# HighNotes vs PenCake

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: HighNotes at none against PenCake's 13. PenCake's advantage is review sentiment (86% vs 73%) and update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PenCake sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. HighNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for HighNotes against 4.3 for PenCake. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 47 and 106 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 73% of HighNotes's written reviews are positive against 86% of PenCake's.

HighNotes ships an update every 2 months, PenCake monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | HighNotes | PenCake |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.4 (47 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/highnotes/id1249114868/reviews)** | [4.3 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencake-minimal-writing-app/id1382218014/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 47 | **106** |
| Positive reviews | 72.7% of reviews | **85.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Monthly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 23 MB | 102 MB |
| Requires iOS | 9.0 | 9.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Aleksandr Fiodorov](https://appshunter.io/developer/571378481) | [Diffathy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1364621226) |

## What reviewers say

### HighNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/highnotes/id1249114868)

This app encourages frequent, brief journaling to build a consistent habit. Easily add photos to your entries to make them more engaging and enjoyable to revisit.

**Highlights:** Frequent, brief note-taking, Builds journaling habit, Attach photos to notes, Enhances memory, Improves emotional health

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### PenCake

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencake-minimal-writing-app/id1382218014)

A minimalist writing app designed for focused journaling, storytelling, and personal expression. Enjoy a distraction-free interface with elegant typography and seamless cross-device syncing. Secure your work with auto-save and biometric protection.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free interface, Elegant typography, Cross-device syncing, Auto-save and version history, Markdown support, Organized by Stories

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip the Developer (Subs) | $1.49 | per month |
| Premium Yearly Subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Tip the Developer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tip the Developer | $2.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $3.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $5.99 | one-time |
| Tip the Developer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $15.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $23.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is HighNotes free?

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

### Is PenCake free?

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

### Which has better reviews, HighNotes or PenCake?

HighNotes is rated higher. HighNotes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 47 ratings, while PenCake averages 4.3 from 106 ratings.

### Do HighNotes or PenCake have ads?

Neither HighNotes nor PenCake shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, HighNotes or PenCake?

HighNotes ships an update every 2 months, and PenCake monthly. Most recently, HighNotes was updated on October 13, 2026 and PenCake on October 18, 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.*