Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GoodNotes VS ONLYOFFICE

Compare GoodNotes VS ONLYOFFICE and see what are their differences

GoodNotes logo GoodNotes

GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

ONLYOFFICE logo ONLYOFFICE

ONLYOFFICE is a complete office and productivity suite.
  • GoodNotes Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05
  • ONLYOFFICE Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-10-20

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.

ONLYOFFICE features and specs

  • Compatibility
    ONLYOFFICE is highly compatible with Microsoft Office formats (DOCX, XLSX, PPTX) and also supports other common document formats like PDF, ODF, and more.
  • Collaboration
    It provides real-time collaborative editing features, allowing multiple users to work on a document simultaneously with various co-editing and commenting functionalities.
  • Cross-Platform
    ONLYOFFICE is available on multiple platforms including Windows, macOS, and Linux, enabling users to work seamlessly across different operating systems.
  • Integrations
    It integrates well with third-party services and platforms such as Google Drive, Dropbox, and Nextcloud for enhanced functionality and ease of access to files.
  • Open Source
    ONLYOFFICE offers an open-source version, giving users the ability to review, modify, and improve the source code according to their needs.
  • Interface
    The user interface is clean and modern, designed to be intuitive for users coming from other popular office suites like Microsoft Office.

Possible disadvantages of ONLYOFFICE

  • Resource Usage
    ONLYOFFICE can be resource-intensive, particularly when handling large or complex documents, which might slow down older or less powerful computers.
  • Features
    While feature-rich, it may lack some advanced functionalities available in other established office suites, particularly those tailored for very specific or advanced use cases.
  • Learning Curve
    New users, especially those accustomed to other office suites, might face a slight learning curve initially due to differences in the user interface and feature set.
  • Dependence on Internet
    Some collaboration features are dependent on internet connectivity, which can be a limitation in environments with unreliable internet access.
  • Support and Documentation
    While there is a community and some official documentation, the level of support and abundance of tutorials might not be as comprehensive as those available for more mainstream office suites.
  • Security Concerns
    As with any software that handles sensitive data, there can be concerns over data security and privacy, particularly with the cloud components of ONLYOFFICE.

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.

Analysis of ONLYOFFICE

Overall verdict

  • ONLYOFFICE is a solid choice for users looking for an affordable, versatile office suite that offers strong collaboration capabilities and extensive format support. Whether you need basic document handling or advanced office productivity, it can serve as a reliable alternative to pricier office solutions.

Why this product is good

  • ONLYOFFICE offers a comprehensive suite of office applications that are compatible with Microsoft Office, making it easy to use for individuals and businesses familiar with traditional office software.
  • It provides a collaborative platform which is beneficial for teams, allowing real-time co-editing and file sharing within the cloud.
  • The software supports multiple formats and offers robust functionality including document, spreadsheet, and presentation tools.
  • It has both cloud-based and on-premises deployment options, which offer flexibility depending on user needs and privacy concerns.
  • ONLYOFFICE has a clean, intuitive user interface, making it easy to navigate even for those less tech-savvy.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized businesses seeking a cost-effective, collaborative office suite.
  • Educational institutions that need versatile, easy-to-use software for staff and students.
  • Individuals and teams that require compatibility with Microsoft Office formats but prefer lower cost alternatives.
  • Organizations that prioritize data privacy and flexibility in deployment, allowing optional on-premises hosting.

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

ONLYOFFICE videos

OnlyOffice - Key Feature Goodness

More videos:

  • Review - OnlyOffice - This may be the Office you're looking for
  • Review - OnlyOffice, a free, self hosted,, open source office suite that can replace Microsoft Office easily!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GoodNotes and ONLYOFFICE)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
32 32%
68% 68
Office Suites
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 ONLYOFFICE

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.

ONLYOFFICE Reviews

25 Best Asana Alternatives & Competitors for Project Management in 2024
The next Asana alternative is ONLYOFFICE, a feature-rich project tool complete with collaborative online document editors for all types of teams and industries. In addition, ONLYOFFICEโ€™s project hierarchy is easy to customize using milestones, tasks, and subtasks for optimal organization.
Source: clickup.com
Top Alternatives to Microsoft Office Suite
ONLYOFFICE combines document editing, project management, and CRM capabilities in a single platform. Its versatility and integration options make it suitable for businesses looking to centralize their operations.
Source: saaszeal.com
The Best 21 Sharepoint Alternatives in 2019
ONLYOFFICE will let you doubt the necessity of a physical office by offering hosting services with many additional features. Hosting companies are experts at securing online information. Because theyโ€™re knowledgeable about hosting, they can help you keep your companyโ€™s documents safe. They have expert encryption procedures and portal access features. This means you can store...
7 SharePoint Alternatives that Actually Get the Job Done
ONLYOFFICE is a cloud office solution to help teams share documents. Its primary selling point is that itรขย€ย™s compatible with Microsoft Suite. While itรขย€ย™s not that sophisticated, ONLYOFFICE is certainly cheaper than some other SharePoint alternative options.
Source: www.process.st

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, GoodNotes 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.

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: about 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

ONLYOFFICE mentions (0)

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

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GoodNotes and ONLYOFFICE, 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.

LibreOffice - Free office suite, open source, and compatible with .doc, .docx, .xls, .xlsx, .ppt, .pptx files. Updated regularly โ€“ download for free. Originally based on OpenOffice.org.

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.

Asana - Asana project management is an effort to re-imagine how we work together, through modern productivity software. Fast and versatile, Asana helps individuals and groups get more done.

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.

Redmine - Flexible project management web application