# Best Journal vs Notebook

The clearest difference is rating: Notebook at 4.7 against Best Journal's 3.9. Notebook also leads on ads (none vs shown). Best Journal's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and review sentiment (52% vs 33%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notebook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Best Journal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 30 and 35 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 52% of Best Journal's written reviews are positive against 33% of Notebook's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Best Journal | Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (30 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-journal-diary-notebook/id1484929963/reviews) | **[4.7 (35 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-to-do-list/id6463585868/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 30 | **35** |
| Positive reviews | **51.7% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Ad-supported** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 65 MB | 29 MB |
| Requires iOS | **9.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Nanjing LeMeng Network Technology Co., Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1431596998) | [HabbitHub](https://appshunter.io/developer/1701559105) |

## What reviewers say

### Best Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/best-journal-diary-notebook/id1484929963)

This app allows users to record their lives through a digital diary, notebook, and memo function. It offers a wide range of templates, stickers, and fonts to personalize entries, along with free typesetting and drawing tools. Privacy is a key focus, with all data stored locally and under user control.

**Highlights:** Digital diary and notebook, Exquisite templates, Massive materials (wallpapers, stickers, tapes), Free handwritten fonts, Free typesetting, Doodle and drawing tools, Privacy-focused local storage

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-to-do-list/id6463585868)

This app transforms spoken words into text, allows for quick note-taking, and offers robust to-do list management. Organize your thoughts with customizable, colorful notebooks and enhance them with markdown formatting. Capture every idea without limits in a secure and private environment.

**Highlights:** Speech to Text conversion, Quick note creation, To-Do list management, Customizable notebooks, Color-coded organization, Markdown formatting, Unlimited notes

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Upgrade Premium Version | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Upgrade to Premium | $14.99 | per year |
| Upgrade for Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Best Journal free?

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

### Is Notebook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Best Journal or Notebook?

Notebook is rated higher. Best Journal averages 3.9 out of 5 from 30 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.7 from 35 ratings.

### Do Best Journal or Notebook have ads?

Best Journal shows ads; Notebook does not.

### Which is updated more often, Best Journal or Notebook?

Best Journal ships an update every 2 months, and Notebook every 2 months. Most recently, Best Journal was updated on October 23, 2026 and Notebook on October 25, 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.*