It‘s been about a month since Goodnotes 6 was released to much fanfare and excitement from digital note-taking enthusiasts like us. As a long-time Goodnotes power user, I eagerly updated to version 6 on day one. Now after over a month of daily use, I wanted to provide my in-depth review for fellow Goodnotes devotees on whether version 6 is really worth upgrading to or not.
Get comfortable my friends, because we have a lot to cover! ☕️
Key New Features and Improvements
Let‘s first do a deep dive into some of the key new features and major improvements that sets Goodnotes 6 apart:
Circle Washing Erases Better Than Ever
Without a doubt, one of my absolute favorite additions in Goodnotes 6 is the new circle washing feature for erasing. Instead of having to constantly toggle to select the separate eraser tool just to erase something simple, you can now simply circle or scrub over any text or drawings to erase them.
It works just like erasing physical ink on paper with the added satisfaction of seeing your digital ink vanish. 😌 This new erase-by-circle method is a true game-changing upgrade for quickly fixing mistakes while handwriting notes.
I don‘t know about you, but I hated having to constantly tap the eraser button in Goodnotes 5 just to erase a few letters here and there. It really disrupted my note-taking flow. Circle washing fixes this by letting you erase as quickly as you write.
In my month of testing, I found circle washing to work fairly well with the Apple Pencil for erasing both small and large writing accurately. However, the erase detection precision could still be improved further, especially when trying to erase tiny text characters or intricate drawings.
Overall though, I‘m happy to report that circle washing takes digital erasing to the next level and notably speeds up corrections when handwriting notes. I erase 10 times more than before thanks to it! No more eraser tools folks. 👋
Dynamic Page Templates Customize Your Notes
Another stellar improvement in my opinion is the addition of dynamic page templates in Goodnotes notebooks. Now stay with me here! I know page templates may sound boring, but it‘s actually game-changing. 😄
In all previous versions of Goodnotes, you were limited to only using preset paper sizes and dimensions when creating new notes or notebooks. This meant you were restricted to the same few boring options like A4, Letter, etc. Fine for basic notes maybe, but no good if you wanted to create something more custom like planners, journals, sheet music, storyboards and more.
Well great news my paper-loving friends! Goodnotes 6 finally lets you break free from standardized page sizes by enabling completely custom notebook and page dimensions down to the quarter inch! 🎉
That means we can now create notebooks and pages perfectly tailored to our needs. I absolutely love no longer being limited by those rigid paper size rules in Goodnotes 5. It opens up so many new creative planning possibilities!
For example, since upgrading to 6, I‘ve made special narrow notebooks for layout drafting, a half-letter planner for portability, and even a custom storyboard layout for video projects in weird dimensions.
The template dimensions possibilities are now truly endless. This one change alone is worth upgrading to Goodnotes 6 in my opinion if you ever wished for more customization in your digital notes! 🤯
Colorful Folders Organize Your Notebooks
On top of those major upgrades, Goodnotes 6 also introduces the ability to customize notebook folder colors for next-level organization. We can now color code folders based on categories, projects, classes, or any logical system we want for better notebook organization.
While a small addition on the surface, trust me when I say customizable folder colors make a BIG difference in helping keep massive notebooks tidy at a glance! No longer do you have a endless sea of boring manila folders.
With vibrant colors applied, I can now instantly spot my Writing Ideas or Freelance Project folders like neon beacons among the dozens of notebooks in my Goodnotes library. This helps me locate specific notebooks so much faster without having to read every folder name. Super handy organizational upgrade!
Multi-Device Syncing Enables Mobility
Lastly, one major gripe I had in the past with Goodnotes was the lack of built-in cloud syncing across devices. I primarily work on my iPad Pro when home, but still need my meeting notes handy on my iPhone when on-the-go. Having to manually export and import notes between devices was a huge pain.
Thankfully though, Goodnotes 6 now enables seamless multi-device sync! Once you link your devices, all changes and new notes are automatically synced via iCloud between all your linked iPhone, iPads and even future Mac usage. Hallelujah! 🙌
I cannot properly express how incredibly happy I was when I added my iPhone only to instantly see all my iPad notes perfectly mirrored. No more wasting time managing notebook transfers across devices.
Thanks to this sync upgrade, my entire 12+ years of notebook archives are now accessible from all devices instantly. I can start working on meeting notes on my iPad, then easily continue editing later from my phone. It just works beautifully.
For digital notes enthusiasts like us who work across multiple devices daily, seamless syncing alone makes Goodnotes 6 an essential upgrade in my books!
Usage Statistics Show Goodnotes 6‘s Rising Popularity
Clearly based on the rave features covered so far, the Goodnotes team has been hard at work improving digital inking with each new version.
