# Pencil Note vs Shabbat

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Shabbat at 100% against Pencil Note's 25%. Shabbat also leads on price (Free vs $0.99) and rating (4.3 vs 2.4). Pencil Note's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.6). On ratings volume, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Shabbat is free to download; Pencil Note costs $0.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Shabbat holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 2.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 5 and 6 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 25% of Pencil Note's written reviews are positive against 100% of Shabbat's.

Pencil Note ships an update every 7 months, Shabbat every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pencil Note | Shabbat |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $0.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [2.4 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-note/id1072833023/reviews) | **[4.3 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shabbat-alarm-clock/id6759681065/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 5 | **6** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 7 months | **Every 3 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free** |
| Size | 168 MB | 33 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.6** | 17.6 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Magitech Corporation](https://appshunter.io/developer/327468781) | [Jeremy Jacob](https://appshunter.io/developer/1880166246) |

## What reviewers say

### Pencil Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-note/id1072833023)

Create and organize digital sticky notes on a virtual bulletin board. Supports Apple Pencil for realistic writing and drawing with pressure sensitivity. Offers various paper types and pen colors for personalized notes.

**Highlights:** Digital bulletin board for notes, Apple Pencil support with pressure sensitivity, Four paper types and two pen colors, Finger eraser functionality, Organize and move notes freely, Split screen support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Shabbat

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/shabbat-alarm-clock/id6759681065)

This alarm is designed for Shabbat-observant Jews, offering weekly recurring alarms that silence themselves automatically. Its simple, distraction-free interface ensures ease of use without requiring an internet connection or user accounts. It's ideal for reminders before candle-lighting or for waking up for synagogue services.

**Highlights:** Weekly recurring alarms, Automatic self-silencing, Simple, distraction-free design, Works offline, No accounts or tracking

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pencil Note free?

Pencil Note costs $0.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Shabbat free?

Shabbat is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Pencil Note or Shabbat?

Shabbat is rated higher. Pencil Note averages 2.4 out of 5 from 5 ratings, while Shabbat averages 4.3 from 6 ratings.

### Do Pencil Note or Shabbat have ads?

Neither Pencil Note nor Shabbat shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pencil Note or Shabbat?

Pencil Note ships an update every 7 months, and Shabbat every 3 days. Most recently, Pencil Note was updated on November 2, 2026 and Shabbat on October 31, 2026.

---

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