Comparison

Amplenote vs FocusGrove

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

FocusGrove

This app helps you stay focused on tasks and build positive habits while breaking negative ones. It features a timer that stays on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, tracks extra focus time, and provides visual progress through history and calendars. It is designed for privacy with no ads or data selling.

Highlights
  • Lock Screen and Dynamic Island timer
  • Tracks extra focus time
  • Builds good habits
  • Breaks bad habits
  • Calendar and session history
  • Private by design
Features
Read full description

You know that feeling at the end of the day when you had a plan, real goals, things that actually mattered, and somehow... none of it happened? You weren't lazy. You were pulled. A notification here, a scroll there, the bad habit you've been meaning to break for months. Before you knew it, the day was gone. FocusGrove was built for exactly that moment the moment before everything drifts. IT STARTS WITH ONE HONEST SESSION Pick a task. Set a timer. Start. FocusGrove keeps your countdown alive right on your Lock Screen and Dynamic Island so you stay in the zone without touching your phone. Run a little over time? Good. FocusGrove tracks every extra minute, because real focus rarely ends exactly on the clock. BUILD WHAT YOU WANT. AVOID WHAT YOU DON'T. Most habit apps only track what you're adding to your life. FocusGrove tracks both sides the habits you're building and the ones you're actively trying to leave behind. Late-night scrolling. Skipping workouts. That habit you keep saying you'll quit. Set your schedule, get a gentle nudge when you need it, and watch your streak grow one honest day at a time. YOUR GOALS DESERVE A DAILY HOME Not everything that matters fits neatly on a to-do list. FocusGrove gives your daily intentions a real place to live tied to actual dates and reminders that keep you accountable without overwhelming you. PROGRESS YOU CAN ACTUALLY SEE It's easy to forget how far you've come. FocusGrove's calendar and session history make your consistency visible so on the hard days, you can look back and remember: you showed up before. You can show up again. PRIVATE BY DESIGN No ads. No data selling. No noise. Your habits, sessions, and goals stay on your device and in your iCloud personal, clean, and yours. Some apps track your goals. FocusGrove helps you become the person who actually reaches them.

Screenshots

Amplenote4 screens
FocusGrove4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: FocusGrove at none against Amplenote's 11. FocusGrove also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.6) and review sentiment (100% vs 79%). Amplenote's advantage is ratings volume (487 vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price and ads 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. FocusGrove asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FocusGrove holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Amplenote has 487 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Amplenote's written reviews are positive against 100% of FocusGrove's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Amplenote ships an update weekly, FocusGrove every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on September 22, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Amplenote versus FocusGrove: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterAmplenoteFocusGrove
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (487 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews79.2% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings487 — better1
Update frequencyWeeklyEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.4 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB17 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperAlloy.dev, Inc.Peyman Osatian

Customer experience

Amplenote

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

FocusGrove

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

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

FocusGrove

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

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
None

FocusGrove

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Amplenote free?
Amplenote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is FocusGrove free?
FocusGrove is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Amplenote or FocusGrove?
FocusGrove is rated higher. Amplenote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 487 ratings, while FocusGrove averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Amplenote or FocusGrove have ads?
Neither Amplenote nor FocusGrove shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Amplenote or FocusGrove?
Amplenote ships an update weekly, and FocusGrove every 2 days. Most recently, Amplenote was updated on September 22, 2026 and FocusGrove on September 18, 2026.

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