A Notability alternative that turns lectures into notes
Recording a lecture is the easy part; going back through it is not. Breef records it, writes it up into sections and key points with what the lecturer stressed, and brings it back for review.
Why students try Breef instead
Listen in class. Breef takes care of the rest.
Written up, not just recorded
Sections in the order the topics came up, key points under each, and what the lecturer stressed for the exam.
Reviews at the right time
Every note comes back after 1, 3, 7, 21, 60 and 120 days, and more often as an exam nears.
Quizzes from your notes
When a note is due, Breef asks three questions from it and points to the line with each answer.
Thousands of notes, free
Up to 2,000 notes on the free plan, with 2 hours of voice notes a month.
Breef and Notability, side by side
| Feature | Breef | Notability |
|---|---|---|
| How you write | In partTyped notes that format as you go, with formulas, images and files | YesHandwriting, typing and PDF annotation |
| Lecture recording | YesRecords a lecture and writes it up into sections and key points | YesRecords lectures while you take notes |
| Transcription | YesIncluded: 2 hours a month on Free, 30 with Pro | In partLimited on Plus, unlimited on Pro |
| Spaced review | YesEvery note comes back after 1, 3, 7, 21, 60 and 120 days | In partAI quizzes and flashcards, limited on Plus |
| Links between notes | YesLinks both ways, and a map of every note and link | NoNot built in |
| Ask your notes | Yes10 questions a month free, as many as you like with Pro | In partChat with your notes on Pro |
| Apps | In partIn the browser on any computer or phone, and installable as an app | YesiPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android |
| Price | YesUp to 2,000 notes free; Pro is €6 a month or €48 a year | In part5 notes free; Lite, Plus and Pro are paid |
What’s said here about other apps comes from their own websites, as of October 2026, and may have changed since.
Where Notability is stronger
Every app makes trade-offs. These are the ones Breef makes.
- Handwriting with a stylus, and annotating PDFs and slides by hand.
- Recordings kept with your notes, to play back later.
- Native apps for iPad, iPhone, Mac, Windows and Android.
- Sketching and drawing alongside your notes.
Moving from Notability
Export your Notability notes as PDFs and drop them into Breef: it writes each one up as linked notes you can review, as long as the PDF has text in it (handwriting alone has none to read). From then on, record lectures straight into a Breef note.
Questions
Can I handwrite in Breef?
No. Breef is for typed notes; if handwriting is how you study, Notability suits you better.
Can I bring my Notability notes?
Export them as PDFs and drop them into Breef: notes with text in them are written up as linked notes.
Is the audio kept?
No. Breef transcribes as you record and keeps only the text: the written-up note, with the transcript underneath.
Does it work on an iPad?
Yes, in the browser, and it can be installed as an app from there. It works on any computer or phone too.
More comparisons
Start with one note.
Free to start, nothing to install. Your notes are never sold, used for ads or used to train AI.