Goodnotes Price: Plans, Monthly Cost & Price History

Goodnotes is a note-taking and PDF annotation app popular with students, teachers, and professionals who write on a tablet with a stylus. It has moved over the years from a one-time app purchase toward subscription-style pricing, so what you pay now depends on which plan you choose and whether you want the optional AI features.

The prices below come from Goodnotes and were checked on Oct 12, 2026. App stores, regions, and promotions can change the final amount, so confirm on the official pricing page or in your device's store before subscribing.

Goodnotes lists its paid tiers per year.

• Essential. The lowest-cost paid tier, at $11.99/yr. It fits someone who mainly wants reliable handwritten notes and PDF markup on one set of devices.
• Pro. At $35.99/yr, this plan is for people who want the fuller feature set. Which features move up from Essential can change between releases, so read the plan comparison on the official page.
• Teams. Priced per seat at $120/yr, aimed at schools, departments, and companies that need to manage several users.

If you only need the basics, the cheaper tier is the sensible start. You can generally move up later if you find yourself hitting a limit.

Goodnotes sells its AI features separately from the core plans.

The AI Pass is billed at $9.99/mo, which makes it a recurring cost on top of the plan you already pay for. It is worth thinking about whether you will use features such as automated help with your notes often enough to justify a monthly charge. If you only want it for a short project, remember that a subscription add-on can usually be started and stopped as needed, though you should check the cancellation steps in your account.

Older versions of Goodnotes were sold as a single purchase. Today the pricing on the official page is per year, and the older purchase model may no longer apply to new buyers on every platform. If you bought an earlier version, check what your account still includes before paying for a new plan.

For a new user, the comparison is simple:

• A yearly plan has a lower upfront cost and ongoing access to updates and cloud features.
• A one-time purchase, where it is still offered, avoids renewals but may not include everything the newer plans do.

• Platform. Prices shown in the Apple App Store, Google Play, or on the web can differ because of store fees and local currency.
• Region and tax. Sales tax or VAT may be added at checkout.
• Education pricing. Schools and students sometimes get special terms. Check the official page or ask your institution rather than assuming a discount exists.
• Hardware. The app is only part of the cost if you do not yet own a tablet or stylus.
• Renewals. Subscriptions typically renew automatically unless you turn renewal off.

Goodnotes has offered a limited free tier or trial at various times. What you can do without paying, such as the number of notebooks or documents, changes with the version. Look at the app listing for what is offered today before assuming you will need to pay right away.