Comparison

fanSync WiFi vs Notara

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

fanSync WiFi

Control your ceiling fan remotely with this app. It enables WiFi connectivity for your fan, allowing operation from anywhere and integration with voice assistants like Amazon Echo and Google Home. It also supports SmartThings and IFTTT for broader smart home automation.

Highlights
  • Remote fan control
  • WiFi receiver compatibility
  • Voice activation
  • Smart home integration
  • IFTTT support
  • SmartThings integration
Features
Read full description

fanSync WiFi by Fanimation. Control your ceiling fan from anywhere using our WiFi receiver accessory sold separately. Control using the fanSync WiFi app as well as via voice activation with compatible devices such as Amazon Echo and Google Home. Also includes IFTTT and SmartThings, which will allow you to integrate with other smart home devices.

About

Notara

This app provides a secure, offline-first method for documenting sensitive personal incidents. It allows users to create detailed entries with media attachments, track patterns, and export records. Security features like passcode lock and biometric authentication are included.

Highlights
  • Offline-first incident documentation
  • Attach photos and voice memos
  • Optional location and witness details
  • Timeline and pattern summaries
  • Passcode and biometric lock
  • PDF and evidence package export
  • Local data storage
Features
Read full description

Notara is a private, offline-first app for documenting sensitive incidents—harassment, stalking, abuse, discrimination, workplace issues, or anything you need a clear, dated record of. Your entries stay on your device. There is no Notara account and no built-in cloud sync. WHAT YOU CAN DO • Create entries with title, category, narrative, date and time, and optional tags • Attach photos (camera or library) and voice memos • Optionally attach location to an entry when you turn it on—only with your permission • Add optional witness details when relevant • See timeline and pattern summaries to review frequency and categories over time • Lock the app with a passcode and use Face ID or Touch ID where available • Optional setting to limit screen capture while using the app (where supported) EXPORT AND BACKUP (YOU CHOOSE) • Quick PDF timeline for sharing or printing • Full evidence package: a ZIP containing the timeline PDF, data manifest, photos, and audio — opens on any device • Backup from Settings for your own safekeeping IMPORTANT Notara is a documentation tool. It does not provide legal, medical, or emergency advice. For immediate danger, contact local emergency services or a trusted crisis line. Your data is stored locally unless you export, back up, or share it yourself. ELUA: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

fanSync WiFi3 screens
Notara4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Notara at 5.0 against fanSync WiFi's 1.4. fanSync WiFi's advantage is ratings volume (21 vs 1) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notara holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: fanSync WiFi has 21 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
fanSync WiFi versus Notara: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterfanSync WiFiNotara
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.4 (21 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews10.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings21 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 4 months—
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size29 MB40 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperFanimation, INC.Matthew Kerr

Customer experience

fanSync WiFi

All ratings21 ratings
Positive9.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative90.5%
Written reviews96 reviews
Positive10.4%
Neutral3.1%
Negative86.5%

Notara

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

fanSync WiFi

Reported bugs

64 issues
  • Unable to connect to fans
  • App refuses to find fans
  • Unable to re-pair or share from old phone
  • Sync to WiFi goes offline
  • Unable to dim bulbs
Show 59 more
  • Won't log in
  • Keeps de-syncing with Alexa
  • App regularly doesn't work well
  • App doesn't work with specific fan models (Hugh fan)
  • Controls won't work when app is not working
  • Slider goes back to original position
  • Button click doesn't turn on fan
  • Doesn't work with Apple HomeKit
  • Can't log in
  • App gives incorrect password/login message
  • Installation process antiquated and error-prone
  • App just sits there after entering credentials
  • No reason to lock behind a login
  • App takes longer than expected
  • Fan stopped connecting to WiFi
  • App not connecting
  • App says connecting forever
  • App is super laggy
  • App doesn't show actual fan status
  • App depends on remote service which goes down
  • Fan stops connecting to WiFi
  • App just says 'Connecting...'
  • App takes 3-4+ attempts to connect
  • Takes 5 minutes to turn off fan
  • Fan doesn't turn off when app says it did
  • Fan doesn't connect to WiFi
  • App crashes the second it opens
  • App won't load or open
  • Fan dropped off WiFi
  • Fan disabled from Alexa
  • App won't open
  • Loses sync after power outage
  • Bedroom fan randomly turns off
  • App gets confused by daylight saving time
  • App won't launch
  • App asks to login monthly
  • App only works with 2GHz WiFi
  • App is buggy
  • App doesn't work at all
  • App rarely finds fan
  • Controls and commands don't register
  • App repeatedly errors out
  • App loses control of fan
  • App won't reconnect
  • App displays quick black banners about connection
  • Connection timeout error
  • App is out of date but no update available
  • Requires internet to work
  • No local device control
  • Loses sync with fan often
  • No WiFi hotspot to connect to
  • Phone can't find fan
  • No instructions on pairing mode
  • Family sharing feature doesn't work
  • Error message when sharing link
  • App is too bulky
  • Group mode still shows individual fans
  • App doesn't let you change fan order
  • To sync with Alexa, need to remove and re-add skill

Requested features

7 requests
  • Add winter/summer button for fan direction
  • Remember last fan direction setting
  • Add sunrise/sunset times for scheduling
  • Add HomeKit support
  • Create custom preset settings
Show 2 more
  • Improve app interface
  • Add widget for iOS

Notara

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

fanSync WiFi

No in-app purchases

None

Notara

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is fanSync WiFi free?
fanSync WiFi is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notara free?
Notara is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, fanSync WiFi or Notara?
Notara is rated higher. fanSync WiFi averages 1.4 out of 5 from 21 ratings, while Notara averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do fanSync WiFi or Notara have ads?
Neither fanSync WiFi nor Notara shows ads.

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