Notability Alternatives for Windows

Notability is not available for Windows but there are plenty of alternatives that runs on Windows with similar functionality. The best Windows alternative is Obsidian, which is free. If that doesn't suit you, our users have ranked more than 50 alternatives to Notability and many of them are available for Windows so hopefully you can find a suitable replacement. Other interesting Windows alternatives to Notability are Notesnook, Microsoft OneNote, Linwood Butterfly and Saber.

filter to find the best alternatives

Notability alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools, but if you're looking for Todo List Managers or PDF Editors you can filter on that. You can also filter by region, for example EU-based alternatives if you prefer software developed in the European Union. These are just examples - use the filter bar below to find more specific alternatives to Notability.
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Integrated iOS app linking notes with audio, supporting handwriting, PDF annotation, word processing, and auto backup with customizable themes.

More about Notability
Notability alternatives page was last updated May 14, 2025
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  1. Obsidian icon
     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

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • CA flagCanada

    Platforms

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

    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 Notability

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

    • Obsidian is the most popular free alternative to Notability.

    • Obsidian is Freemium and ProprietaryNotability is also Freemium and Proprietary
  2. Notesnook icon
     144 likes
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    Notesnook is a simple and cross-platform private notes app that keeps your notes organized and synced on your phone, tablet and computer. Take notes, capture ideas, create to-do lists, keep a journal, write your assignments and manage projects, we have got you covered.

    262 Notesnook alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • PK flagPakistan

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Google Chrome
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid
    • Software as a Service (SaaS)
    • Flatpak

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Encrypted Notes
    2.  Private notes
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Note organization
    5.  End-to-End Encryption
    6.  Dark Mode
    7.  Ad-free
    8.  Support for MarkDown
    9.  No Tracking
    10.  Cloud Sync
    11.  Web Clipper
    12.  Reminders

    Notesnook VS Notability

     
    Comments about Notesnook as an Alternative to Notability
    themrsecret
    Negative Dec 13, 2023
    0

    Does not allow handwritten notes

    Notability Icon
    Notesnook icon
    • Notesnook is the most popular Web-based & SaaS alternative to Notability.

    • Notesnook is the most popular Open Source alternative to Notability.

    • Notesnook is Freemium and Open SourceNotability is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Notesnook is Privacy focusedNotability is not according to our users
  3. Microsoft OneNote icon
     1140 likes
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    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.

    105 Microsoft OneNote alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Chrome OS
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Android Wear
    • Kindle Fire

    Top Microsoft OneNote Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Web Clipper
    3.  Visual Organization
    4.  Hierarchical Structure
    5.  Text formatting
    6.  Insert images
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Cloud Sync
    9.  Support for styluses
    10.  Dark Mode
    11.  Pressure Sensitivity
    12.  Multiple Account support

    Microsoft OneNote VS Notability

     
    Comments about Microsoft OneNote as an Alternative to Notability
    Top Positive Comment
    Guest
    Feb 7, 2018
    2

    Same draw and text anywhere functionality. It also supports PDF annotation and sync backup.

    Top Negative Comment
    Guest
    Mar 9, 2020
    10

    too simple and halfbaked on android

    Most Recent Comment
    Guest
    Negative Mar 24, 2022
    0

    Onenote is not so intuitive. Its just awkward. And i dont know this yet but would bet you need good internet access to use it. Notability was easy first use if i remember right. Who are those clowns and why dont they have an android version yet???!!!!

    Show more comments
    3 of 8 comments
    Notability Icon
    Microsoft OneNote icon
    • Some users think Microsoft OneNote is a great Notability alternative, some don't.

