Customer Reviews (500)

DWahlers72 • 2025-03-26T08:34:37-07:00

I have been using ZoomNotes for a few years now and absolutely Love it!!! At first it may seem overwhelming, but keep at it and you too will find it is worth every obstacle, it is truly try and keep trying to master it. There are many options out there for help with ideas via YouTube for tutorials on how to use, setup, make different types of planners yourself, customizing, etc… I made and set mine up as a custom planner for my needs and absolutely love it!! Any problems and Ed (Developer) is always there to help fix it, usually right away, how often can you say that to other types of planners. This planner has from writing tools, to shapes, to tables, linking almost anything you want, import your calendar to link with your planner for monthly, weekly or yearly. The options and ideas are endless. I use mine on my Mac and iPad and the syncing is great. Try it for yourself, you won’t be disappointed.

machitect • 2025-03-11T22:00:54-07:00

I’ve been going back and forth for years for digital planning, and THIS IS BY FAR, HANDS DOWN, THE ONLY APP THAT MAKES SENSE FOR IT. Trust me… I e tried it all. And have all the old and new note apps. This is the best ever. There’s a bit of a learning curve, but if you get through it, IT IS GOLD.

irrafoxy • 2025-02-19T08:14:49-07:00

Still having an issue where if I zoom in and write a bit then the writing looks like vectors instead of smooth writing. Makes the document almost unusable when it happens. It is even worse when I zoom in even at just 200x…. Amazing app if you don’t have this issue. Will update review to 5 stars whenever this is fixed. I have already made the developer aware of this.

Summary of Key Insights

ZoomNotes is a feature-rich and highly customizable note-taking app, particularly favored for digital planning. While praised for its extensive functionality and deep customization options, it suffers from a steep learning curve and a UI that many users find clunky and outdated. The developer, Ed, is highly commended for his responsiveness and continuous improvements based on user feedback. Sentiment is generally positive, with a significant number of 5-star reviews, but the app's complexity and occasional bugs are major drawbacks for some users.

Overall Rating: Based on the review distribution, the average rating is approximately 4.3 stars.

Score Distribution:

  • 5-star: 70% (350/500)
  • 4-star: 11.4% (57/500)
  • 3-star: 6.4% (32/500)
  • 2-star: 3.4% (17/500)
  • 1-star: 8.8% (44/500)

Data & Methodology Overview

  • Data Sample Size: 500 reviews
  • Time Frame: The reviews span a considerable period, from 2016 to November 2024, indicating long-term user experiences.
  • Analysis Methods:
    • Sentiment Analysis: Manually assessed sentiment based on review text.
    • Keyword Extraction: Identified frequently used words and phrases to determine key themes, pain points, and feature requests.
    • Thematic Analysis: Grouped reviews based on common topics (e.g., UI, features, bugs).

Key User Pain Points

  • Steep Learning Curve: Many users find the app overwhelming initially due to its extensive features and customization options. This is the most commonly cited negative aspect.
  • Clunky/Outdated User Interface (UI): The UI is frequently described as outdated, not intuitive, and visually unappealing. Users mention it looks like Windows 3.0 or MS Paint.
  • Bugs and Instability: Crashing, freezing, and data loss are recurring issues, impacting user trust and productivity. Syncing problems are also common.
  • Lack of Intuitive Navigation: Difficulty in finding features and navigating pages, especially in large documents.
  • Pen Lag/Skipping: Some users experience lag or skipping when writing with a stylus, affecting the smoothness of the handwriting experience.
  • iCloud Sync Issues: Some users report issues with iCloud sync, leading to data loss or inconsistent syncing across devices.

Frequently Requested Features

  • Improved Handwriting Recognition/Conversion to Text: A highly requested feature to convert handwritten notes to typed text.
  • More User-Friendly UI: A cleaner, more modern, and intuitive interface.
  • Better Search Functionality: Enhanced search capabilities, including the ability to search handwritten notes.
  • Smoother Page Transitions/Scrolling: A continuous vertical scrolling option instead of choppy page turning.
  • Improved Cloud Sync: More reliable and seamless syncing across devices.
  • More Pen Options: More varied pen types and customization options.
  • Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts: Shortcuts for frequently used tools and actions.
  • Recycle Bin: A recycle bin for recovering accidentally deleted content.
  • Android and PC versions: Many users request the app to be available on other platforms.

