor
    One-click video background remover, animations
  • Social Media Content Creation
    Resizing options, content planner
  • Whiteboards
    Flowcharts, planning, and brainstorming
  • HEIC to JPG Converter
    Convert HEIC to JPG to easily share images on any platform or device using Canva's HEIC to JPG converter
  • PDF to JPG Converter
    Convert PDF to JPG to easily share images on any platform or device using Canva's PDF to JPG Converter

Analysis of GoodNotes

Overall verdict

  • GoodNotes is highly regarded among note-taking apps, particularly for iPad users who benefit from its extensive features optimized for using the Apple Pencil. While primarily designed for iOS devices, it offers a solid option for digital note-taking with its wide range of functionalities and continued updates that enhance user experience.

Why this product is good

  • GoodNotes is widely appreciated for its intuitive user interface, robust organizational tools, and advanced note-taking features. It provides users with the ability to write and sketch naturally using a stylus, as well as the capability to import, annotate, and export documents in various formats. Its synchronization across devices through iCloud allows for seamless access to notes from multiple locations, making it convenient for students, professionals, and creatives alike.

Recommended for

  • Students who want a reliable digital notebook for organizing class notes, especially those with an iPad and Apple Pencil.
  • Professionals looking for a powerful tool to manage meeting notes, planning, and document annotations.
  • Creatives who require a versatile app for sketching, brainstorming, and conceptual work.

GoodNotes videos

GoodNotes 5 Review - Best iPad Pro Note taking app?? (2019)

More videos:

  • Review - GoodNotes 5 Walkthrough | iPad
  • Review - Notability vs Goodnotes 5 - The Best iPad Note Taking App (2019) | KharmaMedic

Canva videos

Canva Review

More videos:

  • Review - Canva Pro | 7 Reasons To Upgrade To Canva Pro

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GoodNotes and Canva)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Design Tools
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
100 100%
0% 0
AI
0 0%
100% 100

User comments

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Reviews

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

GoodNotes Reviews

15 Best Notability Alternatives 2022
Automatically sync your note to the cloud to ensure the updated versions are always available on your app. GoodNotes allows you to import files, take photos, scan documents, and weave them into your notes to make them more comprehensive.

Canva Reviews

  1. Ai-doc-suite
    ยท Working at AI Doc Suite ยท
    Powerful design platform with great usability

    Canva is one of the most accessible design platforms available today. It significantly lowers the barrier to creating presentations, social graphics, marketing materials, and even short videos.

    The interface is intuitive, especially for non-designers. Templates are well organized, and collaboration features make it practical for teams.

    Strengths: - Very easy to use - Large template library - Strong collaboration tools - Fast cloud-based workflow

    Limitations: - Advanced layout control is sometimes restricted - Heavier projects can feel limited compared to professional desktop tools

    Overall, Canva succeeds at simplifying design for everyday creators while maintaining enough flexibility for professional use cases.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Google Docs, Notion, Smallpdf, Adobe Express
  2. AbigailLaurens
    Easy and Versatile Design Tool โ€” Great for Quick Projects

    Iโ€™ve been using Canva for everything from social media graphics to presentations and simple flyers, and itโ€™s one of the most accessible design tools Iโ€™ve encountered. The drag-and-drop interface makes it really easy to produce clean, visually appealing designs even if you donโ€™t have a background in graphic design. The huge template and asset library means I rarely start from scratch.

    It integrates well with cloud storage and collaborative editing, which makes working with team members or clients straightforward. For quick turnaround projects, Canva gets me from idea to finished design in minutes โ€” no steep learning curve.

    That said, some of the better assets and premium features (like certain templates, background removers, and export options) are locked behind Canva Pro, which adds ongoing cost. And while Canva is excellent for basic to intermediate design, it doesnโ€™t replace professional tools like Adobe Illustrator or InDesign when you need fine-tuned control or advanced features.

    Overall, Canva is a fantastic tool for fast, easy design work โ€” especially for non-designers

    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Extremely user-friendly drag-and-drop design interface.
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Ome useful features and assets are locked behind the pro plan.
  3. Yansiliang
    ยท Working at Xspiral ยท
    Good

    good


Free Custom URL Shortener: Top Options in 2026
Canvaโ€™s free URL shortener is built directly into its design platform and powered by Bitly. If you already use Canva for graphics, this free custom URL shortener option is convenient. The free plan allows up to 10 short links per month and two QR codes per month. You get basic analytics including total clicks and location data. However, custom domains are not available on...
Source: trnqify.com
From Static to Magic: Top 4 AI Image to Video Generators Tested (2026 Tech Review)
Everybody knows Canva. It is the undisputed king of democratized graphic design. But recently, Canva integrated some serious artificial intelligence firepower directly into its ecosystem.
Source: dicloak.com
7 Best Pinterest Pin Generators in 2026 (AI + Free Options)
VistaCreate (formerly Crello) is a Canva competitor that offers a solid library of Pinterest pin templates at a lower price point. Like Canva, itโ€™s a design tool rather than a true pin generator โ€” so it wonโ€™t automate your workflow โ€” but itโ€™s a budget-friendly option for creators who want more template variety without paying Canva Pro prices.
Source: techinkers.com
Best Database Diagram Tools โ€“ Free and Paid
Canva: Although primarily known for graphic design, Canva offers templates and easy-to-use features that can be adapted for creating simple ER diagrams, especially for presentations or non-technical stakeholders.
Source: blog.devart.com
12 Best Free PosterMyWall Alternatives and Competitors
Canva is a user-friendly tool that helps people create stunning, creative content without any hassle. Itโ€™s great for making social site images, posters, videos, websites, and much more. Whether youโ€™re a beginner or a pro, Canva can boost your design skills.
Source: mockey.ai

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Canva seems to be a lot more popular than GoodNotes. While we know about 227 links to Canva, we've tracked only 5 mentions of GoodNotes. 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.

GoodNotes mentions (5)

  • Dislike recent update on speech notes regarding UI
    Add your feedback to the support thread on goodnotes.com. Source: over 3 years ago
  • Some links work, some don't
    There's a share.goodnotes.com link and others are just goodnotes.com. I could only get one notebook to have the fist link a few months ago and it works for viewing it online on Windows on any browser, the other one just takes me to a page telling me to launch the app which I can only do on Apple devices. Is there any way to get the other type of link or was it just an experiment? Source: over 4 years ago
  • Paid opportunity for USF students!
    GoodNotes App is looking for Content Creators to help us build up study materials on our new platform- GoodNotes Community. GoodNotes is a digital note taking app- check us out here. We have just launched an exciting new product within our app- a note sharing platform. We are looking for students in USF studying either STEM or Business related disciplines. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Visual productivity app?
    It sounds like you need something like GoodNotes 5 or Miro. Source: almost 5 years ago
  • Would yโ€™all be interested in a well-designed digital paper planner made specifically for folks with ADHD?
    Digital paper planners are like physical planners but you can store and write in them inside an app like Goodnotes (http://goodnotes.com) using a tablet and stylus. Source: about 5 years ago

Canva mentions (227)

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What are some alternatives?

When comparing GoodNotes and Canva, you can also consider the following products

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.

Adobe Photoshop - Adobe Photoshop is a webtop application for editing images and photos online.

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.

PicMonkey - PicMonkey is a feature-rich online photo editor that works right in your browser; no downloads...

RedNotebook - RedNotebook is a software that format, tag and search entries and add pictures, links and customizable templates, spell check notes, and export to plain text, HTML, Latex or PDF.

Piktochart - Piktochart for Business Storytelling