Since 2010, Notability has been a staple note-taking app for iOS and macOS devices. It boasts an impressive 4.8 out of 5 rating on the App Store from over 450,000 reviews, and it’s now on Android.
There are plenty of fantastic note-taking apps on Android, so I tested Notability to find out if the app holds up to its reputation, or if it’s just another case of Apple-exclusive loyalty.
Notability isn’t shy about flaunting its premium status
Pay up or enjoy a useless app
I wasn’t surprised in the slightest when Notability immediately tried to get me to sign up for a premium subscription after signing up. It’s standard operating procedure for productivity apps.
However, I was bemused by the aggressiveness of its approach. The free tier caps you at five free notes, which include voice notes, drawings, and scanned documents.
The free version of Notability is a demo, not a full-fledged note-taking experience. So what do you get if you pay?
The Lite subscription costs $11.99 a year and includes unlimited notes, third-party backups (iOS only), and seven-day version history. However, if you’re going to pay, this isn’t the one.
The Plus tier costs $15.99 a year and unlocks the elements that make Notability unique. It includes 100 YouTube link-to-note conversions a month, 400 AI-powered quizzes and flashcards a month, recording capabilities, and 30-day version history.
Essentially, you have to pay for the $15.99-a-year subscription to get any value out of Notability, and that’s only if you fit the target audience.
Other apps are better for work and personal use
Notability advertises itself as a “study organizer, workspace, or notebook,” but it’s clear where its strengths lie.
Its collaboration tools are clunky. While you can sync notes, it requires manual refreshing; don’t expect Google Docs-style live updates. I could use it for work, but there are easier and better tools available.
Structured is better than any of Notability’s planner templates
Its capabilities are also overpowered for day-to-day needs. There are better apps for organizing personal events; Structured is the best calendar/task-management app I’ve tested.
That leaves education. And I have to say, I wish I had an iPad with Notability during my university years.
Notability makes studying a breeze
Perfect for rapid note-taking in the lecture hall
In one note on Notability, I can manipulate images, import text, convert handwritten text to typed, add voice memos, and solve equations.
I can easily imagine sitting in a class, taking notes, and importing relevant information while the app records the lecture. It’s a fantastic experience, and it doesn’t stop there.
No trendy app in 2026 is complete without AI features, and Notability is no different. After taking a series of notes, it can convert everything into flashcards and study cards. Again, it’s all seamless.
Finish a lecture, ask Notability to convert your notes into study materials, head back to your dorm room, and start studying. It’s an excellent example of how AI tools can be useful.
While I wouldn’t use Notability for long-term research projects (that’s where NotebookLM excels), it’s perfect for short-term studying sessions. However, there’s a frustrating hardware catch.
If you don’t have a tablet or foldable, forget about Notability
It’s not suitable for small screens
I muddled my way through Notability on my Google Pixel 10 Pro using my finger, and I quickly realized the truth about the app.
Notability is an app for tablets and styluses. Yes, you can use it on laptops and phones, but it only excels on tablets. Using the app with my finger was frustrating, as the experience is not built with small screens in mind.
It’s most obvious when taking text notes. Notability doesn’t allow you to change the default font size, and I was squinting to read my notes. I could take all my notes as headings, but that’s a ridiculous workaround.
Typing notes in general is a chore. The screen is so packed with floating UI elements that I can only see a tiny fraction of the page at a time.
I don’t mind an app being optimized for large screens, but I shouldn’t feel like I have to fight an app just to take some quick notes.
Android implementation is half-baked
Buggy, awkward, and missing features
For some reason, the template gallery was completely missing from my app. I tried changing accounts, reinstalling the app, and tweaking every setting, but nothing worked.
Apparently, this is an issue on iOS devices too, but I’m still not impressed.
Other UI elements are clearly built from Apple’s development kit, which feels jarring on an Android device. Some UI elements obscure each other, and the app has probably the worst implementation of swipe controls I’ve ever seen.
There are better apps for Android, but if you’re a student with a tablet, Notability is great
If I were a student armed with the latest Samsung Galaxy tablet and a stylus, Notability could be great. But for anyone else, it’s a half-baked experience that doesn’t live up to the hype.
Perhaps the Notability team will iron out the flaws and add the missing features soon. But until then, I’ll be uninstalling it and going back to my minimalist method of taking notes.
