FSNotes vs SideNotes Mobile
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
FSNotes
A fast, modern notes manager for macOS and iOS that uses plain text Markdown files. It's designed for speed and keyboard shortcuts, allowing for seamless iCloud syncing and support for images, code blocks, and math.
- Plain text Markdown notes
- Fast launch and operation
- Keyboard shortcuts
- iCloud syncing
- Markdown preview
- Image and code block support
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FSNotes is a fast, modern notes manager for macOS and iOS. Write and organize your notes in pure Markdown with full control over your files. All notes are stored as plain text on disk, so your data stays open, portable, and future-proof. FSNotes is built for speed. It launches instantly, stays lightweight, and works smoothly even with tens of thousands of notes. Designed for keyboard lovers, it lets you capture ideas and find information in seconds using powerful shortcuts. Sync seamlessly via iCloud Drive, preview Markdown, work with images, code blocks, diagrams, and math — all in a clean, distraction-free interface. Fast. Open. Keyboard-driven.
SideNotes Mobile
Capture thoughts and to-dos on the go with this mobile note-taking app. It offers iCloud sync, Markdown formatting, and customizable themes for a personalized experience. Easily access notes from other applications.
- iCloud Synchronization
- Markdown Formatting
- Task Management
- Customizable Themes
- Note and Folder URLs
- Note Colors
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SideNotes Mobile is a fast notes app for iPhone and iPad. Capture notes, tasks, links, and snippets in seconds, then access them across devices with iCloud sync. Version 1.2 brings a major upgrade: - A new editor with hidden Markdown markup - the same as in SideNotes for macOS - Refreshed iOS 26-style interface (Liquid Glass look) - Note folding - Note & Folder pinning - Simple drag-and-drop reordering - New contextual menu - New formatting options - Add Note action for the iPhone Action Button - New translations: Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, and Spanish - UI polish, bug fixes, and quality improvements Core features: - iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Themes and note colors for personalization - Tasks and checklists for daily work - Folder organization and quick search - Note and folder URLs for fast access from other apps - Text settings for comfortable writing and reading - One-time purchase (paid per major version). No subscription. Note: SideNotes Mobile is a companion app to SideNotes for macOS. SideNotes for macOS is sold separately.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: FSNotes at 4.7 against SideNotes Mobile's 4.2. FSNotes also leads on price ($4.99 vs $9.99) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). SideNotes Mobile's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 66%). On ads, in-app purchases, chart position and device support 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
FSNotes costs $4.99 and SideNotes Mobile $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
FSNotes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 86 and 28 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 66% of FSNotes's written reviews are positive against 88% of SideNotes Mobile's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.
FSNotes ships an update fortnightly, SideNotes Mobile monthly. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.
| Parameter | FSNotes | SideNotes Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $4.99 — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 4.7 (86 ratings) — better | 4.2 (28 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | 88.4% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 86 — better | 28 |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free — better | Paid |
| Best chart rank | #165 | #144 — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 17 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 27 MB | 10 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Oleksandr Hlushchenko | Apptorium |
Customer experience
FSNotes
SideNotes Mobile
In-app purchases
FSNotes
No in-app purchases
SideNotes Mobile
No in-app purchases
