Comparison

Grid Note vs Monolog

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Grid Note

This app offers a unique grid layout for structured note-taking, with a library of templates and organizational tools. It supports markdown and various export formats, with offline use and automatic iCloud backup. Premium features like real-time sync are available via subscription.

Highlights
  • Unique grid format for structured notes
  • Template library
  • Organize notes with notebooks and tags
  • Markdown support
  • Export in various formats
  • Offline use
  • Automatic iCloud backup
Read full description

Grid Note featured an unique "Grid Layout" design to help you structure your thoughts. With lots of buildin note templates (SMART, Cornell Note, 5W1H, etc...) to get you started, but you can feel free to replace those with inventions of your own. === FEATURES === • Unique grid format for structured note • Template library • Organize notes with notebooks and tags • Markdown support • Export in various formats • Offline use • Automatic backup to iCloud • Realtime sync (premium account needed) The core version of Grid Note is free, premium can be unlocked via a single subscription that covers all your devices. The premium subscription has two options: • $0.99 monthly, which offers a 3-day free trial • $9.99 annually, which offers a 1-week free trial Please note that: • Price may vary by location. • Payment will be charged to iTunes Account at confirmation of purchase. • Subscription automatically renews unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24-hours before the end of the current period. • Account will be charged for renewal within 24-hours prior to the end of the current period, and identify the cost of the renewal. • Subscriptions may be managed by the user and auto-renewal may be turned off by going to the user's Account Settings after purchase. • Any unused portion of a free trial period, if offered, will be forfeited when the user purchases a subscription to that publication, where applicable. ---- Support: support@gridnote.app Privacy Policy: https://note.sumi.io/privacy.html Terms of Service: https://note.sumi.io/terms.html

About

Monolog

This app functions as a knowledge treasury and creative toolkit, featuring bidirectional linking to create an interconnected web of ideas. It offers hierarchical tagging for structured organization, a spaced repetition system for efficient review, and panoramic statistics to visualize your learning journey. Data is securely stored using iCloud for privacy and continuity.

Highlights
  • Bidirectional linking
  • Hierarchical tagging
  • Spaced repetition review
  • Learning statistics
  • iCloud data storage
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Monolog, it's your knowledge treasury and creative toolkit. The Magic of Bidirectional Links: Unlike conventional note-taking apps, Monolog introduces a unique bidirectional linking feature. This allows you to effortlessly jump from one note to another related note, weaving an interconnected web of knowledge. Each of your notes can serve as a reference for others, linking all your ideas and insights, facilitating a seamless flow of thoughts. Clear Structure with Hierarchical Tags: Knowledge has depth and breadth. Monolog's hierarchical tagging offers you a more expressive way to organize notes. This granularity and categorization make your content more structured, helping you build a logically coherent knowledge mansion. Efficient Review Mechanism: Learning and memory require continuous effort and review. Monolog's spaced repetition ensures that your knowledge is reinforced, making learning more profound. Panoramic View with Statistics: Beyond just capturing knowledge, Monolog provides a rich statistical feature, ranging from heatmaps to pie charts, offering a comprehensive perspective of your learning journey and knowledge structure. Protecting Your Privacy and Continuity: Monolog uses iCloud for storage, ensuring your data is neither stored on the developer's servers nor accessible to others, offering you the utmost privacy protection. This also guarantees the app's longevity, allowing you to use it with peace of mind. Monolog, more than just a note-taking app, it's the spark of your thoughts, the bridge of your knowledge, and the generator of your inspiration. Experience now, and never let any moment of inspiration slip away. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Grid Note4 screens
Monolog4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Grid Note at 12.0 against Monolog's 18.0. On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Grid Note sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Monolog sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for Grid Note against 4.4 for Monolog. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 40 and 23 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 70% of Grid Note's written reviews are positive against 65% of Monolog's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Grid Note ships an update every 5 weeks, Monolog monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 29, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Grid Note versus Monolog: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterGrid NoteMonolog
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (40 ratings)4.4 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews69.8% of reviews — better65.2% of reviews
Number of ratings40 — better23
Update frequencyEvery 5 weeksMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size58 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSumi Interactive澍 王

Customer experience

Grid Note

All ratings38 ratings
Positive84.2%
Neutral10.5%
Negative5.3%
Written reviews43 reviews
Positive69.8%
Neutral16.3%
Negative14.0%

Monolog

All ratings23 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral8.7%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive65.2%
Neutral26.1%
Negative8.7%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Grid Note

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly3 Days trial$1.491 Month
  • Annual7 Days trial$9.991 Year
3 purchases

Monolog

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly plan7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Annual plan7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Plan$49.99

Questions

Is Grid Note free?
Grid Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Monolog free?
Monolog is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Grid Note or Monolog?
Monolog is rated higher. Grid Note averages 4.4 out of 5 from 40 ratings, while Monolog averages 4.4 from 23 ratings.
Do Grid Note or Monolog have ads?
Neither Grid Note nor Monolog shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Grid Note or Monolog?
Grid Note ships an update every 5 weeks, and Monolog monthly. Most recently, Grid Note was updated on October 29, 2026 and Monolog on October 24, 2026.

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