# AxNote vs Pencil Journaling

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pencil Journaling at none against AxNote's 1. Pencil Journaling also leads on iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). AxNote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 1). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

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

AxNote holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 7 respectively. Written reviews split almost evenly too, at 50% and 50% positive.

AxNote ships an update every 2 months, Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | AxNote | Pencil Journaling |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/axnote-note-taking/id1532017999/reviews)** | [4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 7 | 7 |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Ad-supported |
| Size | 9 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jonathan Benjamin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1667195856) | [Masaru Suzuki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581410098) |

## What reviewers say

### AxNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/axnote-note-taking/id1532017999)

This app offers an intelligent canvas for note-taking, allowing users to generate summaries from text, handwriting, and audio recordings. It supports image annotation, data visualization with tables and charts, and handwriting conversion to typed text. Designed for Apple Pencil, it provides flexible layouts and on-device AI features.

**Highlights:** AI-powered summaries from text, handwriting, and audio, Audio transcription and topic exploration, Image and PDF annotation, Data visualization with tables and charts, Handwriting to typed text conversion, Apple Pencil integration, Customizable layouts

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| AxNote+ | $24.99 | one-time |


### Pencil Journaling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AxNote free?

AxNote 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, AxNote or Pencil Journaling?

AxNote is rated higher. AxNote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Pencil Journaling averages 4.1 from 7 ratings.

### Do AxNote or Pencil Journaling have ads?

Pencil Journaling shows ads; AxNote does not.

### Which is updated more often, AxNote or Pencil Journaling?

AxNote ships an update every 2 months, and Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. Most recently, AxNote was updated on October 6, 2026 and Pencil Journaling on September 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*