# Basic Journal vs notes with folder

The clearest difference is rating: notes with folder at 4.3 against Basic Journal's 3.3. notes with folder also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 1). Basic Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 16.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Basic Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. notes with folder asks for nothing beyond the download.

notes with folder holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 8 respectively.

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, notes with folder fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and June 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Journal | notes with folder |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456/reviews) | **[4.3 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-with-folder/id1491577385/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **8** |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 14 MB | 21 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/599997663) | [SOCIAL NOTE CO., LTD.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1476710964) |

## What reviewers say

### Basic Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456)

A fast and simple journal app designed for busy individuals to quickly jot down notes on daily activities. It offers an elegant, chronological display of entries with easy editing and export options.

**Highlights:** Quick note-taking, Chronological note display, Summary and detail views, Edit and delete notes easily, Recently edited notes highlighted, iCloud syncing, Text export option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


### notes with folder

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-with-folder/id1491577385)

Organize your thoughts and notes with a customizable notebook system. Features automatic and manual backups to iCloud for easy data access and retrieval. Create your personal notebooks and enjoy a streamlined note-taking experience.

**Highlights:** Customizable notebooks, Automatic backups, Manual backups, iCloud data sync, Note organization

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Journal free?

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

### Is notes with folder free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Basic Journal or notes with folder?

notes with folder is rated higher. Basic Journal averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while notes with folder averages 4.3 from 8 ratings.

### Do Basic Journal or notes with folder have ads?

Both Basic Journal and notes with folder show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Journal or notes with folder?

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, and notes with folder fortnightly. Most recently, Basic Journal was updated on June 5, 2026 and notes with folder on June 11, 2026.

---

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