# AxNote vs SketchNote, Visual Note Taking

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | AxNote | SketchNote, Visual Note Taking |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/axnote-note-taking/id1532017999/reviews)** | [3.0 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchnote-visual-note-taking/id1659590787/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **7** | 3 |
| Positive reviews | **50.0% of reviews** | 33.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Every 2 days** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 42 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **13.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Jonathan Benjamin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1667195856) | [B TO J PTY LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/569308231) |

## 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 |


### SketchNote, Visual Note Taking

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sketchnote-visual-note-taking/id1659590787)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

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

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 Month Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| 1 Year Subscription | $19.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is AxNote free?

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

### Is SketchNote, Visual Note Taking free?

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, AxNote or SketchNote, Visual Note Taking?

AxNote is rated higher. AxNote averages 4.3 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while SketchNote, Visual Note Taking averages 3.0 from 3 ratings.

### Do AxNote or SketchNote, Visual Note Taking have ads?

Neither AxNote nor SketchNote, Visual Note Taking shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, AxNote or SketchNote, Visual Note Taking?

AxNote ships an update every 2 months, and SketchNote, Visual Note Taking every 2 days. Most recently, AxNote was updated on October 6, 2026 and SketchNote, Visual Note Taking on October 7, 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.*