Best Pencil Journaling alternatives: apps like Pencil Journaling

🎨 Graphics & Design

Whether you want more options like Pencil Journaling or a completely different take on the same concept, our curated list of 9+ similar apps has you covered. Updated for 2026 with the latest ratings and comparisons.

KobCard by KOB MARKETING

Gift Card Information Platform

4.1(392 ratings)

Free

KobCard is a comprehensive gift card information platform that offers real-time exchange rates, price calculations, and the latest news on gift cards. It serves as a one-stop destination for individuals looking to buy, sell, or stay informed about the world of gift cards.

Top Alternatives to Pencil Journaling

Noteflow: Simple Notes by Qrayon, LLC

Photo sketch doodle paint

Editor's Choice

4.2😐(184 ratings)

Free

This app offers a digital notebook experience designed to replace pen and paper. It allows for note-taking, PDF annotation, sketching, and freeform idea capture with vector ink that scales without quality loss. Seamlessly integrate real-world content and organize your thoughts digitally.

What We Love

👍 Integration is awesome
👍 Free version is simple yet useful
👍 Good job
👍 Intuitive and functional
👍 Easy to use
👍 Powerful features
👍 Side-by-side option
👍 Importing calendars
👍 Dragging and dropping information
👍 Simplicity, easy to figure out buttons
👍 Versatile and powerful
👍 Compatible with pen
👍 Day-to-day sketching
👍 Very versatile
👍 Better with every version
👍 쓰기편리하고 좋아요 (Convenient to write and good)
👍 Funktioniert toll für die Schule (Works great for school)
👍 Impressed with new features
👍 Incredible, exactly what I was looking for
👍 Shocked it is free
👍 Much more intuitive than other apps
👍 Easy 5 stars
👍 Easy to use and great price
👍 Free software with great ways to work
👍 Can try all features in trial
👍 Awesome app update
👍 Like the idea

Room to Improve

🐛 Lost all photos and notes
🐛 File remotely deleted
🐛 Holding files hostage
🐛 Criminals, don't trust them
🐛 Useless
🐛 Dumb
🐛 Portrait only
🐛 Zooming out loses screen real estate
🐛 Couldn't get palette to show
🐛 Free version has little functionality
🐛 Have to pay $14 for functionality
🐛 Zoom is choppy
🐛 No option to resize pen
🐛 Only one small ink pen, no pencil
🐛 No highlighter visible
🐛 No native browsing of notebooks, goes to Files app
🐛 Ugly UI
🐛 App crashes on launch (grey screen)
🐛 Wouldn't let me create a page
🐛 Doesn't open a document
🐛 Free version doesn't do anything
🐛 Not much in basic version
🐛 Very little features to determine upgrade
🐛 Misleading description, features not available
🐛 Lite version

Jottre by A Lorani

Minimalistic Jotting

Strong Contender

4.8(4 ratings)

Free

A minimalist handwriting app designed for iPad with Apple Pencil. It allows users to write notes and convert them into various file formats. Seamlessly sync your notes across iPad, iPhone, and Mac.

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad by Semore Software

Handwritten Planner & Notes

Worth Considering

Handwriting Schedule Notebook

4.2(85 ratings)

FreeIn-App Purchases

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad screenshot 1

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad screenshot 2

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad screenshot 3

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad screenshot 4

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad screenshot 5

Pencil Calendar: CalendarPad screenshot 6

This app offers a handwritten planner and note-taking experience for iPad users. It provides two pages for every calendar period, allowing for separate planning and note-taking. Users can customize layouts, write naturally with Apple Pencil, and export their creations.

More apps like Pencil Journaling

Refill Calendar

Weekly vertical schedule layoutCustomizable refill imagesAdjustable date label position, size, and color

Organize your schedule with a weekly vertical planner that supports customization of date labels and refill images. This app is designed for handwriting input and is optimized for Apple Pencil use on iPads.

(1)

free

Notes, drawings, PDF markup

Pen and Paper

Handwritten notes and drawingsPDF import and annotationText and shape insertion

Create handwritten notes and drawings, annotate PDFs, and add text and shapes. Zoom in for detailed editing, organize content with layers, and import custom fonts and page styles. Share your creations as PDFs or JPEGs.

(43)

freemium

InkPlanner

Digital wall calendar

Yearly overview at a glanceHandwritten notes and appointmentsCustomizable color-coded legend

A digital wall calendar app for iPad and Apple Pencil, offering a clear yearly overview. It allows handwritten entry of appointments and notes with a customizable color-coded legend for enhanced organization and a minimalist planning experience.

free with in-app purchases

(10)

Pocket Note - Handwritten note

Notepad for handwriting

Handwritten and typed inputCustomizable pen sizes and colorsPaste photos and maps

Transform your device into a powerful business notepad. Quickly capture ideas with handwriting, typing, and rich media. Organize notes into groups and export them as images or PDFs for easy sharing and printing.

free with in-app purchases

(14)

AxNote: Note Taking

Sketches, text & images

AI-powered summaries from text, handwriting, and audioAudio transcription and topic explorationImage and PDF annotation

This app offers an intelligent canvas for note-taking, allowing users to generate summaries from text, handwriting, and audio recordings. It supports image annotation, data visualization with tables and charts, and handwriting conversion to typed text. Designed for Apple Pencil, it provides flexible layouts and on-device AI features.

(7)

free

Pencil Planner: PencilTime

Write, Type & Plan Your Way

Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil or touchTyped text formatting and editingDay, Week, Month, Year planning views

Combine handwritten notes and typed text for planning and organization. Features flexible daily, weekly, monthly, and yearly views, with dedicated pages for projects and ideas. Search typed content easily and export your work.

(34)

freemium