# CollaNote vs Focus Read

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Focus Read at none against CollaNote's 4. On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. CollaNote sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Focus Read asks for nothing beyond the download.

CollaNote ships an update every 6 days, Focus Read every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 25, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | CollaNote | Focus Read |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (15K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collanote-notes-and-pdf-markup/id1540956268/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **15K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 71.4% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 6 days** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 224 MB | 2 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad** | iPhone |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zauberberg Lab Company Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/1693142923) | [MEET SOFTWARE COMPANY LIMITED](https://appshunter.io/developer/6784162902) |

## What reviewers say

### CollaNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/collanote-notes-and-pdf-markup/id1540956268)

This app offers a comprehensive note-taking experience with advanced tools for digital planning, PDF markup, and flashcard creation. It features a wide array of pens, handwriting stabilization, and AI-powered assistance for enhanced productivity and creativity. Organize, secure, and share your notes seamlessly across devices.

**Highlights:** 25+ pens and brushes, PDF, PPT, DOC markup, Flashcard creation, Translation tool, Audio recording, AI-powered tools, Real-time collaboration

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Premium Loyal Users | $6.95 | one-time |
| Premium: Time Limited Sale | $6.95 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Welcome Offer | $9.69 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium | $13.90 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Very good writing app
- 🚀 Great app and easy to navigate
- 🚀 Excellent note taking app
- 👍 Amazing free note taking app
- 👍 Fantastic for teaching

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Glitching, crashing, and issues with writing tools
- 🐛 Inconsistent performance and bugs
- 🐛 Issues with PDF annotations and exports
- 🐛 Problems with organization and navigation
- 🐛 Frequent crashes and data loss

**Reported bugs**

- Pen and eraser issues after updates
- Freezing and crashing when deleting or moving notes
- Inconsistent behavior of favorite pen settings
- Incompatibility with older devices
- Login screen freezes

**Requested features**

- Add landscape mode support
- Improve text editing and formatting
- Enhance organization with nested folders
- Implement better backup and sync options
- Add more pen/pencil customization


### Focus Read

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/focus-read/id6799005738)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is CollaNote free?

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

### Is Focus Read free?

Focus Read is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Do CollaNote or Focus Read have ads?

Neither CollaNote nor Focus Read shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, CollaNote or Focus Read?

CollaNote ships an update every 6 days, and Focus Read every 10 days. Most recently, CollaNote was updated on October 25, 2026 and Focus Read on October 8, 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.*