Comparison

Side Notes vs Mindz

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

See both sides of every decision at once. Side Notes shows several notes on one screen, so your pros and cons, two options or a SWOT analysis sit side by side instead of hiding in separate lists. Pick a template, start typing, and compare at a glance. Free, with no ads and no account. START FAST WITH TEMPLATES • Pros & Cons: two columns, one clearer answer • Option A vs Option B: compare two choices side by side • SWOT analysis: strengths, weaknesses, opportunities and threats in one grid • Eisenhower matrix: sort tasks by urgent and important • Retrospective: went well, to improve, ideas, actions • Blank board: any layout, your own structure THREE LAYOUTS FOR THE WAY YOU THINK • Dual: two notes side by side • Four: a 2x2 grid for matrices and frameworks • Single: one full note when you need room to write Tap any note to edit it full screen, then swipe to move to the next one. MADE FOR REAL DECISIONS Should you take the job offer? Which apartment, which laptop, which city? Put every argument where you can see it. Run a SWOT on a business idea or a career move, plan your week with the Eisenhower matrix, and close a project or a sprint with a retrospective. ON ALL YOUR DEVICES, NO SIGN UP Your boards sync with iCloud across iPhone, iPad and Mac. There is no account to create and nothing to log in to. WRITE, THEN FIND IT AGAIN • Rich text formatting such as bold and italic (iOS 26 and later) • Word count on every note • Search board titles and note content, filter by Today or This week • Swipe to duplicate or delete a board, or long press for more options SHARE YOUR THINKING Export any board as a PDF or share it as text, ready for a meeting, a teammate or your future self. MAKE IT YOURS Light or dark mode and the Ink accent color, with Brick, Forest and Ocean in Side Notes Plus. A calm, paper-like design with serif titles. GREAT ON IPAD AND MAC More room to see every note at once, plus keyboard shortcuts on iPad and Mac (Apple silicon). Fully translated into 34 languages and redesigned for the latest iOS with Liquid Glass. GO FURTHER WITH SIDE NOTES PLUS Everything above stays free. Side Notes Plus is an optional upgrade for when you want more: • Advanced templates: weighted decision matrix, OKR, weekly review, 5 whys • Your own templates: save any board as a template • Lock a board with Face ID or Touch ID • All accent colors: Brick, Forest and Ocean • Markdown export to Notion, Obsidian or any editor Choose a yearly plan with a 1-week free trial, a monthly plan, or a one-time lifetime purchase. Side Notes is free, with no ads and no account. Just a clear space to think things through. Side Notes Plus is an optional auto-renewable subscription. Payment is charged to your Apple Account; it renews unless cancelled at least 24 hours before the end of the period. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://side-notes.app/en/privacy

About

Mindz

Read full description

Mindz - Mind Map & Lists: Great for Mind Mapping to Organize Your Ideas, Projects, and Thoughts Efficiently! Collect ideas, structure your thoughts, or plan projects – all in a clear and organized way. With Mindz - Mind Mapping, you can quickly and intuitively create mind maps, whether for brainstorming, project management, or to-do lists. Key Features of Mindz - Mind Map & Lists: • Clear List View: Quickly and efficiently structure information in easy-to-manage lists. • Visual Map View: Automatically turn your lists into visual mind maps for easy presentation. • Customizable Nodes: Add icons, images, colors, and links to personalize your mind maps. • Advanced Search Function: Find content quickly, no matter how large your mind map is. • Easy Navigation: Use breadcrumbs, favorites, or the map view to effortlessly switch between topics. • Node Positioning: Freely arrange nodes or use automatic alignment for perfect organization. • Local Backups: Keep your mind maps safe by exporting and importing Mindz or OPML files. • Share & Export: Share your mind maps as PDFs, images, or in OPML format with others. • Mind Map & Lists: Mind Mapping and List Creation combined for optimal organization. Exclusive Pro Features of Mindz - Mind Map & Lists: • Unlimited Creation: Create unlimited mind maps, lists and nodes for endless idea organization. • Map Designer: Customize the design of your mind maps quickly and easily. • Node Designer: Personalize individual or multiple nodes to suit your needs. • Advanced Export Options: Export your content as HTML, Markdown, or text files. • Attach Files to Nodes: Add documents, images, and audio files to individual nodes. • Dark Mode & Design Options: Personalize your experience with Dark Mode and custom accent colors. Who Is Mindz - Mind Map & Lists For? Mindz is perfect for anyone looking to organize, structure, and visualize their thoughts. Whether you're an individual or a professional, Mindz is the ideal tool for: • Students & Teachers: Organize class notes, plan lessons, brainstorm ideas for essays or presentations, and manage school projects with ease. • Business Professionals: Plan and manage projects, outline strategies, and create visual presentations to communicate ideas clearly and effectively. • Creative Thinkers: Capture ideas, map out creative processes, and brainstorm concepts for writing, design, or artistic projects. • Planners & Organizers: Create to-do lists, manage personal projects, plan events, and ensure every detail is covered. • Anyone Seeking Structure: Whether it's a simple list or a complex mind map, Mindz helps you bring order to chaos and achieve your goals more efficiently. Why Choose Mindz? With an intuitive interface, powerful features, and flexible customization options, Mindz - Mind Map & Lists offers the perfect solution for anyone looking to take a structured approach to their projects. No ads, no registration required – just get started and become more productive. Take Full Control of Your Ideas! Download now and start mind mapping right away. For more information about our Mind Mapping Tool, visit: https://www.mindz.de

Screenshots

Side Notes4 screens
Mindz4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Mindz at 5.0 against Side Notes's 3.9. Mindz also leads on iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). Side Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 2 months vs every 20 months) and ratings volume (22 vs 1). On price, 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

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

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Mindz holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Side Notes has 22 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, Mindz every 20 months. Both last shipped on October 24, 2026.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
Side Notes versus Mindz: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSide NotesMindz
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (22 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 20 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStraw TechnologiesTHOMAS SCHULZ

In-app purchases

None

Side Notes

No in-app purchases

None

Mindz

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Side Notes free?
Side Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Mindz free?
Mindz is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Side Notes or Mindz?
Mindz is rated higher. Side Notes averages 3.9 out of 5 from 22 ratings, while Mindz averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Side Notes or Mindz have ads?
Neither Side Notes nor Mindz shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Side Notes or Mindz?
Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Mindz every 20 months. Most recently, Side Notes was updated on October 24, 2026 and Mindz on October 24, 2026.

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