Comparison

Whale Notes vs WordUp

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Whale Notes

Easily record new vocabulary words, their meanings, and example sentences. Sync notes across devices with cloud backup. Offers tools for word definition lookup to help you build a daily learning habit.

Highlights
  • Record new words and meanings
  • Add example sentences
  • Cloud backup and sync
  • Offline functionality
  • Word definition lookup
  • Daily learning habit tracker
Features
Read full description

- When you come across a new word while studying, just open Whale Notes and add a note with its meaning and an example sentence. - You can create an account or link a social media account to make sure all your notes are backed up to the cloud. This way, you won’t lose your notes if you delete the app or if your phone is lost or stolen. - Works smoothly both online and offline. - Available on multiple platforms, so you can sync your notes across different devices. - More tools to help you find word or phrase definitions. - Try to make this a daily habit, aiming to learn 3-5 new words each day. We hope this app helps you grow your vocabulary. Thank you for your support! Subscriptions in the app will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. The subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Once activated, the subscription cannot be canceled. You can manage your subscriptions in Account Settings after purchase. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

WordUp

This app uses AI to personalize your English vocabulary learning journey. It offers interactive challenges, AI-powered practice with a virtual teacher and celebrities, and detailed word pages with AI-generated visuals. Track your progress and expand your word knowledge effectively.

Highlights
  • AI-powered personalized learning map
  • 25,000 prioritized English words
  • 9 interactive challenge types
  • Spaced repetition learning
  • AI English teacher (Lexi)
  • Fantasy Chat with AI celebrities
  • AI-generated word images
Features
Read full description

WordUp: Learn English Vocabulary Master English vocabulary with WordUp, the AI-powered app revolutionizing language learning! With over 5 million users worldwide, WordUp offers a personalized, engaging, and effective way to expand your English vocabulary. - Personalized Learning * AI-powered Knowledge Map tailored to your needs * 25,000 most common English words, prioritized for you * Customized word lists based on your interests and goals - Interactive Challenges * 9 diverse challenge types to reinforce learning * Spaced repetition for long-term retention * Pronounce, spell, define, and use words in context - AI-Powered Features * Chat with Lexi, your personal AI English teacher * Practice with AI celebrities in Fantasy Chat * Receive instant feedback on your writing - Comprehensive Word Pages * Detailed definitions, pronunciations, and usage examples * AI-generated images for better retention * Pro tips for real-world application - Additional Features * Idioms and phrasal verbs with visual aids * Chrome extension for learning while browsing * Multi-device support and offline mode * Progress tracking and social features - Award-Winning App * 2020 British Council Best Digital Innovation * 2020 International Business Awards Gold Stevie® Winner * Multiple industry accolades for innovation and excellence - User-Approved * 4.7+ star rating across app stores * Millions of satisfied learners worldwide Whether you're preparing for exams, advancing your career, or simply passionate about improving your English, WordUp is your ultimate vocabulary companion. Download now and transform your English skills! Free and Pro versions are available. Unlock unlimited access and premium features with WordUp Pro. Start your journey to English mastery today with WordUp!

Screenshots

Whale Notes4 screens
WordUp4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Whale Notes at none against WordUp's shown. Whale Notes also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.6). WordUp's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 5 months) and ratings volume (14K vs 34). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Whale Notes sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per 3 months and WordUp sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for Whale Notes against 4.8 for WordUp. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: WordUp has 14K ratings behind it against 34, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 50% of Whale Notes's written reviews are positive against 68% of WordUp's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Whale Notes ships an update every 5 months, WordUp every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 14, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Whale Notes versus WordUp: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterWhale NotesWordUp
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.8 (34 ratings) — better4.8 (14K ratings)
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews67.9% of reviews — better
Number of ratings3414K — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.6
Further details — not scored
Size24 MB72 MB
Age rating4+12+
DeveloperThi VoGeeks

Customer experience

Whale Notes

All ratings35 ratings
Positive94.3%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

WordUp

All ratings13,849 ratings
Positive94.6%
Neutral2.9%
Negative2.5%
Written reviews1,382 reviews
Positive67.9%
Neutral8.7%
Negative23.4%

Bugs and requests

Whale Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

WordUp

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Login and account issues after updates
  • Inability to access subscribed content
  • Freezing and crashing during use
  • Syncing problems across devices
  • Inconsistent performance on larger screens

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add spelling practice and testing
  • Provide more customization options
  • Implement audio narration for word lists
  • Include countable/uncountable noun indicators
  • Allow users to add personal word lists

In-app purchases

5 purchases

Whale Notes

Subscriptions3
  • Premium 3 months14 Days trial$2.993 Months
  • Premium 6 months14 Days trial$4.996 Months
  • Premium 12 months14 Days trial$8.991 Year
One-time2
  • 200 notes$1.99
  • 500 Notes$2.99
12 purchases

WordUp

Subscriptions11
  • Charitable Plan$1.991 Month
  • 1 month's subscription7 Days trial$7.491 Month
  • Quarterly plan (deprecated)7 Days trial$7.493 Months
Show 8 more
  • Standard Monthly7 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly$10.991 Month
  • Pro Monthly (family sharing)$17.991 Month
  • Pro Yearly7 Days trial$49.001 Year
  • Pro Yearly14 Days trial$49.001 Year
  • 12 months subscription7 Days trial$76.991 Year
  • Standard Yearly$79.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$149.99

Questions

Is Whale Notes free?
Whale Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is WordUp free?
WordUp is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Whale Notes or WordUp?
Whale Notes is rated higher. Whale Notes averages 4.8 out of 5 from 34 ratings, while WordUp averages 4.8 from 14K ratings.
Do Whale Notes or WordUp have ads?
WordUp shows ads; Whale Notes does not.
Which is updated more often, Whale Notes or WordUp?
Whale Notes ships an update every 5 months, and WordUp every 3 weeks. Most recently, Whale Notes was updated on October 14, 2026 and WordUp on October 30, 2026.

Other comparisons