# Basic Journal vs Forem Notes

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Forem Notes at 100% against Basic Journal's 40%. Forem Notes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.3) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). Basic Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 15.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

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

Forem Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 2 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 40% of Basic Journal's written reviews are positive against 100% of Forem Notes's.

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, Forem Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on June 5, 2026 and September 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Basic Journal | Forem Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forem-notes-notebook/id1506197148/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 40.0% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 14 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 15.6 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [James Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/599997663) | [Forem Software](https://appshunter.io/developer/1434537804) |

## 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 |


### Forem Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/forem-notes-notebook/id1506197148)

Capture notes, organize tasks, and set reminders with this simple and elegant app. Features include color coding, folders, tags, real-time collaboration, and progress tracking to boost productivity. Secure your data with biometric locks and access notes from your home screen.

**Highlights:** Instant note capture, Task and list organization, Customizable reminders, Real-time collaboration, Password and biometric security, Home screen widgets, Progress tracking

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Basic Journal free?

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

### Is Forem Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Basic Journal or Forem Notes?

Forem Notes is rated higher. Basic Journal averages 3.3 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Forem Notes averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Basic Journal or Forem Notes have ads?

Basic Journal shows ads; Forem Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, Basic Journal or Forem Notes?

Basic Journal ships an update every 2 weeks, and Forem Notes monthly. Most recently, Basic Journal was updated on June 5, 2026 and Forem Notes on September 9, 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.*