CollaNote is a note-taking app for iPhone and iPad with a calculator built right into your notes, plus ChatGPT, Gemini, and translation tools. It's the runner-up in our roundup of the best note-taking apps for iPad, and I tested it on my iPad during a week of behavioral statistics coursework.
Switching to my phone or a Google tab every time I need a quick calculation drives me up the wall. CollaNote is the only app I tested that fixes that problem, and as a Goodnotes loyalist of almost a decade, I'm seriously considering switching.
- Free, or $13.90 one-time for the full app
- Handwriting calculator, AI toolbar, and built-in translation
- Available for iPhone and iPad
What is CollaNote?
CollaNote lets you build notebooks, blank pages, boards, and planners, then layers in AI integration, handwriting math, and a translation tool. That combination makes it the strongest pick for anyone in high school, college, or a graduate program.
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Write the equation, get the answer
CollaNote turns your handwriting into calculations, so you can write out a problem by hand and solve it without leaving the page. If you'd rather tap buttons, a full calculator opens inside the notebook too. For statistics homework, that means no more bouncing between my notes and a calculator app.
Images: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
ChatGPT and Gemini live in the toolbar
The left-hand toolbar opens ChatGPT or Gemini right next to your notes. You can sync either one with your personal account, so a chat you start on your desktop is waiting for you when you pick up your iPad.
Image: Jessica Santero | WhistleOut
A translation tool that teaches while it translates
Drag and highlight any text, and CollaNote runs it through Google Translate, identifies the original language, and plays the pronunciation aloud. As a former language teacher, I love that you can practice writing on your own and then translate it to check your work, or write in your native language to see a good translation. Beginners get the most out of the pronunciation, while advanced learners can use it to proof longer passages.
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Is CollaNote worth buying?
Yes, and CollaNote sells the full app as a one-time purchase instead of a subscription. The free version includes a handful of images, while the full app opens a much bigger image library to drop into your notes.
Who should switch to CollaNote?
High school and college students in math, statistics, or science courses get the most from the handwriting calculator. Language learners get a translation and pronunciation tool that most note-taking apps don't offer at all. Goodnotes still wins for planners and flashcards, so heavy planners may want to keep both apps.
Android users will need to look elsewhere
CollaNote is limited to iPhone and iPad. The free version is a fair way to test the calculator and AI toolbar on a real assignment before you buy the full app.
How I tested CollaNote
- Solved statistics problems with the handwriting calculator and the built-in calculator during a week of coursework.
- Opened ChatGPT and Gemini from the toolbar to see how the AI integration fits into a study session.
- Translated and played back text to test the language learning tools as a former language teacher.
CollaNote: FAQ
What is the best note-taking app for math on iPad?
CollaNote is the best note-taking app for math on iPad because it turns handwriting into calculations and includes a built-in calculator.
Is CollaNote free?
CollaNote has a free version, and a one-time purchase unlocks the full app. Current pricing is listed on the App Store page.
Is CollaNote a subscription?
No, CollaNote sells the full app as a one-time purchase.
Does CollaNote work with ChatGPT?
Yes, CollaNote opens ChatGPT or Gemini from its toolbar, and you can sync either with your personal account.
Is CollaNote available on Android?
No, CollaNote is only available on iPhone and iPad.
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