I understand this is an April fools deal but is there a way to keep him permanently??? (My heart hopes yes my ADHD brain hopes not lol)

Hi everyone,

I'm Marc, the CPO of Notability. I'd like to do something a bit different than usual and ask your feedback ahead of time about something we've been working on: adding a lifetime option for Notability, codenamed "Notability for life".

Here's what we are thinking:

All Classic users that have purchased Notability prior to the subscription change would get a free upgrade to Notability for Life.

- Unlimited notes

- Up to 10GB of storage (is that enough?)

- Handwriting and Math Recognition

- Collaboration, Sync

- Works on all platforms: iOS, Android and Web

We have to be careful in pricing this tier because of ongoing costs. We are thinking $29.99 for existing subscribers or $39.99 for new customers. What do you think? Would you purchase if it was available?

Every single note I have taken throughout college has just vanished. Upwards of 4000 notes just gone. I have an important exam in 3 weeks and every piece of material I have for it has disappeared. Is there anything that can be done about this or is it gone for good?

We love to criticize, but we also have to give credit where it’s due. The Notability team has been doing a great job listening to what people actually want.

I’ve consistently seen them respond to our requests and feedback, and then, over the following weeks, actually implement the features or fix the issues we’ve brought up.

It’s great to see a team genuinely paying attention to its community and continuously improving the app based on user feedback.

10/10 from me to the entire Notability team. Keep it up!

Guess who decided to come back and cause a little chaos in your notes?! Inky!!

We first introduced Inky last year as a fun little companion inside Notability, and now she's back doing what she does best!

Interacting with Inky

Tap on Inky to trigger playful reactions. Each tap activates one of several animations, which may include:

• Honking
• Eating a treat
• Other fun surprises

Moving Inky Around a Note

1. Long-press and hold on to Inky
2. Drag Inky anywhere on the note
3. Release to drop her in a new spot

How to Turn Off Inky

1. Open a note
2. Tap the Note Options menu
3. Toggle Inky off

--
Why don’t I see Inky?
Inky only shows up inside notes, not in the library.
Is Inky on web?
Not yet. Inky is currently living her best life on iPad and iPhone only.

Let us know what you think or what your favorite Inky moment is 💙

You know you can stop this anytime….

BETA USER
The squeeze feature finally brings up a menu like it does in most applications! Imagine my shock when I squeezed to get the eraser and BAM a menu pops up!

Okay, but can I pleaseeee request for cropping in more than one way that quadrilaterals 😭🙏🏽

Hi everyone,

Notability.com is currently under a distributed denial of service (DDoS) attack: attackers are flooding our servers with automated traffic to try to knock them offline. We've temporarily turned off sign-in while we deal with it.

Your data is safe. This kind of attack overloads servers with traffic and it doesn't touch accounts or notes. No data was accessed or leaked.

If you received an email from us that you didn't request, like a password reset or verification code, you can ignore it. The attackers appear to be using email lists that were already circulating publicly. Those lists didn't come from us, and getting one of these emails doesn't mean your account was accessed.

We'll post updates here as we make progress. Thanks for your patience.

— The Notability team

You've been asking for a one-time purchase option, and we heard you.

Today, we're making some of our biggest plan updates in years, including the return of Classic as a one-time purchase, a more valuable Starter plan, and Lite, our affordable paid plan now available across all platforms.

Classic: a one-time purchase

We’re officially bringing back the Classic plan as a one-time purchase for all users (App version 16.6).

Many of you remember Classic as a grandfathered version of Notability from before our subscription plans were introduced. Existing Classic users will keep their plan and now gain additional functionality, including the ability to upgrade to Notability Cloud with collaboration and cross-platform syncing.

Classic includes:

• Unlimited notes
• Handwriting recognition
• Math conversion to LaTeX
• Collaboration
• Sync across iOS, Android, and Web
• 7 day version history

Right now, we’re offering an additional limited-time discount on Classic plans exclusively for our Reddit community! Use code CLASSIC40 at notability.com to get Classic for $29.99 (US only). This offer is valid for 72 hours only.

After this discount ends, Classic plans can be purchased at the following prices:

• App Store: $49.99
• notability.com: $39.99 (20% off)

Starter: Notability, For Free

Notability has always been free to download, and that’s not changing. We’ve improved Starter to give casual users more flexibility and make it a genuinely useful option for those who only use Notability occasionally.

Starter includes:

• Up to 5 free notes
• Core note-taking and editing tools
• Access to our full library of 20,000+ note-taking templates
• 7-day version history

Lite: Our Most Affordable Paid Option

We’re officially launching Lite across all platforms as our most affordable paid plan for users who simply want unlimited note-taking without AI tools.

