Goodnotes Adds Collaborative Tools and AI to Attract Professionals

09/23/2025 Apps

So, Goodnotes, that app we all know and maybe even love for taking notes in class, is making a play for the pros. It's not just about jotting down lecture notes anymore; they're rolling out some interesting new features aimed squarely at professionals. Think collaborative whiteboards, document creation, and, of course, an AI assistant to make your work life a little easier.

I think it's smart of them. I mean, students eventually graduate, right? They need to keep those users engaged, so expanding into the professional space makes total sense. This AI assistant seems pretty versatile. It can handle handwriting (which is great for those of us who still prefer pen and paper), typing, sketches, and even voice input. The company claims it can summarize meetings, create visuals, proofread, and even whip up templates for you. Meeting summaries? That sounds like a lifesaver.

They actually bought a South Korean startup last year that specializes in meeting and video summaries, which, to me, means they're serious about this AI thing. It isn't just some tacked-on feature; they're investing in it.

But wait, there's more! They're also adding a whiteboard feature so you can collaborate with colleagues in real-time, plus document creation tools with support for text, images, GIFs, and tables. Sounds like they're trying to be a one-stop shop for productivity.

I guess Goodnotes wants to be the all-in-one note-taking app for every situation, no matter the device.

Of course, all these fancy new features come at a price. They're ditching their old numbering system for two new plans: Goodnotes Essentials and Goodnotes Pro. Essentials gets you new file formats and AI for Q&A, while Pro throws in Google Calendar and OneDrive integration, private link sharing, a desktop AI bot for meeting transcription, and even AI-powered content suggestions. But remember, there's a limit to how much AI you can use, even on the Pro plan. If you're an AI power user, you'll need to shell out for an AI pass. Also, there's still a one-time purchase available for Apple users.

I remember when Goodnotes was just an iPad app, that's impressive growth. They're clearly doing something right. From 21 to 25 million users in one year its an impressive increase!