# Notes Writer Pro vs Element Note

The clearest difference is price: Element Note at Free against Notes Writer Pro's $9.99. Element Note also leads on review sentiment (68% vs 48%). On rating, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Element Note is free to download; Notes Writer Pro costs $9.99 up front. Notes Writer Pro sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per month and Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for Notes Writer Pro against 4.6 for Element Note. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3.2K and 2.6K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 48% of Notes Writer Pro's written reviews are positive against 68% of Element Note's.

Notes Writer Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notes Writer Pro | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $9.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.6 (3.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pro-beyond-pdfs/id1422480068/reviews) | [4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **3.2K** | 2.6K |
| Positive reviews | 48.3% of reviews | **68.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 375 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.4** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Notes Writer Pro

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notes-writer-pro-beyond-pdfs/id1422480068)

This app is a versatile writing and note-taking tool that supports rich text and Markdown. It allows users to annotate PDFs, fill out forms, and organize their work into unlimited notebooks. The app also includes scanning capabilities and various export options for seamless sharing and backup.

**Highlights:** Rich text and Markdown writing, PDF annotation and form filling, Unlimited notebook organization, Document scanning, Cloud sync and multiple export formats, Distraction-free writing mode

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notes Writer Pro AI Assistant | $2.99 | per month |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent note-taking app
- 📁 Great folder organization
- 🎨 Customizable notebook covers
- 🔍 Useful PDF annotation tools
- 🤖 Impressive AI capabilities

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔄 Sync and file transfer issues
- 🕰️ Slow performance and lag
- 🔒 Poor customer support
- 💰 Misleading upgrade pricing

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing
- Formatting issues with text and images
- Unreliable audio recording and playback
- Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
- Inability to transfer files between free and pro versions

**Requested features**

- Handwriting recognition
- Improved eraser and shape tools
- Customizable keyboard and toolbar
- Better integration with cloud storage
- Ability to rotate and resize images


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notes Writer Pro free?

Notes Writer Pro costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.

### Is Element Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notes Writer Pro or Element Note?

Notes Writer Pro and Element Note are both rated 4.6 out of 5 on the App Store, from 3.2K and 2.6K ratings respectively.

### Do Notes Writer Pro or Element Note have ads?

Neither Notes Writer Pro nor Element Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notes Writer Pro or Element Note?

Notes Writer Pro ships an update every 2 weeks, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Notes Writer Pro was updated on September 22, 2026 and Element Note on September 24, 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.*