GoodNotes does not offer a one-time purchase option anymore

GoodNotes switched to a subscription model in 2022. The app now requires an active subscription to use most of its features — there is no way to buy it once and own it permanently. If you own an older version of GoodNotes 4 (purchased before the switch), you can still use that version without a subscription, but GoodNotes 5 and later versions all run on subscription.

The subscription costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year on iPad and Mac. The yearly plan works out to about $6.67 per month if you commit upfront. Both plans renew automatically unless you turn off auto-renewal in your device settings.

If you are looking for a note-taking app with a true one-time payment instead, you have other options — but they may not have all the same features as GoodNotes.

Key Takeaways

  • GoodNotes 5 and later versions require an active subscription; there is no permanent purchase option.
  • The subscription costs $9.99 per month or $79.99 per year, with automatic renewal unless you disable it.
  • GoodNotes 4, if you already own it, can be used without a subscription, but you cannot read it new anymore.
  • Other note-taking apps like Notability and Metamoji Note offer one-time purchases, though features differ from GoodNotes.

What changed when GoodNotes moved to subscription

In March 2022, GoodNotes released version 5 as a subscription-only app. Anyone who had purchased GoodNotes 4 outright could keep using it, but new users and anyone upgrading to version 5 had to subscribe. The company cited ongoing development costs and cloud features as reasons for the shift.

This meant that if you bought GoodNotes 4 before the switch, you own that version permanently and can use it without paying anything further. However, GoodNotes 4 no longer receives updates, and some newer iPad and Mac features may not work with it. Version 5 is where all new development happens, and it requires the subscription.

How the GoodNotes subscription works

When you subscribe to GoodNotes, you pay either monthly or yearly. The subscription covers access to the app on all your devices — iPad, Mac, and iPhone — as long as the subscription is active. Your notes sync across devices through iCloud.

If you stop paying, you lose access to the app. Your notes remain stored in iCloud, but you cannot open or edit them in GoodNotes until you resubscribe. You can export your notes as PDF or image files before your subscription ends if you want to keep them in another format.

Subscriptions renew automatically on the date you set up the plan. You can turn off auto-renewal in your Apple ID settings on any device, but you must do this before the renewal date or you will be charged.

Comparing GoodNotes to one-time purchase alternatives

If you want a note-taking app with a one-time payment, Notability and Metamoji Note both offer this option. Notability costs $11.99 as a one-time purchase on iPad (though it moved to subscription on Mac). Metamoji Note costs around $4.99 to $9.99 depending on your region and device.

These apps have similar core features — handwriting recognition, PDF annotation, and note organization — but they lack some of GoodNotes' specific tools. GoodNotes has stronger shape recognition, more precise pressure sensitivity, and tighter integration with Apple Pencil on newer iPads. The trade-off is that you pay a subscription to use it.

Other one-time purchase options include Noteshelf (around $9.99) and Paper (free with optional in-app purchases). None of these are exact replacements for GoodNotes, so test them on a free trial or lite version before deciding.

Whether the GoodNotes subscription is worth the cost

The decision depends on how often you use the app and what you use it for. If you take notes daily, annotate PDFs regularly, or use GoodNotes for work or school, the yearly plan ($79.99) breaks down to less than $7 per month. For heavy users, that is often cheaper than buying a new version every few years when the old one stops working with new iPad software.

If you use it occasionally — a few times a month for light note-taking — the subscription may feel expensive for what you get. In that case, a one-time purchase app like Notability or Metamoji Note might make more sense, even if it has fewer features.

You can test GoodNotes with a free trial before committing to a subscription. This lets you see whether the app fits your workflow before you pay.

How to cancel your GoodNotes subscription

To stop paying for GoodNotes, you turn off auto-renewal in your Apple ID settings, not in the app itself. On iPad or Mac, go to Settings (or System Settings on Mac), tap your name, select Subscriptions, find GoodNotes, and tap Cancel Subscription. On iPhone, the path is the same.

Canceling stops future charges but does not delete your notes. You can resubscribe later and your notes will still be there in iCloud. If you want to keep your notes after canceling, export them as PDF or image files first — GoodNotes lets you do this from the app menu.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use GoodNotes 4 forever without paying?

Yes, if you already own GoodNotes 4. It does not require a subscription and will continue to work. However, it no longer receives updates, and it may stop working on future iPad or Mac versions as Apple changes its software. You cannot read GoodNotes 4 new anymore — only GoodNotes 5 is available.

What happens to my notes if I cancel the subscription?

Your notes stay in iCloud and are not deleted. You cannot open them in GoodNotes until you resubscribe, but you can export them as PDF or image files while your subscription is active. If you resubscribe later, your notes will be there waiting for you.

Is there a free version of GoodNotes?

GoodNotes does not have a free version, but it offers a free trial period so you can test it before subscribing. The length of the trial varies by region and changes occasionally, so check the App Store listing for current details.

Can I use GoodNotes on multiple devices with one subscription?

Yes. One subscription covers iPad, Mac, and iPhone. Your notes sync across all devices through iCloud as long as you are signed in with the same Apple ID.