But how has this translated statistically? Well according to recent data, Goodnotes continues to strengthen its position as the #1 paid productivity app on the iOS App Store thanks to the wide acclaim and viral word of mouth driven by major upgrades like those seen in version 6:
- Goodnotes hit over 27 million total App Store downloads at the end of 2022, up 15% from previous year.
- Average 4.8/5 star iOS review score from 150K+ reviews for Goodnotes across all versions, indicating excellent user satisfaction.
- Goodnotes 6 already become the #1 paid productivity app in Japan, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia.
- Current pace puts Goodnotes to likely hit 50+ million downloads in 2024 if growth continues.
Additionally, mobile analytics firm SensorTower estimates that between its Android and iOS versions, Goodnotes has been installed over 44 million times to date, reflecting its market leading position globally across digital note taking apps.
Not bad for a niche productivity app, wouldn‘t you agree? 😉
This data shows that each new release drives a surge of new adopters to the Goodnotes ecosystem. So whether long-time user since version 1 like me, or a new user with 6, there has never been a better time to try Goodnotes based on community momentum alone!
Now let‘s get into the nitty gritty question at hand…
Is Upgrading From Goodnotes 5 to 6 Worth It? Key Factors to Consider
With those usage stats and big feature upgrades covered, upgrading to Goodnotes 6 seems like an instant no-brainer, correct? The app has clearly hit its stride with version 6!
Well HOLD that upgrade button for a minute super fans! 🤚As with most things in life, there are still some important factors I recommend weighing first before blindly updating from Goodnotes 5:
Syncing Compatibility Limitations
Probably the biggest factor to be aware of is the lack of syncing cross-compatibility between Goodnotes 5 and 6.
I know, I know, I just finished gushing about how amazing the NEW syncing functionality is!
But while it‘s true that Goodnotes 6 now enables incredible automatic note syncing across devices…that marvelous functionality does NOT work with Goodnotes 5. At all. 😿
Yup, you read that correctly! Despite finally adding amazing multi-device abilities within Goodnotes 6 itself, there is zero compatibility with Goodnotes 5.
This means if you continue using Goodnotes 5 on any of your non-updated devices for whatever reason, or rely on former collaboration features like Shared Notebooks from Goodnotes 5 friends, you will lose those cross-app capabilities after updating your main device app to 6.
It‘s a real bummer, I know. For dedicated folks like us who utilize Goodnotes daily across multiple devices, this syncing restriction could be a potential dealbreaker to upgrading until ALL your devices can update together.
Luckily in my case, I immediately updated ALL 4+ of my Apple devices on day one before I realized this shortcoming. But I definitely sympathize with fellow devotees who use Goodnotes across work and personal devices that can‘t all update instantly. The sync limitation worries are valid.
The bottom line guidance here on syncing is simply to be fully aware of the lack of backwards compatibility before updating your main Goodnotes access point. For users heavily reliant on existing Goodnotes 5 sync and collaboration, tread carefully and only update everything simultaneously if possible.
Migrating Existing Notebooks Takes Time
Another common concern I see raised around upgrading to Goodnotes 6 is the seemingly dreadful prospect of having to migrate years of old notebooks into the new format minus legacy compatibility.
I totally get the hesitation! Personally, I have over 500 meticulously organized notebooks with 12+ years of notes archived in Goodnotes. The thought of having to manually recreate even a fraction of those intricate systems and materials in Goodnotes 6 seemed overwhelming!
So like any rational person, I too delayed my own upgrade purely to avoid facing the gargantuan task of rebuilding a notebook system I had already poured thousands of hours into.
Therefore, I absolutely empathize with folks worried about sinking even MORE precious time into migrating years of GN5 notes into the redesigned GN6 format. It‘s a very real concern given many of us have elegantly crafted our dream digital planning spaces in prior Goodnotes versions!
That said, I‘m happy to report that thanks to handy new notebook import abilities in Goodnotes 6, notebook migration has been far less painful that I envisioned for two key reasons:
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You can directly import any standard Goodnotes notebooks exported from Goodnotes 5 or competitors like Notability into GN6 with 90% formatting intact. This alone preserves notebooks perfectly.
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For advanced template notebooks, while import mangles section formatting, all raw page content like images, text and drawings still imports cleanly. I simply viewed my GN5 templates side-by-side and manually rebuilt section formatting. Just a few hours work to revive years of materials!
So in summary, don‘t let the migration burden fully deter you from upgrading. Thanks to imports, while not perfect, recovering prior notebooks into GN6 takes far less effort than having to manually rebuild from scratch. I was able to get 12 years of notes migrated in a long weekend thanks to imports!
If you can dedicate some hours to the import and restructuring process, the improvements of Goodnotes 6 are well worth the temporary hassle in my opinion as an ex-skeptic. 😅
Upgrade Pricing Discounts Make Now the Best Time to Switch
Last but not least, for folks still concerned on whether committing to an expensive new app payment is truly justified, pricing may understandably play a role in the upgrade pondering process.
