# Cognito vs ZNotes

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Cognito at 60% against ZNotes's 0%. Cognito also leads on rating (4.9 vs 2.5) and iOS requirement (12.1 vs 16.4). ZNotes's advantage is update cadence (every 9 days vs every 5 weeks). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Cognito holds the better App Store score, 4.9 against 2.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 10 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 60% of Cognito's written reviews are positive against 0% of ZNotes's.

Cognito ships an update every 5 weeks, ZNotes every 9 days. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 11, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Cognito | ZNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.9 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cognito-universal-study-app/id1479567470/reviews)** | [2.5 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/znotes-study-notes-and-revision/id6761271207/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **10** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **60.0% of reviews** | 0.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Every 9 days** |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 54 MB | 57 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.1** | 16.4 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Kram Technologies, Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1479567469) | [ZNotes](https://appshunter.io/developer/1888546350) |

## What reviewers say

### Cognito

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cognito-universal-study-app/id1479567470)

Create and practice interactive study materials like flashcards and practice tests. This platform offers a fast and affordable way to prepare for exams with unlimited access to content creation and study tools.

**Highlights:** Create flashcards, Practice tests, Study guides, Notes, Outlines, Unlimited content creation

**In-app purchases:** none


### ZNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/znotes-study-notes-and-revision/id6761271207)

Access over 200 syllabus-aligned study notes, chapter-wise quizzes, and an AI tutor for IGCSE, A-Level, IB Diploma, and SAT students. Improve exam confidence and achieve target grades with this free, student-led learning platform.

**Highlights:** Syllabus-aligned study notes, Chapter-wise quizzes, AI tutor (Ask Zee), Progress tracking, Student-created content, Exam confidence booster

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Cognito free?

Cognito is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is ZNotes free?

ZNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Cognito or ZNotes?

Cognito is rated higher. Cognito averages 4.9 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while ZNotes averages 2.5 from 4 ratings.

### Do Cognito or ZNotes have ads?

Neither Cognito nor ZNotes shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Cognito or ZNotes?

Cognito ships an update every 5 weeks, and ZNotes every 9 days. Most recently, Cognito was updated on October 7, 2026 and ZNotes on October 11, 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.*