StarNote vs GoodNotes
GoodNotes is a mature handwriting and PDF app, best known on iPad and now also on Android, Windows, and the web. StarNote covers the same core workflow — handwritten notes, PDF annotation, templates — and adds recording with transcription and AI summaries, with a one-time Pro purchase instead of a subscription.
Feature comparison
| Feature | StarNote | GoodNotes |
|---|---|---|
| Supported platforms | iOS and Android | iOS, iPadOS, macOS, Windows, Android, Web |
| Pricing model | One-time Pro ($5.99), no subscription | Subscription or one-time (GoodNotes 6) |
| Free version | Yes — core features free | Limited free tier |
| PDF import & annotation | Yes — import, write, highlight, export | Yes |
| Handwriting recognition | Yes — search your handwriting in 11 languages | Yes — handwriting recognition |
| Templates and stickers | Templates plus a creative asset library with Pro | Large built-in library and marketplace |
| Recording alongside notes | Long recordings, ink-synced playback, transcription, AI summary | Not a core feature |
| AI summaries | Yes — of handwritten notes and recordings | Limited (no built-in AI summaries) |
Which should you choose?
Choose StarNote if you want recording, transcription, and AI summaries in one app, or prefer a one-time $5.99 purchase. Choose GoodNotes if you want its template and sticker ecosystem and need desktop clients on Windows and macOS.
Moving from GoodNotes to StarNote
GoodNotes exports notebooks as PDF, and StarNote imports PDF. Your handwriting travels with the page — what does not survive is GoodNotes-specific editing, so finish rearranging pages before you export.
Export each notebook as PDF
Open the notebook, tap Share, and choose PDF. From the document picker you can select several notebooks and export them together.
Put the files where StarNote can reach them
Save the PDFs to Files, Google Drive, or any cloud folder you can open on the tablet where StarNote is installed.
Import into StarNote
In StarNote, tap Import and choose the PDF. It opens as a notebook you can write on straight away.
Check one notebook before moving the rest
Export a single notebook first and confirm the page order and margins, then batch the remainder.
Keep GoodNotes installed for a week or two. Notebooks and templates are easy to rebuild; a lost export is not.
StarNote vs GoodNotes: FAQ
Is StarNote a good GoodNotes alternative?
Yes. StarNote covers the same core workflow — handwritten notes, PDF annotation, templates — and adds recording with transcription and AI summaries. It runs on iOS and Android with a one-time Pro purchase instead of a subscription.
Does StarNote work on Android like GoodNotes?
Yes. StarNote runs natively on both iOS and Android, including Samsung Galaxy tablets with S Pen. GoodNotes added Android later; StarNote was built cross-platform from the start.
Is StarNote cheaper than GoodNotes?
StarNote Pro is a one-time $5.99 purchase with no subscription. GoodNotes 6 offers subscription and one-time options that vary by region, so the total depends on how long you keep using the app.
Can I move my GoodNotes notebooks to StarNote?
Yes. Export the notebook as PDF from GoodNotes, then import that PDF into StarNote and keep writing on it. The migration steps above walk through it.
Does StarNote have templates and stickers like GoodNotes?
StarNote ships templates and adds a creative asset library of templates and stickers with Pro. GoodNotes has a larger built-in library and a marketplace, so if you build whole notebooks around purchased planners, that is GoodNotes territory.
Can StarNote open and annotate PDFs like GoodNotes?
Yes. Import a PDF, write and highlight directly on the page, and export the annotated file — the same lecture-slides and textbook workflow.