The Best GoodNotes Alternative? The Most Similar Note-Taking App for iPad – StarNote Review

Video Description

I’ve been looking for a true replacement for GoodNotes for a long time… and I think I’ve finally found the closest one — StarNote. It doesn’t just look like GoodNotes. It also adds features GoodNotes still doesn’t have: ✔ Layers ✔ Expandable pages ✔ Margin space control ✔ Page linking ✔ Split view inside notes ✔ Flexible exporting ✔ Adjustable templates ✔ Powerful lasso editing ✔ Handwriting tools with custom gestures …and more. In this full deep-dive review, I test StarNote on the iPad Pro with Apple Pencil and compare it directly against GoodNotes from a real user’s perspective. If you’re a student, digital planner user, or someone who relies heavily on handwriting, this video will help you understand whether StarNote is worth switching to. 🔍 What you’ll learn in this video • How similar StarNote really is to GoodNotes • The biggest differences in handwriting experience • Layer system and why it changes note-taking • Page organization, linking, and navigation • Margin expansion and custom layout tools • All handwriting tools tested in real time • PDF reading, annotation, and productivity tips • Full feature comparison between StarNote and GoodNotes • Is StarNote worth it in 2025? 00:00 Intro 00:35 Page Switching & Split View 01:37 Home Button, Camera, and Screenshot Tools 01:58 Audio Recording Tools 02:44 Reading Mode 02:52 Layers 03:37 Add New Pages 03:59 Page Management (Thumbnails, Bookmarks & Outline) 05:03 Notebook Renaming, Tags & Template Settings 06:13 Add Margin Space 06:45 Create Page Links 06:59 Rotate & Delete Pages 07:08 Export Notes 07:24 Toolbar Position & Page-Turning Settings 07:43 Two-Page View 07:51 Handwriting Zoom Follow 08:17 Themes, Backup & Document Settings 08:30 Shape Settings (Perfect Shapes & Fill Options) 08:42 Custom Gesture Settings 09:28 Privacy & General Settings 09:55 Timer Tool 10:11 Notes Toolbar, Undo & Redo 10:18 Pens: Fountain Pen, Ballpoint & Pencil 11:27 Highlighters 11:53 Erasers 13:13 Lasso Tool 14:30 Insert Images 14:53 Insert Text Boxes 15:21 Excerpt Tool 15:40 Tags Tool 15:58 Shape Tool 16:40 Stickers, Tape, Laser Pointer & Ruler 17:49 Notebook & File Management 20:17 Price Comparison 20:46 Final Thoughts 🛠 My setup for this video • iPad Pro 11" M4 • Apple Pencil Pro • StarNote App (latest version) • Sony ZV-E10 II 💬 Question for you What’s your current note-taking app on iPad? GoodNotes, Notability, StarNote, Noteshelf, or something else? Tell me in the comments — I reply to every message! #goodnotes #goodnotesalternative #notetakingapps #ipadproductivity #productivityapps #notetaking #ipad #digitalnotetaking #digitalplanner #ipadsetup #ipadnotes #tablet #notability #starnote #bestnotetakingapp #goodnotesplanner