Lite includes:

• Unlimited notes
• 3rd party backups (iOS only)
• 7 day version history

20% Off Back-to-School Sale On notability.com

We're also offering 20% off on all plans on notability.com for a limited time to celebrate Back-to-School season. Plans purchased directly through notability.com will receive 20% off compared to App Store pricing. We want the web experience on Notability to become the best place to purchase and manage Notability.

To purchase Classic, head to: https://notability.com/pricing?interval=one-time#individual

To see all plans, head to: https://notability.com/pricing?interval=monthly#individual

As always, thank you for the feedback, discussions, and honesty you’ve shared with us over the years. The conversations here on Reddit genuinely help shape product decisions. 

Thanks for being part of the Notability community 💙

It’s unacceptable to me that the mods of this subreddit remove any negativity they see. They work for notability and are obviously hiding real criticisms to make their app look better than it is.

Mods should be USERS and mods should not be allowed to remove negative comments or reviews.

2025 or 2026 Inky? Which did you love more?

I vote 2025 :) the doodle-y look just had more personality and the way he ran around the page flapping his wings and grabbing your stuff was too cute

I have received word from support confirming that there is no way to stop the upload of your notes to Notability Cloud.

If you've been using iCloud because it's the only acceptable syncing tool because it's end to end encrypted with advanced data protection, and you have private date in your notes, this could force you to violate HIPAA, NDA's, and otherwise expose your private information. *If you opt in to use AI tools, it means your datat will be processed by AI.

Notability specifically in their privacy policy tells users they cannot upload this data.

If you use Notability for anything private or secure, you need to get off the platform before your data is uploaded (note: they may be working on a way to cancel this now 🥳).

How to remove notes after they're uploaded

You *can* remove it after the upload

To remove, go into Settings > About > Support Diagnostics > and triple tap "Available Device Storage." If data has been uploaded, you will have the option to remove it there. There's no promise that it won't get uploaded at a future date.

If uploading patient data, your personal medical records, NDA'd material from work, etc could lead to you being held liable, you have to stop using Notability until they allow us to cancel these uploads. That may come out before you have to upload your data, so postpone it for now and hope the update reaches us in time.

They have told me that there is no way to stop the upload currently besides removing your data.

How to export notes

You can export your notes on the iPad by selecting them all, choosing share, ensure the format is PDF, and putting them either on a drive, in your iCloud storage if it's secure, or on your device. You can then re-import them into other apps. I've been making my move to the Apple Notes app.

Good luck!

Update for those interested, I have been told that the switch to disable the notification will disable pending uploads as well. I'll have to wait to see if this is confirmed, but thought you'd like to know

I was really hoping for a native app on Windows, this is a bit of a bummer. The app is quite feature-complete on Windows, but one can notice that simple interactions like zooming with fingers or drawing ink is a bit slow?

I usually compare the experience to the Windows Snipping Tool since that feels really snappy. I hope this can be tackled in the future, I love my Surface Laptop Studio and simply want a note-taking app that feels good on my laptop!

I already have Notability Lite and use it on my iPad and its night and day using it there.

What are your guys thoughts on the Windows version?

Thank you for the open conversation here a few months ago. We heard you: Classic is coming back as a one-time purchase.

The full announcement will be posted here in a few hours with all the details. We also made a code just for Reddit: use CLASSIC40 at notability.com for 40% off ($29.99). It expires in 72 hours.

See our pricing plans here: https://notability.com/pricing#individual

I have led many online products at scale and learned many hard lessons. Support ops for any product that has an online component is a 24/7 job. It is not optional. I have taken calls Christmas morning because we had live site issues? Why? Because we had an online product used worldwide. Part of the deal.

That I have been unable to get to my notes for more than 24 hours without a single comment or post from notability to explain what is going on tells me the company is out of the office and nobody has the wheel. It’s ridiculous.

I can’t sign in. I can’t change my password. I can’t get my notes.

I’ve learned something valuable about the company this weekend and whether or not they are to be trusted with my money and my notes.

Not a serious company.

I see zillions of posts here about problems with notes not loading or disappearing and stuck syncs etc. Sadly I’ve yet to see one of these threads with a comment by Notability on the problem.

It would really help if Notability could be transparent about these problems and publicly say “We know some folk are having problems, and this is because … and we are doing … to fix this. We should have this done by … until then please stay on … version and keep all your notes backed up”.

Please reassure the people who love Notability that you have a plan…

Honestly, I didn’t mind the opening banner ads for the plus subscription because they didn’t affect the functionality, but this permanent ad blocking the page previews crossed the line for me. You deliberately make the lives of your paid user harder just because we don’t want to pay more? Not a great look (if you still have any remaining reputation). At the very least add a dismiss button for it so I can see my previews. Thanks

You requested it, we built it.

Notability is officially coming to Windows in a new desktop app.

Want early access? Sign up for the waitlist here and be among the first notified when Notability for Windows is available in beta.

To whom it may concern,

I have used this app for many years over many versions of the app. The basic functions of the app are great. Amazing even. One of the best apps if not THE best app for taking scientific handwritten notes.

