Compare
Thinkblot alternatives and comparisons.
Thinkblot is a paper notebook for iPhone and iPad, for people who still think best with a pen. It reads your handwriting on your device and, when you tap, turns a line into the reminder, the sum or the plan. Other apps are better at other things: annotating PDFs, recording lectures, or turning handwriting into typed documents. Each page below says plainly where the other choice wins.
Last checked: 27 October 2026
Pick a comparison.
Handwriting notebook apps
Thinkblot vs GoodNotesStudy, PDFs and many platforms, or a notebook that acts on a line.
Thinkblot vs NotabilityLectures and audio, or a notebook that turns lines into plans.
Thinkblot vs Apple NotesFree, built in and very good at handwriting. Thinkblot is a notebook built on the same foundation.
Thinkblot vs NeboHandwriting into typed documents, or ink that stays ink.
Thinkblot vs NoteshelfTemplates, audio and AI summaries, or a notebook that acts on a line.
Thinkblot vs FreeformAn infinite board to share, or a notebook of pages that act.
Thinkblot vs NotefulPDF markup for a one-time price, or a notebook that acts on a line.
Thinkblot vs FlexcilStudying from PDFs, or a notebook that turns lines into plans.
Thinkblot vs CollaNoteNotes with others in real time, or a notebook that acts on a line.
Thinkblot vs OneNoteEvery platform and Copilot, or ink read on your device.
Thinkblot vs Samsung NotesBuilt into Galaxy devices, or a notebook for iPhone and iPad.
Thinkblot vs Paper appA simple sketch journal, or a notebook that also plans.
Thinkblot vs ConceptsAn infinite vector canvas for design, or a notebook for writing.
E-paper tablets
Thinkblot vs reMarkableA dedicated e-paper tablet, or the devices you already carry.
Thinkblot vs Kindle ScribeAn e-ink tablet that sends notes to Alexa, or Apple Reminders from your iPad.
Thinkblot vs SupernoteAn e-ink notebook with no subscription, or the devices you already carry.
Thinkblot vs BooxAn Android e-ink tablet, or the iPhone and iPad you already carry.
Apps that do one notebook's job
Thinkblot vs StaffPadA composer's engraved score, or a songbook you sketch in.
Thinkblot vs DoricoEngraving finished scores, or sketching music by hand before it gets there.
Thinkblot vs mymindSave everything and let it sort itself, or follow a thread by hand.
Thinkblot vs MilanoteBoards for creative projects, or a notebook that follows a thread.
Thinkblot vs AllumeA local-first canvas (formerly Muse), or pages first and canvas second.
Thinkblot vs ProcreateProfessional painting, or a sketchbook beside your notes.
Thinkblot vs Day OneA typed, encrypted journal everywhere, or a journal kept by hand.
Thinkblot vs JournalFree and built in, or a journal kept by hand beside your planner.
Thinkblot vs MerlinName the bird, or keep the field notebook around it.
Thinkblot vs eBirdChecklists of sightings, or the field notebook beside them.
Thinkblot vs StructuredA typed day planner, or a planner you write by hand.
Thinkblot vs Pencil PlannerWrite over your calendar, or have your writing reach it.
Paper
What every page compares against.
- Platforms. iPhone (including iPhone Duo), iPad with Apple Pencil, Mac, and Apple Vision Pro (the iPad app). iOS and iPadOS 27.1 or later.
- Handwriting recognition. Read on your device. Fixing a misread word changes the text, never your ink.
- What happens to a line you write. It stays ink. When Thinkblot can help, a small blot appears at the end of the line. Tap it, and the line becomes a reminder, a drafted message, a payment or time on your calendar.
- Tasks and reminders. A box in front of a line makes it a task. Tick the box on paper and it's done in Reminders too. Unticked tasks carry forward.
- Maths. Write a sum and an equals sign, and the answer is written for you. Write “total” under a column and it adds itself.
- Privacy, account and where data lives. No account and no Thinkblot server. Notebooks live on your devices and in your own iCloud. Private Cloud Compute is optional and asks first.
- Sync. Your own iCloud, through Apple's private CloudKit database, on the same Apple Account.
- Export. PDF or Markdown.
How do
you think?
Thinkblot is coming soon to iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Vision Pro. One email the day it's out. That's all.
Join the waitlist