Comparison

Note! vs giovium

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

Head to head
About

Note!

This app offers a minimalist approach to note-taking, focusing on speed and simplicity. It allows for quick plain text entries, organized by modification date, with options for text resizing and passcode protection for privacy.

Highlights
  • Quick plain text notes
  • Sorted by latest modified
  • Pinch to zoom text size
  • Set passcode to lock notes
Features
Read full description

Nothing more, nothing less. Designed to be as minimal as possible for quick plain text notes. + Sorted by latest modified + Pinch to zoom/change text size + Set a passcode to lock your notes

About

giovium

Features
Read full description

giovium password manager. Your server. Your secrets. Just like it used to be. Discover more on giovium.com Built expressly for the self-hosting community, giovium is a secure, private password manager designed for absolute data sovereignty. It pairs state-of-the-art cryptography with strict, legacy-style privacy. There are zero analytics, zero tracking, and absolutely no middlemen. With giovium, you can use the iOS app, self-host your own server, and seamlessly sync data across all major operating systems. Ready to self-host? Deploy your server in seconds using Docker (hub.docker.com/r/xgiovio/giovium-server) or visit giovium.com. 1. Cross-Platform Architecture Universal Support: Available across iOS, macOS, Windows, and Linux. Unified Codebase: Ensures maximum reliability and rapid cross-platform updates. Optimized UI: Seamless orientation adaptation and native iPadOS Split View support. Low Footprint: Minimal data usage and blazing-fast responsiveness regardless of vault size. 2. State-of-the-Art Security Advanced Crypto: Employs Ed25519/X25519 for sync, XChaCha20-Poly1305 for local data, and Argon2 for password derivation. Zero-Knowledge: Data is strictly encrypted 100% of the time. The server never possesses your keys. Just-in-Time Decryption: Items remain encrypted in memory until precisely accessed. Hardware Integration: Leverages native device cryptography with large, unique salts. 3. Server Deployment & Sync Rapid Setup: Docker containers or native binaries ready in seconds. Instant Sync: Real-time data mirroring across multiple independent servers. Autonomous Security: Clients and servers encrypt their connection directly. No external CAs required. Deploy behind a reverse proxy or standalone. Smart Resolution: Automatically handles out-of-sync states to prevent data duplication. 4. Data Integrity & Versioning Append-Only Structure: Data is never permanently deleted; safely revert to previous versions of any item anytime. Rigorous Consistency: Automatically verifies data upon unlock, and supports manual offline verification. File Hashing: Built-in verification ensures absolute integrity for all attachments. 5. Interface & Experience Custom Entries: Build items using text, concealed passwords, files, and an integrated TOTP authenticator (manual or QR). Minimalist Design: Distraction-free with native Light/Dark modes and instant search filtering. Privacy Controls: Explicitly hide specific elements from standard view. 6. Device Protection Biometrics: Secure Enclave integration for safe Face ID/Touch ID unlocks. Anti-Espionage: Actively blocks screen recording, background screenshots, and OS app-switcher visibility. Smart Lock: Background auto-unlock and customizable timeouts secure the vault. 7. Backup & Ownership Absolute Privacy: No tracking, ads, or third-party logging. Network connections strictly limited to your server. Full Ownership: No account creation or email recovery loops. Governed entirely by your master password. Offline Access: Manage encrypted vaults offline via the native iOS Files app or automate iCloud backups.

Screenshots

Note!4 screens
giovium4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: giovium at none against Note!'s 1. giovium also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 13 months). On price, device support and iOS requirement 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. Note! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. giovium asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Note! ships an update every 13 months, giovium every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Note! versus giovium: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNote!giovium
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (1K ratings) — better—
Positive reviews61.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1K — better—
Update frequencyEvery 13 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.4
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB39 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperRIEU LimitedGiovanni Di Grezia

Bugs and requests

Note!

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Ads disrupt note-taking experience
  • Inability to delete old notes
  • Lack of printing functionality

Requested features

4 requests
  • Add iCloud sync and backup
  • Implement a paid, ad-free version
  • Allow for note organization and sorting
  • Improve text formatting and editing capabilities

giovium

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Note!

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$3.99
None

giovium

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Note! free?
Note! is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is giovium free?
giovium is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Note! or giovium have ads?
Note! shows ads; giovium does not.
Which is updated more often, Note! or giovium?
Note! ships an update every 13 months, and giovium every 4 days. Most recently, Note! was updated on October 16, 2026 and giovium on October 10, 2026.

Other comparisons