# PenCake vs SNSNote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: SNSNote at none against PenCake's 13. SNSNote also leads on rating (4.7 vs 4.3) and update cadence (weekly vs monthly). PenCake's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and ratings volume (106 vs 21). On price and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. PenCake sells 13 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. SNSNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

SNSNote holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: PenCake has 106 ratings behind it against 21, so its average is the more settled of the two.

PenCake ships an update monthly, SNSNote weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 25, 2026 and September 20, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | PenCake | SNSNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.3 (106 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencake-minimal-writing-app/id1382218014/reviews) | **[4.7 (21 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snsnote-braid/id6462709966/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **106** | 21 |
| Positive reviews | 85.8% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 102 MB | 48 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Diffathy, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1364621226) | [masataka fukuhara](https://appshunter.io/developer/1654653604) |

## What reviewers say

### PenCake

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencake-minimal-writing-app/id1382218014)

A minimalist writing app designed for focused journaling, storytelling, and personal expression. Enjoy a distraction-free interface with elegant typography and seamless cross-device syncing. Secure your work with auto-save and biometric protection.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free interface, Elegant typography, Cross-device syncing, Auto-save and version history, Markdown support, Organized by Stories

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (13)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Tip the Developer (Subs) | $1.49 | per month |
| Premium Yearly Subscription | $6.99 | per year |
| Premium Yearly Subscription | $9.99 | per year |
| Tip the Developer | $0.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $1.99 | one-time |
| Tip the Developer | $2.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $2.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $3.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium | $5.99 | one-time |
| Tip the Developer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $15.99 | one-time |
| Upgrade to Premium Lifetime | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Access | $23.99 | one-time |


### SNSNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/snsnote-braid/id6462709966)

Jot down ideas, memories, and daily events in a private space. Organize thoughts with message-like, tweet-like, map, and calendar memo functions. It offers a simple, intuitive interface for personal journaling and task management.

**Highlights:** Message-like memo interface, Tweet-like memo with hashtags, Map-based note creation, Calendar integration for notes, Private and secure note storage, Organize ideas, tasks, and journals

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is PenCake free?

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

### Is SNSNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, PenCake or SNSNote?

SNSNote is rated higher. PenCake averages 4.3 out of 5 from 106 ratings, while SNSNote averages 4.7 from 21 ratings.

### Do PenCake or SNSNote have ads?

SNSNote shows ads; PenCake does not.

### Which is updated more often, PenCake or SNSNote?

PenCake ships an update monthly, and SNSNote weekly. Most recently, PenCake was updated on September 25, 2026 and SNSNote on September 20, 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.*