Updated: Notability Free Version Features
This is a vital inclusion for free users. The free version supports iCloud Sync . This means notes created on an iPad will automatically appear on an iPhone or Mac (provided the user is signed in to the same Apple ID). There is no storage limit on iCloud syncing specific to the app tier, though it counts against the user's personal iCloud storage limit.
Notability’s "audio note-taking" feature is its killer app. As you record a lecture or meeting, the app tracks what you write in real-time. Later, tapping on a word jumps the audio playback to that exact moment.
The free version of Notability, officially known as the Starter plan, is best viewed as a robust trial rather than a permanent tool for heavy users. While it provides access to the app's core writing and sketching engine, it imposes strict monthly limits on editing that can make it unreliable for consistent academic or professional use. Core Included Features Essential Editing Tools: Access to all standard pens, highlighters, text tools, and erasers. Multimedia Integration: You can add PDFs, documents, images, diagrams, and sticky notes directly into your notes. Audio Recording: Basic audio recording is available, though it lacks the advanced transcription and search capabilities of the paid tiers. Organization: Create unlimited notes and organize them using subjects and dividers. Templates: Access to a gallery of over 20,000 note-taking templates. Syncing: Basic syncing with Notability Cloud is included, allowing you to access notes across devices. Notability +9 Key Limitations (The "Free Wall") 12 sites Notability Subscription FAQ Mar 24, 2026 — notability free version features
Users have access to a fixed color palette. While the free version does not allow for custom color creation via hex codes or color wheels (a feature reserved for the Plus plan), the default palette is generally sufficient for standard note-taking. Stroke width adjustments are also fully available.
The note becomes read-only until the next calendar month. You cannot write another word or erase a mistake. This turns the app into a time bomb for power users. This is a vital inclusion for free users
The free version includes full access to the core writing tools. Users can utilize the Pen, Pencil, and Highlighter tools. These tools support pressure sensitivity and tilt functionality (depending on the stylus hardware, such as the Apple Pencil). Basic palm rejection is included natively.
The free version allows for unlimited organization. Users can create Dividers (subjects) and Folders to organize their notes. There is no limit on the number of notes a free user can create. There is no storage limit on iCloud syncing
The core technology—the ink engine, the audio recording, the PDF handling—is world-class and fully unlocked. But the 250-edit monthly cap is a hard stop that makes the free version unusable for anyone who takes notes more than twice a week.
