OctoNote vs Shift Calendar
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
OctoNote
This app lets you write and store notes in markdown format, syncing them directly to your GitHub Gists. It offers beautiful rendering, code syntax highlighting, and version control for organized and accessible notes.
- Markdown writing and rendering
- GitHub Gists integration
- Code syntax highlighting
- Live preview
- Version history
- Secret Gists (Premium)
- Custom syntax themes (Premium)
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OctoNote - GitHub Powered Markdown Notes THE POWER OF GITHUB MEETS BEAUTIFUL NOTE-TAKING OctoNote transforms the way developers and power users take notes by harnessing GitHub Gists—giving you cloud sync, version control, and universal access without the bloat of traditional note apps. Write in markdown. Save to GitHub. Access anywhere. MARKDOWN DONE RIGHT - Gorgeous rendering that makes your notes look like miniature websites - Full syntax highlighting for code blocks—perfect for developers - Seamless editing with a clean, distraction-free interface - Live preview to see your formatted notes as you write GITHUB GISTS INTEGRATION - Automatic sync to your GitHub profile—your notes live where your code lives - Edit anywhere through GitHub's web interface or OctoNote - Version history built in—never lose a previous version - Share effortlessly via Gist URLs with beautiful browser rendering - No vendor lock-in—your notes are standard markdown on GitHub BUILT FOR DEVELOPERS & POWER USERS Whether you're documenting code snippets, maintaining technical wikis, or organizing project notes, OctoNote gives you the tools you need: - Save meeting notes with code examples - Maintain personal knowledge bases - Share formatted documentation instantly - Keep research organized with tags and structure OCTONOTE PREMIUM Upgrade to unlock the full power of private note-taking: - Secret Gists that don't appear in public search - Custom syntax formatting themes (11+ beautiful options from Xcode Light to Atom One Dark) - Flair for your app icon - Private by default for sensitive work notes and personal journals SIMPLE. POWERFUL. YOURS. OctoNote doesn't try to be everything—it's focused on doing one thing exceptionally well: giving you beautiful, powerful markdown notes backed by the reliability of GitHub. No proprietary formats. No complicated export processes. Just your notes, in standard markdown, stored safely on GitHub and accessible from anywhere. Perfect for: - Software developers and engineers - Technical writers and documentation specialists - Students studying computer science - Anyone who loves markdown and wants their notes future-proof REQUIREMENTS OctoNote requires a GitHub account (free accounts work perfectly). All features—both standard and Premium—are available to users with any GitHub account tier. Download OctoNote today and transform the way you take notes.
Shift Calendar
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The shift calendar for people on a rotation. Pick your pattern once and ShiftCheck fills in every shift, from last month to a year ahead. Built for hospital nurses on 3×12s first, then fire and EMS crews on 24/48s, 48/96s and Kelly schedules, and plant and warehouse crews on DuPont, Pitman and 2-2-3. No account. No ads. Works offline. YOUR ROTATION, MONTHS AHEAD • 12 presets named the way crews say them: 2-2-3 (Panama), Pitman, DuPont, 4 on 4 off, 48/96, 24/48, Kelly, 14 on 14 off, 3×12, Continental, 5-5-4, and 4 on 3 off (4×10s) • Or build your own repeat • Picked up an extra shift? The pattern never overwrites a day you changed by hand, and a rotation day you erase stays erased • Unlimited shift types, each with its own color EVERY DAY, AS IT REALLY WENT • Mark a shift as a pickup, charge, or cancelled, and add a note • Stayed late or left early? Record your actual hours and the estimate counts the real minutes • Vacation and sick days on the calendar AT A GLANCE • Home Screen and Lock Screen widgets: your next shift and your week • Apple Watch app with complications for your next shift • A reminder 12 or 2 hours before each shift, off until you turn it on • On shift, a Live Activity shows your earnings on the Lock Screen • Works on iPhone and iPad ON ALL YOUR DEVICES iCloud sync keeps your iPhone and iPad in step through your own iCloud. There is no ShiftCheck account. Sync is on by default for new installs when you're signed in to iCloud; turn it off any time in Settings. SHIFTCHECK PRO: THE PAYCHECK, AND YOUR PARTNER'S CALENDAR The calendar is free, including a basic pay estimate for the month. Pro is a one-time unlock that adds: • Partner calendar sharing: your shifts go into a "ShiftCheck" calendar in Apple Calendar that you share with your partner, family, or coworkers. It updates when your schedule changes, and they don't need the app • This paycheck, for your pay period: weekly, every 2 weeks, twice a month, or monthly • Overtime the way your employer counts it: weekly, daily, or the 8/80 hospital rule, with limits you set, and off-day pickups paid as overtime if that's your rule • Night, weekend, and holiday premiums, split correctly across midnight • Paid time off in the forecast, a take-home estimate, and your next payday • More than one job, each with its own overtime rules and paycheck • A different rate on any single shift • Paycheck reports with CSV export One-time unlock. No subscription. No ads. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Your schedule stays on your devices and in your own iCloud. No account, no ads, and nothing is sold. ShiftCheck sends anonymous usage counts (which screens and features get used, with a random ID that isn't tied to you) so we can see what to fix and improve. It never sends your schedule, pay, names, or notes, and you can turn it off in Settings › Privacy. Free calculators and schedule guides: stackcurious.com/shiftcalendar
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Shift Calendar at every 2 weeks against OctoNote's every 2 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Both are free to download. OctoNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Shift Calendar sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
OctoNote ships an update every 2 months, Shift Calendar every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 30, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | OctoNote | Shift Calendar |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 3.7 (10 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 10 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 6 MB | 6 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Base11 Studios Ltd | Dave Oakley |
In-app purchases
OctoNote
- Premium (Monthly)$1.991 Month
- Premium (Yearly)$11.991 Year
- OctoNote Premium - Lifetime$49.99
Shift Calendar
- ShiftCheck Pro — Lifetime$14.99
Questions
Is OctoNote free?
Is Shift Calendar free?
Do OctoNote or Shift Calendar have ads?
Which is updated more often, OctoNote or Shift Calendar?
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