# Goodnotes vs Fluid Focus App

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Fluid Focus App at 98% against Goodnotes's 34%. Fluid Focus App also leads on rating (4.9 vs 4.7). Goodnotes's advantage is ratings volume (457K vs 10) and chart position (#93 vs unranked). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Goodnotes sells 16 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Fluid Focus App sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Fluid Focus App holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Goodnotes has 457K ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 34% of Goodnotes's written reviews are positive against 98% of Fluid Focus App's.

Goodnotes ships an update weekly, Fluid Focus App every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Goodnotes | Fluid Focus App |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (457K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602/reviews) | **[4.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fluid-focus-app/id6477136445/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **457K** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 33.6% of reviews | **97.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Best chart rank | **#93** | — |
| Size | 795 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 12+ |
| Developer | [Goodnotes Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1708570616) | [Fluid Focus Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1728591405) |

## What reviewers say

### Goodnotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/goodnotes-ai-notes-docs-pdf/id1444383602)

**Currently charting:** #93 Top Grossing · Productivity, #111 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture ideas, enhance productivity, and unlock insights with advanced AI features. This app offers tools for professionals, students, and creatives, including infinite whiteboards, AI-powered transcription and summarization, and customizable digital notebooks.

**Highlights:** AI-powered transcription and summarization, Infinite whiteboard canvas, Digital notebooks with customizable templates, Study Sets for flashcards, Presentation mode with laser pointer, Real-time collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (16)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AI Pass (Monthly) | $9.99 | per month |
| Goodnotes 6 (1 Year) | $9.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Essential (Yearly) | $11.99 | per year |
| Goodnotes Pro (Yearly) | $35.99 | per year |
| Bunny Oasis Stickers | Free | one-time |
| Medicine-Academia Sticker Shee | Free | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 Free Trial | Free | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $1.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $6.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $8.99 | one-time |
| GoodNotes 5 Unlock | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $9.99 | one-time |
| Marketplace Content | $10.99 | one-time |
| Goodnotes 6 One-Time Payment | $28.99 | one-time |
| Special Edition | $35.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Excellent note-taking experience
- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🚀 Smooth writing with Apple Pencil
- 📁 Powerful organization with folders and notebooks
- 🖼️ Ability to annotate PDFs and documents

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitches and crashes
- 🔍 Syncing and iCloud issues
- 🔍 Lack of flexibility with text input
- 🔍 Limited eraser and highlighting options
- 🔍 Subpar performance on Mac app

**Reported bugs**

- Text box issues - unable to edit, resize, or move properly
- Handwriting recognition problems, especially with cursive
- Unreliable scrolling and page navigation
- Inconsistent behavior when using the zoom feature

**Requested features**

- Add bullet point and formatting options for typed text
- Implement a full-screen writing mode
- Improve the straight line and shape tools
- Integrate audio recording and synchronization
- Allow more customization of the toolbar and interface


### Fluid Focus App

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/fluid-focus-app/id6477136445)

This app helps you manage screen time and boost productivity by blocking distractions and rewarding healthy digital habits. It offers customizable focus sessions, guided meditations, and smart app blocking features to help you stay present and achieve your goals.

**Highlights:** Rewards for healthier screen time, Customizable focus and rest sessions, Guided meditation suite, Smart app blocking with schedules and time limits, Walk to Unlock feature, Progress tracking and analytics, Community support

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Fluid Focus Pro | $5.99 | per month |
| Fluid Focus Pro | $59.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great GUI. Easy to use
- 🚀 Helps with productivity and focus
- 💡 Charitable donation feature
- 🔑 Effective app blocking
- 🎨 Intuitive and user-friendly interface

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Timer issues when switching apps or locking screen
- 🔋 Battery drain when keeping app open

**Reported bugs**

- Coins not accruing properly
- Countdown timer canceling unexpectedly

**Requested features**

- Dark mode option
- More customization options for focus sessions


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Goodnotes free?

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

### Is Fluid Focus App free?

Fluid Focus App is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Goodnotes or Fluid Focus App?

Fluid Focus App is rated higher. Goodnotes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 457K ratings, while Fluid Focus App averages 4.9 from 10 ratings.

### Do Goodnotes or Fluid Focus App have ads?

Neither Goodnotes nor Fluid Focus App shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Goodnotes or Fluid Focus App?

Goodnotes ships an update weekly, and Fluid Focus App every 10 days. Most recently, Goodnotes was updated on September 29, 2026 and Fluid Focus App on September 28, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*