# Notes vs iNote

The clearest difference is rating: Notes at 4.8 against iNote's 4.1. Notes also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1) and ads (none vs shown). iNote's advantage is update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 9 months). On price, review sentiment and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

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

Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notes has 663K ratings behind it against 2.4K, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Notes's written reviews are positive against 49% of iNote's.

Notes ships an update every 9 months, iNote every 2 weeks. Both last shipped on November 1, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notes | iNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.8 (663K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes/id1110145109/reviews)** | [4.1 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inote-sticky-note-by-color/id1148660096/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **663K** | 2.4K |
| Positive reviews | **51.8% of reviews** | 49.1% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 6 MB | 18 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apple](https://appshunter.io/developer/284417353) | [CONG DUC TRAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/596643264) |

## What reviewers say

### Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes/id1110145109)

Capture your thoughts, ideas, and important information with a versatile note-taking app. Attach various file types, scan documents, create checklists, and even sketch directly within your notes. Organize with folders, tags, and smart searches, and collaborate with others on shared notes.

**Highlights:** Add attachments (PDFs, images, links), Scan paper documents, Create checklists, Sketch with finger or stylus, Search text in notes and handwriting, Collaborate on shared notes, Quick Note feature

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 📝 Versatile note-taking app
- 🔒 Secure with password/biometric lock
- 🌐 Seamless sync across devices
- 🚀 Quick and responsive
- 📂 Organized with folders and tags

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and glitches
- 🔍 Difficulty finding/retrieving notes
- 🔋 High battery drain when using Apple Pencil
- 📝 Limited formatting options (font, color, etc.)
- 🔒 Password reset issues with locked notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing or not syncing
- Cursor jumping around when editing text
- Typing lag and performance issues
- Inconsistent behavior when adding images
- Formatting problems when pasting content

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Improve table formatting and calculations
- Allow custom folder colors and icons
- Implement a page view for longer notes
- Integrate with Reminders app for to-do lists


### iNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inote-sticky-note-by-color/id1148660096)

Organize your thoughts, tasks, and lists using a vibrant color-coding system.  Add images, set reminders, and sync across devices with iCloud.  View notes in various layouts and even pin them to your Today Board widget.

**Highlights:** Organize notes by color, Attach photos to notes, iCloud sync and backup, Checklist notes for to-do lists, Reminders and calendar view, Pin notes to Today Board widget

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| ColorNote Premium | $4.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Color-coded notes for organization
- 🔒 Ability to lock individual notes
- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Seamless syncing across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and app freezes
- 🔍 Difficulty finding and editing notes
- 💸 Excessive ads in free version
- 🔋 Drains battery quickly

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing after updates
- White text on white background making notes unreadable
- Inability to rearrange items in checklists

**Requested features**

- Add undo/redo functionality
- Improve search and filtering options
- Allow custom font and text formatting
- Provide backup and restore options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notes free?

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

### Is iNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notes or iNote?

Notes is rated higher. Notes averages 4.8 out of 5 from 663K ratings, while iNote averages 4.1 from 2.4K ratings.

### Do Notes or iNote have ads?

iNote shows ads; Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notes or iNote?

Notes ships an update every 9 months, and iNote every 2 weeks. Most recently, Notes was updated on November 1, 2026 and iNote on November 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.*