Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

GoodNotes VS Trello

Compare GoodNotes VS Trello and see what are their differences

GoodNotes logo GoodNotes

GoodNotes lets you take notes and annotate PDF documents.

Trello logo Trello

Infinitely flexible. Incredibly easy to use. Great mobile apps. It's free. Trello keeps track of everything, from the big picture to the minute details.
  • GoodNotes Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-08-05
  • Trello Landing page
    Landing page //
    2023-07-23

Trello

Website
trello.com
$ Details
freemium $12.5 / Monthly (Per user - Business Class)
Startup details
Country
United States

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.

Trello features and specs

  • User-Friendly Interface
    Trello's drag-and-drop interface is intuitive and easy to navigate, making it accessible for users of all skill levels.
  • Collaborative Features
    Trello allows for real-time collaboration, with features like comments, mentions, and attachments, making team communication seamless.
  • Customization Options
    Users can customize boards with different backgrounds, labels, and stickers. Additionally, Trello offers Power-Ups to extend functionality.
  • Cross-Platform Availability
    Trello is available on iOS, Android, and web, allowing users to stay connected and manage tasks from multiple devices.
  • Integration Support
    Trello integrates with a variety of other tools such as Slack, Google Drive, and Jira, enhancing its functionality and adaptability.
  • Free Tier
    Trello offers a robust free tier that includes many essential features, making it a cost-effective option for individuals and small teams.

Possible disadvantages of Trello

  • Limited Advanced Features
    Some advanced project management features, like Gantt charts and time tracking, are not available or require third-party integrations.
  • Notification Overload
    Users can receive a high volume of notifications, especially in larger teams, which can become overwhelming and reduce productivity.
  • Scalability Issues
    While suitable for small to medium-sized projects, Trello may struggle with more complex project management needs, particularly for large-scale enterprises.
  • Storage Limitations
    The free version of Trello has storage limitations, which can be restrictive for teams that need to share and store large files.
  • Dependence on Third-Party Integrations
    Many advanced features and functionalities depend on third-party integrations, which can lead to additional costs and potential security concerns.
  • Limited Reporting and Analytics
    Trello lacks comprehensive reporting and analytics features, making it difficult for teams to gain insights into their productivity and project performance.

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

Trello videos

How to Organize Your Workflow - Trello Review!

More videos:

  • Review - Why I'm LEAVING Trello ๐Ÿ˜ฒ | Trello 2019
  • Review - Trello - A Quick Overview

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to GoodNotes and Trello)
Note Taking
100 100%
0% 0
Project Management
0 0%
100% 100
Task Management
2 2%
98% 98
Todos
100 100%
0% 0

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 Trello

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.

Trello Reviews

  1. Trello: Simple, Visual, and Surprisingly Powerful

    Trello makes project management feel effortless. Its board-and-card setup is intuitive, letting you organize tasks and track progress with just a glance. The free plan is generous, and Power-Ups add extra muscle when your projects grow. While itโ€™s not loaded with advanced features like some competitors, its simplicity and flexibility make it a go-to tool for teams and individuals alike.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Jira
    ๐Ÿ‘ Pros:    Super easy to use|Great for collaboration|Flexible with power-ups
    ๐Ÿ‘Ž Cons:    Limited advanced features|Can get cluttered|Some features locked behind paid plans
  2. A handy tool for planning

    Trello excels as a task planning tool, and I appreciate its user-friendly interface, especially when using it on a smartphone. Its mobile app is incredibly convenient, allowing me to stay organized and connected on the go. I appreciate how it streamlines collaboration without unnecessary complexities.

