# Map Note vs Noteshelf

The clearest difference is price: Noteshelf at Free against Map Note's $2.99. Noteshelf also leads on ratings volume (7.1K vs 69) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). Map Note's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17) and iOS requirement (8.0 vs 18.0). On rating, review sentiment, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Noteshelf is free to download; Map Note costs $2.99 up front. Noteshelf sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Map Note asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for Map Note against 4.6 for Noteshelf. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noteshelf has 7.1K ratings behind it against 69, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 56% and 57% positive.

Map Note ships an update every 4 weeks, Noteshelf every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on October 20, 2026 and October 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Map Note | Noteshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.5 (69 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-note-infinity-size-note/id1013469088/reviews) | **[4.6 (7.1K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 69 | **7.1K** |
| Positive reviews | 56.1% of reviews | **56.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 4 weeks | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 7 MB | 558 MB |
| Requires iOS | **8.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naoya Enokida](https://appshunter.io/developer/583844490) | [Fluid Touch Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318004740) |

## What reviewers say

### Map Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/map-note-infinity-size-note/id1013469088)

Organize your thoughts on an infinitely expanding canvas. This app is designed for non-linear thinking, allowing you to freely expand ideas radially for brainstorming and mind mapping.

**Highlights:** Infinitely expanding canvas, Radial idea expansion, Mind mapping, Brainstorming, Idea sketching, Non-linear note-taking

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Noteshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203)

Create handwritten notes, annotate PDFs, and record audio with this app. It offers extensive customization for notebooks, a variety of writing tools, and AI-powered features for summarization and translation. Organize your thoughts and documents seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Handwritten note creation, PDF annotation and markup, Audio recording with notes, AI-powered summarization and translation, Customizable notebooks and templates, Handwriting to text conversion, Document scanning and import

**Features:** Family Sharing, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $19.99 | per month |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium for Noteshelf 2 users | $9.99 | one-time |
| Noteshelf 3 Premium - Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 📚 Versatile note-taking features
- 🎨 Customizable templates and covers
- 🔍 Accurate handwriting recognition
- 💻 Seamless integration across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔄 Sync issues between devices
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data security
- 🔍 Unreliable search functionality
- 🔧 Buggy or missing features from previous versions

**Reported bugs**

- Notebooks failing to open or sync correctly
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Imported PDFs losing formatting or functionality
- Unexpected loss of data or notes
- Compatibility issues with older devices or operating systems

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create folders within notebooks
- Improve page organization and navigation
- Implement a more intuitive color picker and pen customization
- Introduce a history/undo feature for linked pages
- Add support for custom stickers and templates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Map Note free?

Map Note costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Noteshelf free?

Noteshelf is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Map Note or Noteshelf?

Noteshelf is rated higher. Map Note averages 4.5 out of 5 from 69 ratings, while Noteshelf averages 4.6 from 7.1K ratings.

### Do Map Note or Noteshelf have ads?

Neither Map Note nor Noteshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Map Note or Noteshelf?

Map Note ships an update every 4 weeks, and Noteshelf every 5 days. Most recently, Map Note was updated on October 20, 2026 and Noteshelf on October 23, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*