# Penned: Private Notes — AI Text Search, Local & Secure

> Private, minimalist handwriting app with on-device AI text recognition. (iPhone/iPad app by Edwing H Santos Mena.)

- Source: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penned-private-notes/id1480653765 (this page in markdown: same URL + `.md`)
- Developer: [Edwing H Santos Mena](https://appshunter.io/developer/1851857999)
- Category: Productivity, Graphics & Design
- Price: $4.99
- Rating: 4.60/5 from 87 App Store ratings · 14 written reviews indexed
- Age rating: 4+
- Requires: iOS 16.6 · 1 MB
- Languages: Russian, American English, Arabic, Indonesian, European Spanish, Italian, German (Germany), French (France), Japanese
- Released: 2022-05-30
- Data updated: 2026-08-24
- Monetization: paid
- User reviews in markdown: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penned-private-notes/id1480653765/reviews.md

## What is Penned?

Your thoughts deserve privacy. Penned Notes is a minimalist handwriting app that keeps everything on your device.

- Natural Apple Pencil writing
- AI text recognition (on-device)
- 100% private - zero cloud required
- Export beautiful PDFs
- Smart tagging & search
- Clean, distraction-free interface

Unlike other note apps, Penned Notes uses Apple's Neural Engine to recognize your handwriting locally and nothing leaves your device. No accounts, no tracking, no subscriptions to complex features you don't need.

Perfect for:
- Daily journaling
- Class notes & studying  
- Meeting notes
- Sketches & brainstorming
- Sensitive work documents

Privacy-first architecture means your notes stay truly yours.

Download Penned Notes. 

Where your thoughts are penned, not surveilled.

## Key features

- Natural Apple Pencil writing
- On-device AI text recognition
- 100% private, no cloud
- Export beautiful PDFs
- Smart tagging and search
- Distraction-free interface

## Recent user reviews (10 of 14)

All indexed reviews: https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penned-private-notes/id1480653765/reviews.md

### 1/5 — DO NOT INSTALL

*2025-11-01*

No updates in months and no polishing done whatsoever. Absolute trash. Do not install

### 5/5 — Super convenient, user friendly app

*2025-08-29*

There are no complex settings or menus, but it does the job perfectly. I love that I can record video with or without audio if needed while writing or drawing, and I can share or save my videos to my photos app directly from the app.

### 1/5 — Ähnlich  wie  Apple App

*2024-11-10*

….gerade 5  sterne vergeben…. Update gemacht und jetzt geht die App nicht mehr.

Ich würde sagen, ausgezeichnet, volle Punktzahl null

### 5/5 — Was great

*2024-09-03, version 2.1*

But now crashes every time I open it.
Not sure what happened.
I deleted it & downloaded it again but it still crashes on opening.
Giving it 5 Stars for what it was like previously.

### 4/5 — Does as it says

*2024-08-19*

It’s handy to sketch on iPad or iPhone and see on the other device almost instantly. The name is really misleading though. I’d assumed it would be more like the excellent Simplenote, but it’s more like a much simplified pocket procreate. It could do with a few more tools, brushes, an option to actually type, but can’t grumble as it’s free. Just noticed you can record your drawings with voice, so that could be handy for demos or something too.

### 1/5 — Literally the worst

*2024-07-22*

All the “minimalist” positive reviews are garbage. It’s so minimalist you can’t use it? Great job. Menus are basic and don’t make sense. The functionality is trash. I have yet to figure out how to do anything other than frustrate myself trying to figure this out. Don’t waste your money. Wish I could get a refund. 😒

### 5/5 — ADHD dream

*2024-06-30*

there are no multiple step menus or dialog boxes to make you forget what you came in there to write. no obstructions between thought and page. it lets me remember my ideas so they don't slip away.  

it's downright elegant.

### 5/5 — Fabulous minimalist app!!!

*2024-05-31*

Fabulous minimalist app, great functionality. A great addition would be the ability to set reminders (recurring? Like ur NotifiNote app) on a note or the entire app that would appear on the Lock Screen.

### 5/5 — Looks really good so far.

*2024-03-23, version 1.4*

Looks like this app will serve my purposes well. Instead of a bunch of notes on the loose all over the place, I can jot them down in here and keep them organized.

Bonus -  The creator doesn’t collect data from this app. I appreciate the privacy.

