Comparison

Amplenote vs NotePlan

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

Head to head
About

Amplenote

This app offers a secure and flexible way to manage notes and tasks. It features rich footnotes, bi-directional linking, and robust sharing options, all while prioritizing data security and seamless syncing across devices. Organize your thoughts and to-dos efficiently with customizable features and offline access.

Highlights
  • Vault encrypted notes
  • Seamless syncing across devices
  • Rich footnotes with mixed media
  • Integrated notes and tasks
  • Bi-directional linking
  • Note tagging and organization
  • Offline access
Features
Read full description

*** Your security is our priority *** - Data security differentiates us from popular to-do list apps - All note contents are encrypted at rest on our servers - Notes can be Vault Encrypted with a password that's never sent to our servers - Your note content is available for download at any time *** Built on seamless syncing *** - Along with data security, accurate syncing is at our core - Designed for heavy users who often switch between the same notes on mobile and desktop - Our sync is fully compatible with Vault Notes (even though we can't decrypt their content) ***Expression is our cornerstone *** - Rich Footnotes that hold text, code, images, or all the above is our flagship feature - Easily insert images into notes, or even into text within notes - A range of the finest markdown stylings at your disposal *** Notes and tasks: better together *** - Text, code, to-do tasks, and images all live inside the same note - Tasks can be customized to recur at flexible intervals or hidden until later - Tasks are automatically removed from your to-do list when completed *** As organized as you are *** - Connect notes with bi-directional linking - Note tags allow multi-level taxonomy to organize notes - Browse these taxonomies like directories - Recreate OneNote browsing hierarchies seamlessly *** Flair for sharing *** - Any note can be instantly shared and edited by multiple parties - Publish notes (including their Rich Footnotes!) to the web with one tap - Shared to-do lists can help a team stay on top of shared responsibilities *** Built for personal productivity *** - Set up any task to repeat relative to when you last got it done - Track how much you're getting done over time with our automatic task graph - Designate tasks as "Urgent" or "Important" to use proven priority techniques *** More than ample enough for power users *** - Simplified, clean UI is efficiently functional - Contextual keyboard toolbar puts the relevant actions at your fingertips - Quick opener allows opening any recently used note in ~3 taps - *** No internet? No problem *** - Continue working offline within new or cached notes - All work will automatically sync once back online *** Ample: no more, no less *** - We won't settle for becoming bloated with non-essential features - We work across mobile and web. *** Get started instantly *** - Use our Evernote Importer to bring your notes from the olden times *** Account required *** - An active Amplenote account is required to use Amplenote. - New accounts automatically receive a 14-day free trial of the Pro plan. - At the end of the trial period, you may choose between the free plan (Personal) or one of the paid plans. - You may purchase an auto-renewing subscription through an In-App Purchase. - 1 month and 1 year durations are available for Basic, Pro, and Founder subscription levels. - Your subscription will be charged to your iTunes account at confirmation of purchase and will automatically renew (at the duration selected) unless auto-renew is turned off at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. - Current subscriptions may not be cancelled during the active subscription period; however, you can manage your subscription and/or turn off auto-renewal by visiting your iTunes Account Settings after purchase - Privacy policy: https://www.amplenote.com/privacy_policy - Terms of use: https://www.amplenote.com/terms_of_service

About

NotePlan

Organize your tasks, notes, and calendar in one unified app. Quickly plan your day with Markdown, link notes bi-directionally, and stay on top of your to-dos with powerful review and search features. Seamlessly integrates with your existing calendars and syncs across all your Apple devices.

Highlights
  • Unified task, note, and calendar view
  • Markdown for quick task and note creation
  • Bi-directional note linking
  • Calendar integration (iCloud, Google, Exchange)
  • Flexible recurring tasks
  • Global Command Bar for fast navigation
  • Plaintext note storage
Features
Read full description

Having trouble planning your day, managing your to-do list, and organizing your notes? Always jumping between apps and losing track of what to do and where you put things? Say hello to NotePlan! NotePlan lets you manage everything in one place: your tasks, notes, and calendar. Perfect for project managers, designers, researchers, writers, students, or anyone who wants to be organized and efficient. QUICKLY PLAN YOUR DAY WITH MARKDOWN • Plan your day by seeing your calendar, notes, and tasks in a single view • Create tasks and notes quickly with Markdown • Add #tags to organize tasks and notes • Use @mentions to find people • Reschedule to-do items easily • Create flexible recurring tasks • Work faster with autocomplete BUILD YOUR NETWORK OF NOTES • Create your own network of notes • Organize any way you want to: from simple folders over P.A.R.A. to a Zettelkasten system • Bi-directional notes: link your calendar and your notes in any direction, automatically • Cross-reference and link notes easily STAY ON TOP OF THINGS WITH REVIEW • Search all tasks and notes, instantly • See all open tasks with the click of a button • Get a list of overdue to-do items • See upcoming tasks at a glance • Create custom filters with your own queries using status, #tags, @mentions, or even text SEAMLESS INTEGRATION WITH YOUR CALENDAR • Create events and reminders right in NotePlan • Support for iCloud, Google, and Exchange calendars • Time-block tasks on your calendar simply by typing AVAILABLE ON MAC, IPHONE & IPAD • Sync everything between your Apple devices • Use any sync method you like: CloudKit or iCloud Drive • A single subscription for all your devices OPEN, PRIVATE & FAST • All your notes are stored in plaintext so you're never locked in • Your information is private and cannot be accessed • Enjoy lightning speed thanks to local files and native apps ANY THEME YOU WANT • Choose from a variety of built-in themes • Work with light or dark versions • Create your own custom theme SHORTCUTS FOR MAXIMUM SPEED • Extended Markdown syntax support with customization options • Move around without ever leaving the keyboard • Find everything with the Global Command Bar NotePlan is developed independently and prioritizes user features and requests. We have long-term roadmaps and listen to customers to improve the apps. - - - - - Price may vary by location. Subscriptions will be charged to your credit card through your iTunes account. Your subscription will automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. After purchase, manage your subscriptions in App Store Account Settings. - - - - - Email: hello@noteplan.co Web: noteplan.co Discord: https://discord.gg/D4268MT Twitter: NotePlanApp Reddit: reddit.com/r/NotePlanApp Learn NotePlan course: https://noteplan.eo.page/newsletter Terms of use: http://noteplan.co/tos/ Privacy policy: https://noteplan.co/privacy/

