AxNote vs SketchNote, Visual Note Taking
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
AxNote
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.
- 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
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AxNote is an intelligent canvas that thinks with you. Generate summaries from your notes and audio recordings with Apple Intelligence. Explore topics in recordings and jump to where they're discussed. Create flashcards from your notes with a single tap. Handwrite your notes and convert it to typed text. Drag and drop images, and instantly annotate on a blank canvas, lined, or grid paper. Snap perfect shapes. Create beautiful tables and charts to visualize your data. AxNote is a next-level digital note-taking experience. FEATURES Magic Summary: Generate summaries of your text, handwriting, or audio recordings using a device that supports Apple Intelligence. Summaries are perfect for catching up with meetings, revision, and for creating flashcards. Magic Summary cards can also be converted to a PDF or plain text for use in your favorite flashcard platform. Ask About Topics: Magic Summary automatically finds key topics discussed in your audio recordings and gives you summaries of those topics. You can also ask specific questions about the contents of your recording and Magic Summary will give you an answer using your recording as the source of truth. Jump To Topic: Instantly skip to the part of a recording where a specific topic is discussed with Magic Summary. No more manually scrubbing through hours of lectures or meetings. Audio Transcription: AxNote features fast, accurate audio transcription that runs directly on your device and supports languages other than English. Audio transcriptions can be added to your note or shared with others. Images, PDFs, Tables, and Charts: Drag and drop images and PDFs anywhere in a note. Images can be annotated directly over using a markup tool. Create simple tables with CSV support and link them with charts to create beautiful data visualizations. Images, tables, and charts live right alongside your handwriting and typed text. AxNote also supports Image Playground, so you can turn a prompt into an image and add it to your note (requires a device with Apple Intelligence enabled). Made for Pencil: AxNote is the perfect companion for Apple Pencil. With support for tilt and pressure sensitivity, shape snapping, Apple Pencil Hover, and handwriting-to-text, it's the only app you need to turn your ideas into beautiful ink. Layouts: Transform your iPad or iPhone into a real notebook with a selection of preset Layouts, including lined, grid, dot grid paper, and a freeform canvas. Customize your layouts with specific measurements for line and grid spacing and colors. Bookmarks: Pin what matters most in your notes. You can access your bookmarks from anywhere in a note, allowing you to jump within (and between) pages for quick access to important content. Privacy and Flexibility: With AxNote, you're in control of your data and where it's stored. Save your documents in your preferred cloud storage provider with the Files app or keep them on your device. AxNote's AI features also run directly on your Apple Intelligence-supported device, so your notes are never sent to an online service for processing or AI model training. Offline Support: AxNote's AI features (including Magic Summary and Audio Transcription) don't need an internet connection after initial setup, so you can work even when you're off the grid. --- AxNote+ - Unlimited pages - Unlimited Magic Summary usage - Customize Layouts These features are available with a one-time in-app purchase to AxNote+. Please read the Terms of Service at animantlabs.com/axnote/terms --- Need help? Please visit support.animantlabs.com/axnote Terms of Service: animantlabs.com/axnote/terms
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking
This app transforms your device into a digital notebook for natural handwriting and drawing. Utilize pre-designed elements, import documents for annotation, and sync notes across devices. It offers a paperless workflow with easy sharing and export options.
- Natural handwriting experience
- Pre-designed shapes and clipart
- Import and annotate PDFs/images
- iCloud Sync for notes
- Move, resize, and rotate handwriting
- Export and share documents
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SketchNote will help you take great notes without any art skill. Use pre-designed shapes, letter & Numbers, clipart to take great notes. Transform your iPhone and iPad into smart digital paper. Take handwritten notes in digital notebooks. WRITE NATURALLY - LIKE ON REAL PAPER * Completely natural writing experience * Write with the Apple Pencil and your finger * Select and customize your pen color, thickness, and style * Easily switch between pen, highlighter etc. NEVER LOSE YOUR NOTES AGAIN * All your notes with you at all times thanks to iCloud Sync ESCAPE THE LIMITS OF ANALOG PAPER * Move, resize, and rotate your handwriting or change colors * Draw perfect shapes and lines with the Shapes Tool * Pinch to zoom and write more precisely GO PAPERLESS * Import PDF, images, photos and more to annotate them right on your iPhone and iPad * Export documents and share them with others for a fully digital workflow ATTACH ANYTHING * Attach videos, images, photos [ Upgrade to subscription version ] Upgrading to subscription version requires auto-renewal subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. Links to Your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: http://www.btoj.com.au/privacy.html http://www.btoj.com.au/terms.html Please feel free to contact us for anything.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: AxNote at 4.3 against SketchNote, Visual Note Taking's 3.0. AxNote also leads on monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and review sentiment (50% vs 33%). SketchNote, Visual Note Taking's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. AxNote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and SketchNote, Visual Note Taking sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
AxNote holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 3 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of AxNote's written reviews are positive against 33% of SketchNote, Visual Note Taking's.
AxNote ships an update every 2 months, SketchNote, Visual Note Taking every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 6, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | AxNote | SketchNote, Visual Note Taking |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (7 ratings) — better | 3.0 (3 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews — better | 33.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 3 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 13.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 42 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jonathan Benjamin | B TO J PTY LTD |
Customer experience
AxNote
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking
In-app purchases
AxNote
- AxNote+$24.99
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking
- 1 Month Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
- 1 Year Subscription7 Days trial$19.991 Year
Questions
Is AxNote free?
Is SketchNote, Visual Note Taking free?
Which has better reviews, AxNote or SketchNote, Visual Note Taking?
Do AxNote or SketchNote, Visual Note Taking have ads?
Which is updated more often, AxNote or SketchNote, Visual Note Taking?
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