Note! vs Free Brain
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Quick plain text notes
- Sorted by latest modified
- Pinch to zoom text size
- Set passcode to lock notes
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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
Free Brain
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Your phone should be a tool, not a reflex. Free Brain helps you step out of automatic scrolling by adding a small, deliberate pause between impulse and action. Choose the apps and websites that pull you away, then hold to lock them when it is time to focus. When you want to unlock, hold again. That friction is the feature. A tap is easy to do without thinking. A hold gives you a moment to remember what you meant to do. FOCUS ON YOUR TERMS Free Brain is built for individual self-control. You choose what to block on your own device, when to block it, and how much friction you want. It is not a tool for monitoring or controlling another person. CREATE MODES FOR REAL LIFE Different moments need different boundaries. Make named Modes for work, study, sleep, reading, mindfulness, or anything else. Each Mode can contain the apps, app categories, and websites you choose. Choose between blocking selected distractions or allowing only the selections you need. Change a Mode whenever your routine changes. HOLD TO LOCK. HOLD TO UNLOCK. Start a focus session with one simple ritual: press and hold. Set separate lock and unlock hold durations from 1 to 60 seconds. Keep it short when you only need a gentle pause, or make it longer when you want a stronger commitment. The same honest rule applies on the way out. Free Brain does not pretend that an app can make decisions for you. It creates enough space for you to make the decision consciously. SCHEDULE THE FOCUS YOU WANT TO KEEP Turn useful intentions into a repeatable rhythm with recurring Schedules. Pair a schedule with any Mode, choose the days and start time, then set an end time or keep the Mode active until you deliberately unlock it. Use a Work Mode on weekday mornings, a Wind Down Mode at night, or a Study Mode for the days you want uninterrupted time. SEE THE TIME YOU PROTECTED Activity turns completed lock sessions into a clear view of your progress. Review weekly, monthly, and lifetime locked-time stats, see daily patterns, and notice the routines that are helping you protect your attention. Your Activity history stays on your device. PRIVATE BY DESIGN Free Brain uses Apple's Screen Time frameworks to apply shields to the apps and websites you select. Screen Time access is requested by you and used for your own device. Your selected apps, Modes, Schedules, and Activity history are stored locally; Free Brain does not receive a readable list of the apps you choose. NO ACCOUNT REQUIRED Start using Free Brain without creating an account or signing in. Your focus setup belongs to you and stays with the app on your device. FREE BRAIN PRO Free Brain offers weekly, monthly, and annual subscription options, plus a one-time lifetime purchase. Available trials, localized prices, renewal details, and included Pro features are shown on the purchase screen before you confirm. Payment is handled through your Apple Account. Subscriptions renew automatically unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period and can be managed in your Apple Account settings. Free Brain is a self-management and productivity tool. It is not medical care, treatment, or a substitute for professional advice. Make your phone a tool again. Choose what matters, hold to begin, and give your attention somewhere better to go. Terms of Use (EULA): https://free-brain-legal.vercel.app/terms Privacy Policy: https://free-brain-legal.vercel.app/privacy
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is ads: Free Brain at none against Note!'s shown. Free Brain also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 13 months). Note!'s advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. Note! sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Free Brain sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Note! ships an update every 13 months, Free Brain monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 2, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Note! | Free Brain |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 61.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 13 months | Monthly — better |
| Ads | Yes | No — better |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 15 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | RIEU Limited | IA AI |
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
Free Brain
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Note!
- Remove Ads$3.99
Free Brain
- Pro Weekly7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Pro Monthly$9.991 Month
- Pro Annual7 Days trial$49.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$99.99









