Comparison

Pocket Note vs Pencil Journaling

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Pocket Note

Transform your device into a powerful business notepad. Quickly capture ideas with handwriting, typing, and rich media. Organize notes into groups and export them as images or PDFs for easy sharing and printing.

Highlights
  • Handwritten and typed input
  • Customizable pen sizes and colors
  • Paste photos and maps
  • Insert figures and lines
  • Export as image or PDF
  • Organize notes into groups
  • iCloud synchronization
Features
Read full description

Would you like to make your smartphone or tablet PC into a useful business tool?  Pocket Note is a notepad application specially designed for the business scene. With Pocket Note, you can quickly put your ideas together by a straightforward, simple operation. [Major functions] - We provided grid lines and horizontal ruled lines on the notepad to make it easier to organize what you write down.And when you don't need a grid or horizontal lines, you can choose "blank". - You can input either manually or from the keyboard (compatible with Apple Pencil).  For manual input, choose from 2 pens, "regular" or "thick", and an eraser.  For pen size and color, choose from 20 sizes and 25 colors. - You can paste up to 20 photos on each page. - You can paste maps.  With a map, you can do the following:   You can display your current position on the map using GPS.   By continuously pressing down at a given location on the map, you can place a pin at the location.   By inputting a name or address, you can place a pin at that location.   You can also specify the zoom factor as you wish. - By pasting figures and lines, you can display your notes graphically.  For figures, choose from rectangles, triangles or circles.  You can specify their size and shape freely.  Lines may be with or without arrows.  For figures and lines, choose from 25 different colors. - You can save your notes as an image or a PDF file. You can do the following:  Print them out with a printer.  Save them as images in iOS "Photos".  Attach them to emails as images or PDF files.  Share them as images with iCloud Photo Sharing.  Paste them as images in iOS standard "Notes".  Save them as PDF files in iOS standard "iBooks".  They can be uploaded as images to Twitter, Facebook, Google+, Instagram, Evernote, Flickr, Line, etc.  (If these applications are installed. Also, if the application is compatible with iOS App Extensions, they can be uploaded as images.) - Notes can be organized into groups.  Several groups can be set for each note.  Notes can be displayed by group, or by modified date. - It's compatible with iCloud, so you can share your notes on your iPhone or iPad. - Compatible with Siri Shortcuts. You can use this application for free for 30 days. If you want to use this app from the 31th day onward, please watch the advertisement movie or make In-App Purchase. [Contact us] https://www.studioks.net/en/contact-us/ [Studio K's - Business Applications Maker] https://www.studioks.net/en/

About

Pencil Journaling

This app offers a focused journaling experience with a pen-compatible notebook and a built-in timer. Choose from over 50 themes and set daily reminders to cultivate a writing habit. Its minimalist interface helps you concentrate on your thoughts and clear your mind.

Highlights
  • Pen-compatible notebook
  • Focus timer
  • Over 50 journaling themes
  • Daily habit notifications
  • Minimalist UI
  • Page sharing options
Read full description

A simple notebook with a timer that allows you to choose a theme and write in pen. It also includes features for journaling, such as a list of over 50 themes and app notifications that can be made into a daily habit. This is recommended when you want to concentrate on your thoughts and clear your head. * Notebooks that are compatible with Apple Pencil and other pens * Timer that allows you to focus on a certain time * Minimal UI that doesn't interfere with thinking * A list of topics about work, yourself, etc. that you don't have to worry about what to write about * App notifications to encourage habit formation Usage: - Decide on the device orientation (i.e. page orientation) and press the Add button. - Decide on a theme or title. - Set the time for the timer. - Choose your favorite pen. - Start the timer. - Now let's focus on writing! - While the timer is running, you can switch between pen, eraser, and lasso in the lower left corner of the screen. - The thumbnails in the page list can be resized by pinching in and out. Version 1.3: Page sharing (copy/print/save image, etc.) is now supported. Tap the Share button at the bottom right of the page and select the sharing option (sharing to external applications may not work properly). Version 1.2: Skipped Version 1.1: Double-tap of the Apple Pencil is now supported. If you enable "Use Apple Pencil Double Tap" in the settings, you can switch between pen and eraser by double-tapping the Apple Pencil while the timer is running (the toolbar in the lower left corner of the screen will be hidden and the lasso tool will not be available).

Screenshots

Pocket Note4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pencil Journaling at none against Pocket Note's 1. Pencil Journaling also leads on review sentiment (50% vs 33%). Pocket Note's advantage is device support (3 vs 1). On price, rating, ratings volume and update cadence 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Pocket Note sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pencil Journaling asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.3 for Pocket Note against 4.1 for Pencil Journaling. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 14 and 7 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 33% of Pocket Note's written reviews are positive against 50% of Pencil Journaling's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pocket Note ships an update every 2 months, Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 15, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Pocket Note versus Pencil Journaling: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPocket NotePencil Journaling
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (14 ratings) — better4.1 (7 ratings)
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews50.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings14 — better7
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 weeks — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesAd-supported — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better14.0
Further details — not scored
Size25 MB5 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperNAOAKI SEKIGUCHIMasaru Suzuki

Customer experience

Pocket Note

All ratings14 ratings
Positive78.6%
Neutral0.0%
Negative21.4%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative55.6%

Pencil Journaling

All ratings7 ratings
Positive71.4%
Neutral14.3%
Negative14.3%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Pocket Note

One-time1
  • Pocket Note License$3.99
None

Pencil Journaling

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Pocket Note free?
Pocket Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Pencil Journaling free?
Pencil Journaling is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Pocket Note or Pencil Journaling?
Pocket Note is rated higher. Pocket Note averages 4.3 out of 5 from 14 ratings, while Pencil Journaling averages 4.1 from 7 ratings.
Do Pocket Note or Pencil Journaling have ads?
Both Pocket Note and Pencil Journaling show ads.
Which is updated more often, Pocket Note or Pencil Journaling?
Pocket Note ships an update every 2 months, and Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. Most recently, Pocket Note was updated on October 23, 2026 and Pencil Journaling on October 15, 2026.

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