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Samsung Notes is the better fit for most people who take notes on a Galaxy device; MyScript Notes—called Nebo on Windows—is the stronger choice when handwriting conversion, PDF workflows, or access across platforms matters more. If you already own a Galaxy tablet and mainly want to capture notes with an S Pen, start with Samsung Notes. If you want to turn handwriting into editable text or move your notes between Android, iPad, and Windows, try MyScript Notes.
Name note: Nebo was renamed MyScript Notes on Android and iOS in September 2025. The Windows app still uses the Nebo name, and MyScript says existing Nebo purchases remain valid for the corresponding features. MyScript’s version history explains the Android transition.
At a glance
| What matters | MyScript Notes / Nebo | Samsung Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Best fit | Handwriting processing, conversion, PDF work, and use across platforms | Everyday note-taking on supported Galaxy devices |
| Ways to work | Fixed-page notebooks, structured documents, infinite boards, and PDFs | Handwritten or typed notes, folders, drawings, attachments, and PDF annotation |
| Handwriting | Conversion and pen-based editing are central features | Handwriting input and conversion are supported |
| PDFs | PDFs are a dedicated workspace, with page management and export options | Import and annotate PDFs; the original PDF text cannot be edited in the app |
| Sync | Account and supported cloud-service setup; details vary by platform | Samsung account and Samsung Cloud sync across supported Galaxy devices |
| AI | Features differ by platform; Android currently has Summarize, Explain, and Quiz | Galaxy AI features depend on device, software, account, and other requirements |
| Cost and access | Limited free version and a full-feature trial; paid access and pricing vary by store and region | Primarily an app in the Galaxy ecosystem; availability and features depend on device |
These apps overlap, but they are built around different priorities. Samsung Notes is a convenient Galaxy-native notebook. MyScript Notes is a more specialized handwriting and document tool. A feature list alone will not tell you which is right: consider whether you need quick capture, editable conversion, PDF controls, recording, or access on another kind of device.
Handwriting and converting notes to text
MyScript Notes makes more sense if you regularly want to turn pen input into editable text. Its tools are designed for writing with a pen, selecting handwriting, converting it, and continuing to edit the result. The app also supports gestures for editing and formatting, shape regularization, and work that combines handwriting with typed text or dictation. That makes conversion part of the note-taking workflow rather than just an export option. MyScript’s guide to note types and editing describes those workflows.
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Samsung Notes also supports writing with an S Pen, keyboard, or finger and converting handwriting to text. It may be all you need if you mostly keep notes on a Galaxy device and only convert occasionally. Samsung’s documentation confirms the handwriting and conversion tools in its Samsung Notes support guide.
MyScript presents handwriting recognition as a core strength, but that is not the same as a controlled head-to-head result proving it recognizes every person’s writing more accurately. Results depend on handwriting, language, layout, and the kind of content being written. If conversion quality matters, test both apps with your own writing—including cursive, small text, corrections, lists, and any language or mathematical notation you use. Check whether you can find the handwriting with in-app search before and after conversion, too.
PDF annotation: markup is not editing
MyScript Notes treats imported PDFs as a distinct kind of workspace. Depending on the task, you can annotate pages, manage or rearrange pages, add blank pages, convert handwriting, and export PDFs with or without annotations. It also offers options such as flattened export. That makes it worth considering for students working through slides or readings, and professionals reviewing documents. See MyScript’s PDF and export documentation for the available workflows.
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Samsung Notes can import a PDF and let you write, draw, and annotate on it. But Samsung says the imported PDF’s original text cannot be edited within the app. In other words, marking up a PDF is not the same as changing its text or layout. For straightforward highlighting and handwritten comments, Samsung Notes may be sufficient; for more document-focused work, MyScript’s PDF controls are a stronger reason to try it.
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Before relying on either app for an important submission, test the exported file in the app your recipient will use. Check page order, handwriting clarity when zoomed, and whether annotations remain editable or are flattened. In-app search and searchability of an exported PDF are separate capabilities, so do not assume one guarantees the other.
Which is better for students?
- Taking lecture notes on a Galaxy Tab: Start with Samsung Notes. S Pen integration and a built-in workflow make it a practical default.
- Turning handwritten lectures into polished, editable text: Try MyScript Notes. Conversion and structured documents are central to its design.
- Studying or marking up PDFs: MyScript Notes is the more document-focused option, especially if you want page controls or to convert annotations. Samsung Notes can be enough for basic markup.
- Recording a lecture alongside notes: Samsung documents audio recording, transcription, and summary workflows, subject to feature and device eligibility. See its support information.
- Working across Android, iPad, and Windows: MyScript Notes has the clearer platform strategy, although the Windows edition retains the Nebo name and features are not identical everywhere.
