Formbook vs c.Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- 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
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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.
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.
- CalDAV synchronization
- Cross-platform compatibility
- iCalendar VJournal format
- Notes, calendar, and contact integration
- Server-side note storage
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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
Verdict
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
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.
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.
Formbook ships an update every 4 days, c.Notes monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Formbook | c.Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $4.99 |
| Rating | 4.5 (32 ratings) — better | 4.0 (2 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 79.9% of reviews — better | 66.7% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 32 — better | 2 |
| Update frequency | Every 4 days — better | Monthly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases — better | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 17.6 — better | 18.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 10 MB | 2 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Mathieu Morgensztern | subnetz.computing |
Customer experience
Formbook
c.Notes
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
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- 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)
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- 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
Formbook
- Notebook sharing$3.99
- Additional fields pack$3.99
c.Notes
No in-app purchases
Questions
Is Formbook free?
Is c.Notes free?
Which has better reviews, Formbook or c.Notes?
Do Formbook or c.Notes have ads?
Which is updated more often, Formbook or c.Notes?
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