From Remarkable to Notability

A Journey in Note-Taking

The perfect note-taking app — I’m always on the lookout for it. 

Remarkable was the first note-taking app that seemed to meet my needs—and my review for this product was what got my Substack started. However, I soon looked for alternatives when I wanted to use an app for client notes, and I had security concerns about Remarkable; it simply doesn’t meet the security requirements for storing PII (personally identifiable information). While I still like Remarkable, I found myself moving to the iPad Pro M4. Coupled with the Apple Pencil Pro, it is close to perfect.

 

Certainly, there are a myriad of note-taking apps out there. A friend mentioned Notability, and I looked into it after reading its rave reviews. Yes, it is Apple exclusive, though this isn’t a problem for me—I live in the Apple ecosystem almost exclusively, except for the few occasions I need to remote into my Windows server. Notability has a free version that is limited or a more robust paid version that’s only $14.99 a year. For me, the cost is worth it; I don’t mind paying for software or services that either make me better at my profession or save me time. Notability does both. See the chart below for the differences between free and paid:

How I use Notability

Paper Planner

Back in the day, I had a “Dayrunner” where I kept up with my day-to-day calendar. While I’ve transitioned from a conventional paper calendar to Google Calendar (which I sync with Fantastical), I still find it useful to write things down—the physical act of writing is a powerful memory aid. 

Notability has many options for a “paperlike” planner. You simply import a large PDF file to Notability (I purchased mine from My Deep Guide.) On Sundays, I plan out my week in Notability and write notes for each day. I compare this to my Google Calendar, where all of my client meetings are automatically scheduled via Calendly. I also use my handwritten digital notes to list action items for the day and make important notes. Being able to cross off an item is satisfying, and I enjoy how everything is linked within the app from the main overview. 

Client Notes

To work efficiently and accurately, it’s important to be able to jot down notes during a client meeting. While there are many AI tools that will record and summarize audio, this could lead to security concerns depending on what I am discussing with my client. With Notability, I can write down my notes, export them to a PDF, and save them in the client’s folder. Notability will even convert handwriting to text, but the process is a bit cumbersome: you have to select the text and then convert it. (Notability—a suggestion—Allow me to convert a whole page at a time.) 

Continuing Education 

Notability is a powerful complement to CE learning. Anytime I attend a CE event, I create a folder in Notability and drop in the class materials. Then, during class, I take notes and highlight important content. Notability also allows me to record audio as I write, and the audio is in sync with the text. Later I can review the notes and audio for a refresher. In addition, I can also easily drop photos into my notes. (As of right now, Notability won’t allow you to drop in videos, but I hope they change this.) 

Storage and Security

Notability has taken measures to enhance security. You are able to set a password to lock subjects within it. Also, with the Notability subscription, all of your data is synced via iCloud, which is encrypted, and there are additional security measures you can take to secure your data. You can also backup your data to Google Drive or Dropbox. 

The Gallery

Within Notability there is an option to browse a Gallery. This is a place where users can share their note designs (templates), and you can find cool design ideas for various planners, to-do lists, study guides, and even coloring books. 

Can It Replace Paper?

Writing on glass does not feel like writing on paper. While the handwriting experience feels more authentic with Remarkable, there are so many more features when using an app like Notability. And if you really want the paper “feel” when writing, there are screen protectors for iPads that simulate this sensation (Paperlike is a popular option that I used with an older iPad). Over time, though, I’ve simply gotten used to writing on glass, and I don’t miss the tactile experience of writing on paper. 

Conclusion

The price you pay for the value Notability provides is 100% worth it if you are serious about taking notes using your iPad and Apple Pencil. Goodnotes is another popular option, and Apple Notes continues to get better and better with each new version. How are you taking notes now? What works best for you? Drop a comment below. 

Upcoming Events:

This is one of my favorite conferences of the year, and I am excited to join a panel with Matt and Brad! It will be a very hands-on class with a follow-up webinar later so we can answer any questions you have after applying what you have learned. You will not want to miss this!

I will be teaching Digital Assets and Ethics at TaxCon. I hope to see you in person or virtually at these events.