# Noteflow vs Pencil Journaling

The clearest difference is ads: Noteflow at none against Pencil Journaling's shown. Noteflow also leads on ratings volume (182 vs 7) and monetization model (free vs ad-supported). On price, rating, review sentiment and update cadence there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.2 for Noteflow against 4.1 for Pencil Journaling. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noteflow has 182 ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 47% of Noteflow's written reviews are positive against 50% of Pencil Journaling's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Noteflow | Pencil Journaling |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (182 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteflow-simple-notes/id1252732105/reviews)** | [4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **182** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 46.7% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 6 weeks | Every 6 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 14 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.4** | 14.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Qrayon, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/354980265) | [Masaru Suzuki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581410098) |

## What reviewers say

### Noteflow

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteflow-simple-notes/id1252732105)

This app offers a digital notebook experience designed to replace pen and paper. It allows for note-taking, PDF annotation, sketching, and freeform idea capture with vector ink that scales without quality loss. Seamlessly integrate real-world content and organize your thoughts digitally.

**Highlights:** Digital notebook replacement for pen and paper, Annotate PDFs and sketch freely, Convert real-world images to vector ink, Fluid editing without traditional layers, Drag-and-drop integration with iOS, Cloud storage synchronization

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Pencil Journaling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096)

This app offers a focused journaling experience with a pen-compatible notebook and a built-in timer. Choose from over 50 themes and set daily reminders to cultivate a writing habit. Its minimalist interface helps you concentrate on your thoughts and clear your mind.

**Highlights:** Pen-compatible notebook, Focus timer, Over 50 journaling themes, Daily habit notifications, Minimalist UI, Page sharing options

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Noteflow free?

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

### Is Pencil Journaling free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Noteflow or Pencil Journaling?

Noteflow is rated higher. Noteflow averages 4.2 out of 5 from 182 ratings, while Pencil Journaling averages 4.1 from 7 ratings.

### Do Noteflow or Pencil Journaling have ads?

Pencil Journaling shows ads; Noteflow does not.

### Which is updated more often, Noteflow or Pencil Journaling?

Noteflow ships an update every 6 weeks, and Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. Most recently, Noteflow was updated on October 10, 2026 and Pencil Journaling on September 30, 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.*