# Standard Notes vs CalcPlus

The clearest difference is review sentiment: CalcPlus at 100% against Standard Notes's 64%. CalcPlus also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.7) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 5 weeks). Standard Notes's advantage is ratings volume (3.8K vs 2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Standard Notes sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $119.99 per year and CalcPlus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CalcPlus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Standard Notes has 3.8K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of Standard Notes's written reviews are positive against 100% of CalcPlus's.

Standard Notes ships an update every 5 weeks, CalcPlus fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Standard Notes | CalcPlus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (3.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/standard-notes/id1285392450/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calcplus-hidden-notes/id6744618485/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3.8K** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 64.1% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 92 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.1 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Standard Notes Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/586976285) | [Wildcatter LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1229934042) |

## What reviewers say

### Standard Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/standard-notes/id1285392450)

Securely capture and sync your thoughts across all devices with end-to-end encryption. This app offers a simple, lasting place for all your notes, from personal thoughts to sensitive information, with robust privacy features.

**Highlights:** End-to-end encryption, Cross-device syncing, Offline access, Passcode and biometric lock, Tagging system, Open-source code, Optional productivity editors and themes

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Professional Plan | $119.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and reliable sync
- 🔒 Excellent privacy and security
- 👍 Simple and intuitive interface
- 📚 Great for organizing notes
- 💻 Cross-platform availability

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes
- 🔑 Frustrating login/authentication issues
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription
- 📱 Limited features in free version
- 🖍️ Lack of formatting options

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting deleted unexpectedly
- Sync issues between devices
- Keyboard and UI bugs on mobile
- Compatibility problems with older iOS versions

**Requested features**

- Add support for images and attachments
- Implement a more robust search function
- Introduce a dark mode option
- Allow for better note organization (folders, nested tags)
- Add undo/redo functionality


### CalcPlus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calcplus-hidden-notes/id6744618485)

This app combines a fully functional calculator with a secure, encrypted notes system. Store sensitive information like crypto wallet phrases and passwords locally and offline, protected by a PIN and optional biometric authentication. It offers a discreet interface and prioritizes user privacy with no cloud sync or ads.

**Highlights:** Encrypted local notes storage, Calculator interface, PIN and biometric security, Offline functionality, Customizable themes and app icons, Auto-wipe on failed attempts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CalcPlus Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Standard Notes free?

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

### Is CalcPlus free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Standard Notes or CalcPlus?

CalcPlus is rated higher. Standard Notes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 3.8K ratings, while CalcPlus averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Standard Notes or CalcPlus have ads?

Neither Standard Notes nor CalcPlus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Standard Notes or CalcPlus?

Standard Notes ships an update every 5 weeks, and CalcPlus fortnightly. Most recently, Standard Notes was updated on October 12, 2026 and CalcPlus on October 2, 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.*