Mintofu vs Goodnotes

Handwritten notebooks, or notes and PDFs that turn into a plan?

Short answer

Goodnotes is a handwriting-first notebook app with excellent Apple Pencil and PDF markup, and it runs on Apple devices, Android, Windows and the web. Mintofu also marks up and signs PDFs, but it's built around getting work done: the same app holds your tasks, calendar and mind maps, and its AI runs on your device instead of in the cloud. Pick Goodnotes for handwriting-heavy study; pick Mintofu if you want your notes and PDFs to turn into tasks and plans.

Side-by-side comparison

Competitor details verified on October 4, 2026 from official sources (listed below). Prices in US dollars.

Feature and pricing comparison of Mintofu and Goodnotes
FeatureMintofuGoodnotes
Price (USD)Free; Mintofu+ $2.99/mo, $19.99/yr or $49.99 onceFree plan; Essential $11.99/yr, Pro $35.99/yr (billed yearly); one-time Special Edition in the App Store
Free planFree forever: unlimited notes and task lists, full calendar; up to 2 notebooks, 3 mind maps, 3 PDFs and 2 AI uses a dayFree forever: 3 notebooks, 3 documents and 3 whiteboards, 100 MB, watermarked exports, limited AI
PlatformsiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Mac, Windows, Android, Web
NotesYesYes
Tasks & remindersYesPartly
PDF markup (highlight, draw, sign)YesYes
Mind mapsYesPartly
CalendarYesPartly
Apple Pencil handwritingYesYes
Turn notes into tasks or mind mapsYesPartly
Where AI runsOn your deviceIn the cloud
Works offlineYesYes
Separate sign-up requiredNoYes
One purchase covers iPhone, iPad & MacYesYes
One-time purchase optionYesYes

Key differences

  • Planning built in — Mintofu has a task manager, a calendar and mind maps next to your PDFs; Goodnotes offers checklist page templates and an experimental, read-only Google Calendar view on a planner template.
  • Where AI runs — Mintofu's AI runs on your device through Apple Intelligence; Goodnotes' advanced AI runs in the cloud on a monthly credit system.
  • Handwriting depth — Goodnotes is built around ink: searchable handwriting, handwriting-to-text and audio synced to your notes. Mintofu supports Apple Pencil drawing and PDF markup, but its notes are mainly typed rich text.
  • Platforms — Goodnotes runs on Apple devices, Android, Windows and the web; Mintofu is for iPhone, iPad and Mac only.

Choose Mintofu if…

  • You want PDFs, notes, tasks and a calendar in one app
  • You'd rather keep AI on your device than send notes to the cloud
  • You want a lifetime purchase that covers iPhone, iPad and Mac

Choose Goodnotes if…

  • Most of your note-taking is handwritten with Apple Pencil
  • You need Android, Windows or web access
  • You want audio recordings synced to your handwriting

Common questions

Is Mintofu a good Goodnotes alternative for PDFs?

For marking up and signing PDFs, yes: Mintofu lets you highlight, underline, write with Apple Pencil, add shapes, sticky notes, text and stamps, fill in forms and sign, and it makes scanned pages searchable. If your workflow is mainly handwritten notebooks, Goodnotes' handwriting tools go further.

Does Mintofu work on Android or Windows like Goodnotes?

No. Mintofu is available only on iPhone, iPad and Mac, and syncs through iCloud. Goodnotes also has Android, Windows and web apps.

How do the prices compare?

Goodnotes' paid plans are billed yearly: Essential is $11.99 a year and Pro $35.99 a year, with a one-time Special Edition sold in the App Store. Mintofu is free to start; Mintofu+ costs $2.99 a month, $19.99 a year or $49.99 once, and one purchase covers iPhone, iPad and Mac.

Sources

Data verified on October 4, 2026 against Goodnotes's official pages. Prices are in US dollars and can change — check Goodnotes's website for current pricing.

Goodnotes is a trademark of Goodnotes Limited. Mintofu is not affiliated with, sponsored by, or endorsed by Goodnotes Limited. Product names, prices and features belong to their respective owners and reflect publicly available information as of October 4, 2026.

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