G 
GoodNotes
AI made handwritten notes searchable, which helped it.
NOT REALLY
why this verdict
Keep paying — OpenAI has not replaced it
OpenAI's version overlaps, but does not finish the notes & knowledge job, so this one still earns its $2/mo.
- A named launch, not a vibe named, unlinked
- Handwriting is an input method AI improved rather than replaced. OpenAI, May 13, 2024 — no announcement link recorded yet.
- How much of the job it covers not the job editorial call
- Parts of it. The job still needs the tool to get finished.
- Is there a free way to do it? yes
- 1 of 2 listed replacements have a usable free tier: OneNote.
- What the call is worth $24/yr
- $2/mo at the entry paid tier — $24 a year per seat.
Reason composed from the fields above missing: announcement linked recorded: free replacement listed recorded: two or more escape hatches
- Threatened by
- OpenAI
- Since
- May 13, 2024
- List price
- $2/mo
- Per year
- $24
The backstory
GoodNotes is handwriting on a tablet with excellent ink and search. AI handwriting recognition, math solving and summarisation made it better; none of it made writing by hand less appealing to the people who choose it. A clean case of the technology being additive.
Escape hatches
N 
Notability Comparable, audio-sync focus.
notability.com open_in_new O 
OneNote Free with a Microsoft account.
onenote.com open_in_new1 of 2 replacements have a usable free tier.