Software Alternatives & Startups

GoodNotes VS Cool Reader

Compare GoodNotes VS Cool Reader and see what are their differences

GoodNotes

GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

Rating
0 reviews
Cool Reader

Fast and small cross-platform eBook reader for desktops and handheld devices

Rating
0 reviews
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.

Which is more popular?

Based on our record, GoodNotes should be more popular than Cool Reader. It has been mentioned 5 times since March 2021.

social mentions
5 vs 2
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 162

Base details

Website, pricing, platforms and company facts side by side.

GoodNotes
Cool Reader
Website goodnotes.com sourceforge.net
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GoodNotes 6 features
Cool Reader 5 features
  • 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

  • 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.
  • Open Source
    Cool Reader is an open-source software, which means it is free to use and has the potential for community-driven improvements and customizations.
  • Format Support
    The software supports a wide range of eBook formats including EPUB, FB2, TXT, RTF, HTML, and MOBI, making it versatile for different reading needs.
  • Customization
    Cool Reader offers extensive customization options, allowing users to adjust font sizes, styles, line spacing, and backgrounds to suit their reading preferences.
  • Cross-Platform
    It is available on multiple platforms, including Windows, Linux, and Android, providing flexibility for users to read on different devices.
  • Lightweight and Fast
    The software is lightweight and optimized for performance, ensuring quick loading times and smooth operation even on older hardware.

Possible disadvantages

  • User Interface
    The user interface may feel outdated compared to modern eBook readers, lacking some of the sleek and intuitive design elements.
  • Feature Set
    While it supports basic functionality, Cool Reader may not have some of the advanced features found in commercial eBook readers, such as integrated dictionaries or syncing across devices.
  • Technical Knowledge
    Being open-source, it might require a bit more technical knowledge to set up and configure compared to more polished, commercial products.
  • Limited Support
    Since it is a community-driven project, users might encounter limited official support and may have to rely on forums or community help for troubleshooting.
  • Updates
    The frequency and reliability of updates can be inconsistent, which might lead to compatibility issues with newer file formats or operating system versions.

Analysis

An editorial look at what each product does well and who it suits.

GoodNotes
Cool Reader

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.

No analysis of Cool Reader yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GoodNotes 3 videos + Add
Cool Reader 3 videos + Add

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

More videos

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

Review Cool Reader

More videos

  • - Cool Reader (by Vadim Lopatin) - book reading app for Android.
  • - Cool Reader - Лучшая читалка на Android ( Review)

Category popularity

How often each product is chosen within a category, 0–100% relative to the other.

Score bands 0–20 21–40 41–50 51–60 61–100
GoodNotes
Cool Reader
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

Share your experience with using GoodNotes and Cool Reader. For example, how are they different and which one is better?

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Reviews and articles

External articles and on-site reviews we used to compare the two products.

GoodNotes no reviews yet
Cool Reader no reviews yet
  • 15 Best Notability Alternatives 2022
    rigorousthemes.com · May 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...

We have no reviews of Cool Reader yet. Be the first one to post

Social recommendations and mentions

Recommendations tracked on public social media and blogs since March 2021.

GoodNotes 5 mentions
Cool Reader 2 mentions
  • 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... Source: almost 5 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... Source: almost 5 years ago

View more

  • Recommended E-reader? [more in comments]
    An Android tablet and the CoolReader app. For me, it's simply the best eReader experience available. It's incredibly customisable. The only downside is it doesn't support PDF or AZW3, both of which can be reformatted to your preferred... Source: almost 4 years ago
  • E-Reader for Windows 10
    Cool reader is also another option https://sourceforge.net/projects/crengine/. Source: over 5 years ago

Alternatives to GoodNotes and Cool Reader

When comparing GoodNotes and Cool Reader, you can also consider the following products.