# Etc App Notes vs Yarn

The clearest difference is ads: Yarn at none against Etc App Notes's shown. Yarn also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and review sentiment (100% vs 82%). Etc App Notes's advantage is ratings volume (51 vs 4) and iOS requirement (11.3 vs 18.1). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Etc App Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Yarn sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Yarn holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Etc App Notes has 51 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 82% of Etc App Notes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Yarn's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly weekly. The most recent releases landed on September 8, 2026 and September 14, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Etc App Notes | Yarn |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (51 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etc-app-notes/id1412150180/reviews) | **[5.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yarn-screen-time-journal/id6746372250/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **51** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 82.4% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 78 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.3** | 18.1 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Etc App, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1382937553) | [Alcove Computer Company](https://appshunter.io/developer/1816502533) |

## What reviewers say

### Etc App Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/etc-app-notes/id1412150180)

Consolidate all your thoughts, ideas, and lists into a single, continuous draft. Capture anything from single words to drawings, with intuitive organization, search, and collaboration tools. Set reminders and customize your writing experience.

**Highlights:** Single continuous draft for all notes, Intuitive organization and effortless search, Font and size customization, Create lists and checklists, Set reminders with natural language, Share and collaborate on drafts

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Etc App Premium | $0.99 | per month |
| Etc App Premium - Yearly | $11.99 | per year |


### Yarn

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/yarn-screen-time-journal/id6746372250)

This app helps you understand and reduce phone addiction by prompting you to journal before accessing distracting apps. It uses AI to provide thoughtful prompts, allows voice or text entries, and offers features to set bedtime boundaries and enter focus sessions.

**Highlights:** Journal to unlock distracting apps, AI-powered journaling prompts, Set bedtime app boundaries, Focus sessions to block apps, Voice or text journaling, Understand emotional triggers for phone use

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Yarn Pro Monthly | $9.99 | per month |
| Yarn Pro Monthly 2026 | $12.99 | per month |
| Yarn Pro Annual 2026 | $59.99 | per year |
| Yarn Pro Annual | $59.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Etc App Notes free?

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

### Is Yarn free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Etc App Notes or Yarn?

Yarn is rated higher. Etc App Notes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 51 ratings, while Yarn averages 5.0 from 4 ratings.

### Do Etc App Notes or Yarn have ads?

Etc App Notes shows ads; Yarn does not.

### Which is updated more often, Etc App Notes or Yarn?

Etc App Notes ships an update weekly, and Yarn weekly. Most recently, Etc App Notes was updated on September 8, 2026 and Yarn on September 14, 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.*