Strengths and Positive Aspects

  • Extensive Features and Customization: The app's vast array of features, including layers, sub-pages, links, and customizable tools, are highly valued.
  • Calendar and Reminder Integration: The ability to sync with Apple Calendar and Reminders is a significant advantage.
  • Unlimited Zoom and Canvas Size: The infinite zoom and whiteboard mode are appreciated for brainstorming and complex note-taking.
  • Responsive Developer: Ed, the developer, is praised for his active involvement in the community, quick responses, and frequent updates based on user feedback.
  • Versatility: The app is used for a wide range of purposes, including digital planning, note-taking, PDF annotation, and even creating marketing materials.
  • One-Time Purchase: Users appreciate that it's a one-time purchase rather than a subscription.
  • Good Handwriting Experience: Despite some lag issues, many users find the handwriting experience comfortable and visually appealing.
  • Strong Community Support: The Facebook group provides a valuable resource for tips, tricks, and support.

Prioritized Action Recommendations

High Priority:

  • Address Bugs and Stability Issues: Fix crashing, freezing, and data loss problems to improve user trust and reliability.
  • Improve UI/UX: Redesign the user interface to be more intuitive, modern, and less cluttered. Focus on ease of navigation and discoverability of features.
  • Enhance iCloud Sync: Ensure seamless and reliable syncing across devices.

Medium Priority:

  • Implement Handwriting Recognition: Add handwriting recognition and conversion to text functionality.
  • Optimize Page Transitions/Scrolling: Implement smooth, continuous vertical scrolling.
  • Improve Pen Performance: Address pen lag and skipping issues to enhance the handwriting experience.

Low Priority:

  • Add More Pen Options: Offer a wider variety of pen types and customization options.
  • Implement Customizable Keyboard Shortcuts: Add keyboard shortcuts for frequently used tools.
  • Develop Android and PC Versions: Expand the app's availability to other platforms.
  • Add a Recycle Bin: Implement a recycle bin for recovering deleted content.

Opportunities for Startup Ideas

  • Simplified Note-Taking App with Focus on UX: A new app could capitalize on ZoomNotes' weaknesses by offering a streamlined, intuitive note-taking experience with a modern UI, while still providing essential features like handwriting recognition and cloud sync.
  • AI-Powered Digital Planning Assistant: An app that uses AI to automate the creation of digital planners and provide personalized suggestions based on user habits and preferences.
  • Cross-Platform Note-Taking Solution with Seamless Sync: An app that offers a consistent note-taking experience across iOS, Android, and PC, with reliable and real-time syncing.
  • Advanced Handwriting Recognition API: A service that provides highly accurate handwriting recognition for integration into other apps.

Trends and Observations

  • Long-Term User Base: The reviews span several years, indicating a loyal user base that has been using the app for a long time.
  • High Dependency: Many users rely heavily on ZoomNotes for their daily tasks, highlighting its importance in their workflows.
  • Constant Evolution: The frequent updates and developer responsiveness suggest a commitment to continuous improvement.
  • Feature Over Functionality: While users appreciate the extensive features, the app's complexity can be a barrier to entry and usability.
  • Comparison with Competitors: GoodNotes and Notability are frequently mentioned as competitors, primarily in terms of UI and ease of use.
  • Language Preferences: Predominantly English reviews, with some Korean and Chinese reviews also present.

Conclusion

ZoomNotes is a powerful and versatile note-taking app with a dedicated user base. However, its complexity and occasional bugs hinder its potential. By prioritizing UI improvements, bug fixes, and core feature enhancements, the developer can attract a wider audience and solidify ZoomNotes' position as a top-tier note-taking app. Continued engagement with the user community and responsiveness to feedback will be crucial for the app's long-term success.

Overall Recommendation: Focus on improving usability and stability while maintaining the app's rich feature set.

Original App Link

https://apps.apple.com/us/app/zoomnotes/id462234530?uo=2