# PaintNotes vs Notebook

The clearest difference is rating: Notebook at 4.6 against PaintNotes's 3.9. Notebook also leads on review sentiment (93% vs 67%) and ratings volume (186 vs 32). PaintNotes's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 2 months). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PaintNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notebook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 186 ratings behind it against 32, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of PaintNotes's written reviews are positive against 93% of Notebook's.

PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, Notebook every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PaintNotes | Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (32 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/paintnotes/id1106747531/reviews) | **[4.6 (186 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-cute-notes/id6446192566/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 32 | **186** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **93.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 43 MB | 31 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) | [玉坤 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1662301648) |

## 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 |


### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-cute-notes/id6446192566)

This app offers a simple and efficient way to create various types of notes, from study materials and to-do lists to life records and work summaries. It allows for easy organization with labels, image insertion, and customizable paper styles. It is compatible with Apple devices and supports Apple Pencil.

**Highlights:** Label classification for easy organization, Insert pictures into notes, Select practical paper styles, Supports Apple Pencil, Compatible with iPhone and iPad

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus version | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus version Quarterly | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro version | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Very cute and decorative design
- 👍 Easy to use and user-friendly
- 💡 Handy for school and personal notes
- ✍️ Supports typing and writing/drawing
- 🎨 Great variety of templates and customization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Lacking some basic features
- 📄 Single page limit per note
- 🚫 No PDF insertion for annotation
- 🔄 No landscape mode
- 🤏 No two-finger pinch to zoom

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- More themes/customization options
- Ability to insert PDFs for annotation
- Landscape mode support
- Two-finger pinch to zoom functionality
- Sharper pen tool for black ink


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PaintNotes free?

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

### Is Notebook free?

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

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

Notebook is rated higher. PaintNotes averages 3.9 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.6 from 186 ratings.

### Do PaintNotes or Notebook have ads?

Notebook shows ads; PaintNotes does not.

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

PaintNotes ships an update fortnightly, and Notebook every 2 months. Most recently, PaintNotes was updated on October 24, 2026 and Notebook on October 27, 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.*