    • Microsoft OneNote is Freemium and ProprietaryNotability is also Freemium and Proprietary
  4. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Country of Origin

    • DE flagGermany
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • Self-Hosted
    • Snapcraft
    • AltStore
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid

    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 Notability

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

    • Linwood Butterfly is Free and Open SourceNotability is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Linwood Butterfly is Lightweight and DecentralizedNotability is not according to our users
  5. Saber icon
     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

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Snapcraft
    • Flathub
    • F-Droid

    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 Notability

     
    Comments about Saber as an Alternative to Notability
    Guest
    Positive Sep 11, 2023
    0

    I tried it and it was the most similar so far that I have tried with no in-app purchases. I also haven’t seen any ads so far. I’m not sure how many features it has yet, but it is very simple and effective.

    Notability Icon
    Saber icon
    • Saber is Free and Open SourceNotability is Freemium and Proprietary
    • Saber is Privacy focused and LightweightNotability is not according to our users
  6. Zoho Notebook icon
     90 likes
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    Online Notebook application: Zoho Notebook lets you combine text, images, audio, video, RSS feeds, documents and much more. Online Collaboration: You can share a single image or selection of text from a page rather than the whole document, giving the author absolute control over...

    314 Zoho Notebook alternatives

    License model

    • Free PersonalProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • IN flagIndia

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Apple Watch

    Zoho Notebook Features

    1.  Cloud Sync
    2.  Web Clipper
    3.  Audio with notes
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Two-factor Authentication
    7.  Handwriting recognition
    8.  Outline organization
    9.  Notebook

    Zoho Notebook VS Notability

     
    Comments about Zoho Notebook as an Alternative to Notability
    Guest
    Negative Jun 8, 2019
    2

    Notability is very focused on handwritten notes and sketches. Zoho Notebook is way off in this comparison

    Notability Icon
    Zoho Notebook icon
    • Some users think Zoho Notebook is a great Notability alternative, some don't.

    • Zoho Notebook is Free Personal and ProprietaryNotability is Freemium and Proprietary
  7. GoodNotes icon
     77 likes
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    Experience "digital paper" with seamless note-taking on iOS devices. Annotate PDFs, PowerPoint, and Word, plus organize notes in unlimited folders. Enjoy searchable handwritten notes that sync across devices with iCloud, intuitive QuickNote feature, and customizable templates.

    61 GoodNotes alternatives

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Country of Origin

    • HK flagHong Kong SAR China

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Top GoodNotes Features

    1.  PDF annotation
    2.  Handwriting
    3.  Pressure Sensitivity
    4.  Integrated Search
    5.  Handwritten Notes
    6.  OCR
    7.  Support for Gestures
    8.  Apple Pencil support
    9.  Handwriting recognition
    10.  Folders
    11.  Freehand Writing
    12.  Drag and Drop

    GoodNotes VS Notability

     
    Comments about GoodNotes as an Alternative to Notability
    Guest
    Negative Mar 4, 2020
    3

    There is no ability to record. Also, they have discontinued support for previous versions and forced users to upgrade without notice. I bought GoodNotes 4 and it stopped working within 3 months. Notability also has issues, and there is no dependable note taking app at the moment. OneNote seems good, but can't record while taking notes at the same time, unless using separate apps, and it has a clunky interface.

    Guest
    Positive May 4, 2020
    1

    Because you can do almost anything that notibility allows you to do.

    Notability Icon
    GoodNotes icon
    • Most users think GoodNotes is a great Notability alternative.

    • GoodNotes is Freemium and ProprietaryNotability is also Freemium and Proprietary
  8. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Comprehensive suite offering eSign, OCR, multi-platform editing, cloud integration, and robust security. Ideal for professional or personal use, facilitating collaboration while protecting content.

    47 Foxit PDF Editor alternatives

    License model

    Application types

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Top Foxit PDF Editor Features

    1.  Split PDF files
    2.  Sign PDF files
    3.  Combine PDF
    4.  Built-in AI Assistant
    5.  PDF OCR
    6.  Convert PDF to Word document
    7.  Convert PDF to Excel document
    8.  Create PDF files
    9.  Convert PDF to HTML
    10.  PDF Redaction
    11.  Convert PDF to Text
    12.  Convert PDF to Powerpoint

    Foxit PDF Editor VS Notability

     
    • Foxit PDF Editor is the most popular commercial alternative to Notability.

