# inq — Real ink on paper, digitized > Digitize, transcribe, search, and share handwritten notes and drawings. (iPhone/iPad app by inq incorporated.) - Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inq/id6745051671 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`) - Developer: [inq incorporated](https://appshunter.io/developer/1810554282) - Category: Productivity, Education - Price: Free - Rating: 3.00/5 from 20 App Store ratings · 25 written reviews indexed - Age rating: 4+ - Requires: iOS 15.1 · 59 MB - Languages: American English - Released: 2025-05-07 - Data updated: 2026-08-27 - Monetization: ad-supported - User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inq/id6745051671/reviews.md ## What is inq? - Access your notes and drawings anywhere, including on the web with any device. - Transcribe and search your notes automatically. - Export special formats including LaTeX for math, CSV for data, and mermaid for diagrams. - Share your notes, including on the web where recipients can get live updates. - Integrated voice recording through your phone - synced to your handwriting. ## Key features - Digitize notes and drawings - Access notes anywhere (web, any device) - Automatic transcription and search - Export to LaTeX, CSV, mermaid - Share notes with live updates - Integrated voice recording synced to handwriting ## Recent user reviews (10 of 25) All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inq/id6745051671/reviews.md ### 1/5 — Recording failed - re-record and try again *2026-07-16* Seriously???! WTF. “Sorry Professor, would you mind teaching your entire lecture over again? My Inq system dropped the recording and wants me to record again. So while I was taking some notes, I had expected to listen and complete my notes later.” Do better, Inq. Your application is at best a prototype. Users: don’t rely on this for anything remotely important. ### 1/5 — support is rubbish *2026-05-15, version 1.15.4* pen failed after one A5 notebook and support are useless ### 1/5 — DON’T DO IT!!! *2026-05-08* Ignore the 5 star reviews and the YouTube videos that made this pen look like a great idea. I had this pen less than 24 hours, attempted to charge it and nothing!!!! So I decided this pen was defective and decided to return it and that’s when the fun started! The website says 100 day risk free trial but apparently when you email them, the return email address is bogus and doesn’t work. My emails got kicked back as undeliverable. Finally I emailed them through the regular customer service portal and finally received a return label for the return minus one item that just happened to cost $20 which gives me the impression they are back door trying to get me to pay for shipping. I videoed and photographed what I returned so there’s no question and shipped this hot mess back to whence it came. This was more trouble than it’s worth so take it from me and don’t do it. I was super excited about the concept of what this pen could do, but customer service is 0/10 stars. I can’t comment on performance but in every other way, this company isn’t one I’d ever want to deal with again. Those two YouTube videos you watched before you bought this don’t explain how difficult things are when you can’t get support when there’s an issue. ### 1/5 — New Pen & Expensive Notebooks - Failed after 25 pages of Notes *2026-04-10, version 1.14.3* I think I’m more annoyed at myself for being sucked in yet again by slick marketing by the old Livescribe who look like they bought someone else’s hardware, then rebranded it to flog to dumb consumers. Bought the whole kit, new pen and new notebooks because the new pen only works with the new dot paper. 23 pages of notes all looked good over the last few weeks. But now the pen keeps turning itself off although fully charged, won’t stay synced to the app, won’t download the last few pages, misses whole words and parts of sentences. I have been using Livescribe products for many years, the tech was always good, it didn’t last forever, but customer service was poor, so you just bought another one. Usually got a couple of years out of a pen before it failed. Their after sales service has always been below poor, but the products kind of worked. This is the last time I will ever get sucked in by this company pretending to be high tech, but just a charlatan making a quick buck on shoddy hardware. BUYER BEWARE - Don’t fall for the shiny and slick marketing on their web page. ### 5/5 — Better All the Time *2026-03-31* I had gotten so frustrated when the old system stopped working. This app moved slowly out of the gate but each update is adding functionality without breaking anything. Smarter transcription of audio would be great to have next. ### 1/5 — The transcription feature is horrible *2026-03-20* The transcription feature is absolutely USELESS. I wrote an entire page of very legible text, part of a fictional piece for one of my classes, and instead of just transcribing what I wrote, it instead ‘interpreted’ my text and REWROTE it into entirely nonsensical generative AI slop that has absolutely nothing to do