### 3/5 — Replica of the IPhones Notes app-quick notes feature

*2024-03-01*

This app is essentially an exact replica of the Apple Notes app's pencil feature. It mimics everything from its functionality to the writing experience. It feels like a streamlined version, akin to Quick Notes, as you can immediately start handwriting without navigating through the Notes app. It would be even more convenient if it could be accessed through a specific gesture, similar to how iPads allow a diagonal swipe from the bottom right corner.I'm unsure if this could be implemented through accessibility settings. This would significantly enhance its utility, making it a go-to for quick note-taking on phone.Also displaying a portion of the screen while using it, like Quick Notes, would be a fantastic addition.It’s great for its simplicity and immediacy, but for those with limited phone storage, it may not be practical to dedicate space to replicate a feature already available in the native app. If storage were not an issue, I would certainly consider keeping it on my phone.At the moment, it’s more worthwhile to go through the extra steps in the notes app than to give up any precious storage space. But the app has the potential to be useful to people who do have the extra space and want a quick notes on their phone. Or to evolve some features making it worth the storage space. Also,I have an iPhone 6S Plus… By now, quick notes, with the gesture already is a feature in newer iPhones. Idk so if that is the case then this is likely only useful for older iPhones..

## Frequently asked questions about Penned

### What does Penned: Private Notes do?

Penned: Private Notes is a minimalist handwriting application that allows you to take notes, journal, and sketch while ensuring complete privacy. It keeps all your data locally on your device and utilizes on-device AI for text recognition.

### What are the key features of Penned: Private Notes?

Key features include natural handwriting with Apple Pencil support, on-device AI text recognition for converting handwriting to text, 100% privacy with no cloud storage, PDF export, smart tagging, and a clean, distraction-free interface.

### Is Penned: Private Notes free to use?

Based on the provided information, the app is a paid application. It does not have subscriptions for complex features or in-app purchases, indicating a one-time purchase model.

### What devices is Penned: Private Notes compatible with?

The app is designed to leverage Apple's Neural Engine for on-device AI processing and mentions Apple Pencil support, suggesting it is compatible with Apple devices like iPads and iPhones that support these features.

### What are common use cases for Penned: Private Notes?

Common use cases include daily journaling, taking class notes for studying, recording meeting minutes, sketching ideas for brainstorming, and securely storing sensitive work documents, all while maintaining user privacy.

## Version history (last 5 releases)

### 2.4.0 — 2026-01-07

Introducing Penned Notes 2.4.0

NEW: AI Handwriting Recognition
- Search your handwritten notes instantly
- Works 100% on-device for privacy
- Supports multiple languages

NEW: Modern Design
- Clean, distraction-free interface
- Updated icons & organization
- Smoother Apple Pencil experience

NEW: Export Options
- Save notes as PDFs
- Share as images
- Quick text extraction

Your thoughts, truly yours. No cloud required.

### 2.3 — 2025-11-10

- Bug fixes
- Performance Improvements

### 2.2 — 2025-03-28

- Bug fixes
- Performance Improvements

### 2.1 — 2024-04-09

What's New:
• Infinite Canvas: Enjoy endless space for your notes, letting your ideas flow freely.
• iOS 17 Compatibility: Now available on iOS devices for seamless note-taking across platforms.
• Improved Performance: Experience smoother navigation and faster response times.
• Bug Fixes: We've addressed issues to ensure a more stable and reliable app.

### 2.0 — 2024-04-08

What's New:

• Infinite Canvas: Enjoy endless space for your notes, letting your ideas flow freely.
• iOS 17 Compatibility: Now available on iOS devices for seamless note-taking across platforms.
• Improved Performance: Experience smoother navigation and faster response times.
• Bug Fixes: We've addressed issues to ensure a more stable and reliable app.

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## More apps by Edwing H Santos Mena

- [Luca - Photo Editor & Filters](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/luca-photo-editor-and-filters/id1611968438)
- [Kids Coloring: Draw & Paint](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/kids-coloring-draw-and-paint/id6476297325)
- [Flashcards: Kids First Words](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/flashcards-kids-first-words/id6479371831)
- [Vice Locker: Iron Will](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/vice-locker-iron-will/id6748688744)
- [Life Time Left: 4K Weeks](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/life-time-left-4k-weeks/id6751210937)

All apps by Edwing H Santos Mena: https://appshunter.io/developer/1851857999

## Related topics

[ai private notes](https://appshunter.io/ios/topics/ai-private-notes)

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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 2026-08-24.*