    • Foxit PDF Editor is Paid and ProprietaryNotability is Freemium and Proprietary
  9. WizNote icon
     81 likes
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    WizNote is a Note software, which is especially designed for Internet users and mobile Internet users. WizNote focuses more on notes of rapid collection, management, reading and sharing. WizNote is smaller, more stable, and more suitable for computers, phones and mobile devices.

    252 WizNote alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • CN flagChina

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Online
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • BSD
    • Windows Phone
    • iPad

    Top WizNote Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Support for MarkDown
    3. Google Calendar icon  Sync with Google Calendar
    4.  Works Offline
    5.  Portable
    6.  Calendar Integration
    7.  Cloud Sync
    8.  Store by Folder
    9.  Folder Hierarchy
    10. Docker icon  Support for Docker
    11. Google Calendar icon  Google Calendar integration
    12.  Save web page for offline use

    WizNote VS Notability

     
    Comments about WizNote as an Alternative to Notability
    Guest
    Negative Dec 31, 2019
    1

    Notability is all about taking handwritten noted and annotating pdfs by hand - not the closest thing in terms of notability

    Notability Icon
    WizNote icon
    • Most users think WizNote is a great Notability alternative.

    • WizNote is Paid and ProprietaryNotability is Freemium and Proprietary
  10. Noteshelf icon
     15 likes
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    Take beautiful handwritten notes or annotate PDFs on your iPad, and now even on your iPhone. With the new Noteshelf you can do all of the familiar, like type notes, record audio, draw shapes, sketch, sign contracts, fill forms, along with a lot of new, like add bookmarks, create...

    75 Noteshelf alternatives

    License model

    Country of Origin

    • GB flagUnited Kingdom

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Android
    • iPhone
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad
    • Apple Watch
    • Chrome OS
    • HUAWEI AppGallery
    • Samsung Galaxy Store
    • Windows

    Top Noteshelf Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  PDF annotation
    3. Dropbox icon  Sync with Dropbox
    4.  Cloud Sync
    5.  Dark Mode
    6.  Markup examples
    7.  Visual Organization
    8.  Support for styluses
    9.  Voice Notes
    10.  Apple Pencil support
    11.  Protected by Password
    12.  Sync with iCloud

    Noteshelf VS Notability

     
  11. MyScript Nebo icon
     20 likes
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    Powered by the highly acclaimed MyScript Interactive Ink, Nebo® is the ultimate way to take notes. Designed specifically for iPad Pro and modern Windows devices in conjunction with advanced writing styluses like Apple Pencil, it lets you easily hand write, draw, edit and...

    13 MyScript Nebo alternatives

    License model

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • FR flagFrance
    • European Union flagEU

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android
    • Chrome OS
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    MyScript Nebo Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Works Offline
    3.  Handwriting recognition
    4.  Handwriting
    5.  Export to HTML
    6.  Notebook

    MyScript Nebo VS Notability

     
  12. Copy a direct link to this comment to your clipboard

    Write is a word processor for handwriting, designed primarily for tablets with an active stylus. Write has the functionality of a vector drawing application, plus a unique set of tools which ease the editing of handwritten text.

    35 Stylus Labs Write alternatives

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Application type

    Country of Origin

    • US flagUnited States

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPad
    • iPhone

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Minimalistic

    Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Cloud Sync
    4.  Drawing Tablet Support
    5.  No registration required
    6.  Ad-free
    7.  Real time collaboration
    8.  Works Offline
    9.  Handwriting
    10.  Shared links
    11.  Support for styluses
    12.  Bookmarks

    Stylus Labs Write VS Notability

     
12 of 21 Notability alternatives