# MapNote2 vs Element Note

The clearest difference is price: Element Note at Free against MapNote2's $5.99. Element Note also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (fortnightly vs every 6 months). MapNote2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 17.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Element Note is free to download; MapNote2 costs $5.99 up front. Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. MapNote2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 36, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 45% of MapNote2's written reviews are positive against 68% of Element Note's.

MapNote2 ships an update every 6 months, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 16, 2026 and September 24, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapNote2 | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapnote2-infinity-size-note/id1488198559/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 36 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 45.2% of reviews | **68.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 153 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naoya Enokida](https://appshunter.io/developer/583844490) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### MapNote2

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapnote2-infinity-size-note/id1488198559)

This app offers an infinitely expanding canvas for capturing and organizing thoughts. It's designed to mimic the natural, radial way the brain generates ideas, moving beyond linear note-taking. Ideal for brainstorming, mind mapping, and sketching out concepts.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas for idea spreading, Radial thinking support, Mind mapping, Brainstorming tool, Idea sketching

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapNote2 free?

MapNote2 costs $5.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Element Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MapNote2 or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. MapNote2 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do MapNote2 or Element Note have ads?

Neither MapNote2 nor Element Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MapNote2 or Element Note?

MapNote2 ships an update every 6 months, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, MapNote2 was updated on September 16, 2026 and Element Note on September 24, 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.*