Pencora vs Notability
Notability’s free plan holds five notes, and handwriting search and backups sit behind a paywall. Pencora gives you all of it free — plus handwriting generation, graphs, geometry and an infinite board.
Where Pencora is ahead of Notability
| Feature |  |
 Notability |
|---|---|---|
| Price | YesFree — every feature. No subscription, no ads |
PartlyFree plan: 5 notes. Unlimited from $14.99 a year, or $49.99 once (Classic) |
| Typed text in your handwriting | YesTeach it your letters once, then type or paste a whole Markdown document — lists, formulas — and it’s written in your own hand. Russian and English, on the iPad |
NoNot available |
| Graphs on the page | YesFunctions, implicit curves, points and tables — typed, imported from CSV or read from a hand-drawn table; ink on the plane sticks to its coordinates |
NoNo graphing |
| Geometry constructions | YesBisectors, perpendiculars, tangents, reflections, triangle centres — drag a point and everything built on it follows, in real millimetres |
NoShape snapping and a ruler — no constructions |
| PDFs from other apps | YesHandwriting comes in as real, editable strokes on the right paper — lasso, recolour or erase any of it |
NoAn imported PDF is a background you write over |
| Infinite board | YesAn endless canvas with a minimap behind every notebook |
NoPage-based notes, no infinite canvas |
| Handwriting search | YesFree, on the iPad, in 8 languages including Russian and Ukrainian |
PartlyOnly on paid plans (Plus, Pro or Classic) |
| Automatic backup | YesFree: every day to your own Google Drive, five latest copies kept |
PartlyOnly on paid plans (Lite and up, or Classic) |
Moving over from Notability
- Export the notebook as a PDF from Notability.
- Open the PDF with Pencora — from the Share sheet, or with Import inside a notebook — and choose to bring it in as editable ink.
- Pencora detects the paper ruling and turns the handwriting into real strokes, page by page. Long notebooks open at once and finish converting as you go.
Other comparisons
Pencora vs GoodnotesFree without the 3-notebook limit
Pencora vs NoteshelfSearch and backups without Premium
Pencora vs MyScript NotesFormerly Nebo · no 5-page limit
Pencora vs CollaNoteGraphs and geometry, no Premium
Pencora vs Apple NotesBuilt in vs built for handwriting
Pencora vs OneNoteNo Microsoft account, graphs on iPad
Compared with what Notability says about itself on its own website and App Store page, checked September 2026. Apps change — if something here is out of date, tell me and I’ll fix it. Notability is a trademark of its owner; Pencora is not affiliated with or endorsed by it.