EXPLANATION ON THE PAGE
The answer stays where the question was.
You circle, and the card is attached to the spot with a line. When you review, question and explanation are together.
Circle & understand →COMPARISON · AS OF 10 OCTOBER 2026
Goodnotes, Notability
or Otriva?
Otriva fits when explanation cards and quizzes should stay right in your notes. Goodnotes or Notability fit better for audio recording; Goodnotes is the closer fit for writing on Android and Windows. Apple Notes is pre-installed.
Download freeWhat the apps do
Based on each maker’s own descriptions. Features and prices change – check the current details before you switch.
| Feature | Goodnotes | Notability | Apple Notes | Otriva |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Handwriting and PDFs | Yes | Yes | Yes | Yes |
| Ask AI about a passage | Select with the lasso, answer in a sidebar | Chat with your notes (Pro) | Not stated | Circle the passage, answer as a card connected to it |
| Study from your notes | Study sets plus Q&A and quiz generator | Quizzes and flashcards from one note (Plus/Pro) | Not stated | Cover answers right in your notes (“Quiz me”, no AI allowance used) |
| Understand German in your language | Translate via “Ask Goodnotes” | Not stated | Not stated | Word card with article, simple German and sentence starters |
| Record lectures | Audio synced to your writing, with transcript | Audio synced to your writing, with transcript | Audio with transcript, depending on device and language | No |
| Devices | iPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, Windows, web | iPad, iPhone, Mac, web | Apple devices | iPad to write, iPhone to read and study |
| Free | Up to 3 notebooks; Q&A and quiz generator 5 times a month each | Usable with limits; Learn only in Plus/Pro | Pre-installed | Writing, organizing, PDFs and “Quiz me” without a subscription; 5 AI answers a month |
As of 10 October 2026. Sources: Goodnotes App Store · Goodnotes plans · Goodnotes AI · Ask Goodnotes · Goodnotes platforms · Notability App Store · Notability Learn · Apple Notes: audio · Apple Notes: math · Apple Notes: handwriting & PDFs
When Otriva fits better.
QUIZZES IN YOUR NOTEBOOK
Study in your own handwriting.
No new flashcards: Otriva covers answers right in your notes, and the context stays visible.
Quiz me & iPhone →
GERMAN AS A SECOND LANGUAGE
Language support made for German.
Article, simple German and sentence starters instead of a bare translation – without giving away the solution.
Understand in your language →When another app fits better
You record lectures
Goodnotes and Notability link audio to your writing. Otriva doesn’t record audio.
You also write on Android or Windows
Goodnotes is available there. Otriva is made for iPad, with iPhone as a companion; Notability lists iPad, iPhone, Mac and web.
You want to pay once for the note-taking app
Notability offers Classic as a one-time purchase. According to the maker, the AI study feature Learn is only part of Plus and Pro.
You need editable original objects from your old app
Otriva brings over the visible page content as a PDF. Layers, text boxes and other editable objects from the previous app do not come across.
You just want to calculate and sketch
Apple Notes is already installed and solves handwritten equations.
Frequently asked questions
Does Goodnotes have AI too?
Yes. With “Ask Goodnotes” you ask about a selected passage and the answer appears in a sidebar; there are also study sets and a quiz generator. Otriva focuses on the card right at the spot and on quizzing in your own notes.
Can I switch from Goodnotes or Notability to Otriva?
Yes, as PDFs: export your notes there as PDFs and share them with Otriva. The pages come across, not the editable objects. Try larger collections with a copy first.
Is the Otriva app in English?
Yes. On an iPhone or iPad set to English, the app interface is in English. Language support explains German passages in English and other help languages.
Why do some cells say “Not stated”?
We only list what the maker describes itself. If nothing is stated about a feature, we say so instead of guessing.