Software Alternatives & Startups

GoodNotes VS Skim

Compare GoodNotes VS Skim and see what are their differences

GoodNotes

GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

Rating
0 reviews
Skim

Skim is a PDF reader and note-taker for OS X.

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, Skim should be more popular than GoodNotes. It has been mentioned 31 times since March 2021.

social mentions
5 vs 31
Note Taking popularity
100% vs 0%
alternatives listed
240+ vs 167

Base details

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

GoodNotes
Skim
Website goodnotes.com skim-app.sourceforge.io
Listed in

Features and specs

What each product offers, as listed by its team.

GoodNotes 6 features
Skim 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
    Skim is open-source software, which means it is free to use, modify, and distribute. This can be advantageous for users who want to customize the application or contribute to its development.
  • PDF Annotation
    Skim offers robust PDF annotation features, allowing users to highlight, underline, and add notes to PDF documents. This makes it a useful tool for students, researchers, and anyone who needs to review documents extensively.
  • Integration with LaTeX
    The app integrates well with typesetting systems like LaTeX, which is beneficial for users in academic and research fields that require sophisticated document preparation.
  • Efficient Navigation
    Skim provides efficient navigation options, such as table of contents views and keyboard shortcuts, which enhance the user experience by simplifying document management and review processes.
  • Lightweight
    Skim is a lightweight application, meaning it runs efficiently without consuming significant system resources. This can be useful for users with older hardware or those running multiple applications simultaneously.

Possible disadvantages

  • Mac-Only
    Skim is only available for macOS, limiting its accessibility to users on other operating systems such as Windows or Linux.
  • Limited Features Compared to Commercial Alternatives
    While Skim offers essential features for PDF annotation, it may lack some advanced features that are available in commercial PDF editors, such as complex form handling or advanced editing tools.
  • Occasional Stability Issues
    Some users report occasional stability issues or bugs, which can affect the user experience, especially during long sessions or when working with large documents.
  • Basic User Interface
    The user interface of Skim may be considered basic or not as polished as some commercial PDF readers, which could deter users looking for more modern or aesthetically pleasing design.
  • No Official Support
    Being an open-source project, Skim does not have official support, which means that users may have to rely on community forums or documentation for troubleshooting and assistance.

Analysis

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

GoodNotes
Skim

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 Skim yet.

Videos

Walkthroughs and reviews on video.

GoodNotes 3 videos + Add
Skim 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

SKIMS REVIEW: SO MANY DISAPPOINTMENTS...

More videos

  • - SOOO... I tried SKIMS SHAPEWEAR & WE NEED TO CHAT
  • - Is SKIMS Worth It? | SKIMS Review + Try-On Haul | Curvy Girl Edition

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
Skim
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 Skim. 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
Skim 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...

  • 13 of the Best Free PDF Readers
    www.indeed.com · Feb 2021

    Skim is another lightweight PDF viewer that comes with many basic functions. Users can highlight text, take pictures and add notes with ease. Skim was primarily developed for academics but has since expanded its...

Social recommendations and mentions

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

GoodNotes 5 mentions
Skim 31 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

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  • Show HN: Pdfdark.com – view pdf's in "dark mode" all on client
    For those uncomfortable uploading documents, a number of other native apps also dark/inversion mode, including Skim for macOS: https://skim-app.sourceforge.io . - Source: Hacker News / over 1 year ago
  • You can deeplink to a specific PDF page
    A bit unrelated - I use Hookmark[0] on my MacOS to deep link local PDFs. I can link to specific sections within a page, although it works only when the PDF is viewed with Skim reader[1] and not the default Preview app [0]... - Source: Hacker News / about 2 years ago
  • iCloud Drive silently deletes your content
    I've had my fair share of highlighting/annotating shenanigans with macOS built-in software and I've found Skim (free, BSD licensed) to be a very competent replacement, with the only caveat that you have to remember to export the... - Source: Hacker News / almost 3 years ago

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Alternatives to GoodNotes and Skim

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