Breef vs Goodnotes
Goodnotes is a digital notebook for handwriting: write with a stylus, mark up PDFs, and turn notes into flashcards. Breef is for typed notes that link to each other, come back for review at the right time, and quiz you. Here’s how they compare, and when to pick which.
Breef and Goodnotes, side by side
| Feature | Breef | Goodnotes |
|---|---|---|
| How you write | In partTyped notes that format as you go, with formulas, images and files | YesHandwriting with a stylus, typing and PDF markup |
| Spaced review | YesEvery note comes back after 1, 3, 7, 21, 60 and 120 days | In partSmart Learn schedules Study Set flashcards, on Apple devices only |
| Quizzes from your notes | YesThree questions from each due note; 10 new quizzes a month free | In partAn AI quiz maker, a few uses a month on Free |
| Lecture recording | YesRecords a lecture and writes it up into sections and key points | In partRecords audio beside your notes and replays your handwriting with it; fuller transcription on paid plans |
| Links between notes | YesLinks both ways, and a map of every note and link | In partLinks from text to a page or another notebook; no backlinks |
| Ask your notes | Yes10 questions a month free, as many as you like with Pro | In partAI questions on your documents, a few a month on Free |
| Search | YesEvery note’s title and text, from ⌘K | YesHandwriting, typed text and PDF text |
| Apps | In partIn the browser on any computer or phone, and installable as an app | YesiPad, iPhone, Mac, Android, Windows and the web; some features Apple only |
| Price | YesUp to 2,000 notes free; Pro is €6 a month or €48 a year | In part3 documents free; Essential 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.
Which one is for you
Choose Goodnotes if
- You take notes by hand, with a stylus.
- You mark up slides and PDFs during class.
- You study on an iPad and like flashcards in Study Sets.
Choose Breef if
- You type your notes and want them linked across courses.
- You want every note reviewed, not just the cards you make.
- You want lectures written up for you, on any device.
Moving from Goodnotes
Export your Goodnotes notebooks 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). Study Sets don’t export in a form Breef reads, so rewrite the cards you need as “question :: answer” lines, or let Breef quiz you on each note.
Questions
Does Breef support handwriting?
No. Breef is for typed notes, with formulas, images and files. If you write by hand, Goodnotes is the better fit.
Does Goodnotes have spaced repetition?
Yes, for Study Sets: Smart Learn spreads flashcard reviews over days on iPad, iPhone and Mac. Breef reviews every note itself, on any device with a browser, after 1, 3, 7, 21, 60 and 120 days.
Can I bring my Goodnotes notebooks?
Export them as PDFs and drop them into Breef: pages with text in them are written up as linked notes.
Is Breef free?
Yes: up to 2,000 notes, with links, reviews and exam dates. Pro is €6 a month or €48 a year.
More comparisons
Start with one note.
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