GoodNotes Alternatives for Linux

GoodNotes is not available for Linux but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Linux with similar functionality. The best Linux alternative is Obsidian, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to GoodNotes and 13 are available for Linux so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Linux alternatives to GoodNotes are Xournal++, xournal, Rnote and Linwood Butterfly.

filter to find the best alternatives

GoodNotes alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools, but if you're looking for Journaling Apps or Whiteboards you can filter on that. Other popular filters include iPad + Free and Android + Journaling. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to GoodNotes.
GoodNotes iconGoodNotes
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  • ...

Easily take notes on mobile devices, annotate PDFs, and organize in folders. Handwritten notes are searchable and sync across devices with iCloud.

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GoodNotes alternatives page was last updated Mar 31, 2025
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  1. Obsidian icon

    Obsidian

     988 likes
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    Privacy-oriented note-taking app for non-linear thinking, blending knowledge graph creation with wiki-style linking. Supports Markdown, end-to-end encryption, and plugins for customization. Offers distraction-free mode, tags, themes, syntax highlighting, and operates offline without tracking.

    114 Obsidian alternatives

    License model

    • Freemium • Proprietary

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Microsoft Edge
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • Safari
    • Mozilla Firefox
    Obsidian screenshot 1

    Top Obsidian Features

    1.  Support for MarkDown
    2.  Local Storage
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Graph view
    5.  Bidirectional links
    6.  Mind Mapping
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Personal Information Manager (PIM)
    9.  Extensible by Plugins/Extensions
    10.  Knowledge Management
    11.  Dark Mode
    12.  Backlink

    Obsidian VS GoodNotes

     

    • Obsidian is the most popular Windows, Android, Mac & iPhone alternative to GoodNotes.

    • Obsidian is the most popular free alternative to GoodNotes.

    • Obsidian is Freemium and ProprietaryGoodNotes is also Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Xournal++ icon

    Xournal++

     174 likes
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    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.

    51 Xournal++ alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    Xournal++ screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused

    Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Support for styluses
    4.  Handwriting
    5.  Export to PDF
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  LaTeX Math
    8.  Pen Support
    9.  Pressure Sensitivity
    10.  Freehand Writing
    11.  Multi layer drawing
    12.  Ad-free

    Xournal++ VS GoodNotes

     
    Comments about Xournal++ as an Alternative to GoodNotes
    Most Recent Comment
    violoncello
    Positive Dec 31, 2020
    3

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

    LinuxDoge
    Positive Nov 7, 2022
    0

    cross platform, not invasive

    Guest
    Positive Sep 2, 2022
    0

    OSS alternative with many great features.

    Show more comments
    3 of 4 comments
    GoodNotes Icon
    Xournal++ icon

    • Most users think Xournal++ is a great GoodNotes alternative.

    • Xournal++ is the most popular Open Source alternative to GoodNotes.

    • Xournal++ is Free and Open SourceGoodNotes is Freemium and Proprietary
  4. xournal icon

    xournal

     74 likes
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    Xournal is an application for notetaking, sketching, keeping a journal using a stylus. It is free software (GNU GPL) and runs on Linux (recent distributions), Windows and other GTK+/Gnome platforms.

    50 xournal alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    xournal screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    It hasn't been updated since 2017, but there is an active fork Xournal++ icon Xournal++

    xournal Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Handwritten Notes
    3.  Edit PDF
    4.  Support for styluses
    5.  Drawing Tablet Support
    6.  Sketching

    xournal VS GoodNotes

     
  5. Rnote icon

    Rnote

     34 likes
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    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.

    20 Rnote alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • AT flagAustria
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak
    Rnote screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused
    3.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  PDF annotation
    3.  Support for styluses
    4.  No registration required
    5.  No Tracking
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  Shape Tools
    8.  Dark Mode
    9.  WYSIWYG Support
    10.  Ad-free
    11.  Pressure Sensitivity
    12.  Export to SVG

    Rnote VS GoodNotes

     
  6. Linwood Butterfly icon

    Linwood Butterfly

     36 likes
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    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.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 2
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Privacy focused
    4.  Support for Themes
    5.  Customizable

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Handwritten Notes
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Real time collaboration
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Decentralized
    10.  End-to-End Encryption
    11.  Portable
    12.  Handwriting

    Linwood Butterfly VS GoodNotes

     

    • Linwood Butterfly is the most popular Self-Hosted alternative to GoodNotes.

    • Linwood Butterfly is Free and Open SourceGoodNotes is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Linwood Butterfly is Lightweight and DecentralizedGoodNotes is not according to our users
  7. OpenBoard Whiteboard icon

    OpenBoard Whiteboard

     61 likes
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    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.

    87 OpenBoard Whiteboard alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    OpenBoard Whiteboard screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Educational

    Features

    1.  Interactive Whiteboard
    2.  Handwritten Notes
    3.  Fullscreen support
    4.  Freeform notes
    5.  Pressure Sensitivity
    6.  Pencil
    7.  Dark Mode
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Real time collaboration
    10.  Handwriting
    11.  Dual screen support
    12.  Export to PDF

    OpenBoard Whiteboard VS GoodNotes

     
  9. Saber icon

    Saber

     24 likes
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    A (work-in-progress) cross-platform libre notes app. Please note that this app is still in early stages and not ready to trust with your notes yet.

    24 Saber alternatives

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    Saber screenshot 1
    Saber screenshot 2
    Saber screenshot 3

    Properties

    1.  Privacy focused
    2.  Distraction-free
    3.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Handwritten Notes
    3.  Support for styluses
    4. Nextcloud icon  Nextcloud integration
    5.  Cloud Sync
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Pressure Sensitivity
    9.  No registration required
    10.  No Tracking

    Saber VS GoodNotes

     
    Comments about Saber as an Alternative to GoodNotes
    Guest
    Positive Jan 7, 2025
    0

    It is the only somewhat good open-source alternative to Goodnotes & Notability. I know it is currently missing a lot of features found in Goodnotes, but in the future it could become a real competitor, so give it a try.

    GoodNotes Icon
    Saber icon
    • Saber is Free and Open SourceGoodNotes is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Saber is Privacy focused and LightweightGoodNotes is not according to our users
  10. NoteLab icon

    NoteLab

     12 likes
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    NoteLab brings the power of digital note taking to Linux, Windows, Mac OS X, and Solaris.

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    NoteLab screenshot 1
    Discontinued

    The last update is from 2013.

    NoteLab Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Sketching
    3.  Handwriting

    NoteLab VS GoodNotes

     
  11. Jarnal icon

    Jarnal

     13 likes
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    Jarnal is an open-source application for notetaking, sketching, keeping a journal, making a presentation, annotating a document - including pdf - or collaborating using a stylus, mouse or keyboard. It is similar to Microsoft .

    License model

    • Free • Open Source

    Application types

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    Jarnal in use.

    Jarnal Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Sketching
    3.  Handwriting

    Jarnal VS GoodNotes

     
  12. Scrivano for Handwritten Notes icon

    Scrivano for Handwritten Notes

     Like
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    Scrivano is a notetaking application for handwritten notes.

    3 Scrivano for Handwritten Notes alternatives

    License model

    • Free Personal • Proprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux
    Scrivano for Handwritten Notes screenshot 1

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight

    Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  No registration required
    3.  Handwritten Notes
    4.  Dark Mode
    5.  Handwriting

    Scrivano for Handwritten Notes VS GoodNotes

     
10 of 13 GoodNotes alternatives