Software Alternatives & Startups

GoodNotes VS PDF Viewer

Compare GoodNotes VS PDF Viewer and see what are their differences

GoodNotes

GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

Rating
0 reviews
PDF Viewer

Read, review, and annotate PDFs with ease

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 PDF Viewer. It has been mentioned 5 times since March 2021.

social mentions
5 vs 3
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 95

Base details

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

GoodNotes
PDF Viewer
Website goodnotes.com pdfviewer.io
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GoodNotes 6 features
PDF Viewer 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.
  • Accessibility
    PDF Viewer is accessible online via any browser, meaning users do not need to download or install any software.
  • Cross-Platform Support
    The viewer works on various operating systems and devices, providing flexibility for different users.
  • User-Friendly Interface
    The interface is simple and intuitive, making it easy for users of all skill levels to navigate and view documents.
  • Features
    Offers features like zooming, searching within documents, and bookmarking, enhancing the user experience.
  • No Installation Required
    As a web-based application, there is no need for users to install dedicated software, saving disk space and setup time.

Possible disadvantages

  • Internet Dependency
    Requires an internet connection to access, which may not be suitable for users with limited or no internet access.
  • Privacy Concerns
    Users may be concerned about uploading sensitive documents to a web-based service due to potential security risks.
  • Limited Offline Access
    Once downloaded, users cannot access the viewer if they lose internet connectivity, limiting usability in offline scenarios.
  • Feature Limitations
    May not offer advanced features found in some dedicated PDF applications, like editing or annotating documents.
  • Browser Compatibility
    Compatibility issues may arise with certain browsers, impacting the user experience for some individuals.

Analysis

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

GoodNotes
PDF Viewer

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 PDF Viewer yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GoodNotes 3 videos + Add
PDF Viewer 0 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

No PDF Viewer videos yet. You could help us improve this page by suggesting one.

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
PDF Viewer
100% 100%
0% 0%
0% 0%
100% 100%
83% 83%
17% 17%
0% 0%
100% 100%

User comments

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

Log in or Post with

Reviews and articles

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

GoodNotes no reviews yet
PDF Viewer 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 PDF Viewer 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
PDF Viewer 3 mentions
  • Dislike recent update on speech notes regarding UI
    Add your feedback to the support thread on goodnotes.com. Source: almost 4 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

  • Help. looking for a pdf reader/editor
    I like the simplicity of PDF Viewer https://pdfviewer.io/. Source: almost 4 years ago
  • Best PDF reader/annotator for MacOS
    And where I just want a clean, no subscription required PDF viewer that has consistent annotation tools, I use PDF Viewer (macOS, iOS/iPadOS): https://pdfviewer.io. Source: over 4 years ago
  • Mac Power Users 630: Preview Deep Dive
    Mac OS X 10.7 Lion: the Ars Technica review | Ars TechnicaRevert changes to PDFs and images in Preview on Mac - Apple SupportTitlebar Renaming (Screenshot)General Preference Pane (Screenshot)Pixelmator ProAcorn 7PDFpenPDF... Source: over 4 years ago

Alternatives to GoodNotes and PDF Viewer

When comparing GoodNotes and PDF Viewer, you can also consider the following products.