Screenshots

Amplenote4 screens
NotePlan4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is monetization model: Amplenote at free with in-app purchases against NotePlan's subscription. Amplenote also leads on update cadence (weekly vs monthly). NotePlan's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6) and ratings volume (1.5K vs 487). On price, review sentiment, ads and in-app purchases 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. Amplenote sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month and NotePlan sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

NotePlan holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 487 and 1.5K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Amplenote's written reviews are positive against 85% of NotePlan's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Amplenote ships an update weekly, NotePlan monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Amplenote versus NotePlan: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmplenoteNotePlan
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (487 ratings)4.8 (1.5K ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.2% of reviews85.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings4871.5K — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterSubscription
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS15.415.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB210 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlloy.dev, Inc.NotePlan LLC

Customer experience

Amplenote

All ratings487 ratings
Positive91.6%
Neutral1.8%
Negative6.6%
Written reviews154 reviews
Positive79.2%
Neutral2.6%
Negative18.2%

NotePlan

All ratings1,506 ratings
Positive95.2%
Neutral1.9%
Negative2.9%
Written reviews472 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral4.7%
Negative10.4%

User reviews

Amplenote

From 487 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Game Changer
  • 🚀 Powerful Task Management
  • 👍 Intuitive Workflow
  • 👍 Excellent Note-Taking
  • 👍 Great Calendar Integration

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Accessibility Issues
  • 🐛 Bugs and Glitches
  • 👎 Steep Learning Curve
  • 👎 Subpar iPad Experience
  • 👎 Lacking Dark Mode

NotePlan

From 1.5K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful note-taking and task management
  • 👍 Seamless calendar and reminders integration
  • 💡 Flexible and customizable workflow
  • 🔒 Secure and open-format data storage
  • 👍 Responsive and helpful developer

Room to improve

  • 💰 Expensive subscription model
  • 🐛 Occasional sync and performance issues
  • 👤 Limited collaboration and sharing features

Bugs and requests

Amplenote

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • App freezing and crashing
  • Widgets not working on iOS
  • Calendar integration issues
  • Task pane glitches on iPad

Requested features

6 requests
  • Ability to increase text size
  • Improved search functionality
  • Kanban-style task management
  • Handwriting and drawing support
  • Customizable calendar views
Show 1 more
  • Automatic event creation

NotePlan

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Inconsistent sync between devices
  • Crashes when opening certain files

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved iPad and mobile app experience
  • Better integration with other productivity apps
  • More automation and scripting capabilities
  • Weekly or monthly calendar view

In-app purchases

11 purchases

Amplenote

Subscriptions11
  • Basic Plan - Monthly14 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Pro Plan - Monthly14 Days trial$7.991 Month
  • Ample Agent Pro - Monthly$7.991 Month
Show 8 more
  • Pro Plan - Monthly14 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Unlimited Plan - Monthly14 Days trial$11.991 Month
  • Founder Plan - Monthly14 Days trial$24.991 Month
  • Basic Plan - Yearly14 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Pro Plan - Yearly14 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Pro Plan - Yearly14 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • Unlimited Plan - Yearly14 Days trial$119.991 Year
  • Founder Plan - Yearly14 Days trial$239.991 Year
8 purchases

NotePlan

Subscriptions8
  • Personal Weekly$4.997 Days
  • Personal Monthly$6.991 Month
  • Personal Monthly1 Month trial$11.991 Month
Show 5 more
  • Personal Monthly2 variants$12.001 Month
  • Personal Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year
  • Personal Annual7 Days trial2 variants$99.991 Year
  • Personal Annual1 Month trial$119.991 Year
  • Business Class1 Month trial$199.991 Year

Questions

Is Amplenote free?
Amplenote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is NotePlan free?
NotePlan is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Amplenote or NotePlan?
NotePlan is rated higher. Amplenote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 487 ratings, while NotePlan averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.
Do Amplenote or NotePlan have ads?
Neither Amplenote nor NotePlan shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Amplenote or NotePlan?
Amplenote ships an update weekly, and NotePlan monthly. Most recently, Amplenote was updated on September 22, 2026 and NotePlan on September 23, 2026.

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