GoodNotes 5 Updated to Support Document Sharing via iCloud Sync

by

Popular note-taking app and PDF editor GoodNotes has been updated to support document sharing over iCloud for the first time.

syncdevices%402x
After updating to version 5.5.0, users will be able to share individual notes and entire folders of notes using unique URLs, as well as collaboratively edit the same note with others at the same time.

Users can share documents from their GoodNotes library by tapping a document title, which opens a context menu containing the new Collaborate option. If a user is already working in a document, they can tap the share icon to reveal the same option.

Shared documents display a special icon in the GoodNotes library, and can also be accessed from a new Shared tab in the app's navigation bar. Changes to shared documents sync via ‌iCloud‌ and take around 15 to 30 seconds to show up on other devices, and anyone with the link can open and edit a shared document in GoodNotes.

The developers concede that this way of working is unlikely to replace real-time collaborative whiteboard apps, but it does offer a means of working together on things like calendars, meeting notes, grocery lists, and so on over an extended period of time.

GoodNotes 5 costs $7.99 and can be downloaded for iPhone and iPad from the App Store. [Direct Link]

Tag: GoodNotes

Popular Stories

iphone 16 apple intelligence

Apple Aiming to Release 'Breakthrough' New iPhone Accessory

Wednesday February 18, 2026 12:43 pm PST by
Apple is looking for a "breakthrough" with its push into wearable AI devices, including an "AirTag-sized pendant," according to Bloomberg's Mark Gurman. In a report this week, he said the pendant is reminiscent of the failed Humane AI Pin, but it would be an iPhone accessory rather than a standalone product. The pendant would feature an "always-on" camera and a microphone for Siri voice...
Read Full Article
Multicolored Low Cost A18 Pro MacBook Feature

Low-Cost MacBook Expected on March 4 in These Colors

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:42 am PST by
Apple will announce its rumored low-cost MacBook at its event on March 4, with the device coming in a selection of bold color options, according to a known leaker. Earlier this week, Apple announced a "special Apple Experience" for the media in New York, London, and Shanghai, taking place on March 4, 2026 at 9:00am ET. Posting on Weibo, the leaker known as "Instant Digital" said that the...
Read Full Article • 329 comments
iphone 17 pro green

iPhone 17 Pro Max Curiously Becomes Most Traded-In Smartphone

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:13 am PST by
New trade-in data indicates that Apple's iPhone 17 Pro Max has rapidly become the single most traded-in smartphone. According to a new report from SellCell, Apple's latest flagship iPhone has quickly risen to the top of the independent trade-in market, accounting for 11.5% of all devices appearing in the top-20 trade-in rankings just months after release. The analysis is based on SellCell...
Read Full Article • 202 comments
CarPlay Liquid Glass Dark

iOS 26.4's New CarPlay Video Feature Shown in Action

Wednesday February 18, 2026 9:29 am PST by
Back at WWDC 2025, Apple revealed that it was planning to allow CarPlay users to watch video via AirPlay in their vehicles while they are not driving, and the first beta of iOS 26.4 suggests the feature may be nearing availability. There are several new references to CarPlay video streaming functionality within the iOS 26.4 beta's source code. The feature is not yet visible to users, but...
Read Full Article • 57 comments
Dynamic Island iPhone 18 Pro Feature

10 Reasons to Wait for Apple's iPhone 18 Pro

Wednesday February 18, 2026 5:12 am PST by
Apple's iPhone development roadmap runs several years into the future and the company is continually working with suppliers on several successive iPhone models at the same time, which is why we often get rumored features months ahead of launch. The iPhone 18 series is no different, and we already have a good idea of what to expect for the iPhone 18 Pro and iPhone 18 Pro Max. One thing worth...
Read Full Article • 95 comments

Top Rated Comments

J
johnnytravels
72 months ago
It’s a good app, I wish however that the Mac version was a bit less clunky and not so obviously a Catalyst app (but it comes free with the iPad version).

In comparison to Notability I think a prefer the fact that the text of PDFs can be directly selected, highlighted and copied as text.
Writing and text recognition seems a little worse to me.

One feature I would really like to see is the option to scan excerpts from books into documents, ideally with OCR. Currently it is only possible to either take photos and add those or turn scans into entire pages.
Score: 2 Votes (Like | Disagree)
J
johnnytravels
72 months ago

I have a little off-topic question, but related to note-taking.
Anyone tried purchasing any kind of paper-like screen protector?

Have purchased the elecom one, I think I like it.

Any opinions or other recommendations?
Thanks!
I am currently using this and it works really well for me:
https://www.amazon.com/dp/B084237PKK/ref=dp_prsubs_1

The best combination of a real matte screen and great Pencil friction I have found. Better than Paperlike, better than many others that reduce the screen’s clarity while actually adding glare to it.
Comes with a handy installation tool, too ;)
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
CalMin Avatar
CalMin
72 months ago

Anyone got any opinions of this versus Notability?
They're both great. Personally, I get on really well with Goodnotes as it suits my need to organize. My only real wish is that it had audio recording.

Notability is great too and it has the audio recording (which is done really, really well). There's also something about my writing in Notability - it's just smoother and more pen-like. That sounds minor, but somehow, they have really got the inking feel nice in Notability.

The thing to do is to buy and try both. Apple will refund you for the one that you don't like if you ask nicely via 'Report a problem' and don't do it too often. I ended up keeping both - I mostly use GoodNotes, but sometimes use Notability when I need to use voice recording.

There is also the app that no-one mentions and that is Noteshelf. It's killer feature was Evernote sync, and when I had to use a Windows PC for work that was invaluable to me to get my notes on that platform.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
B
BuffaloTF
72 months ago

Anyone got any opinions of this versus Notability?
I think you'll find it's as close to a 'push' as possible, I have both... but... Notability is my go to. First off, GoodNotes charges for each numbered upgrade. Infinite scrolling with no need to flip pages. More screen real estate given to writing instead of a Microsoft Office style gigantic banner bar (which simultaneously has its benefits). Annotating PDFs or PowerPoints is just better with an easier interface. Audio recording... it's more than just audio, but it plays out your actual handwriting as the audio plays - so if you ever look at a note and say "wtf does that tie to?" you can just play the audio to hear what you were writing about.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
K
kylew1212
72 months ago

Anyone got any opinions of this versus Notability?
reference:
I have used both Notability & GoodNotes on my iPad and Mac.

I prefer Goodnotes over notability of the organization capabilities. There Is not enough actual not taking differences (to me) for that portion to matter. Notability does not allow for folders, goodnotes does. I have tons of notes that I wsnt to easily manage and rarely use. Notability felt clunkier in this area.

Notability pros:

* Both sync to iCloud, but Notability has a version history for each document.
* Audio recording


GoodNotes pros:

* Great organization
* This new document collaboration


Both have Mac apps, I do not remember the cost of them to compare. They might have even been free.
I only use the Mac apps for importing PDFs, and reviewing notes. I rarely edit with Mac.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
C
ChrisH3677
72 months ago

Anyone got any opinions of this versus Notability?
It beats Notability hands down in all except two things

1) Shapes. Notability gives you control over modifying your shapes
2) Audio recording. GN doesn't have any. Notability allows you to record audio while you take notes - and in playback of the audio, your note taking plays back too so what you wrote is shown in sync with what you heard!

But, those two features weren't enough for me.
Score: 1 Votes (Like | Disagree)
Read All Comments