# Widget Custom HomeScreen vs Element Note

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Element Note at 69% against Widget Custom HomeScreen's 26%. Element Note also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.6 vs 4.1). Widget Custom HomeScreen's advantage is iOS requirement (14.0 vs 17.0). On price, ratings volume, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Widget Custom HomeScreen sells 6 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.8K and 2.6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 26% of Widget Custom HomeScreen's written reviews are positive against 69% of Element Note's.

Widget Custom HomeScreen ships an update monthly, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Widget Custom HomeScreen | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.1 (2.8K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widget-custom-homescreen/id1550940348/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **2.8K** | 2.6K |
| Positive reviews | 26.3% of reviews | **68.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Subscription | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 214 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **14.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [GREEN DYGITAL CONSULTING LLP](https://appshunter.io/developer/1482111344) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Widget Custom HomeScreen

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widget-custom-homescreen/id1550940348)

Personalize your iPhone or iPad with custom themes, icons, and widgets. Transform your home screen with aesthetic wallpapers and unique styles. Integrates with the Health app for fitness tracking widgets.

**Highlights:** Customizable widgets (small, medium, large), Icon packs for custom shortcuts, Themed colors, fonts, and styles, 500+ 4K & HD Live wallpapers, Health app integration for fitness widgets, Step-by-step guides for setup

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

**In-app purchases (6)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Widget CustomHomeScreen:weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Widget Custom HomeScreen: PRO | $9.99 | per month |
| Widget | $29.99 | per year |
| Buy any one theme or icon pack | $4.99 | one-time |
| Limited Time Special Offer | $9.99 | one-time |
| Widget App Lifetime Offer | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 💡 Customizable widgets
- 👍 Aesthetic options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Paywall for most features
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🤔 Limited free options

**Reported bugs**

- Widgets not saving properly
- App icons not working as expected
- Frequent crashes and freezes

**Requested features**

- More free widget options
- Improved organization and search
- Halloween and Christmas themed widgets


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Widget Custom HomeScreen free?

Widget Custom HomeScreen is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Element Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Widget Custom HomeScreen or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. Widget Custom HomeScreen averages 4.1 out of 5 from 2.8K ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Widget Custom HomeScreen or Element Note have ads?

Widget Custom HomeScreen shows ads; Element Note does not.

### Which is updated more often, Widget Custom HomeScreen or Element Note?

Widget Custom HomeScreen ships an update monthly, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Widget Custom HomeScreen was updated on October 11, 2026 and Element Note on October 13, 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.*