Plain Note vs ChanMing
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Plain Note
A straightforward, text-only notepad for quickly capturing thoughts, memos, and drafts. Organize notes with customizable tags and access them easily via home and lock screen widgets. Offers optional iCloud sync and extensive customization through in-app purchases.
- Text-only note-taking
- Customizable tags with icons
- Lock screen and home screen widgets
- Character and line count
- Note archiving and organization
- Theme, icon, and font customization
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Plain Note is a simple, text-only notes app that makes it easy to capture ideas, jot down everyday notes, and draft social media posts and emails. No ads. No sign-up required. Notes are stored on your device and, if you use iCloud sync, in your own iCloud account as well. The developer does not collect the contents of your notes. It's a good fit for people who want to jot things down and quickly refer back to them, rather than use a notes app with lots of features. You can organize your notes by adding tags, and it supports lock screen and home screen widgets. It can be used on iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Features • You can categorize your notes with tags. • Customize tag icons and colors. • You can count the number of characters and lines. • Archive and organize your notes. • Widgets can be added to the lock screen and home screen. • Customize themes, app icons, and fonts. (Some features are available for a fee.) Premium (in-app purchase) • Sync data across iPhone, iPad, and Mac via iCloud. • All themes and app icons are available. • All tag icons are available. • All font customizations are available. *Prices may vary by country or region. Please check in the app. *Some features may not be available in all languages or regions. Terms of Use: https://monelyze.app/en/terms/ Privacy Policy: https://monelyze.app/en/privacy
ChanMing
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Write focused. Think clearly. ChanMing is a note-taking and organization app built around writing. Capture ideas, reading notes, meeting records and checklists, then organize them with folders, properties, templates and saved views. Capture notes on iPhone and organize them in a multi-column workspace on iPad. Format with the keyboard toolbar and add photos or files through the system pickers. WRITE WITH FOCUS Structure your notes with Markdown. Edit headings, lists, checklists, quotes, code blocks, tables and formulas in place. Add images, files and links, mark key passages with text color or highlights, and refine your work with undo and redo. KEEP NOTES ORGANIZED Arrange notes in folders up to four levels deep and find content with search. Add properties, start from templates, and save the filters and layouts you use regularly as views. CONNECT NOTES AND TASKS See checklists from your notes in one place and return to their source to continue working. Review note properties in a data table, group notes on a board, or organize dated notes on a calendar. Use different views of the same content without maintaining separate copies. SAVE LOCALLY. SYNC WHEN YOU CHOOSE. Start writing on your device without creating a ChanMing account. Enable optional iCloud sync to keep notes and attachments across devices using the same Apple Account. Import and export your material, and keep independent backups. Restoring a backup creates a separate library, preserving your current one. Sync is not a replacement for backups. MAKE ROOM FOR YOUR WAY OF WORKING Choose light or dark appearance, editor themes, list previews and interface language. Built-in welcome notes demonstrate the editor, properties and views with practical examples. COLLECT AND KEEP YOUR WORK Save shared content to a local inbox, then add it to your library. Open external files as copies after import review. Automatic local backups preserve saved changes while the app is open and idle; restore a separate library without overwriting the current one. OPTIONAL CHANMING PRO Basic editing, local notes, Markdown/native-package export, standard PNG, backup and restore are free. Pro adds iCloud sync, premium themes, PDF/HTML and higher-resolution PNG export. Alternate app icons are available on supported devices. Choose monthly, annual or lifetime access. Expiry or refund does not delete your notes, attachments or backups. Support: https://recarp.site/chanming/en/ Privacy: https://recarp.site/chanming/en/privacy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/itunes/appstore/dev/stdeula/
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: ChanMing at 17.0 against Plain Note's 26.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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. Plain Note sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and ChanMing sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Plain Note ships an update every 9 days, ChanMing weekly. The most recent releases landed on November 13, 2026 and November 14, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Plain Note | ChanMing |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.6 (1.1K ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 62.6% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 1.1K — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 9 days | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 31 MB | 38 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Monelyze Inc. | 阳 高 |
Bugs and requests
Plain Note
Reported bugs
2 issues- Notes sometimes get deleted after updates
- Widget not working as expected, showing wrong note
Requested features
7 requests- Ability to swipe widget to display another note
- Subfolders for better organization
- Export function to backup notes
- Option to change app colors
- Support for multiple notes in one widget
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- Text formatting options (bold, italics, headings)
- Ability to insert photos and videos
ChanMing
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
Plain Note
- Premium - Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- Premium - Yearly7 Days trial$19.991 Year
- Premium - Lifetime$29.99
ChanMing
- ChanMing Pro Monthly$1.991 Month
- ChanMing Pro Yearly$19.991 Year
- ChanMing Pro Lifetime$39.99
Questions
Is Plain Note free?
Is ChanMing free?
Do Plain Note or ChanMing have ads?
Which is updated more often, Plain Note or ChanMing?
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