Comparison

Side Notes vs Snapnote

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

Head to head
About

Side Notes

This app helps you organize thoughts by viewing multiple notes simultaneously. It offers layouts for comparing options, conducting analyses, or structuring complex ideas. Focus on your thinking with a clean, intuitive interface and privacy-focused design.

Highlights
  • Side-by-side note viewing
  • Multiple layout options (Dual, Four, Single)
  • Visual comparison of ideas
  • SWOT analysis and Eisenhower Matrix support
  • Rich text editing
  • Offline functionality
  • Export notes as PDF or text
Features
Read full description

Think Better with Side-by-Side Notes Side Notes revolutionizes how you organize your thoughts by letting you view multiple notes simultaneously. Perfect for making decisions, comparing options, and structuring complex ideas. WHY SIDE NOTES? Traditional note apps force you to think linearly, one note at a time. But real thinking isn't linear-it's multidimensional. Side Notes embraces this by giving you three powerful layouts: - Dual Layout - Two notes side by side Perfect for: Pros vs Cons, Before vs After, Option A vs Option B - Four Layout - Four notes in a 2x2 grid Perfect for: SWOT Analysis, Eisenhower Matrix (Urgent/Important), Comparison tables - Single Layout - One full note Perfect for: Meeting notes, Journaling, Quick captures REAL-WORLD USE CASES - Career Decisions - Compare job offers with pros, cons, and decision notes side by side - Vacation Planning - Evaluate destinations with budget, highlights, and itineraries - Project Management - Use Eisenhower Matrix to prioritize tasks - Business Strategy - Conduct SWOT analysis with all four quadrants visible - Home Projects - Plan renovations with before/after comparisons and budgets - Product Research - Compare features, prices, and reviews across options - Learning - Study with questions on one side, answers on the other - Budget Planning - Track planned vs actual spending KEY FEATURES Simple & Intuitive Clean, minimalist design that gets out of your way. Focus on thinking, not on learning complex features. Beautiful Themes Choose from 5 carefully crafted themes: Classic, Ocean, Sunset, Forest, and Midnight. Fast & Lightweight Instant launch, smooth performance. No bloat, no lag. Privacy First Your notes stay on your device. No cloud sync means no data collection, no tracking, no privacy concerns. Works Offline Full functionality without internet. Your thoughts are always accessible. No Subscription One-time purchase. No recurring fees, no feature paywalls. Rich Text Editing Format your notes with bold, italic, lists, and more. Smart Search Find any note or board instantly with powerful search. Easy Export Share your boards as PDF or plain text whenever you need. Multilingual Available in English, French, Spanish, Portuguese, Chinese, and Hindi. PERFECT FOR - Students analyzing study materials - Professionals making business decisions - Entrepreneurs conducting market research - Project managers prioritizing tasks - Anyone who thinks visually - People who compare options before deciding THE SIDE NOTES DIFFERENCE While other apps focus on endless features and complexity, Side Notes does one thing exceptionally well: helping you think clearly by organizing information spatially. It's the difference between reading a list and seeing a comparison. GET STARTED IN SECONDS 1. Create a new board 2. Choose your layout (Dual, Four, or Single) 3. Start writing 4. Switch between notes with a tap 5. See your thoughts organized clearly No tutorials needed. No learning curve. Just open and start thinking better. WHAT USERS SAY "Finally, an app that matches how I actually think!" "Perfect for my daily pros/cons lists" "The SWOT analysis layout is brilliant" "So simple, yet so powerful" TRY IT TODAY Transform how you make decisions, compare options, and organize complex thoughts. Download Side Notes and experience the power of multidimensional thinking.

About

Snapnote

Transform fleeting thoughts into fully-formed concepts with an intelligent AI agent. Capture ideas, links, and to-dos instantly, and let the AI analyze your memos to suggest new connections and expand your creativity. Effortlessly organize and find notes with powerful search and visual tools.

Highlights
  • AI-powered ideation and idea expansion
  • Instant capture of notes, links, and to-dos
  • Context-aware memos with interest mapping
  • Visualizations of thought process (Interest Map, Creative Flow)
  • Powerful search and intuitive organization
  • Tag system for effortless categorization
Features
Read full description

Snapnote isn't just a notebook. It is your personal idea partner that helps you capture, organize, and turn thoughts into action. Speak your ideas and watch Snapnote turn raw audio into structured notes, suggest smart next steps, and resurface past thoughts when you need them most. Never let a great idea fade away. Key Features Speak and Capture Record your voice on the go. Raw thoughts turn into clean, actionable notes in seconds. Smart Next Steps Get instant suggestions for calendar events, tasks, search queries, and focused action. Find by Meaning Can't remember the exact word? Search by context and recall past thoughts instantly. Visual Connections See how your ideas evolve with interactive mind maps and the Idea Garden. Fast and Accessible Widgets, Siri Shortcuts, and System Share Sheet for lightning fast capture. Privacy and Control Secure notes with passcode locks and enjoy fast, secure processing. Built for creators, students, founders, and curious minds. Transform your scattered thoughts into clear action today. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Side Notes4 screens
Snapnote4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Snapnote at 100% against Side Notes's 57%. Snapnote also leads on rating (4.8 vs 3.9) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 2 months). Side Notes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, device support and iOS requirement 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

Both are free to download. Snapnote sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $6.99 per month. Side Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Snapnote holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 12 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Side Notes's written reviews are positive against 100% of Snapnote's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, Snapnote every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on August 14, 2026 and September 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Side Notes versus Snapnote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSide NotesSnapnote
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (22 ratings)4.8 (12 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews100.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings22 — better12
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 4 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, Apple Watch
Requires iOS17.017.0
Further details — not scored
Size8 MB65 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStraw TechnologiesYongjun Lee

Customer experience

Side Notes

All ratings22 ratings
Positive68.2%
Neutral9.1%
Negative22.7%
Written reviews7 reviews
Positive57.1%
Neutral28.6%
Negative14.3%

Snapnote

All ratings12 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews13 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Side Notes

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

Snapnote

Subscriptions2
  • AI Creativity Pro$6.991 Month
  • AI Creativity Pro (Yearly)$39.991 Year
One-time3
  • Purchase unlimited features.$2.99
  • Upgrade Pro!$2.99
  • Life Time Membership$119.00

Questions

Is Side Notes free?
Side Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Snapnote free?
Snapnote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Side Notes or Snapnote?
Snapnote is rated higher. Side Notes averages 3.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Snapnote averages 4.8 from 12 ratings.
Do Side Notes or Snapnote have ads?
Snapnote shows ads; Side Notes does not.
Which is updated more often, Side Notes or Snapnote?
Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Snapnote every 4 days. Most recently, Side Notes was updated on August 14, 2026 and Snapnote on September 18, 2026.

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