GoodNotes does not offer a one-time payment option—you must use a subscription

GoodNotes 5 (the current version as of 2024) is sold only as a subscription through the Apple App Store. There is no way to convert an existing subscription to a one-time purchase, and GoodNotes does not sell perpetual licenses. If you want to use GoodNotes, you pay a recurring fee each year.

If you own GoodNotes 4, the older version, that was a one-time purchase and you can keep using it without paying again. But GoodNotes 4 no longer receives updates and does not run on the newest iPad operating systems. Most users who want current features have to move to the subscription model.

The subscription costs vary by region and change occasionally, but in the United States it is typically around $10 to $15 per year. You can cancel at any time, and your access stops at the end of your current billing period.

Key Takeaways

  • GoodNotes 5 is subscription-only and cannot be converted to a one-time payment.
  • If you own GoodNotes 4, you already have a one-time purchase and can use it indefinitely, though it will not receive new features.
  • You can cancel your GoodNotes 5 subscription through the App Store at any time, and your access ends at the next billing date.
  • The annual subscription renews automatically unless you turn off auto-renewal in your Apple account settings.

How to cancel your GoodNotes subscription instead

If you want to stop paying for GoodNotes 5, you cancel the subscription through Apple, not through the GoodNotes app itself. Open the App Store on your iPad or iPhone, tap your profile icon in the top right, select Subscriptions, find GoodNotes, and tap Manage. Then tap Cancel Subscription.

Your access continues until the end of your current billing cycle. If you paid on the 15th of the month, you can use GoodNotes until the 15th of the next month, even after you cancel. After that date, the app will not open your documents unless you resubscribe.

If you cancel and then change your mind, you can resubscribe the same way. Apple will not charge you twice for the same billing period if you cancel and resubscribe within a few days, but the exact rules depend on your region and Apple's current policy.

What happens to your notes if you cancel

Your notes do not disappear when your subscription ends. They remain on your device in the GoodNotes app. However, you cannot open or edit them without an active subscription—the app will show them in your library but block access to the content.

If you want to keep your notes after canceling, export them before your subscription expires. Open each notebook, tap the three-dot menu, select Export, and choose PDF or another format. Save the files to your Files app, email, or cloud storage. This way you have a copy even if you do not resubscribe.

Alternatives if you want to avoid subscriptions

If the recurring cost bothers you, consider these options. GoodNotes 4 is still available on the App Store as a one-time purchase if you can find it listed under your purchase history, though it is no longer actively sold. You can download it to any device linked to your Apple account if you bought it before.

Notability is another popular iPad note-taking app that also uses a subscription model now, so it is not a workaround. However, Apple Notes is free and built into every iPad and iPhone, and it syncs across your devices. It does not have all of GoodNotes' features—no handwriting recognition or advanced PDF tools—but it works for basic note-taking without any payment.

Xodo and PDF Expert are free or low-cost alternatives for annotating PDFs specifically, though they are not full note-taking apps. If you use GoodNotes mainly for marking up documents, one of these might replace it without a subscription.

How subscription billing works on the App Store

When you subscribe to GoodNotes, Apple charges your payment method on a set date each year. That date is the same every year unless you change your subscription or your payment fails. You can see your next billing date in the App Store under Subscriptions > GoodNotes > Manage.

If your payment method fails, Apple will try again a few times over several days. If all attempts fail, your subscription pauses and you lose access to GoodNotes until you update your payment information. You have a grace period to fix this—usually a few weeks—before Apple cancels the subscription permanently.

You can change your payment method at any time through your Apple ID settings. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > Payment & Shipping and update your card or add a new one. This change applies to all your App Store subscriptions.

Refunds if you were charged by mistake

If you were charged for GoodNotes and did not mean to subscribe, or if you were charged twice in one billing cycle, contact Apple directly. Go to Settings > [Your Name] > iTunes & App Store, tap your Apple ID, select View Account, scroll to Purchase History, find the GoodNotes charge, and tap Report a Problem. Describe what happened and request a refund.

Apple handles refunds through this system, not through GoodNotes. Most refund requests are processed within a few business days. If Apple denies your request, you can appeal, but the outcome depends on how long ago the charge occurred and whether you used the app.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I use GoodNotes 5 without paying after my subscription ends?

No. Once your subscription expires, the app blocks access to your notes until you resubscribe. You cannot use any features without an active subscription. Export your notes to PDF or another format before canceling if you want to keep them.

Is there a way to buy GoodNotes 5 outright instead of subscribing?

No. GoodNotes 5 is subscription-only. The developer does not offer a one-time purchase option for this version. If you want a one-time payment, you would need to use GoodNotes 4, which is older and no longer updated.

What if I cancel my subscription mid-month?

You keep access until the end of your current billing period. If you paid on the 10th and cancel on the 20th, you can still use GoodNotes until the 10th of next month. After that date, you lose access unless you resubscribe.

Can I get a refund if I subscribed by mistake?

Yes. Report the charge through your App Store purchase history by tapping Report a Problem next to the GoodNotes charge. Apple will review your request and usually refund within a few business days if the charge was recent and you did not use the app.

Will my notes sync to other devices if I cancel?

Your notes stay on the device where you created them, but you cannot access them without an active subscription. If you use iCloud sync, your notes are backed up to iCloud, but you still need a subscription to open them in the GoodNotes app on any device.