For students, the useful distinction is not “which app has more features?” It is whether notes need to stay as quick handwritten records or become organized, searchable, editable study material. If both are important and you use a Galaxy device, you can capture notes in Samsung Notes and use MyScript Notes for work that benefits from conversion or another export format.
Organization, search, and exports
MyScript Notes offers four distinct formats: fixed-page notebooks, structured documents, infinite boards for freeform work, and PDFs. The choice lets you match the workspace to the task: use a document for headings and lists, a board for brainstorming, or a notebook for conventional page-by-page notes. MyScript says search can cover handwritten content, diagrams, and PDF annotations. Search claims do not mean every exported file will be searchable, however; that depends on the export and should be checked separately.
Samsung Notes provides folders and note search, along with organization and sharing features aimed at its device ecosystem. It is a simpler choice if you want a familiar place to keep everyday notes and do not need several fundamentally different canvas types.
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Export flexibility is another practical difference. Depending on the content type, MyScript Notes can export to formats including PDF, Word, text, PNG, SVG, and its own format. PDF workspaces have additional options for annotations and flattening. Samsung Notes can save or share notes as Samsung Notes files, PDF, Word, PowerPoint, images, or text. Availability can depend on the note and app version; open a sample export in the destination software before adopting a workflow for coursework or work.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Devices, sync, and platform differences
Samsung Notes is most compelling if your devices are Galaxy phones or tablets. Samsung documents syncing notes with a Samsung account and Samsung Cloud across supported Galaxy devices. On a Galaxy device, the app’s close relationship with the S Pen and other Samsung features reduces setup. That convenience should not be confused with a fully portable library that works the same way on every platform.
MyScript Notes is available on Android and iOS, while Windows keeps the Nebo name. MyScript documents sync and backup through supported services such as iCloud, Google Drive, or Dropbox, depending on platform, and says some features—including backup, cloud sync, and AI—require a MyScript account. Installing the app on another device does not by itself establish that your library has been backed up or restored; check the account and cloud settings for your platform. MyScript’s help center covers account and setup details.
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AI and lecture tools
Samsung Notes has an advantage if you want note tools integrated with Galaxy hardware and audio. Samsung lists features such as summaries, formatting and spelling assistance, translation, sticky memos, Math Solver, and transcription or summaries for voice recordings. These are not guaranteed on every Galaxy device: Samsung says Note Assist is available on select devices running Android 14 with One UI 6.1 or later, and some AI functions require a Samsung account, an internet connection, and a note between 200 and 4,000 characters. Check the exact requirements for your device in Samsung’s support documentation.
MyScript’s AI tools are more oriented toward studying handwritten material. Its current platform information lists Summarize, Explain, and Quiz on Android, with Chat and Study Sets currently available only on iOS. Feature eligibility and availability can change, so check the app’s current listing and platform before depending on a particular tool.
Do not assume every AI result behaves like an ordinary note. Samsung says translated PDF overlays cannot be saved in their translated state and do not support normal syncing, sharing, saving, or backup-and-restore functions. If an AI-modified document must be retained or sent elsewhere, verify the output path before relying on it.
Cost and when using both makes sense
Samsung Notes is primarily an integrated Galaxy app, so its value is tied to compatible hardware and the Samsung account ecosystem rather than a standalone app purchase. MyScript Notes offers a limited free version and a seven-day full-feature trial; paid access and pricing vary by store, region, and promotion. MyScript says previous Nebo purchases remain valid for the corresponding existing features. Check your local app store for current terms rather than relying on a universal price.
You do not necessarily have to choose one app for everything. Samsung Notes can be the quickest place to capture a thought or lecture on a Galaxy tablet; MyScript Notes can be useful when you later want to convert handwriting, structure material, work with a PDF, or share across platforms. If you use both, decide which is the source of truth for each note and confirm your backup and export routine. Two apps without a clear handoff can make notes harder—not easier—to find.
Choose based on your workflow
- Choose Samsung Notes if you use a Galaxy device, want low-friction S Pen note-taking, need audio recording or Samsung-specific tools, and expect to keep most notes in that ecosystem.
- Choose MyScript Notes / Nebo if converting handwriting is a regular task, you want notebooks plus documents and infinite boards, you annotate PDFs heavily, or you need a note app across Android, iOS, and Windows.
- Use both selectively if Samsung Notes is best for capture but MyScript Notes is better for processing or exporting finished work.
If neither matches your needs, look elsewhere if you require collaborative editing, a knowledge base built around backlinks and extensive metadata, advanced PDF text editing, or a guaranteed identical experience on every operating system. These are note-taking and annotation tools, not substitutes for every document editor or team workspace.
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