# MindNode vs Notes Writer

The clearest difference is ads: Notes Writer at none against MindNode's shown. Notes Writer also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 6 weeks) and ratings volume (7.3K vs 1.9K). MindNode's advantage is review sentiment (59% vs 45%). On price, rating, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. MindNode sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Notes Writer sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for MindNode against 4.5 for Notes Writer. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1.9K and 7.3K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 59% of MindNode's written reviews are positive against 45% of Notes Writer's.

MindNode ships an update every 6 weeks, Notes Writer weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MindNode | Notes Writer |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.5 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-classic/id1218718027/reviews)** | [4.5 (7.3K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pdf-voice-ai/id1423643723/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1.9K | **7.3K** |
| Positive reviews | **59.0% of reviews** | 45.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 390 MB | 371 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.4 | 16.4 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [IdeasOnCanvas GmbH](https://appshunter.io/developer/312220105) | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) |

## What reviewers say

### MindNode

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindnode-classic/id1218718027)

Capture, organize, and visualize your thoughts and ideas. This app allows you to brainstorm, structure complex projects, and share your vision in various formats. Stay productive across all your devices with seamless iCloud integration.

**Highlights:** Capture thoughts as text, images, links, or tasks, Organize ideas with hierarchical outlines and mind maps, Style mind maps with themes and stickers, Export ideas to various formats, Cross-platform productivity with iCloud sync, Focus Mode and foldable branches for organization

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |
| Yearly Subscription | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth and intuitive interface
- 🧠 Excellent for organizing thoughts and ideas
- 🌐 Seamless sync across devices
- 💻 Great for both personal and professional use
- 🎨 Beautiful and customizable themes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Subscription model frustrates some users
- 🔒 Locked features behind paywall
- 🐛 Occasional sync and stability issues
- 🔀 Limited layout and connection options

**Reported bugs**

- Files disappearing or becoming corrupted
- App crashing after recent updates
- Inability to restore previous purchases

**Requested features**

- Add audio recording capability
- Improve handwriting and Apple Pencil support
- Allow more flexible node connections and layouts
- Provide a one-time purchase option


### Notes Writer

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pdf-voice-ai/id1423643723)

This app is a comprehensive note-taking and PDF editing solution for mobile devices. It allows users to write, format, and organize notes, annotate PDFs, fill forms, and scan documents. The app offers advanced editing tools, powerful search, and seamless sharing and export options.

**Highlights:** Write and format notes, Annotate PDFs and fill forms, Organize with unlimited notebooks, Powerful full-text search, Document scanning, Sync with cloud services, Export to multiple formats

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notes Writer Unlock All and AI | $2.99 | per month |
| Notes Writer Unlock All and AI | $14.99 | per year |
| Full Version Unlock Pro | $3.99 | one-time |
| Full Version Unlock Pro | $4.99 | one-time |
| Full Version Unlock Pro | $5.99 | one-time |
| Full Version Unlock Pro | $6.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Pro Full Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth writing experience
- 💡 Versatile note-taking features
- 🔒 Good privacy
- 👍 Useful for various purposes (notes, PDF annotations, etc.)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and freezes
- 🔒 Limiting free version with paywalls
- 🐛 Bugs with erasing, page management, and file corruption
- 🐛 Laggy performance and slow loading times

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing or getting corrupted
- Inability to recover deleted documents
- Unexpected behavior when adding/deleting pages
- Syncing issues and broken links between documents

**Requested features**

- Add more brushes and pen customization options
- Improve the clipping/selection tool
- Implement OCR and handwriting search
- Provide a Mac version


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MindNode free?

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

### Is Notes Writer free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MindNode or Notes Writer?

MindNode is rated higher. MindNode averages 4.5 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Notes Writer averages 4.5 from 7.3K ratings.

### Do MindNode or Notes Writer have ads?

MindNode shows ads; Notes Writer does not.

### Which is updated more often, MindNode or Notes Writer?

MindNode ships an update every 6 weeks, and Notes Writer weekly. Most recently, MindNode was updated on September 23, 2026 and Notes Writer on September 24, 2026.

---

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