# Formbook — Personal database reinvented

> Personal database app for structured note-taking with form-based entries and data visualization. (iPhone/iPad app by Mathieu Morgensztern.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formbook/id1570038338 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Mathieu Morgensztern](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439918443)
- Category: Productivity
- Price: Free with in-app purchases
- Rating: 4.50/5 from 26 App Store ratings · 132 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 17.6 · 10 MB
- Languages: English, French, Spanish
- Released: 2021-08-23
- Data updated: 2026-08-17
- Monetization: free with in-app purchases
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formbook/id1570038338/reviews.md

## What is Formbook?

Formbook: the revolutionary personal database app.

Formbook is a new generation database app in which you create form based notes to easily store information.
Formbook is the perfect app for structured information note taking. With Formbook, notes behave like database forms: create a notebook and define the fields you need to store your information.

Form based notes have amazing benefits:
- Gain a huge amount of time while taking notes as you just need to fill in form fields.
- Instantly obtain chart stats on the data contained in your notebooks.
- Share notebooks for collaboration with other Formbook users.

Here are some usage examples. Create notebooks to: 
- Keep track of your progress in sport training.
- Remember your favorite restaurants in places you visit.
- Store your recipes.
- Follow to do tasks.
- Prepare a trip by describing the places to visit.
- Keep track of any object inventory (with barcode reader).

Formbook comes with a powerful dashboard feature that visually displays charts on your data. Personalize your charts and analyse data in detail.

Formbook is cross device: notes are automatically synchronized on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch via iCloud.
Formbook is also available on your Apple Watch: access your notes and notebooks directly from you Apple Watch.

Formbook is powered by AI: save time with the new automated form builder. Enter your notebook name and Formbook infers the database fields.

Choose among 30 form field types when conceiving your notebook structure:
- Short text field
- Long text field
- Secret text field revealed by FaceID or TouchID
- Code text field (programming languages)
- Number
- Currency
- Stepper (number)
- Slider (number)
- Calculation (using the data from other fields)
- Yes/No button
- Date and Time fields
- Duration
- Images and photos
- List of elements (with optional checkboxes)
- List of tags
- Rating (with stars)
- Email (with compose button)
- Address (with map access)
- Phone number (with compose button)
- URL (with browse button)
- Barcode and QR code (with scan button)
- Current location (latitude, longitude, address)

Export your notes as PDF file and CSV file to use the data with spreadsheet apps.

## Key features

- Form-based note creation
- Instant chart statistics
- Notebook sharing for collaboration
- AI-powered automated form builder
- 30+ form field types
- Cross-device synchronization
- Export to PDF and CSV

## Pricing and in-app purchases

Base price: Free.

**One-time purchases**

| Purchase | Price | Type |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notebook sharing | $3.99 | one-time |
| Additional fields pack | $3.99 | one-time |


## What do users think of Formbook?

Overall sentiment: positive

**Pros**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 🔄 Seamless cross-device synchronization
- 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription
- 🎨 Clean, native Apple design aesthetic
- 📊 Flexible field types and customization
- 📤 CSV import/export functionality
- 🤖 AI-powered field suggestions
- ⌚ Apple Watch app integration
- 🔗 Notebook linking and relational fields
- 📱 Works across Mac, iPad, iPhone
- ✨ Lightweight and responsive performance
- 🎯 Perfect for collectors and catalogers

**Cons**

- 🔍 Limited search functionality (no field-specific search)
- 🐛 Frequent crashes on macOS
- ⚠️ Slow performance with large datasets
- 📋 No table/spreadsheet view option
- 🔐 Lack of password protection
- 📝 No rich text formatting (bold, italic, colors)
- 🖼️ Image attachments not exported with CSV
- ❌ No advanced filtering capabilities
- 📞 Poor developer communication/support
- 🔄 Import loses links and calculated fields
- 📄 No PDF export customization
- 🗂️ Cannot move notes between notebooks
- 🎯 Calculated fields are limited
- 🔢 Statistics don't reflect filtered results

**Commonly reported bugs**

- Crashes on macOS Ventura and newer
- Crashes when validating fields in new notes
- Export functionality issues with CSV and PDF
- Barcode field scans but cannot search by barcode
- Star rating field too sensitive to accidental changes
- Performance degradation with photos in notes
- Text field labels not visible in note panel
- Syncing issues between devices
- Import duplicates data instead of updating
- Occasional freezing and slowness
- Watch app syncing problems
- In-app purchase requires repurchase after updates

**Most requested features**

- Field-specific search functionality
- Advanced multi-criteria filtering
- Table/spreadsheet view for data
- Password/biometric app protection
- Rich text formatting (bold, italic, colors)
- File attachment support (PDFs, documents)
- Drag-and-drop image insertion
- Move notes between notebooks
- Duplicate notebook without content
- Advanced calculated fields with date math
- Print functionality for records and lists
- Customizable PDF export templates
- Folder organization for notebooks
- Read-only mode for records
- Barcode scanning search capability
- Calendar integration
- Reminder/alert field with notifications
- Multiple image support per field
- Keyboard shortcuts/Shortcuts app integration
- Collaborative sharing between users
- Template creation for notebooks
- Undo/backup functionality
- Batch operations (edit, delete multiple)
- Tag autocomplete with global tag list
- Sub-tags support
- Column/card view options
- Adjustable font sizes
- Home button for quick navigation
- Bulk import with update option
- Android version

## Recent user reviews (10 of 132)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formbook/id1570038338/reviews.md

### 3/5 — Handy but limited

*2026-07-26, version 2.7.3*

I just installed this app and can’t say anything negative about what it is or how it works based on my expectations. It would be a lot better if it could search records. The developer hasn’t improved it in a long time for such a simple app so I imagine most users will abandon it soon after they invest their trial data in it. “Reinventing”, seriously?

