AxNote vs SmartBlock
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
SmartBlock
This app transforms phone distractions into brain-training exercises. Block apps to reduce screen time and solve engaging puzzles to regain access, sharpening your mind while promoting focus and productivity.
- Block distracting apps and websites
- Solve puzzles to unlock app access
- Customizable puzzle difficulty and app limits
- Schedule app blocks by day and time
- Boost productivity and focus
- Reduce stress and improve mindfulness
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Get smarter while using your phone less. SmartBlock is the only screen time app that turns distraction into brain training. Block your most distracting apps to reduce your screen time. Regain access by solving fun, challenging puzzles that sharpen your mind. Why SmartBlock? * Reduce screen time by adding meaningful barriers between you and addictive apps * Become sharper and more productive by training your brain with puzzles * Stay focused and in control of your screen time How It Works * Block or limit groups of apps and websites * Unlock with intention: After a set amount of app usage, complete a puzzle to continue—or take it as a cue to unplug * Customise everything: Puzzle difficulty, maximum app usage, emergency pauses, and more * Schedule blocks: Set your schedule, blocking apps depending on the day of the week or time * Proven results: Users report significantly lower screen time and improved focus Benefits Beyond the Screen * Boost productivity and focus * Reduce stress and improve mindfulness * Support ADHD management * Set healthy routines for work, sleep, and rest * Detox from digital overload 7 Puzzles That Make You Smarter * NumberCrunch – Reach the target using 5 random numbers * WordFinder – Guess the 5-letter word in 6 tries * WordSpin – Create as many words as you can from 7 letters * Cryptic – Solve clever crossword clues * Anagrams – Rearrange letters to find a hidden word * Suguru – A Japanese logic puzzle that’s as addictive as it is brain-boosting Private & Secure SmartBlock runs entirely on your device. We never collect or share your personal data. Your focus is yours alone. Privacy Policy: https://smartblockapp.co/privacy-policy Terms of User / End User License Agreement: https://smartblockapp.co/terms-of-use
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is rating: SmartBlock at 5.0 against AxNote's 4.3. SmartBlock also leads on iOS requirement (18.0 vs 26.0). AxNote's advantage is monetization model (free vs freemium) and ratings volume (7 vs 1). On price, update cadence, 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 SmartBlock sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
SmartBlock holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: AxNote has 7 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.
AxNote ships an update every 2 months, SmartBlock every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on September 19, 2026.
| Parameter | AxNote | SmartBlock |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 4.3 (7 ratings) | 5.0 (1 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 50.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 1 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 3 weeks — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free — better | Freemium |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Vision Pro — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | 18.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 9 MB | 32 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Jonathan Benjamin | Adam Park |
Customer experience
AxNote
SmartBlock
In-app purchases
AxNote
- AxNote+$24.99
SmartBlock
- Weekly subscription$4.997 Days
- Annual Subscription + 1 Week Trial7 Days trial$4.997 Days
- Pro Subscription$19.991 Year
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- Annual Subscription$29.991 Year
- Annual Subscription + 1 Week Trial7 Days trial$29.991 Year
- 10k+ Puzzles Purchase$59.99









