Cards App vs Present Past
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Cards App
This app helps you record and recall random thoughts using a flashcard system. You can organize notes with color tags, search ideas online, and utilize a dark mode for note-taking. It also transforms your device into a digital sign or flashcard display in landscape mode.
- Record and recall random thoughts
- Apply color tags to cards
- Device as sign/flashcard display
- Search ideas on the internet
- Dark mode for note-taking
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See Cards App as a stack of flash cards. They do nothing but: - Record and recall your random thoughts in a day - Apply color tags on your cards - Turn your device into a sign / flashcards in Landscape Mode - Search your ideas on the internet with a simple click - Note-taking in the dark (Dark Mode in iOS 13)
Present Past
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Present Past is a simple journaling app built around a timeline. It helps you capture small moments as they happen and quietly brings them back later, when they feel new again. Instead of long, structured entries, you can write short notes throughout the day. Thoughts, events, or even something you don’t want to forget. Over time, they form a personal history you can revisit anytime. ### Key Features - Timeline-based journaling Your entries are organized in a clean, chronological timeline, making it easy to browse your past. - Quick capture Open the app and start writing immediately. No friction, no setup. - Hashtags for flexible organization Add tags to your entries and follow threads across time. - Resurface past moments Revisit entries from the past and rediscover thoughts you’ve forgotten. - Text-first experience Designed to keep your focus on thoughts rather than media. - Private and simple Your data stays on your device. No accounts, no distractions.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Present Past at every 4 days against Cards App's every 3 weeks. Cards App's advantage is iOS requirement (11.1 vs 15.1). On price, ads, 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. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.
Cards App ships an update every 3 weeks, Present Past every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 26, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Cards App | Present Past |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.7 (3 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 3 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Every 4 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 11.1 — better | 15.1 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 8 MB | 33 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | thebaselab Ltd | SeungEun Lee |
In-app purchases
Cards App
No in-app purchases
Present Past
No in-app purchases








