Overview
This review covers the features, pros, cons, and value of the Coconut app, an AI-powered note-taking app aimed at students and meetings. The reviewer assesses its pricing, unique features, usability, and overall worth compared to alternatives.
App Features and Usability
- Coconut offers transcription, note summaries, flashcards, quizzes, and bookmark features during recordings.
- Users can edit notes, add personal notes, translate, and download original recordings.
- Allows chat with notes for further breakdown and understanding of material.
- Flashcards are generated from key points with active recall support for student learning.
- Quizzes and study games are included but vary in relevance and quality.
- Video and podcast creation from transcriptions is possible, with video visuals similar to Minecraft.
- Notes, summaries, and flashcards can be shared and exported, including to Anki.
- Web app allows uploads of YouTube videos, PDFs, text, and local audio for summarization.
Pricing and Platform Availability
- Available on iOS, Android, and web.
- Aggressive paywall at approximately £129/year (~£12-13/month), considered expensive for a note-taking tool.
- Free plan has limitations; specific differences from the paid plan are unclear.
Pros
- Highly rated on the App Store (4.9), with over 1 million users.
- Unique integrated flashcards and quiz features beneficial for students.
- Active recall integration supports learning.
- Option to export resources and widely share notes.
Cons and Limitations
- High price point not justified by the feature set.
- User interface design is basic and some features feel haphazardly included.
- Study games are inconsistent in quality and relevance.
- Heavy use of notifications.
Alternative Tools Mentioned
- Recall AI offers similar functionality (quizzes, note chat) at a lower price (~$7-8/month) and has a free plan.
- RemNote provides free student flashcards; its paid plan adds AI flashcard functionality at a more reasonable price.
Recommendations / Advice
- Consider alternatives like Recall AI and RemNote for better value given similar or superior features at lower cost.
- Coconut might be worth it if priced much lower (around £3-4/month); at current pricing, it is not recommended.