# Here2Work vs Penbook

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Here2Work at none against Penbook's 10. Here2Work also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (9.0 vs 18.1). Penbook's advantage is update cadence (every 5 days vs every 27 months) and ratings volume (46K vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penbook sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Here2Work asks for nothing beyond the download.

Here2Work holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penbook has 46K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Here2Work ships an update every 27 months, Penbook every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and November 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Here2Work | Penbook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/here2work/id1357730109/reviews)** | [4.5 (46K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penbook-paper-planner-and-notes/id1473064295/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **46K** |
| Positive reviews | — | 57.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 27 months | **Every 5 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 171 MB | 143 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 18.1 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nesda Technologies Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/727846144) | [Pencil Research](https://appshunter.io/developer/1473063859) |

## What reviewers say

### Here2Work

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/here2work/id1357730109)

This app provides front-line workers with essential tools and information to manage their tasks. It allows for appointment confirmation, schedule viewing, and secure communication with colleagues. Managers can also use it to create schedules and coordinate teams.

**Highlights:** Confirm appointments, View schedules, Verify attendance with GPS, Secure messaging, Create schedules, Coordinate workers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Penbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penbook-paper-planner-and-notes/id1473064295)

Create custom digital notebooks with a vast library of stationery or import your own PDFs for annotation. Write naturally with a stylus and organize your notes with dynamic features like live planners and searchable handwriting.

**Highlights:** Live Paper dynamic stationery, Over 400 stationery types, Import and annotate PDFs, Natural handwriting with stylus, Searchable handwritten notes, Shape recognition, Customizable notebook covers

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Penbook Premium | $4.99 | per month |
| Penbook Premium | $7.99 | per month |
| Penbook Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Penbook Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Penbook Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Penbook Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Penbook Premium Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🎨 Variety of customization options for notebooks
- 📝 Smooth writing experience with Apple Pencil
- 🗓️ Useful calendar integration
- 💡 Innovative features like washi tape and stickers

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss issues
- 🔒 Lack of password protection or locking feature
- 🔧 Glitchy zooming and ruler functionality
- 🧭 Poor notebook and page management
- 💰 Restrictive free version, expensive subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Sticker resizing issues causing app freezes
- Ruler placement and alignment problems
- Inconsistent behavior when switching between pages
- Calendar sync not working as expected
- PDF import and annotation functionality not reliable

**Requested features**

- Allow custom notebook covers or images
- Add text box and typing capabilities
- Improve organization with folders or tags
- Provide more customization options for templates
- Implement a more intuitive undo/redo system


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Here2Work free?

Here2Work is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Penbook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Here2Work or Penbook?

Here2Work is rated higher. Here2Work averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Penbook averages 4.5 from 46K ratings.

### Do Here2Work or Penbook have ads?

Neither Here2Work nor Penbook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Here2Work or Penbook?

Here2Work ships an update every 27 months, and Penbook every 5 days. Most recently, Here2Work was updated on November 2, 2026 and Penbook on November 8, 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.*