# Make a List! vs Notes

The clearest difference is rating: Notes at 4.8 against Make a List!'s 4.6. Notes also leads on review sentiment (79% vs 66%) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.6). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Make a List! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.7K and 654 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of Make a List!'s written reviews are positive against 79% of Notes's.

Make a List! ships an update every 4 weeks, Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 22, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Make a List! | Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (1.7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/make-a-list/id1173321635/reviews) | **[4.8 (654 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-and-lists/id1489717129/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **1.7K** | 654 |
| Positive reviews | 66.0% of reviews | **78.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 109 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.6 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Filippo Maguolo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1154554717) | [Orange Dog](https://appshunter.io/developer/1673134885) |

## What reviewers say

### Make a List!

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/make-a-list/id1173321635)

Create and share unlimited lists with friends and family. Automatically syncs across all your iOS devices and Mac. Supports audio notes, pictures, and due dates for enhanced organization.

**Highlights:** Unlimited list creation, List sharing, Push notifications, Audio and picture attachments, Due dates, Cross-device synchronization

**Features:** Apple Watch app, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Accessible for visually impaired users
- 👍 Customizable settings
- 👍 Useful for decorating lists
- 👍 Provides pictures for list items
- 👍 Easy to use

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy, with items randomly disappearing from lists
- 🐛 Unreliable list sharing
- 🐛 Difficult to reorder lists
- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔋 Excessive ads in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Items randomly disappearing from lists
- Duplicate lists being created
- Inability to view new list entries
- Reordering lists not working as expected
- Syncing issues between devices

**Requested features**

- Add alarm functionality
- Allow sub-tasks within lists
- Improve list sorting and reordering
- Provide a way to delete entire lists
- Remember previously added items to avoid retyping


### Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-notepad-and-lists/id1489717129)

This app combines a notepad, to-do list, and memo functionality into a single, intuitive interface. Easily create notes from text, voice, or images, and organize them with reminders and sorting options. Secure your data and transfer it to new devices.

**Highlights:** 3-in-1 notepad, to-do list, and memos, Create notes from photos, images, and voice, Set notifications and reminders, Sort notes by urgency, category, due date, color, Secure notes with a security code, Data transfer to new devices

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Disable ads | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use interface
- 🎨 Highly customizable with colors and themes
- 🆓 Free app with no ads
- 🔒 Password protected notes
- 📱 Well-organized layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📺 Excessive ads despite paid subscription
- ❓ Unclear note retention policies
- 🤔 Complicated question/support system

**Reported bugs**

- Unexpected ads appearing after recent updates for paid subscribers

**Requested features**

- More engaging task motivation features
- Clearer documentation on note persistence
- Improved customer support interface


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Make a List! free?

Make a List! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Notes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Make a List! or Notes?

Notes is rated higher. Make a List! averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.7K ratings, while Notes averages 4.8 from 654 ratings.

### Do Make a List! or Notes have ads?

Both Make a List! and Notes show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Make a List! or Notes?

Make a List! ships an update every 4 weeks, and Notes monthly. Most recently, Make a List! was updated on September 23, 2026 and Notes on September 22, 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.*