Notes that go
beyond handwriting.
Your notes deserve more than handwriting. Craft combines typed notes, drawing, AI, and collaboration — synced everywhere.
Which one is right for you?
Craft
Type AND draw — GoodNotes is handwriting-focused with limited typed text
Works on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web — not just iPad
Real-time collaboration — GoodNotes sharing is limited to view-only
AI assistant for writing, summarizing, and brainstorming
Rich documents with tables, embeds, and web publishing
GoodNotes
Handwriting is your primary input and you want paper-like feel
You need PDF annotation as your main workflow
Flashcards and study tools are essential to you
You rarely need to access notes from non-Apple devices
GoodNotes users love the Apple Pencil experience, but many find themselves needing typed notes, collaboration, and access from non-iPad devices. Craft gives you everything GoodNotes does for handwriting, plus typed documents, AI, team features, and true cross-platform sync.
Feature-by-Feature Comparison
See how Craft and GoodNotes compare across key features
Feature
Craft
GoodNotes
Winner
Performance
Native apps on Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, Web
Native on iPad, Mac, iPhone (no Windows/Web)
Craft
Cross-Platform
Full apps on all platforms with instant sync
Apple-only — limited Windows beta, no web app
Craft
Note Types
Rich typed docs + Apple Pencil drawing + media
Primarily handwriting — basic typed text
Craft
AI Features
Built-in AI for writing, summarizing, organizing
Basic AI handwriting recognition only
Craft
Offline Access
Full offline on every platform
Offline on Apple devices only
Craft
Apple Pencil
Drawing + annotation alongside typed documents
Excellent pen tools with paper simulation
GoodNotes
Web Publishing
One-click beautiful web pages
Not available
Craft
Free Tier
Free plan with sync included
Free with limits — $11.99/year for full features
Craft
Organization
Spaces, folders, collections, tags, search
Folders and basic organization
Craft
Collaboration
Real-time editing, shared spaces, comments
View-only sharing — no real-time collaboration
Craft
Why users switch to Craft
A
Anonymous review
“ Genuinely thank you guys for putting in the work to make a product that does its job flawlessly. My suite of Arc, Craft, and Goodnotes is my secret to student success — although sometimes I wouldn't be mad if you guys branched into handwritten notes and made Goodnotes obsolete... they don't understand UI like you do.”
App Store Award
Mac App of the Year
Apple Design Awards
Finalist
Webby
Awarded three times in various categories
German Design Award
Excellent Communications Design Interactive UX
What matters most
Craft gets it right
Quick idea capture
Capture ideas by typing or drawing — on any device, synced everywhere instantly
Fast, beautiful writing
Beautiful typed documents alongside Apple Pencil drawings — not handwriting-only
Offline access
Full offline on every device including Windows and Web — your notes go everywhere
Easy Organization
Spaces, folders, collections, and powerful full-text search across all notes
Task management
Built-in tasks with due dates and daily notes — manage work alongside your notes
API, MCP & Automations
Connect with Claude, ChatGPT, Apple Shortcuts, and build custom workflows
Compare the cost
Plan
Craft
GoodNotes
Starter
Free
Free
Plus Personal
$8.0
$11.99/year
Plus Family and Groups
$15.0 /person
N/A
AI Assistant Feature
Included
In Business plan only
Switch From GoodNotes To Craft
Export Your Notebooks
In GoodNotes, select notebooks and share as PDF or images to preserve your handwritten content.
Import to Craft
Import PDFs into Craft as reference documents, then start new typed + drawn notes alongside them.
Start Creating
Draw with Apple Pencil AND type rich documents — all synced to every device you own.
Ready for notes that go beyond handwriting?
Start for free. No credit card required.
Common Questions
For many users, yes. Craft offers Apple Pencil drawing alongside typed notes, rich formatting, collaboration, AI, and cross-platform access. GoodNotes is better only if handwriting with paper simulation on iPad is your exclusive need.
Anyone who needs notes beyond handwriting — typed documents, collaboration, cross-device access (including Windows and Web), or AI assistance. Craft is for creators who type and draw, not just draw.
Yes. Craft supports real-time collaboration, shared spaces, comments, and team folders. GoodNotes only offers view-only sharing — no one can edit your shared notebooks.
GoodNotes is free with limits or $11.99/year for full features. Craft has a generous free tier and Plus starts at $7.99/month with AI, publishing, collaboration, and full cross-platform sync included — features GoodNotes doesn't offer at any price.
Typed rich documents, cross-platform apps (Windows, Web), real-time collaboration, web publishing, AI assistant, full-text search, collections, and API integration. GoodNotes focuses solely on handwriting and PDF annotation.
Yes. Craft works fully offline on all platforms — Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web. GoodNotes works offline only on Apple devices. Craft syncs changes automatically when you reconnect.
Export your GoodNotes notebooks as PDF files via the share menu. Import them into Craft as reference documents. You can then add typed notes alongside your handwritten content and access everything from any device.
GoodNotes has more advanced paper simulation and pen tools. Craft lets you draw with Apple Pencil AND type rich documents in the same note — then access it from your phone, laptop, or web browser. Different strengths for different needs.
Yes. Both are native apps with excellent iPad performance. Craft also works natively on Mac, iPhone, Windows, and Web with sub-second sync — something GoodNotes can't offer across all platforms.
Craft offers Spaces, folders, collections, linked documents, tags, and powerful full-text search. GoodNotes uses folders and basic organization. Craft scales much better as your note library grows.
Yes. Craft lets you publish any document as a beautiful web page with one click. Share professional pages with anyone — no account needed. GoodNotes has no web publishing feature.
Yes. Craft lets you mix typed text, Apple Pencil drawings, images, tables, and rich formatting in the same document. GoodNotes is primarily a handwriting app — typed text is a secondary feature.
Yes. Craft includes an AI assistant in all plans for writing, editing, summarizing, and brainstorming. GoodNotes only has basic AI handwriting recognition — no writing assistance.
If you need notes beyond handwriting — typed documents, collaboration, cross-device access, AI, or web publishing — absolutely. Many users keep GoodNotes for pure handwriting and use Craft for everything else.
GoodNotes is great for handwritten lecture notes on iPad. Craft is better for typed essays, group projects, research, and studying across devices. Craft offers a free Education plan. Many students use both apps together.
Yes, significantly. Craft is a full document tool with rich formatting, AI assistance, and web publishing. GoodNotes is a handwriting app — not designed for typed content creation.
Craft syncs instantly across Mac, iPad, iPhone, Windows, and Web. GoodNotes syncs via iCloud between Apple devices only — no Windows app, no web access. Craft gives you access from anywhere.
Export your GoodNotes notebooks as PDFs using the share menu. Import them into Craft documents. You can annotate, add typed notes, and organize alongside your handwritten content — all accessible from every device.