# NoteBuddy vs Notebook

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notebook at 71% against NoteBuddy's 22%. Notebook also leads on rating (4.3 vs 3.3) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). NoteBuddy's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NoteBuddy sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notebook sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 523 ratings behind it against 16, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 22% of NoteBuddy's written reviews are positive against 71% of Notebook's.

NoteBuddy ships an update every 3 months, Notebook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 28, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoteBuddy | Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.3 (16 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebuddy-your-notes-buddy/id1453991185/reviews) | **[4.3 (523 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-journal/id1670365742/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 16 | **523** |
| Positive reviews | 22.2% of reviews | **70.6% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Every 3 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 14 MB | 73 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 13.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Oleg Mueller](https://appshunter.io/developer/367875607) | [Solitude Colors](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614422096) |

## What reviewers say

### NoteBuddy

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebuddy-your-notes-buddy/id1453991185)

This note-taking application offers a comprehensive suite of tools for organizing thoughts and ideas. It supports rich text formatting, image insertion, and freehand drawing. Features like folder organization and iCloud synchronization ensure your notes are accessible and secure.

**Highlights:** Rich text editing, Add images and drawings, Folder and subfolder support, iCloud synchronization, Backup feature, Apple Pencil support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NoteBuddy Pro | $2.99 | one-time |


### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-journal/id1670365742)

Organize your thoughts, plans, and ideas with a versatile notebook and list-making application. Create unlimited notes, manage tasks with checklists, and customize your workspace. Sync across devices for seamless access to your organized information.

**Highlights:** Unlimited notes and lists, Folders and organization tools, Rich text editing, Checklists and to-do lists, Cloud sync and backup, Quick search and tags

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Great organization system
- 🚀 Simple and quick
- 🤩 Excellent AI-powered features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 💸 Excessive ads disrupting usage
- 🔒 Lack of customization options
- 🤯 Confusing navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and lost user data
- Compatibility problems with older devices
- Copying and pasting not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality
- Improve delete/edit options
- Provide subscription-free version
- Enhance calendar integration


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoteBuddy free?

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

### Is Notebook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NoteBuddy or Notebook?

Notebook is rated higher. NoteBuddy averages 3.3 out of 5 from 16 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.3 from 523 ratings.

### Do NoteBuddy or Notebook have ads?

Notebook shows ads; NoteBuddy does not.

### Which is updated more often, NoteBuddy or Notebook?

NoteBuddy ships an update every 3 months, and Notebook every 3 weeks. Most recently, NoteBuddy was updated on September 28, 2026 and Notebook on October 8, 2026.

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