# CUSTOM CAST vs PhotoNote

The clearest difference is rating: PhotoNote at 4.4 against CUSTOM CAST's 3.4. PhotoNote also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 48%) and update cadence (every 11 days vs every 5 weeks). CUSTOM CAST's advantage is ratings volume (4K vs 227). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CUSTOM CAST sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and PhotoNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

PhotoNote holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: CUSTOM CAST has 4K ratings behind it against 227, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 48% of CUSTOM CAST's written reviews are positive against 82% of PhotoNote's.

CUSTOM CAST ships an update every 5 weeks, PhotoNote every 11 days. Both last shipped on November 3, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | CUSTOM CAST | PhotoNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.4 (4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/custom-cast/id1436588949/reviews) | **[4.4 (227 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photonote-sns-like-note/id1543157469/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **4K** | 227 |
| Positive reviews | 48.1% of reviews | **81.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 11 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 896 MB | 85 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 12+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [DWANGO Co., Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/297539595) | [Kiduku Hoshida](https://appshunter.io/developer/1304360951) |

## What reviewers say

### CUSTOM CAST

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/custom-cast/id1436588949)

Design unique 3D characters with extensive customization options for body parts, clothing, and accessories. Save multiple creations, pose them for social media, or use them as a virtual avatar for live streaming with facial tracking and AR capabilities.

**Highlights:** Extensive character customization, Save multiple character designs, Social media sharing with stickers/frames, Virtual streamer functionality, Facial motion tracking, AR integration

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 160cc | $0.99 | one-time |
| 480cc | $2.99 | one-time |
| 1000cc | $5.99 | one-time |
| 3000cc | $19.99 | one-time |
| 6000cc | $39.99 | one-time |
| 10000cc | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ⭐️ Excellent character customization
- 🎨 Wide variety of clothing and accessories
- 📹 Useful VTuber features
- 🎨 Highly creative and fun

**What reviewers complain about**

- ⏳ Lengthy download and loading times
- 🔍 Limited male clothing options
- 💰 Expensive in-app purchases
- 🐛 Glitches and bugs

**Reported bugs**

- Black screen issues when customizing characters
- Glitches with clothing and accessories
- Tracking and camera issues
- Inconsistent performance and crashes

**Requested features**

- More free clothing and accessory options
- Ability to customize hair color and facial features
- More diverse body types and skin tones
- Improved performance and reduced loading times
- Add more male-oriented clothing and styles


### PhotoNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/photonote-sns-like-note/id1543157469)

Create private, social media-style notes with customizable icons and titles. This app functions as a personal diary, allowing you to add images and search your entries. Your notes are stored locally and are not shared with anyone.

**Highlights:** Social media-style note creation, Private and local storage, Customizable icons and titles, Image insertion, Search functionality, Diary entries

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Subscription (1 Monthly) | $0.99 | per month |
| Subscription (annual) | $9.99 | per year |
| Hide Ads | $1.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🤍 Great app for visualizing character profiles
- 💫 Feels like a real Instagram experience
- 🎨 Allows for creative expression
- 🔒 No ads or distractions
- 🧑‍💻 Helpful for reality shifting scripts

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Issues with deleting accounts
- 🤔 Limited photo/video options
- 📱 Cropping issues with stories
- 🔀 Difficulty rearranging posts/accounts

**Reported bugs**

- Likes and comments not displaying properly
- Inability to select photos when posting
- Laggy performance on certain devices

**Requested features**

- Add story highlights
- Increase number of photos per post
- Implement video posting capabilities
- Add direct messaging and group chat features
- Improve comment section functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CUSTOM CAST free?

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

### Is PhotoNote free?

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

### Which has better reviews, CUSTOM CAST or PhotoNote?

PhotoNote is rated higher. CUSTOM CAST averages 3.4 out of 5 from 4K ratings, while PhotoNote averages 4.4 from 227 ratings.

### Do CUSTOM CAST or PhotoNote have ads?

Both CUSTOM CAST and PhotoNote show ads.

### Which is updated more often, CUSTOM CAST or PhotoNote?

CUSTOM CAST ships an update every 5 weeks, and PhotoNote every 11 days. Most recently, CUSTOM CAST was updated on November 3, 2026 and PhotoNote on November 3, 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.*