  3. Been using it for over 5 years! Super effective!

    Incorporating Trello into my daily workflow has been a game-changer. It is an incredibly intuitive and versatile tool that has significantly boosted my productivity. What I particularly love about Trello is the visual aspect of its interface - the board and card system makes it easy to visualize my tasks and progress. The ability to create different boards for different projects or areas of work helps to keep everything organized and easy to manage. Adding, moving, and categorizing tasks are just a drag-and-drop away, making it straightforward and efficient. The flexibility to customize each card with due dates, labels, checklists, attachments, and even members has been beneficial in tracking the status of various tasks and deadlines.

    he collaborative features are another huge plus. Sharing boards and tasks with colleagues, and being able to comment directly on cards, makes team projects and communication a breeze. On the go, I have found the Trello mobile app to be just as user-friendly and functional as the desktop version, allowing me to stay on top of my tasks no matter where I am. Overall, Trello has proved to be an invaluable tool in managing my daily tasks and enhancing productivity. I highly recommend it to anyone looking to streamline their workflow.

    ๐Ÿ Competitors: Asana

Top 10 Productivity Apps for MacOSย 2025
Trello is great for keeping track of all the stages of a project. Itโ€™s basically a visual to-do list on steroids. I use it when I need to plan something with more structure than just ticking things off โ€” like launching a side project or organising a trip. Boards, lists, and cards might sound like overkill at first, but once you start dragging things around, it just clicks....
Source: dev.to
The Top 7 ClickUp Alternatives You Need to Know in 2025
Benefits:Trello's straightforward design allows users to quickly adapt without extensive training. Recent updates have introduced features like card mirroring and integration with Jira lists, enhancing its capabilities.
How Tight-Knit Teams Get More Done with Innovative Project Management Tools
A small business might suddenly land a new client or product line. With a flexible approach, you can handle sudden expansions. For instance, if your Trello board becomes crowded, you can create additional boards or switch to something like Asana that manages more detailed sub-tasks. Meanwhile, short video demos via ScreenRec can ensure your new hires (or existing staff)...
Source: medium.com
25 Best Asana Alternatives & Competitors for Project Management in 2024
If this isnโ€™t your first time on the project management software hunt, youโ€™ve most likely come across Trello as one of the popular Asana alternatives. Trello organizes projects into boards inspired by Kanban, a workflow management method. A board is filled with task cards containing notes, attachments, images, documents, and other data to collaborate with teammates.
Source: clickup.com
The 10 best Asana alternatives in 2024
Trello also lets you create custom automations that run based on project activity, like an approaching due date or when a card is moved between lists. You can even set up custom buttons for cards and boards that run an automated sequence when clicked. Individuals and small teams that don't need Asana's advanced template library and team management might be happy to trade...
Source: zapier.com

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, Trello seems to be a lot more popular than GoodNotes. While we know about 248 links to Trello, 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: 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

Trello mentions (248)

  • Bridge the gap: Connecting design, PM and code with MCPs
    Our world has more Todo lists than anyone could count, however, my ready-to-go solution is still Trello when it's time to track my tasks. It's easy to use, colorful, simple and user-friendly without being bloated. - Source: dev.to / 3 months ago
  • The Power of Gemini inside Trello: Building an LLM Assistant with Firebase Genkit
    Trello accounts (One bot account, one to issue requests from). - Source: dev.to / 8 months ago
  • I โค๏ธ Offline
    The weird thing is that we accepted online-first or even online-only note taking apps. I used to be a huge fan of Trello and later Notion, but their online-first nature ended up getting in the way. Nowadays I just use a very simple system of templated Markdown files. I'm even considering trying out Org-mode (outside emacs, I'm a vim type of guy). - Source: dev.to / 11 months ago
  • How AI Streamlines Product Management: Boosting Efficiency and Innovation
    Popular Tools: Notion (with AI), Jira (with AI-powered automation), Trello (with Butler AI automation). - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
  • The 12 Best AI Tools for Project Management in 2025
    Trelloโ€™s visual boards remain intuitive, but its AI features now make tracking and communication smarter. - Source: dev.to / 12 months ago
View more

What are some alternatives?

When comparing GoodNotes and Trello, 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.

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.

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.

Jira - The #1 software development tool used by agile teams. Jira Software is built for every member of your software team to plan, track, and release great software.

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.

Basecamp - A simple and elegant project management system.