### 5/5 — very useful

*2026-07-04, version 2.7.3*

Very easy to use and just what I need to organize  my music lessons by concepts, subjects, and dates. I can even add a long text document to each entry. And I love that I can print out an entire "notebook."

### 5/5 — Very useful

*2026-05-19, version 2.7.3*

I like this app for it’s simplicity and customization. I hope it doesn’t disappear like many others around apple’s platform. Please support this developers as they continue to update the app for the upcoming upgrades.

### 3/5 — Once purchased !

*2026-03-25, version 2.7.3*

Once I purchased this app, I was little disappointed.

Fonctions Unlocked are below my expectations, for example the calculated fields are very poor in options, I’m wondering if rounded numbers are available and so. 

exporting to the csv file caused desired sorting losing…

Hope better in upcoming updates
Thx

### 5/5 — … wow. This is amazing for collectors, catalogers

*2026-01-10, version 2.7.3*

Found this due to Lenscape, which I love. This app is PERFECT. Syncs between devices and allows me to catalog things. I do it via notes now and this is WAY better. Logging what movies I watch, what records I have, etc. It’s flexible and seriously exactly what I want.

### 4/5 — Super produit

*2025-12-18, version 2.7.3*

Super mais je mets que 4 etoiles car il n’evolue pas vite. J’aimerai une gestion des filtres plus avancée

### 5/5 — Totally Brilliant

*2025-12-05, version 2.7.3*

For one fixed cost Formbook Does much more than expensive monthly payment solutions. 
It’s AI got me going with a well setup database to log my conversations in less than a few seconds. Very Highly recommended. 
A resounding well done to the developer. The spirit of Apple is still alive !

### 4/5 — Almost there

*2025-10-23, version 2.7.3*

This is awesome.  One can create notebooks based on fields.  Simple and very easy to use.  Usability goes pretty far.  

One thing that is lacking is the ability to filter.  Another is to have the ability to move notes between notebooks as long as the fields are the same.

### 5/5 — Facile d’utilisation

*2025-10-08, version 2.7.3*

J’ai testé plusieurs applications similaires, mais Formbook reste la meilleure ! Facile à utiliser, rapide à configurer et vraiment pratique au quotidien.

### 5/5 — 基本無料の扱いやすいカード型データベース。600円一回払うだけで複数マシンでの同期も可能。

*2025-09-17, version 2.7.3*

メモアプリや検索機能の充実などによって、個人が趣味に使うカード型データベースがめっきり少なくなってしまった。クラリスワークスやBentoなきあと、制約なしに使えるカード型データベースの筆頭といっていいだろう。csvでの出力やインポートも装備しており、動画公開されているヘルプを見れば、その日のうちに使える。惜しむらくは、動作がわずかにもっさりする瞬間があることと項目のレイアウト機能がない（表示順は変えることができる）くらいか。趣味のデータベースを作るには、もってこいのソフトだと思う。

## Frequently asked questions about Formbook

### What does Formbook do?

Formbook is a personal database app that allows you to create form-based notes to easily store and manage information. It transforms your notes into structured forms, enabling efficient data entry and analysis.

### What are the key features of Formbook?

Key features include creating form-based notes, instant chart statistics on your data, sharing notebooks for collaboration, an AI-powered automated form builder, over 30 customizable form field types, and cross-device synchronization via iCloud.

### How much does Formbook cost?

Formbook is available for free, but it offers in-app purchases. This means you can download and use the basic features without charge, with options to unlock additional functionality or content through purchases.

### What devices is Formbook compatible with?

Formbook is designed to be cross-device, with notes automatically synchronized across your iPhone, iPad, Mac, and Apple Watch via iCloud. You can access your notes and notebooks directly from your Apple Watch.

### What are some common use cases for Formbook?

Common use cases include tracking sports training progress, remembering favorite restaurants, storing recipes, managing to-do tasks, planning trips, and keeping track of object inventories, potentially with barcode scanning.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.7.3 — 2025-01-27

The OK button is now displayed when editing a text field.

### 2.7.2 — 2025-01-24

The OK button is now displayed when editing a text field.

### 2.7.1 — 2024-09-24

Home screen widget image restored.

### 2.7.0 — 2024-09-23

New dark and tinted icons for iOS 18.

### 2.6.1 — 2024-04-18

Improved sorting of the notes list on Apple Watch.

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## More apps by Mathieu Morgensztern

- [Webmii](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/webmii/id1488735915)
- [Eqqo](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/eqqo/id1517972908)
- [MiniXL](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minixl/id1563357115)

All apps by Mathieu Morgensztern: https://appshunter.io/developer/1439918443

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*Data collected daily from the US App Store and indexed by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/). User reviews are verbatim App Store reviews. Ratings, prices and chart positions refresh continuously; this snapshot is from 2026-08-17.*