# 小掌柜 vs Note X

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: 小掌柜 at none against Note X's 3. 小掌柜 also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 2 months vs every 10 months). Note X's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Note X sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. 小掌柜 asks for nothing beyond the download.

小掌柜 ships an update every 2 months, Note X every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | 小掌柜 | Note X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-x-notepad/id1673667097/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **23** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 months** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | — | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 48 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [尚仕 谢](https://appshunter.io/developer/1153492221) | [受杰 柯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634142370) |

## What reviewers say

### 小掌柜

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/id1265692885)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Note X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-x-notepad/id1673667097)

A versatile note-taking app for digital and handwritten notes, memos, and drafts. Organize study materials with built-in notebooks, insert images, and customize writing styles. Secure your notes with password protection.

**Highlights:** Keyboard and handwriting input, Built-in notebooks for organization, Insert pictures into notes, Customizable paper and font colors, Password protection and encryption, Share notes as images

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus Version Quarterly | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is 小掌柜 free?

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

### Is Note X free?

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

### Do 小掌柜 or Note X have ads?

Note X shows ads; 小掌柜 does not.

### Which is updated more often, 小掌柜 or Note X?

小掌柜 ships an update every 2 months, and Note X every 10 months. Most recently, 小掌柜 was updated on October 1, 2026 and Note X on September 16, 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.*