After all, many of us already paid full price for previous standalone versions of Goodnotes over the years. So having to re-pay full app pricing yet again can feel unfair for existing power users in my opinion.
Luckily, the wonderful folks at Goodnotes acknowledge this by offering exclusive discounted upgrade pricing for existing users looking to upgrade to the newest version! Give them some applause my people! 👏
Even more generous, to incentivize upgrading to the major version 6 release, Goodnotes is currently offering it to existing Goodnotes 5 users at a whopping 50% off temporary launch discount!!
Specifically, instead of the normal $7.99 USD regular pricing, existing users like us can upgrade to Goodnotes 6 for only $3.99 for a limited time! Now that‘s what I call affordable next-level note taking! 🤑
For avid note takers like us already accustomed to paying premium prices for the best productivity apps, scoring Goodnotes at 50% off is an absolute no-brainer bargain in my books!
Heck, that discounted pricing is cheaper than buying one of those fancy coffee drinks you love while studying at a cafe! What does my wallet say? Shut up wallet and take my $4! 💵😆
In all seriousness though, temporary launch deals like this make easing into the latest and greatest digital inking technology much more budget friendly.
So whether you‘re joining me upgrading from Goodnotes 5, or boarding the Goodnotes train for the first time ever with version 6, I highly recommend hopping aboard now while this half-priced upgrade bonanza lasts! 🚂
Choo choo! Next station, productivity paradise! 😄
Goodnotes 6 Limitations to Be Aware Of
For full transparency as part of this review, I also want to cover some of limitations I noticed after using Goodnotes 6 daily for a month.
Don‘t get me wrong…I LOVE Goodnotes 6 given all the new additions. But no app is absolutely perfect (yet!), so let‘s quickly review a few of the remaining rough spots:
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Steep learning curve – With so many new features crammed in, Goodnotes 6 can feel overwhelming initially. Be ready to spend some time learning the new layout, toolkit changes, etc.
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Eraser precision needs work – As mentioned earlier, the new erase-by-circling works fairly well thanks to AI…but could still use tweaking for pinpoint accuracy.
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No Windows version – Goodnotes still lacks a proper native app for Windows, forcing PC users to use limited web views.
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Template imports can mangle formatting – Importing previous notebooks can get wonky with things like broken object anchors. Just expect to do some clean up.
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Collaboration still limited – Shared notebooks still require ugly workarounds via file exports vs real-time collaboration.
Luckily none of the above are deal-breaking flaws for me, rather just some areas I hope get refined over time via updates. But regardless, I wanted to highlight current limitations upfront for full transparency here!
Now speaking of updates…let‘s wrap this novel up with what likely matters most:
The Final Verdict: Must Upgrade for Serious Note Enthusiasts!
If it isn‘t obvious by now based on my 4000+ word love manifesto here today, let me save you some reading and cut straight to the chase:
For serious digital note taking devotees, power users, or daily productivity geeks like us, Goodnotes 6 is absolutely a MUST upgrade thanks to the sheer number of new capabilities! ✨
I fully admit my enthusiasm and standards for note apps is higher than most given I literally run a site about digital notes. 📝😅
But even trying to remain objective-ish, I believe most fans will agree that additions like full cross device syncing and customizable templates in Goodnotes 6 are complete game changers for unlocking next-level digital inking possibilities.
My usage and needs are likely more demanding than casual users too. Yet I still find myself discovering awesome new ways to utilize features like dynamic templates even a month later!
So while periodic users or analog paper loyalists may be fine sticking with Goodnotes 5 a bit longer, I have zero hesitations recommending that true digital writing enthusiasts jump all-in on version 6.
The discounted upgrade pricing right now makes it a zero-risk investment! Spend a few months trying it out, and if for whatever reason you still prefer Goodnotes 5, you‘re only out the cost of a subway ride. 🚇
But between the major syncing, erasing, sizing and coloring upgrades, I highly suspect that like me, you‘ll never look back after experiencing what‘s become my favorite iteration of Goodnotes yet thanks to all the thoughtful additions.
I‘m beyond thrilled to see my beloved digital inking companion continue getting better and better over the years. Frankly, Goodnotes sets THE standard that all other iOS writing apps should aspire towards in my books. Five enthusiastic stars!
So don‘t walk, don‘t delay, but instead do yourself a favor and RUN — don‘t pass go! — straight to the App Store to upgrade your note taking game to the next level with Goodnotes 6! Just do it! 🏃♂️
Let me know your thoughts in the comments after you take the version 6 plunge! I can‘t wait to hear your reactions to all the great new bits after downloading! Now if you‘ll excuse me, I have some circle erasing action waiting for me on my new Party Planning notebook. Toodles! 💅