Comparison

Focus Note vs Monolog

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

Head to head
About

Focus Note

Organize notes hierarchically with text folding, color coding, and multi-page structures. Enhance writing with LaTeX formulas, icons, and Markdown support. Share notes in various formats and customize themes for a personalized experience.

Highlights
  • Hierarchical note organization
  • Text folding and rainbow notes
  • LaTeX mathematical formulas
  • Markdown and shortcut keys
  • Multi-page note structure
  • Flash highlights for reciting
  • File sharing in multiple formats
Features
Read full description

Focus Note is suitable for learning and writing reading notes, article, diaries and other scenes. It has three characteristics: exquisite and concise, powerful function, and clear note structure. ----- It mainly includes the following functions: #The ability to organize notes by hierarchy: * Text folding: Clicking the paragraph symbols H1, H2, and H3 respectively can help to fold paragraphs of different titles for easy outline reading and text management. * Rainbow notes: For quick distinction, you can choose different color series to modify the text color for different "H1" paragraphs. * Highlight: Focus Note provides 7 different highlight colors for highlighting * Multi-page note structure: Multiple pages in the notebook can be created and easily dragged to change the sort. It can be used to manage different notes chapters. * Bookmarks and links: Bookmarks can be created at key points, and links can be added anywhere in the notebook to jump back there. Of course, hyperlinks can also link to any URL. # Ultra-convenient note writing function * Mathematical formula: LaTeX is used in Focus note to input mathematical formulas. * Icon: Built-in eight sets of icons representing priority, focus, banner, symbol, progress, etc., so that you can mark with graphics. * Markdown and shortcut keys: You can use Markdown's syntax and keyboard shortcuts to improve the efficiency of note writing. * The functions that Focus note should have: references, to-do items, code blocks, bold, italic, underline, underline, superscript, subscript... # Other features * Flash Highlights: Text will be hidden or displayed after using them, which provides a great reciting experience. * Share: Support sharing files with the file extension ".note", Markdown, text, images, PDF files. * Multiple themes: Four different themes are available and can be easily replaced with one click. * Home screen shortcut: You can put a frequently used notebook on the mobile phone desktop, and click it to quickly start the notebook. ----- # Payment plan Some of the features of Focus Note, such as mathematical formulas and colorful notes, can be enjoyed after subscribing or purchasing the full version of the PRO. We offer the following two purchase options: * Yearly subscription: The starting price is $17.49 USD, and the automatic renewal will be made upon expiration. * Monthly subscription: The starting price is $1.99 USD, and the automatic renewal will be made upon expiration. At the same time, you can treat the developers of Focus Note to a cup of coffee to support the development of Focus Note. :-D However, this does not involve the purchase and unlocking of the PRO version. Supplemental subscription instructions * Yearly / Monthly subscription plan (starting price is $17.49/$1.99 USD). * After confirming the purchase, you will be paid through your iTunes account. * After the subscription expires, it will be automatically renewed at the same price and in the same subscription period as originally planned by default . To stop your subscription plan, you must cancel it at least 24 hours before expiration date of the current subscription plan. * You can cancel your subscription plan at any time, which can be done through the subscription settings of your personal iTunes account (Steps: Find the settings on your device, click iTunes and App Store > Apple ID > View Apple ID > Enter Password > Subscribe > Manage Application Subscriptions) > Click the Unsubscribe button at the bottom of the page. # Legal * For more information, please see: http://focusnote.com.cn/ * Privacy Policy: http://focusnote.com.cn/#/Privacy * Terms of Service: http://focusnote.com.cn/#/Terms # Question? Do you want to feedback ? We are willing to hear your opinions, criticisms, suggestions…Anything is ok! Email: Focus-Feedback@foxmail.com

About

Monolog

This app functions as a knowledge treasury and creative toolkit, featuring bidirectional linking to create an interconnected web of ideas. It offers hierarchical tagging for structured organization, a spaced repetition system for efficient review, and panoramic statistics to visualize your learning journey. Data is securely stored using iCloud for privacy and continuity.

Highlights
  • Bidirectional linking
  • Hierarchical tagging
  • Spaced repetition review
  • Learning statistics
  • iCloud data storage
Features
Read full description

Welcome to Monolog, it's your knowledge treasury and creative toolkit. The Magic of Bidirectional Links: Unlike conventional note-taking apps, Monolog introduces a unique bidirectional linking feature. This allows you to effortlessly jump from one note to another related note, weaving an interconnected web of knowledge. Each of your notes can serve as a reference for others, linking all your ideas and insights, facilitating a seamless flow of thoughts. Clear Structure with Hierarchical Tags: Knowledge has depth and breadth. Monolog's hierarchical tagging offers you a more expressive way to organize notes. This granularity and categorization make your content more structured, helping you build a logically coherent knowledge mansion. Efficient Review Mechanism: Learning and memory require continuous effort and review. Monolog's spaced repetition ensures that your knowledge is reinforced, making learning more profound. Panoramic View with Statistics: Beyond just capturing knowledge, Monolog provides a rich statistical feature, ranging from heatmaps to pie charts, offering a comprehensive perspective of your learning journey and knowledge structure. Protecting Your Privacy and Continuity: Monolog uses iCloud for storage, ensuring your data is neither stored on the developer's servers nor accessible to others, offering you the utmost privacy protection. This also guarantees the app's longevity, allowing you to use it with peace of mind. Monolog, more than just a note-taking app, it's the spark of your thoughts, the bridge of your knowledge, and the generator of your inspiration. Experience now, and never let any moment of inspiration slip away. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Focus Note4 screens
Monolog4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Monolog at 4.4 against Focus Note's 3.6. Monolog also leads on review sentiment (65% vs 31%). Focus Note's advantage is iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On price, ratings volume, update cadence 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. Focus Note sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Monolog sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Monolog holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 3.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 15 and 23 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Focus Note's written reviews are positive against 65% of Monolog's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Focus Note ships an update every 3 weeks, Monolog monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 4, 2026 and October 24, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Focus Note versus Monolog: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFocus NoteMonolog
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.6 (15 ratings)4.4 (23 ratings) — better
Positive reviews30.8% of reviews65.2% of reviews — better
Number of ratings1523 — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size246 MB35 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKiraku Tech Co., Ltd.澍 王

Customer experience

Focus Note

All ratings15 ratings
Positive66.7%
Neutral6.7%
Negative26.7%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive30.8%
Neutral30.8%
Negative38.5%

Monolog

All ratings23 ratings
Positive87.0%
Neutral8.7%
Negative4.3%
Written reviews23 reviews
Positive65.2%
Neutral26.1%
Negative8.7%

In-app purchases

6 purchases

Focus Note

Subscriptions3
  • Monthly Subscription$1.991 Month
  • 3 Mos. Subscription$3.993 Months
  • Yearly Subscription$17.491 Year
One-time3
  • 专注笔记 - 美式咖啡$0.99
  • 专注笔记 - 卡布奇诺$2.99
  • 专注笔记 - 一杯巨大的摩卡奶昔$3.99
3 purchases

Monolog

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly plan7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Annual plan7 Days trial$14.991 Year
One-time1
  • Lifetime Plan$49.99

Questions

Is Focus Note free?
Focus Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Monolog free?
Monolog is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Focus Note or Monolog?
Monolog is rated higher. Focus Note averages 3.6 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Monolog averages 4.4 from 23 ratings.
Do Focus Note or Monolog have ads?
Neither Focus Note nor Monolog shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Focus Note or Monolog?
Focus Note ships an update every 3 weeks, and Monolog monthly. Most recently, Focus Note was updated on October 4, 2026 and Monolog on October 24, 2026.

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