# MapNote2 vs Noteshelf

The clearest difference is price: Noteshelf at Free against MapNote2's $5.99. Noteshelf also leads on rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and update cadence (weekly vs every 6 months). MapNote2's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 17) and iOS requirement (11.0 vs 18.0). On ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Noteshelf is free to download; MapNote2 costs $5.99 up front. Noteshelf sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. MapNote2 asks for nothing beyond the download.

Noteshelf holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noteshelf has 7K 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 57% of Noteshelf's.

MapNote2 ships an update every 6 months, Noteshelf weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | MapNote2 | Noteshelf |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $5.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.1 (36 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mapnote2-infinity-size-note/id1488198559/reviews) | **[4.6 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 36 | **7K** |
| Positive reviews | 45.2% of reviews | **57.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 6 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 153 MB | 558 MB |
| Requires iOS | **11.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Naoya Enokida](https://appshunter.io/developer/583844490) | [Fluid Touch Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318004740) |

## 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


### Noteshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203)

Create handwritten notes, annotate PDFs, and record audio with this app. It offers extensive customization for notebooks, a variety of writing tools, and AI-powered features for summarization and translation. Organize your thoughts and documents seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Handwritten note creation, PDF annotation and markup, Audio recording with notes, AI-powered summarization and translation, Customizable notebooks and templates, Handwriting to text conversion, Document scanning and import

**Features:** Family Sharing, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $19.99 | per month |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | per year |
| Premium for Noteshelf 2 users | $9.99 | one-time |
| Noteshelf 3 Premium - Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 📚 Versatile note-taking features
- 🎨 Customizable templates and covers
- 🔍 Accurate handwriting recognition
- 💻 Seamless integration across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔄 Sync issues between devices
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data security
- 🔍 Unreliable search functionality
- 🔧 Buggy or missing features from previous versions

**Reported bugs**

- Notebooks failing to open or sync correctly
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Imported PDFs losing formatting or functionality
- Unexpected loss of data or notes
- Compatibility issues with older devices or operating systems

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create folders within notebooks
- Improve page organization and navigation
- Implement a more intuitive color picker and pen customization
- Introduce a history/undo feature for linked pages
- Add support for custom stickers and templates


## Frequently asked questions

### Is MapNote2 free?

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

### Is Noteshelf free?

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

### Which has better reviews, MapNote2 or Noteshelf?

Noteshelf is rated higher. MapNote2 averages 4.1 out of 5 from 36 ratings, while Noteshelf averages 4.6 from 7K ratings.

### Do MapNote2 or Noteshelf have ads?

Neither MapNote2 nor Noteshelf shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, MapNote2 or Noteshelf?

MapNote2 ships an update every 6 months, and Noteshelf weekly. Most recently, MapNote2 was updated on October 10, 2026 and Noteshelf on October 19, 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.*