# Notesnook vs CalcPlus

The clearest difference is ratings volume: Notesnook at 672 against CalcPlus's 2. CalcPlus's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 79%) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notesnook sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and CalcPlus sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

CalcPlus holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notesnook has 672 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 79% of Notesnook's written reviews are positive against 100% of CalcPlus's.

Notesnook ships an update every 8 days, CalcPlus fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notesnook | CalcPlus |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (672 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notesnook-private-notepad/id1544027013/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calcplus-hidden-notes/id6744618485/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **672** | 2 |
| Positive reviews | 78.7% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 8 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 96 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPhone, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Streetwriters LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1536533660) | [Wildcatter LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1229934042) |

## What reviewers say

### Notesnook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notesnook-private-notepad/id1544027013)

This open-source app offers secure, encrypted note-taking and organization across all your devices. It features a robust editor, to-do lists, and a private journal with advanced security to protect your personal information.

**Highlights:** Military-grade encryption, Cross-platform synchronization, To-do lists and task management, Private journal with media support, Rich text and Markdown editor, Notebook organization, App lock with fingerprint support

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notesnook Pro | $0.99 | per month |
| Notesnook Essential Plan | $1.99 | per month |
| Notesnook Pro | $2.49 | per month |
| Notesnook Pro Plan | $2.99 | per month |
| Notesnook Pro | $4.49 | per month |
| Notesnook Pro | $4.49 | per month |
| Notesnook Pro Plan | $6.99 | per month |
| Notesnook Believer Plan | $8.99 | per month |
| Notesnook Pro | $9.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Essential Plan | $19.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Pro | $24.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Pro Plan | $29.90 | per year |
| Notesnook Pro Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Pro | $49.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Pro Plan | $69.99 | per year |
| Notesnook Believer Plan | $89.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Fast and efficient
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 👍 Clean and intuitive UI
- 👍 Cross-platform compatibility
- 👍 Generous free tier

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync and login issues
- 🐛 Buggy and crashes
- 💰 Expensive premium tier
- 🔒 Lack of free encryption features

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on launch on older iOS devices
- Sync issues leading to data loss
- Unreliable login and verification process

**Requested features**

- Improved search functionality
- Reminders and calendar integration
- Handwriting and drawing support
- Multilingual support
- Improved table and spreadsheet features


### CalcPlus

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calcplus-hidden-notes/id6744618485)

This app combines a fully functional calculator with a secure, encrypted notes system. Store sensitive information like crypto wallet phrases and passwords locally and offline, protected by a PIN and optional biometric authentication. It offers a discreet interface and prioritizes user privacy with no cloud sync or ads.

**Highlights:** Encrypted local notes storage, Calculator interface, PIN and biometric security, Offline functionality, Customizable themes and app icons, Auto-wipe on failed attempts

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| CalcPlus Pro | $9.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notesnook free?

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

### Is CalcPlus free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notesnook or CalcPlus?

CalcPlus is rated higher. Notesnook averages 4.7 out of 5 from 672 ratings, while CalcPlus averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Notesnook or CalcPlus have ads?

Neither Notesnook nor CalcPlus shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notesnook or CalcPlus?

Notesnook ships an update every 8 days, and CalcPlus fortnightly. Most recently, Notesnook was updated on October 13, 2026 and CalcPlus on October 2, 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.*