Comparison

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) vs Auer Notes

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

Head to head
About

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)

A minimalist note-taking and word processing app focused on simplicity and effectiveness. It offers a clean interface, background iCloud sync, and a textual analyzer without collecting any user data or displaying ads.

Highlights
  • Zero data collection
  • Ad-free experience
  • Clean user interface
  • Textual analyzer
  • Background iCloud sync
  • Cross-device support
Read full description

TL;DR - Inkblot is a note and word processing application. - Zero data collected - No advertisements - No in-app purchases - Clean user interface - Textual analyzer - iCloud storage with background sync - Multiple application types (iOS & MacBook) L;WR - The Long(er) Explanation Inkblot originally started from an open and free source code project. The goal with Inkblot is to make it better, eventually free sourcing it for learners, coders, and entrepreneurs alike. The philosophy for this application is simple: reduce excess functionality to a bare minimum in order to make use simpler but still effective. While customization is good for a lot of people and for a lot of projects, most people just want something to work so they can get on and off it quicker, gaining the productive traction necessary to save time. Inkblot is meant for writers. Inkblot is also an advertisement-free application. What is the point of gaining one benefit only to lose it somewhere else? The world and productivity is not a zero sum game. Advertisements should not even be an option in productivity applications. You should be lauded for trying to organize your life - not punished.

About

Auer Notes

This is a straightforward note-taking application focused on speed, ease of use, and privacy. It prioritizes a minimalist interface and local data storage, ensuring offline access and preventing other apps from accessing your notes.

Highlights
  • Fast and easy to use
  • Minimalist user interface
  • Local data storage
  • Offline access
  • Plain text notes
  • Private and secure
Read full description

Auer Notes is a note-taking application designed to be fast, easy to use, and stay out of the way until you need it. Simple and clear, Auer Notes is intentional, focusing on less, instead of more. It does one thing, the simplest possible way. Local Data: Your data is stored locally and it's always available, even when you are offline. The app doesn't use iCloud. There is no cloud or vendor preventing you from accessing your data. Also, no other apps have access to your notes. Minimal: Auer Notes has a modern and minimalist user interface designed to be simple. It is aggressively mute on purpose. The application was built to be lightweight, and to utilize less device resources. Auer Notes: A plain text and private notes app.

Screenshots

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)4 screens
Auer Notes3 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) at 50% against Auer Notes's 0%. Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and ratings volume (27 vs 8). Auer Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly) and rating (4.5 vs 4.2). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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

Auer Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 27 and 8 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 50% of Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)'s written reviews are positive against 0% of Auer Notes's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) ships an update monthly, Auer Notes every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and July 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) versus Auer Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterInkblot (Minimalist Notes)Auer Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (27 ratings)4.5 (8 ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings27 — better8
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFreeFree
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS14.0 — better18.2
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB0 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMatthew BenchimolUri Fridman

Customer experience

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)

All ratings27 ratings
Positive81.5%
Neutral3.7%
Negative14.8%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

Auer Notes

All ratings8 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral0.0%
Negative12.5%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

None

Inkblot (Minimalist Notes)

No in-app purchases

None

Auer Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) free?
Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Auer Notes free?
Auer Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) or Auer Notes?
Auer Notes is rated higher. Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) averages 4.2 out of 5 from 27 ratings, while Auer Notes averages 4.5 from 8 ratings.
Do Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) or Auer Notes have ads?
Neither Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) nor Auer Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) or Auer Notes?
Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) ships an update monthly, and Auer Notes every 4 days. Most recently, Inkblot (Minimalist Notes) was updated on June 4, 2026 and Auer Notes on July 8, 2026.

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