GoodNotes AlternativesOnly apps categorised as Digital Painting Tools for Mac

There are many alternatives to GoodNotes for Mac if you are looking for a replacement. The best Mac Digital Painting Tool alternative is Microsoft OneNote, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to GoodNotes and seven of them are Digital Painting Tools available for Mac so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Mac Digital Painting Tool alternatives to GoodNotes are Xournal++, OpenBoard Whiteboard, Rnote and Linwood Butterfly.

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GoodNotes alternatives are mainly Digital Painting Tools, but if you're looking for Note-taking Tools or Whiteboards you can filter on that. Other popular filters include Open Source, Android, Linux, Windows, iPad + Free, Kindle Fire + Free and Kindle Fire. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to GoodNotes.
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Alternatives list

  1. Microsoft OneNote icon

    Microsoft OneNote

     1139 likes

    Comprehensive digital notebook offering organizers, shared notes, multi-device syncing, and optical character recognition, plus cloud-based data management for efficient information handling and accessibility.

    154 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire
    Microsoft OneNote screenshot 1
     
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    6
    Microsoft OneNote vs GoodNotes Comments
    Top Positive Comment
    Evan Tanner
    0

    Perfect for everything- iPad and mobile apps are free

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    0

    The App on Android isn't as developed and intuitive as it's any counterparts

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    Guest
    Negative
    0

    OneNote for Android does not have as much functionality, especially for journaling. The Android app does not have any template function, which is one of my main needs. OneNote for iOS, Windows, and Mac has this, but the Android app is very behind.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 6 comments
    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryGoodNotes is also Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     187 likes

    Handwritten note-taking and PDF annotation using pen input and pressure sensitivity, shape drawing, customizable toolbar layouts, image insertion, audio recording, multi-language options, LaTeX integration, and complete export in PDF or PNG formats across all platforms.

    57 Xournal++ alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Xournal++ screenshot 1
     
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    4
    Xournal++ vs GoodNotes Comments
    violoncello
    Positive
    3

    It allows you to store your notes wherever you want and doesn't force you to use whatever cloud synchronisation

    LinuxDoge
    Positive
    0

    cross platform, not invasive

    Guest
    Positive
    0

    OSS alternative with many great features.

    Review by a new / low-activity user.
    3 of 4 comments
    • Xournal++ is Free and Open SourceGoodNotes is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Xournal++ is Privacy focused and LightweightGoodNotes is not according to our users
  4. OpenBoard Whiteboard icon

    OpenBoard Whiteboard

     70 likes

    OpenBoard is a cross-platform (Linux / Windows / macOS) interactive whiteboard application. It is currently maintained by the Education Department (DIP) of the Canton of Geneva in Switzerland.

    94 OpenBoard Whiteboard alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    OpenBoard Whiteboard screenshot 1
     
  5. Rnote icon

    Rnote

     37 likes

    Rnote aims to be a simple but functional note taking application for freehand drawing or annotating pictures or documents. It eventually should be able to import / export various media file formats.

    24 Rnote alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Rnote screenshot 1
     
  6. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     42 likes

    Butterfly is a note-taking app where your ideas come first. You can paint, add texts, and export them easily on every device. This app works on android, windows, linux, and in the web.

    45 Linwood Butterfly alternatives

    Cost / License

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
     
  7. Notestudio icon

    Notestudio

     1 like

    Notestudio brings the charm of traditional handwriting together with powerful digital tools, making note-taking feel natural and intuitive. With flexible paper styles, advanced drawing tools, and a smooth, customizable interface, it’s perfect for capturing and organizing your ideas.

    Cost / License

    • Freemium
    • Proprietary

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    Notestudio screenshot 1
     
  9. Forma – Notes & Tasks icon

    Forma – Notes & Tasks

     1 like

    Forma gives you an open canvas where you can drop ideas anywhere. Move things around, group them visually, draw connections, and keep a clear picture of everything you’re working on.

    Cost / License

    • Paid
    • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    Main canvas
     
7 of 7 GoodNotes alternatives