Comparison

Hacker Note vs Handy Counter | Control volume

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Hacker Note

This note-taking app offers a unique "coolness" with a design inspired by hackers and sci-fi movies. Enjoy a futuristic feel with a transparent background option and customizable themes. It includes essential features like categorization, password protection, and cloud backup.

Highlights
  • High-performance and simple functionality
  • Transparent app background
  • Theme color customization
  • Category management
  • HTML and Markdown output
  • Password protection
  • Google Drive backup
Features
Read full description

Recommended for those who are tired of general Note Taking apps. Hacker Note is a simple Note Taking App that pursues "coolness". The design is based on the image of "hackers," "sci-fi movies". example "The Matrix". It is also equipped with a function that makes app background look transparent, so you can enjoy a sense of the near future while taking notes, which is different from ordinary memos. [Main functions] ・ High-performance and simple function ・ Background transparency function ・ Theme color change function ・ Category function ・Output function to HTML and markdown ・ Password setting ・ Backup to Google Drive ・Cool Japanese mode - For cool Japanese displays such as kanji. [Features to be expanded in the future] ・ A cooler color theme

About

Handy Counter | Control volume

Features
Read full description

The counter can be operated with only the volume buttons. Good feeling of pressing buttons with realistic operation! Let's count things while having fun without stress!

Screenshots

Hacker Note4 screens
Handy Counter | Control volume2 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Handy Counter | Control volume at Free against Hacker Note's $9.99. Hacker Note's advantage is update cadence (fortnightly vs every 22 months) and iOS requirement (13.0 vs 16.1). On ads, in-app purchases and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Handy Counter | Control volume is free to download; Hacker Note costs $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Hacker Note ships an update fortnightly, Handy Counter | Control volume every 22 months. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 1, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 5 level
Hacker Note versus Handy Counter | Control volume: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHacker NoteHandy Counter | Control volume
Price$9.99Free — better
Positive reviews85.7% of reviews—
Update frequencyFortnightly — betterEvery 22 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better16.1
Further details — not scored
Size36 MB1 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developeryuki okadaYu Hiraoka

In-app purchases

None

Hacker Note

No in-app purchases

None

Handy Counter | Control volume

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Hacker Note free?
Hacker Note costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Handy Counter | Control volume free?
Handy Counter | Control volume is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Hacker Note or Handy Counter | Control volume have ads?
Neither Hacker Note nor Handy Counter | Control volume shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Hacker Note or Handy Counter | Control volume?
Hacker Note ships an update fortnightly, and Handy Counter | Control volume every 22 months. Most recently, Hacker Note was updated on October 10, 2026 and Handy Counter | Control volume on October 1, 2026.

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