Penly AlternativesNote-taking Tools and other similar apps like Penly

Penly is described as 'Get starting with digital planning and note taking on an Android tablet with a Bluetooth stylus' and is a Note-taking tool in the office & productivity category. There are more than 10 alternatives to Penly for a variety of platforms, including Mac, Windows, Linux, iPhone and iPad apps. The best Penly alternative is Xournal++, which is both free and Open Source. Other great apps like Penly are Linwood Butterfly, Rnote, Concepts and GoodNotes.

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Penly alternatives are mainly Note-taking Tools but may also be Digital Painting Tools or Todo List Managers.  Filter by these or use the filter bar below if you want a narrower list of alternatives or looking for a specific functionality of Penly.
Penly iconPenly
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Get starting with digital planning and note taking on an Android tablet with a Bluetooth stylus.

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Penly alternatives page was last updated Jul 22, 2024
  1. Xournal++ icon
     166 likes

    Xournal++ (a fork of Xournal) is a handwriting Notetaking software with PDF annotation support. Written in C++ with platform independent GTK, supporting Linux, e.g. Ubuntu, Debian, Arch, Suse, macOS and Windows 10. Supports Pen input like Wacom Tablets.

    50 Xournal++ alternatives
    Xournal++ screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    Top Xournal++ 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.  Audio with notes
    Xournal++ iconPenly Icon

    Xournal++ VS Penly

    Is Xournal++ a good alternative to Penly?
     
    • Xournal++ is the most popular Windows, Mac & Linux alternative to Penly.

    • Xournal++ is the most popular Open Source & free alternative to Penly.

    • Xournal++ is Free and Open SourcePenly is Paid and Proprietary
  2. Linwood Butterfly icon
     28 likes

    Butterfly is a note 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.

    40 Linwood Butterfly alternatives
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 1
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 2
    +3
    Linwood Butterfly screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

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

    Properties

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

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Handwritten Notes
    4.  No registration required
    5.  Ad-free
    6.  Works Offline
    7.  End-to-End Encryption
    8.  Portable
    9.  Cloud Sync
    10.  Decentralized
    11.  Handwriting
    12.  Built-in Note Taker
    Linwood Butterfly iconPenly Icon

    Linwood Butterfly VS Penly

    Is Linwood Butterfly a good alternative to Penly?
     
    • Linwood Butterfly is the most popular Web-based, Android, iPhone, Android Tablet & Self-Hosted alternative to Penly.

    • Linwood Butterfly is Free and Open SourcePenly is Paid and Proprietary
    • Linwood Butterfly is Privacy focused and LightweightPenly is not according to our users
  3. Rnote icon
     24 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.

    18 Rnote alternatives
    Rnote screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Flathub
    • Flatpak

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Privacy focused

    Features

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

    Rnote VS Penly

    Is Rnote a good alternative to Penly?
     
  4. Concepts icon
     29 likes

    Concepts is the digital design sketchbook of the future. It’s powerful, flexible and smart, so you can go from quick sketches to beautiful and precise illustrations in a single app. Enhance your creative capabilities with our infinite canvas, flexible multi-touch shape guides...

    37 Concepts alternatives
    Concepts screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

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

    Top Concepts Features

    1.  Custom Brushes
    2.  Support for Layers
    3.  Vector strokes
    4.  Infinite canvas
    5.  Smooth lines
    6.  Support for styluses
    7.  No registration required
    8.  Ad-free
    9.  Sketching
    10.  Gallery management
    11.  Apple Pencil support
    12.  Auto Correction
    Concepts iconPenly Icon

    Concepts VS Penly

    Is Concepts a good alternative to Penly?
     
    • Concepts is the most popular iPad alternative to Penly.

    • Concepts is Freemium and ProprietaryPenly is Paid and Proprietary
  5. GoodNotes icon
     76 likes

    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.

    57 GoodNotes alternatives
    GoodNotes screenshot 1
    GoodNotes screenshot 2
    +3
    GoodNotes screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    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 iconPenly Icon

    GoodNotes VS Penly

    Is GoodNotes a good alternative to Penly?
     
  6. xournal icon
     73 likes

    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
    xournal screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Linux

    xournal Features

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

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

    xournal iconPenly Icon

    xournal VS Penly

    Is xournal a good alternative to Penly?
     
