Comparison

OurNotes vs CanvasNote

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

Head to head
About

OurNotes

Capture your thoughts, ideas, and daily entries with a versatile note-taking application. Supports Apple Pencil for iPad users, allowing for handwritten notes. Offers cloud synchronization and the ability to view PDFs and record audio.

Highlights
  • Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil
  • iCloud storage and synchronization
  • View PDF documents
  • Voice recording
  • Export notes as PDF or image
Read full description

A simple note app. Take notes, diary, ideas and more with Apple Pencil on iPad. * Various note forms are available. * You can use iCloud to store and synchronize documents in the Cloud. * You can view PDF documents and make voice recordings. * You can export the created notes as PDF or image files. * The app contains advertisements.

About

CanvasNote

Read full description

The Ultimate Note-Taking App CanvasNote is the indispensable app for everyone who loves to write with a pen and seeks the ultimate note-taking experience. This app is specifically designed for use with a pen and offers a plethora of features to perfect your handwritten notes. It naturally supports the Apple Pencil, as well as alternatives compatible with the iPad or iPad Pro. Here is a detailed overview of everything CanvasNote has to offer: Outstanding Note-Taking Features: Integrated Templates: Choose from a selection of templates, including squared or lined paper, as well as special templates for music notes and mathematics. You can write in both portrait and landscape orientation. The innovative "Own Templates" area: Here, you can not only create individual categories but also share your templates with other users and save them directly on the iPad. A backup of the template folders can also be created to easily restore them on a new device. Effortlessly import templates via the iPad's photo gallery or as a PDF document and explore the variety of free note templates available online in image format or as PDF templates, to save on the iPad and import into CanvasNote. Create your own template collection, neatly divided into categories, to quickly find and apply them in your notes. Customizable Pens and Colors: Switch between different pen types, tools, and colors to give your notes a personal touch. Creating your own color palette is also possible. With three integrated sliders for the individual RGB channels, any conceivable color can be mixed. There are tools for circles, rectangles, and a special line pen that allows for the perfect drawing of vertical and horizontal lines. The line thickness and pressure sensitivity of each pen and tool can be individually adjusted via sliders. The eraser function is also available. Organization and Management: Dynamically Growing Folders: Create folders for different notes that dynamically expand as you add new pages. This keeps you always organized. Image and Document Integration: Add images from the iPad's photo gallery and write directly on them. Use the iPad's internal camera to capture documents and insert them into your notes. The integrated scan function allows for perfect capture of external documents via the iPad camera or photo gallery. Comprehensive PDF Integration: CanvasNote offers extensive PDF features. Import and edit PDF files with ease and export your edited documents in no time. Versatile Application Areas: Perfect for School, Work, and Personal Use: CanvasNote is excellent for use in school, at work, and for personal notes. Whether you want to create lecture notes, ideas, or drawings, this app is the right choice. Intuitive Management: Clear Folders: All your notes are stored neatly in folders within the app and can be easily viewed and organized. Requires a Digital Stylus: Please note that CanvasNote requires a stylus for input (Apple Pencil or iPad-compatible alternative) and cannot be written or drawn on with fingers. Experience the ultimate note-taking experience with CanvasNote and enhance your productivity and creativity. Get CanvasNote now and dive into the world of digital handwritten notes!

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OurNotes at none against CanvasNote's 1. CanvasNote's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 5 days vs every 4 weeks). On price, 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. CanvasNote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. OurNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

OurNotes ships an update every 4 weeks, CanvasNote every 5 days. The most recent releases landed on June 9, 2026 and September 13, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
OurNotes versus CanvasNote: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterOurNotesCanvasNote
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews75.0% of reviews
Number of ratings1 — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 weeksEvery 5 days — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported
DevicesiPadiPad
Requires iOS14.3 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size104 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperPark Jae KyunNicolai Kummer

In-app purchases

None

OurNotes

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

CanvasNote

One-time1
  • Unlock Full Version$1.99

Questions

Is OurNotes free?
OurNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is CanvasNote free?
CanvasNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do OurNotes or CanvasNote have ads?
OurNotes shows ads; CanvasNote does not.
Which is updated more often, OurNotes or CanvasNote?
OurNotes ships an update every 4 weeks, and CanvasNote every 5 days. Most recently, OurNotes was updated on June 9, 2026 and CanvasNote on September 13, 2026.

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