What it does
OpenScribe combines handwriting and freehand drawing, PDF annotation, searchable handwriting recognition, audio notes, notebooks, and iCloud sync. Its official product page also describes collaboration and study tools; the App Store listing shows a free download with in-app purchases and identifies iPhone and iPad support.
OpenScribe is built around capturing study and meeting material in several forms: handwriting, imported PDFs, and audio can be kept in one notebook library, with OCR and search helping users retrieve them later. The product page describes Apple Pencil drawing, PDF markup, CloudKit sync, sharing, and collaborative editing; the App Store lists it as free with in-app purchases. That breadth may suit class notes or interviews better than a plain-text-only notebook. The pages checked do not disclose the in-app purchase prices or which features require payment, so plan limits should be verified in the store before relying on them. Collaboration and synchronization are described by the vendor but were not tested.
Strengths
- Combines handwritten pages, PDF annotations, audio notes, and search in a single notebook library.
- The App Store listing identifies iPhone and iPad availability and a free download with in-app purchases.
- The vendor documents iCloud sync and notebook collaboration.
Best for
- Students combining lecture handwriting, handouts, and audio recordings
- People who need searchable annotations across notebooks and PDFs
Sources
- OpenScribe - Modern Note-Taking for iOS (Oct 25, 2026)
- OpenScribe: Notes & PDF Markup App — App Store (Oct 25, 2026)