# PaintNotes vs XNote

The clearest difference is rating: XNote at 4.6 against PaintNotes's 3.8. XNote also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (weekly vs fortnightly). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PaintNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. XNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

XNote holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 76 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 67% of PaintNotes's written reviews are positive against 60% of XNote's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, XNote weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PaintNotes | XNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (29 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintnotes/id1106747531/reviews) | **[4.6 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-infinite-boards-and-notes/id1644300153/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 29 | **76** |
| Positive reviews | **66.7% of reviews** | 60.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 43 MB | 40 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [心悦 吕](https://appshunter.io/developer/1689365127) | [华清 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643454681) |

## What reviewers say

### PaintNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintnotes/id1106747531)

This app offers a minimalist digital notebook with an infinite canvas for freeform writing and drawing. Easily import files and organize your thoughts without delay.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas, Freeform writing and drawing, File import, Minimalist interface, Unlimited drafts

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlocking features | $3.99 | one-time |


### XNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-infinite-boards-and-notes/id1644300153)

This app offers unlimited whiteboards, PDF annotation, and notebook creation in a simple, intuitive interface. It allows for jotting down ideas, studying materials, and taking daily notes with smooth performance and flexible organization.

**Highlights:** Unlimited whiteboards, PDF annotation, Notebook creation, File organization with folders, Web, photo, and file browsing within the app, Quick search functionality, One-click export and sharing

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PaintNotes free?

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

### Is XNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PaintNotes or XNote?

XNote is rated higher. PaintNotes averages 3.8 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while XNote averages 4.6 from 76 ratings.

### Do PaintNotes or XNote have ads?

Neither PaintNotes nor XNote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, PaintNotes or XNote?

PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, and XNote weekly. Most recently, PaintNotes was updated on October 11, 2026 and XNote on October 1, 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.*