Comparison

Side Notes vs Notiq

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

Notiq

Features
Read full description

Transform the way you take notes with Notiq Notiq is a powerful, intuitive note-taking app designed for the modern thinker. Whether you're a student capturing lecture notes, a professional organizing project ideas, or a creative mind brainstorming your next masterpiece, Notiq has everything you need. KEY FEATURES Smart Organization • Organize notes in Notebooks, Sections, and Pages • Create unlimited notebooks for different projects • Color-code your notebooks for quick identification • Three-column navigation for effortless browsing Rich Text Editing • Multiple text styles: Headings, paragraphs, quotes • Bullet lists and numbered lists • Interactive checklists with tap-to-complete • Beautiful typography that's easy on the eyes Drawing & Sketching • Apple Pencil support for natural drawing • Adjustable brush sizes and colors • Perfect for diagrams, doodles, and visual notes • Smooth, responsive canvas Voice Recording • Record audio notes on the go • Perfect for lectures, meetings, and voice memos • Playback controls built right into your notes • High-quality audio capture Video Notes • Record video directly in your notes • Capture demonstrations and visual explanations • Integrated video playback • Keep everything in one place Equation Editor • Create beautiful mathematical equations • Support for fractions, exponents, and more • Perfect for students and professionals • Easy-to-use template system Image Integration • Insert photos from your library • Capture new photos directly • Support for diagrams and screenshots • All your visual content in context Privacy & Security • Face ID / Touch ID protection • Your notes stay private and secure • Local storage - your data stays on your device • Optional biometric authentication Powerful Settings • Customize your experience • Dark mode support • Data export and backup • Professional settings panel Reliable Data Storage • Auto-save as you type • Never lose your work • Fast and efficient storage • Export your notes anytime PERFECT FOR Students • Take lecture notes with text, drawings, and photos • Record audio during class • Create study checklists • Organize notes by subject Professionals • Meeting notes with action items • Project planning and brainstorming • Voice memos and reminders • Professional documentation Creatives • Sketch ideas and concepts • Mixed media notes • Story boarding and planning • Visual journaling Educators • Lesson planning • Student feedback notes • Lecture preparation • Educational content creation WHY CHOOSE NOTIQ All-in-One Solution- Text, drawing, audio, video, photos, and equations in one app Intuitive Interface- Beautiful, modern design that's easy to learn Fast & Responsive - Smooth performance, even with large notebooks Privacy First - Your notes are yours, stored locally and securely No Subscription Required- One-time purchase, lifetime access (if paid) Regular Updates- Continuously improving with new features SYSTEM REQUIREMENTS • iOS 16.0 or later • iPhone and iPad compatible • Optimized for all screen sizes • Apple Pencil support on compatible devices BEAUTIFUL DESIGN Notiq features a modern, clean interface with a signature purple theme. The three-column layout makes navigation effortless, while the focused editor helps you concentrate on your ideas without distractions. GET STARTED TODAY Download Notiq now and experience note-taking reimagined. Whether you're capturing a quick thought or building a comprehensive knowledge base, Notiq adapts to your workflow. Transform your thoughts into organized, beautiful notes with Notiq

Screenshots

Side Notes4 screens
Notiq4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Side Notes at every 2 months against Notiq's every 4 months. 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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, Notiq every 4 months. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Side Notes versus Notiq: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSide NotesNotiq
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.9 (22 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews57.1% of reviews—
Number of ratings22 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 2 months — betterEvery 4 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.016.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size12 MB3 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperStraw TechnologiesDinesh Malla

In-app purchases

None

Side Notes

No in-app purchases

None

Notiq

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Side Notes free?
Side Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notiq free?
Notiq is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Side Notes or Notiq have ads?
Neither Side Notes nor Notiq shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Side Notes or Notiq?
Side Notes ships an update every 2 months, and Notiq every 4 months. Most recently, Side Notes was updated on October 24, 2026 and Notiq on October 28, 2026.

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