Fantastic human, hello! Today I want to take you on a deep dive into Goodnotes 7, an app that has long been associated with handwriting note‑taking but is now trying to reinvent itself as something much bigger. In 2026, it runs across macOS, iOS, iPadOS, Windows, and Android. If you’re a subscriber, you can sync across platforms using their Goodnotes Cloud, though we’ve heard mixed reports about how reliable that sync is. Personally, I haven’t tested it at all because I’m locked into the Apple ecosystem. Let us know if it has improved.
Text Documents & Mac Integration
The biggest leap forward is that Goodnotes 7 has moved beyond handwritten notes. You can now work with text documents, which suddenly makes the app feel relevant on the Mac. For years, Goodnotes was an iPad‑first experience, and while handwriting on the iPad is still its soul, the addition of text documents means you can finally justify using it on a desktop. If you’re someone who writes heavy text notes, especially when paired with AI features, the Mac is the natural place to do that. You can add images with captions, embed videos, and even toggle paragraphs. That’s a huge deal. It feels like body text has become its own separate layer inside the app, and that unlocks workflows that weren’t possible before.
Mind Mapping
Goodnotes 7 has also dipped into mind mapping. It’s still a bit manual, but the connectors and shapes are fun to use. For visual learners, this is a welcome addition. On the Mac, where text‑heavy workflows dominate, mind mapping feels natural. The question is whether the developers will expand this into a full‑fledged tool or leave it as a lightweight feature.
Collaboration
Collaboration is perhaps the most compelling reason to use Goodnotes 7. It’s in real‑time, is animated, and supports conversations directly inside notebooks. You can send email invitations, now, which keeps unwanted intruders out. You can also follow others as you work together. Compared to Apple Notes, which has decent collaboration, Goodnotes feels more dynamic and professional.
Massive pages & infinite canvas
Another reason to love Goodnotes 7 remains the ability to create huge pages for posters, or large diagrams. At the other extreme, you can create extremely tiny pages for quick notes. The supported range is impressive, but the massive pages are what really stands out. And if you truly want no limits, you can use the infinite canvas. It had some limitations a while back, but those have since been resolved. So, you’re not just forced to stick to the traditional notebook setup, in Goodnotes 7. You can go beyond that.
User interface
Not much has changed for your user interface, though. The handwriting toolbar, the one containing all your pens, is mobile. So, you can place it on any side of the screen. When you’re working on a crowded page, being able to move the toolbar out of the way keeps the canvas clean and uncluttered. It also makes the app look more minimalist when you move it to the side. And, if sidebars annoy you, sometimes they do, you can turn them into floating ones.
Sticky notes
We finally have proper sticky notes, where your handwriting can actually sticks. You can rotate them too, sign them with your username if you’re collaborating and they also support text, not just handwriting. I have to admit, they don’t really look or feel like sticky notes, but they work. That is really all you need, isn’t it?
Then there are some things you won’t really like about Goodnotes 7. Without dwelling too much on them, we must at least mention them, right?
Audio recording limitations
Audio recording is limited because it only links to handwriting, not text. Its noise reduction is terrible! Instead of filtering background noise, it just mutes everything, so you’re stuck with the noise. Or you get no audio at all.
Body text limitations
Body text also has limitations that make it difficult to work with. There are no font size options, so the default text is too small, and the workaround makes headings ridiculously massive. You can’t zoom in, and the empty screen space on the sides feels wasted. Those margins are simply too big for my liking.
Handwriting and highlighter coupling
In Goodnotes 7, the lasso tool combines the handwriting and highlighter colours. Change one, and both change. This feels like a step backwards. Most apps can selectively work on your highlighters without affecting your pens.
Pricing
Pricing is fairly flexible for Goodnotes 7. You can buy the app outright for $36, which is a one‑time purchase, or you can opt for a subscription. The essential package is $12/year, while the Pro version is $36/year. If you lean heavily on AI features, there’s also an AI pass at $9/month, which makes sense if you burn through credits quickly. I actually appreciate this tiered approach because it lets casual users stick with a one‑time purchase while giving power users the option to unlock more advanced tools. Handwriting apps are generally getting expensive, especially newer ones. Which makes Goodnotes 7 a safe bet, given how long it’s been around.
Conclusion
Despite these issues, Goodnotes 7 is ambitious. Always has been. It’s no longer just a handwriting app; it’s evolving into a hybrid platform for text, visuals, and collaboration. It doesn’t take away from handwriting, though — it builds on it. The developers want to keep you inside the app, whether you’re working on handwritten notes or text documents. So, the big question is whether Goodnotes 7 makes the app better for those who wanted more from their macOS experience. Let us know what you think.