# Side Notes vs MindThread

The clearest difference is rating: MindThread at 5.0 against Side Notes's 3.9. MindThread also leads on review sentiment (83% vs 57%). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

MindThread holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 22 and 10 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 57% of Side Notes's written reviews are positive against 83% of MindThread's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Side Notes | MindThread |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.9 (22 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-notes-pros-and-cons-list/id1555821224/reviews) | **[5.0 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindthread/id1636726168/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **22** | 10 |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | **83.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free | Free |
| Size | 12 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **16** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Straw Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/1120982866) | [正兵 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1054277944) |

## What reviewers say

### Side Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/side-notes-pros-and-cons-list/id1555821224)

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:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### MindThread

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mindthread/id1636726168)

Organize your thoughts and ideas visually with a user-friendly mind mapping tool. Create, style, and share your mind maps seamlessly across devices. Supports automatic and manual layouts for flexible idea visualization.

**Highlights:** Mind map editing with nodes and connections, Customizable styles and themes, Automatic and manual layout options, iCloud synchronization across devices, Export to PDF, image, OPML, and Markdown, Wireless printing via AirPrint

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Side Notes free?

Side Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is MindThread free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Side Notes or MindThread?

MindThread is rated higher. Side Notes averages 3.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while MindThread averages 5.0 from 10 ratings.

### Do Side Notes or MindThread have ads?

Neither Side Notes nor MindThread shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Side Notes or MindThread?

Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, and MindThread every 2 months. Most recently, Side Notes was updated on October 11, 2026 and MindThread on October 3, 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.*