# FSNotes vs *scratch*

The clearest difference is review sentiment: *scratch* at 100% against FSNotes's 66%. *scratch* also leads on update cadence (daily vs fortnightly) and rating (4.9 vs 4.7). FSNotes's advantage is chart position (#169 vs unranked) and ratings volume (86 vs 27). On ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

FSNotes costs $4.99 and *scratch* $2.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

*scratch* holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 86 and 27 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 66% of FSNotes's written reviews are positive against 100% of *scratch*'s.

FSNotes ships an update fortnightly, *scratch* daily. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | FSNotes | *scratch* |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $4.99 | **$2.99** |
| Rating | [4.7 (86 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fsnotes/id1346501102/reviews) | **[4.9 (27 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratch/id1671420139/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **86** | 27 |
| Positive reviews | 65.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Daily** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#169** | — |
| Size | 27 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleksandr Hlushchenko](https://appshunter.io/developer/1277179283) | [Xenodium Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/304568690) |

## What reviewers say

### FSNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fsnotes/id1346501102)

**Currently charting:** #169 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

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.

**Highlights:** Plain text Markdown notes, Fast launch and operation, Keyboard shortcuts, iCloud syncing, Markdown preview, Image and code block support

**In-app purchases:** none


### *scratch*

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratch/id1671420139)

Quickly jot down notes, phone numbers, or directions on the go. This simple scratchpad app requires no sign-in or cloud storage, offering a straightforward way to capture information instantly. Supports plain text and basic Emacs org mode markup.

**Highlights:** Instant note-taking, Plain text support, Checkbox lists, Share to other apps, Save to Files, Emacs org mode markup

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is FSNotes free?

FSNotes costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is *scratch* free?

*scratch* costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, FSNotes or *scratch*?

*scratch* is rated higher. FSNotes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 86 ratings, while *scratch* averages 4.9 from 27 ratings.

### Do FSNotes or *scratch* have ads?

Neither FSNotes nor *scratch* shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, FSNotes or *scratch*?

FSNotes ships an update fortnightly, and *scratch* daily. Most recently, FSNotes was updated on September 22, 2026 and *scratch* on September 19, 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.*