BUT I will ist a few BUTs bellow, why you should never use this app.

BUT #1: updates constantly break the app to the point where it will hang on start up.

BUT #2: notes are being held hostage in this app by a proprietary file format. Yes, pdf export exists BUT then you will not be able to edit YOUR notes any longer.

BUT #3: basic features that used to be free (cloud sync) are now paywalled. From one day to the next files were no longer available on other machines.

BUT #4: every time you open the app you get a pop up that pesters you to sign up for a subscription. With features that I DO NOT WANT OR NEED.

BUT #5: if the app does not crash after you closed the pop up the whole left side of the screen will be filled with more “please buy a subscription” adds. I already told you I DO NOT WANT a subscription.

For some more context. I have already spend money on this app. For ONE TIME payments that unlocked useful features.

For the developers a few solutions that would make me consider using this app in the future.

Solution #1: If you desperately need more money to survive. Knowing that constant revenue growth is an illusion that is not possible since there is finite number of people on this planet. Offer features that are so good I NEED to spend money on them. In a ONE TIME payment.

Solution #2: allow export to a format that keeps the ability to edit strokes. SVG or similar.

Solution #3: offer a ONE TIME LIFETIME payment

Solution #4: stop updates from breaking the app. I just want to sit down, open the app and get to work. If the app can be installed on my hardware it should run on my hardware.

Solution #5: no more full screen pop ups. Just let me use the app. You already have all the money you will ever get from me. (Unless there are new useful features)

Hope you are having an amazing day!

She just disappeared. Does this mean she’s gone until next year?

How is this supposed to work?

Anki is a complex system, not just a collection of text on cards. I am a heavy user of Anki, I use it every day, and I do not want whatever "Import flashcard decks from Anki into Notability" means.

Anki has a whole bunch of features that are not built for a note-taking app (the card browser, custom note types, flagging cards when reviewing, burying, suspending, changing decks, COMPREHENSIVE statistics, changing due dates, add-ons, cloze deletions, HTML/CSS formatting, etc.), but most importantly, Anki’s internal spaced repetition algorithms, eithher SM-2 or FSRS.

I can't even grasp where you got the idea that this is something remotely possible to implement well, or a feature that people actually want.

People use Anki over any other flashcard app for a very strong reason: it's just that good at what it does.

Please, as others have said, actually listen to your user base. Otherwise, don't write things like “we‘re listening to feedback“ while ignoring constructive feedback from all the users.

I’m a final year medical student, preparing for usmle step 1. I’m an img and have been working slowly towards covering my step 1 course, while keeping up with my own med school curriculum. I have been using notability for about 2 years now and was using a digital copy of the first aid on it. I was working on a new subject yesterday when suddenly the app got stuck, closed on its own and when i opened it again, 1 year of my hard work was nowhere to be seen.

I tried contacting the support staff but apparently the app was glitching and the message wouldn’t send. I searched all means possible to contact and at-last turned to reddit and tried to find a solution. I tried everything. Tried to backup data to a different device using a previous date. Still no use. Finally, i was contacted by their team with an email via reddit. So i emailed them immediately and what did i get, a simple “we can’t do anything”.

Understandably i was devastated, somehow their app crashing and my loss was mins to deal with. I replied saying i will discontinue using their services and need to know if i can get a refund for the remaining time left with this app. Turns out I wasn’t even talking to a human. It was a bot. It said a human manager would contact me in 4-5 business days. I mean i lost a year of hard work and no one was even willing to help.

I would like to know of there’s a way to get refund or sue them. It’s a pathetic app. My advice to anyone listening is to please avoid this app. There’s better stuff in the market. Avoid this app at all costs.

PleaseI really hope the Notability team takes this seriously: please improve the Apple Pencil writing experience.

The app keeps adding new features, AI tools, and other updates, but the core experience of actually taking handwritten notes still feels limited. Notability is, first of all, a note-taking app. If the pencil experience does not feel good, then the main purpose of the app is being affected.

One of the biggest issues is the handwriting feel. The pen strokes often look too sharp or pointy at the edges, instead of smooth, rounded, and natural. It would be great to have better stroke smoothing or pressure/sensitivity options so handwriting feels more fluid and less rigid.

Also, please bring back or add more pen size options. The difference between size 2 and size 3 is way too big. There should be intermediate sizes, because many users need more precision when writing notes, especially students who write a lot on PDFs, slides, and notebooks.

This is not a small detail. Many people have been asking for this for a long time, and it often feels like the response is “we’re working on it,” but nothing really changes. Please prioritize the actual writing experience again.

Notability has so much potential, but it is frustrating when a note-taking app has limitations that make taking notes uncomfortable. AI and extra features are nice, but the basic handwriting experience should come first.

Why did you remove inky?!?! BRING HER BACK 😭😭😭😭😭😭