# Birch vs Ikes

Birch and Ikes both sit at 4.6 stars, but that hides the real split: 93% of Ikes's written reviews are positive against 84% of Birch's. Birch's advantage is ratings volume (127 vs 31) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Birch sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month and Ikes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. 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 Birch against 4.7 for Ikes. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 127 and 31 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 84% of Birch's written reviews are positive against 93% of Ikes's.

Birch ships an update every 3 weeks, Ikes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 22, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Birch | Ikes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (127 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birch-organized-photo-notes/id1435221449/reviews) | **[4.7 (31 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ikes-idea-notes/id1515855107/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **127** | 31 |
| Positive reviews | 83.6% of reviews | **92.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 2 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 284 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Daniel McCarthy](https://appshunter.io/developer/635693343) | [INCREDIBLE FOX, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1515855106) |

## What reviewers say

### Birch

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/birch-organized-photo-notes/id1435221449)

This app helps you organize your life using photos as notes. Simply snap a picture, add hashtags, and find it quickly later. It's ideal for visual individuals who use their photo album for reminders and references.

**Highlights:** Organized photo notes, Hashtag-based organization, Quick photo capture, Fast search functionality, Multiple hashtag support, Light and Dark mode support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro (Monthly) | $1.49 | per month |
| Pro (Annual) | $14.99 | per year |


### Ikes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/ikes-idea-notes/id1515855107)

Capture and organize text or image ideas with a dynamic feed. Intelligent search and discovery help you find inspiration and make unexpected connections. Syncs seamlessly across devices and prioritizes your privacy.

**Highlights:** Quick capture for text and images, Dynamic Idea Feed for discovery, Tag, source, and color organization, Intelligent search by meaning, Automatic idea discovery, Shuffle for serendipity, iCloud sync across devices

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ikes PREMIUM | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Birch free?

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

### Is Ikes free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Birch or Ikes?

Ikes is rated higher. Birch averages 4.6 out of 5 from 127 ratings, while Ikes averages 4.7 from 31 ratings.

### Do Birch or Ikes have ads?

Neither Birch nor Ikes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Birch or Ikes?

Birch ships an update every 3 weeks, and Ikes every 2 weeks. Most recently, Birch was updated on October 22, 2026 and Ikes on October 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.*