  7. Notes icon
     37 likes

    Use Notes to capture a quick thought, create checklists, sketch ideas, and more. And with iCloud, you can keep your notes up to date across all your devices.

    119 Notes alternatives
    Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Online
    • iPhone
    • iPad

    Properties

    1.  Lightweight
    2.  Distraction-free

    Features

    1.  Dark Mode
    2.  Real time collaboration
    3.  No registration required
    4.  Cloud Sync
    5.  Full-Text Search
    6.  Sync with iCloud
    7.  Works Offline
    8.  Handwritten Notes
    9.  Ad-free
    10.  Spell Checking
    11.  WYSIWYG Support
    12.  Tagging
    Notes iconPenly Icon

    Notes VS Penly

    Is Notes a good alternative to Penly?
     
  8. NoteLab icon
     12 likes

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

    21 NoteLab alternatives
    NoteLab screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreeOpen Source

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux

    NoteLab Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Sketching
    3.  Handwriting
    Discontinued

    The last update is from 2013.

    NoteLab iconPenly Icon

    NoteLab VS Penly

    Is NoteLab a good alternative to Penly?
     
  9. Capture - Quick Notes icon
     2 likes

    Capture's intuitive interface and smart features turn your mobile device into a powerful thought organizer, letting you seize, sort, and execute your ideas with unprecedented ease.

    53 Capture - Quick Notes alternatives
    Capture - Quick Notes screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • iPhone
    • iPad
    • visionOS

    Top Capture - Quick Notes Features

    1.  Reminders
    2.  No Tracking
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Ad-free
    5.  Sync with iCloud
    6.  Desktop Widget
    7.  Note Manager
    8.  iOS widget
    9.  Note organization
    10.  Idea management
    11.  Widgets
    Capture - Quick Notes iconPenly Icon

    Capture - Quick Notes VS Penly

    Is this a good alternative to Penly?
     
  10. Stylus Labs Write icon
     33 likes

    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.

    36 Stylus Labs Write alternatives
    Stylus Labs Write screenshot 1
    Stylus Labs Write screenshot 2
    +1
    Stylus Labs Write screenshot 3

    License model

    • FreeProprietary

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Mac
    • Windows
    • Linux
    • Android
    • iPad

    Stylus Labs Write Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Drawing Tablet Support
    3.  Handwriting
    4.  Shared links
    5.  Support for styluses
    6.  Functioning Erasor Tools
    7.  Undo/Redo wheel of memory
    8.  Export to PDF
    Stylus Labs Write iconPenly Icon

    Stylus Labs Write VS Penly

    Is Stylus Labs Write a good alternative to Penly?
     
  11. Memori Notes icon
     1 like

    Experience the power of Memori Notes, the ultimate companion for content collectors and thought enthusiasts.

    40 Memori Notes alternatives
    Memori Notes screenshot 1
    Memori Notes screenshot 2
    +5
    Memori Notes screenshot 3

    License model

    Application type

    Platforms

    • Android
    • iPhone

    Memori Notes Features

    1.  Reminders
    2.  Dark Mode
    3.  Works Offline
    4.  Note organization
    5.  Notebook
    Memori Notes iconPenly Icon

    Memori Notes VS Penly

    Is Memori Notes a good alternative to Penly?
     
    • Memori Notes is the most popular commercial alternative to Penly.

    • Memori Notes is Paid and ProprietaryPenly is also Paid and Proprietary
  12. Bamboo Paper icon
     5 likes

    Bamboo Paper, a seriously fun new app from Wacom, provides you with the ability to create virtual notebooks for your tablet, letting you share your ideas visually with handwritten notes, sketches or doodles.

    20 Bamboo Paper alternatives
    Bamboo Paper screenshot 1

    License model

    • FreemiumProprietary

    Platforms

    • Windows
    • Android Tablet
    • iPad

    Bamboo Paper Features

    1.  Handwritten Notes
    2.  Drawing Tablet Support
    3.  Notebook
    4.  Tablet support
    5.  Sketching
    Bamboo Paper iconPenly Icon

    Bamboo Paper VS Penly

    Is Bamboo Paper a good alternative to Penly?
     
12 of 13 Penly alternatives