with my story. Frankly I find it to be an insult to my work, and I didn’t think I’d have to worry about AI scraping my writing when I’m literally handwriting in a notebook, but alas it happens with this app anyway and it’s impossible to turn off the feature. It renders this notebook practically useless unless you are okay with just your handwriting itself being copied onto an image that you can’t do much else with. This is a waste of money and it’s cheaper to just take a picture of a page and have it translated to text with Evernote. If anything, just buy a different notebook with better transcription and a better app instead of this bs. ### 1/5 — Transcriptions are pure fiction *2026-03-04* I used a Livescribe pen for years and loved it. When it fell apart, I bought the new version and had to use this app. The transcriptions are terrible. Important elements are left out and the AI makes things up and adds it in. It’s so far from the truth that the transcription is unusable. When you ask it to re-do, it gives you another version of the same nonsense. It’s both disappointing and frustrating - a complete AI fail. ### 1/5 — Inqs Stinks *2026-02-11* This pen is not ready for prime time. It won’t reliable pair via Bluetooth, when I can get it to pair I sometimes get gibberish even when holding pen at proper angle. I am printing neatly and somehow a bunch of scribbles show up on the inq digital notepad app. I use a competitor’s product with a name that begins with an X and it works just fine. I can’t type and depend upon digital handwriting products. Inq lost this battle and I will for now stick with the other product. ### 1/5 — Do Not Buy!!! *2026-01-16* You will be sorry. You have been warned. Does not work. Support will talk you in circles endlessly and will not accept returns or refunds! Oh, and those two YouTube videos you watched before buying? . . . Those were paid shills. I’m only trying to help you avoid a very costly mistake. The worst scam I’m fallen for in years. ### 5/5 — Slowly getting better *2025-11-17, version 1.10.4* I still have my old Livepen stuff and started moving to Inq, and had to relearn how to do some things. But now I like the new Inq pen better, have no problems transfering from the pen automatically and I am experimenting how to transfer my notes to another format or app. ## Frequently asked questions about inq ### What does this app do? This app digitizes your handwritten notes and drawings, making them accessible from any device, including the web. It automatically transcribes and makes your notes searchable. You can also export your content in various formats and share it with others. ### What are the key features? Key features include digitizing physical notes, cross-device access, automatic transcription and search, export options for LaTeX, CSV, and mermaid diagrams, secure sharing with live updates, and integrated voice recording synced to your handwriting. ### Is this app free to use? The app is free to use, supported by advertisements. There are no in-app purchases or subscription fees mentioned for core functionality. ### What devices is this app compatible with? The app provides access to your notes and drawings anywhere, including on the web with any device. This implies compatibility with smartphones, tablets, and computers through a web browser. ### Who would benefit from using this app? This app is ideal for students, researchers, artists, and professionals who take notes by hand. It's beneficial for anyone who wants to easily access, search, and share their handwritten content digitally, especially those who need to export notes in specialized formats. ## Version history (last 5 releases) ### 1.16.6 — 2026-08-17 Updated configuration file ### 1.16.5 — 2026-07-31 Pen firmware updates & audio stability fixes ### 1.16.4 — 2026-06-12 Onboarding ### 1.16.3 — 2026-05-29 audio updates ### 1.15.4 — 2026-05-07 Upgraded tech stuff ## Apps similar to inq | App | Rating | Price | Category | | --- | --- | --- | --- | | [XNote AI](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-ai/id6499127563) | 4.4 (25) | Free | Productivity | | [Flowtica: AI Voice Recorder](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flowtica-ai-voice-recorder/id6736934699) | 4.5 (8) | Free | Productivity | | [NEWYES](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/newyes/id1454887426) | 3.0 (38) | Free | Productivity | | [LivePen](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/livepen/id6467809022) | 3.0 (34) | Free | Productivity | | [Livescribe+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/livescribe-plus/id718731977) | 2.1 (52) | Free | Productivity | | [Ophaya Pro+](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ophaya-pro-plus/id6462862235) | 2.8 (17) | Free | Productivity | ## Related topics [nadas labs](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/nadas-labs) · [livenote app](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/livenote-app) · [mhgu](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/mhgu) --- *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 2026-08-27.*