Comparison

Formbook vs c.Notes

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

Head to head
About

Formbook

This app allows you to create structured notes that function like database forms, saving you time and providing instant chart statistics. It supports collaboration, cross-device synchronization, and AI-powered form building with numerous field types.

Highlights
  • Form-based note creation
  • Instant chart statistics
  • Notebook sharing for collaboration
  • AI-powered automated form builder
  • 30+ form field types
  • Cross-device synchronization
  • Export to PDF and CSV
Features
Read full description

Formbook: the revolutionary personal database app. Formbook is a new generation database app in which you create form based notes to easily store information. Formbook is the perfect app for structured information note taking. With Formbook, notes behave like database forms: create a notebook and define the fields you need to store your information. Form based notes have amazing benefits: - Gain a huge amount of time while taking notes as you just need to fill in form fields. - Instantly obtain chart stats on the data contained in your notebooks. - Share notebooks for collaboration with other Formbook users. Here are some usage examples. Create notebooks to: - Keep track of your progress in sport training. - Remember your favorite restaurants in places you visit. - Store your recipes. - Follow to do tasks. - Prepare a trip by describing the places to visit. - Keep track of any object inventory (with barcode reader). Formbook comes with a powerful dashboard feature that visually displays charts on your data. Personalize your charts and analyse data in detail. Formbook is cross device: notes are automatically synchronized on your iPhone, iPad, Mac and Apple Watch via iCloud. Formbook is also available on your Apple Watch: access your notes and notebooks directly from you Apple Watch. Formbook is powered by AI: save time with the new automated form builder. Enter your notebook name and Formbook infers the database fields. Choose among 30 form field types when conceiving your notebook structure: - Short text field - Long text field - Secret text field revealed by FaceID or TouchID - Code text field (programming languages) - Number - Currency - Stepper (number) - Slider (number) - Calculation (using the data from other fields) - Yes/No button - Date and Time fields - Duration - Images and photos - List of elements (with optional checkboxes) - List of tags - Rating (with stars) - Email (with compose button) - Address (with map access) - Phone number (with compose button) - URL (with browse button) - Barcode and QR code (with scan button) - Current location (latitude, longitude, address) Export your notes as PDF file and CSV file to use the data with spreadsheet apps.

About

c.Notes

A CalDAV client for synchronizing notes across devices using the iCalendar VJournal format. Keep your notes on the same servers as your calendar events and contacts.

Highlights
  • CalDAV synchronization
  • Cross-platform compatibility
  • iCalendar VJournal format
  • Notes, calendar, and contact integration
  • Server-side note storage
Read full description

c.Notes is a CalDAV client that lets you synchronise your notes across all devices, regardless of platform, using the iCalendar VJournal format on CalDAV servers as backend. Keep your notes on the same servers and in the same format as your calendar events, todo items and contacts.

Screenshots

Formbook4 screens
c.Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Formbook at Free against c.Notes's $4.99. Formbook also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.0) and update cadence (every 4 days vs monthly). c.Notes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On ads 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

Formbook is free to download; c.Notes costs $4.99 up front. Formbook sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. c.Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Formbook holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Formbook has 32 ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 80% of Formbook's written reviews are positive against 67% of c.Notes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Formbook ships an update every 4 days, c.Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Formbook versus c.Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFormbookc.Notes
PriceFree — better$4.99
Rating4.5 (32 ratings) — better4.0 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews79.9% of reviews — better66.7% of reviews
Number of ratings32 — better2
Update frequencyEvery 4 days — betterMonthly
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases — betterPaid
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17.6 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB2 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperMathieu Morgenszternsubnetz.computing

Customer experience

Formbook

All ratings32 ratings
Positive87.5%
Neutral12.5%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews134 reviews
Positive79.9%
Neutral14.9%
Negative5.2%

c.Notes

All ratings2 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive66.7%
Neutral33.3%
Negative0.0%

Bugs and requests

Formbook

Reported bugs

12 issues
  • Crashes on macOS Ventura and newer
  • Crashes when validating fields in new notes
  • Export functionality issues with CSV and PDF
  • Barcode field scans but cannot search by barcode
  • Star rating field too sensitive to accidental changes
Show 7 more
  • Performance degradation with photos in notes
  • Text field labels not visible in note panel
  • Syncing issues between devices
  • Import duplicates data instead of updating
  • Occasional freezing and slowness
  • Watch app syncing problems
  • In-app purchase requires repurchase after updates

Requested features

30 requests
  • Field-specific search functionality
  • Advanced multi-criteria filtering
  • Table/spreadsheet view for data
  • Password/biometric app protection
  • Rich text formatting (bold, italic, colors)
Show 25 more
  • File attachment support (PDFs, documents)
  • Drag-and-drop image insertion
  • Move notes between notebooks
  • Duplicate notebook without content
  • Advanced calculated fields with date math
  • Print functionality for records and lists
  • Customizable PDF export templates
  • Folder organization for notebooks
  • Read-only mode for records
  • Barcode scanning search capability
  • Calendar integration
  • Reminder/alert field with notifications
  • Multiple image support per field
  • Keyboard shortcuts/Shortcuts app integration
  • Collaborative sharing between users
  • Template creation for notebooks
  • Undo/backup functionality
  • Batch operations (edit, delete multiple)
  • Tag autocomplete with global tag list
  • Sub-tags support
  • Column/card view options
  • Adjustable font sizes
  • Home button for quick navigation
  • Bulk import with update option
  • Android version

c.Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Formbook

One-time2
  • Notebook sharing$3.99
  • Additional fields pack$3.99
None

c.Notes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Formbook free?
Formbook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is c.Notes free?
c.Notes costs $4.99, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Formbook or c.Notes?
Formbook is rated higher. Formbook averages 4.5 out of 5 from 32 ratings, while c.Notes averages 4.0 from 2 ratings.
Do Formbook or c.Notes have ads?
Neither Formbook nor c.Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Formbook or c.Notes?
Formbook ships an update every 4 days, and c.Notes monthly. Most recently, Formbook was updated on November 3, 2026 and c.Notes on October 30, 2026.

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