Best Apps for Digital Planning in 2025: GoodNotes vs Notability vs Others

Finding Your Perfect Digital Planning App

The digital planning app you choose affects everything from sticker compatibility to export options. Let's compare the top contenders in 2025.

Quick Comparison Table

| Feature | GoodNotes | Notability | Noteshelf | CollaNote | |---------|-----------|------------|-----------|-----------| | Price | $8.99 | $14.99/yr | $9.99 | Free | | Sticker Support | Excellent | Good | Excellent | Good | | Platform | iOS/Mac | iOS/Mac | iOS | iOS | | Cloud Sync | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes | | Audio Recording | No | Yes | No | No |

GoodNotes 5/6 - The Popular Choice

Best for: Sticker enthusiasts and visual planners

Pros

• Exceptional sticker management with Elements feature
• Beautiful handwriting experience
• Robust folder organization
• Shape recognition
• Excellent PDF annotation

Cons

• No audio recording
• macOS version less polished
• Learning curve for advanced features

Sticker Features

GoodNotes excels at stickers with its "Elements" feature:

• Create unlimited sticker collections
• One-tap sticker insertion
• Organize by category
• Pre-cropped PNG support
• Custom sticker sizing

Rating for stickers: 5/5

Notability - The All-Rounder

Best for: Students and meeting note-takers

Pros

• Audio recording synced to notes
• Smooth writing experience
• Simple interface
• Good PDF handling
• Subscription includes updates

Cons

• Moved to subscription model
• Limited sticker organization
• Fewer customization options

Sticker Features

Notability handles stickers but with limitations:

• Import images as stickers
• Basic organization in gallery
• Requires manual cropping
• No dedicated sticker book

Rating for stickers: 3/5

Noteshelf - The Customizer's Dream

Best for: Users who want extensive customization

Pros

• Beautiful paper templates
• Excellent pen customization
• Built-in sticker store
• Club membership for extras
• Audio recording available

Cons

• iOS only
• Can feel cluttered
• Smaller community

Sticker Features

Noteshelf has strong sticker support:

• Built-in sticker packs
• Custom sticker import
• Sticker library organization
• Pre-cropped support

Rating for stickers: 4/5

CollaNote - The Free Option

Best for: Budget-conscious beginners

Pros

• Completely free
• No ads or subscriptions
• Sticker book feature
• Real-time collaboration
• Good basic features

Cons

• Limited advanced features
• Newer app, less refined
• Smaller template library

Sticker Features

Surprisingly good for a free app:

• Dedicated sticker book
• Import custom stickers
• Category organization
• Community sticker sharing

Rating for stickers: 4/5

Our Recommendation

For sticker lovers: GoodNotes remains the best choice. Its Elements feature is specifically designed for managing large sticker collections.

For students: Notability's audio sync is invaluable for lectures.

For beginners: CollaNote offers excellent sticker features at no cost.

Tips for Any App

1. Organize immediately - Create folders/categories as you import
2. Use PNG format - Ensures transparent backgrounds work
3. Pre-crop stickers - Faster insertion in all apps
4. Regular backups - Sync to cloud services
5. Explore communities - Reddit and Facebook groups share free stickers

Conclusion

Your ideal app depends on your priorities. For the best sticker experience, GoodNotes leads the pack, but don't overlook free options like CollaNote if you're just starting out.

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