Comparison

NoteEase vs BoardNotes

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

Head to head
About

NoteEase

This app digitizes handwritten notes and photos, allowing for easy annotation and organization. Capture, edit, and share your visual and text-based ideas across devices for a streamlined workflow.

Highlights
  • Convert photos to digital notes
  • Annotate existing photos
  • Type and format text notes
  • Stylus support for drawing
  • Organize and archive notes
  • Sync and share across devices
Features
Read full description

Say goodbye to the hassle of handwritten notes and photos cluttering your life. Welcome to NoteEase+, the ultimate note-taking app that simplifies your life. With NoteEase+, you can effortlessly document your notes, scribble, and annotate on photos or handwritten documents. Whether you're using a smartphone or tablet, NoteEase+ is your digital companion for efficient note-taking and organization. Key Features: Photo to Note: Instantly convert handwritten documents into digital notes by snapping a photo with your device. Photo Annotation: Easily add notes to existing photos from your gallery, creating a visual diary of your memories. Text Input: Type and format your notes with ease, making your text-based notes as beautiful as your handwriting. Stylus Support: Take full advantage of your iPad or tablet with Stylus Pen support. Scribble and draw directly on graphics. Organize and Archive: Efficiently manage your notes, grouping them with related images for a clutter-free experience. Accessibility: Access your notes and photos from any device, be it your smartphone or tablet. Sync and Share: Seamlessly sync and share your notes and images across your devices or with friends and colleagues. Say hello to a decluttered and organized life with NoteEase+. Capture and treasure your handwritten notes and photos digitally while enhancing your note-taking experience. Download NoteEase+ today and embark on a journey of efficient, digital note-taking. --「Paid subscription」-- ● Yearly member $29.99 ● Permanent member $49.99 ● Upon confirmation of purchase, you will be charged from your iTunes account. You can cancel the subscription for the next cycle at least 24 hours before the end of each cycle. The subscription will be automatically renewed within 24 hours after the end of each cycle. The subscribed cycle cannot be cancelled. ● Privacy Policy: http://static.rhinoxlab.com/html/privacy/10162157567636510032_en.html?appName=NoteEase ● Payment agreement: http://static.rhinoxlab.com/html/paymentagreement/general_en.html

About

BoardNotes

This app combines whiteboard, notebook, PDF management, mind mapping, and flashcard creation into a single, versatile handwriting note-taking tool. It offers a wide array of pen types, organizational features, and study aids to enhance productivity and learning.

Highlights
  • Handwriting note-taking
  • Integrated whiteboard
  • PDF import and editing
  • Mind mapping functionality
  • Spaced repetition flashcards
  • Multiple pen and brush types
  • Layer management
Features
Read full description

Feature Introduction: BoardNotes is a versatile handwriting note-taking app that integrates five major functions—whiteboard, notebook, PDF, mind map, and flashcards—covering most note-taking scenarios. It serves as your All-In-One App. Handwriting Pen: 1. BoardNotes utilizes Apple's native pen technology and has developed additional pens tailored for Chinese writing, including a fountain pen, a laser pointer for presentations, and a tape pen for masking notes. 2. Choose from a variety of brushes (laser pen, tape pen, ballpoint pen, straight-line pen, wavy-line pen, custom fountain pen, quill pen, pencil, marker, watercolor pen, fill pen, single-line pen, crayon, freehand pen) to unleash your creativity. 3. Lasso tool (extremely powerful). 4. Eraser (pixel eraser and object eraser). Whiteboard: 1. The whiteboard is ideal for organizing fragmented knowledge, brainstorming, and boosting creativity. 2. Write and draw freely without worrying about boundaries. 3. Customize background colors and grid templates. 4. Add various card types (text, image, video, audio, webpage, file, handwriting). 5. Multiple auxiliary tools: background board, pins, link navigation (supports bidirectional links), connectors, timer (countdown supported), calculator. 6. Quickly locate notes using the search function. Notebook & PDF: 1. Create notebooks and PDFs with multiple paper templates and cover options. Import images from Photos or PDFs from the Files app as pages or covers. 2. Add text, images, stickers, videos, webpage snapshots, audio recordings, links (bidirectional links supported), timers, calculators, and floating PDF windows. 3. Layer functionality—show or hide layers as needed. 4. Insert new pages via blank sheets, images, scanned documents, or files. 5. Cut, copy, and paste pages into other notebooks or PDFs. 6. Duplicate, rotate, or delete pages. 7. Reorder pages via long-press and drag in thumbnail view. 8. Create outlines and add bookmarks. 9. Search (text, handwritten notes, etc.). 10. Import e-books (epub, mobi, azw, etc.). Mind Map: 1. Mind mapping is a key feature within the whiteboard. 2. Nodes support multiple formats (text, image, handwriting, video, audio, webpage snapshot, file). 3. Offers 3 structures and 18 color schemes. 4. Add summaries (brackets). 5. Handwritten mind maps (using handwritten cards). 6. Long-press and drag selected cards into the mind map. 7. Reorder nodes or adjust hierarchy via long-press and drag. Flashcard: 1. Flashcards use the SuperMemo algorithm to automatically schedule optimal review intervals, reminding you before forgetting to maximize memory efficiency. 2. Flashcards support text, images, and handwriting. 3. Quickly create cards from notes in whiteboards, notebooks, or PDFs using the rectangular lasso tool. Download BoardNotes for free on iPad, iPhone, and Mac. For suggestions, please contact us via the in-app feedback feature.

Screenshots

NoteEase4 screens
BoardNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: BoardNotes at 80% against NoteEase's 42%. BoardNotes also leads on monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). NoteEase's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, ratings volume, 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. NoteEase sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per year and BoardNotes sells 23 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

BoardNotes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 66 and 115 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 42% of NoteEase's written reviews are positive against 80% of BoardNotes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

NoteEase ships an update monthly, BoardNotes every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 8, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
NoteEase versus BoardNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNoteEaseBoardNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (66 ratings)4.7 (115 ratings) — better
Positive reviews41.7% of reviews80.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings66115 — better
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 10 days — better
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationSubscriptionFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better
Requires iOS14.1 — better15.0
Further details — not scored
Size113 MB342 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperHangzhou Jiadi BozhongChongqing Ouluowa Technology Co., Ltd.

Customer experience

NoteEase

All ratings66 ratings
Positive81.8%
Neutral4.5%
Negative13.6%
Written reviews24 reviews
Positive41.7%
Neutral12.5%
Negative45.8%

BoardNotes

All ratings115 ratings
Positive94.8%
Neutral1.7%
Negative3.5%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive80.0%
Neutral6.7%
Negative13.3%

Bugs and requests

NoteEase

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

BoardNotes

Reported bugs

16 issues
  • Whiteboards erasing automatically
  • No automatic backup leading to data loss
  • Syncing issues between iPad and Mac
  • Pencil tip not appearing on PDF annotations
  • App crashes frequently
Show 11 more
  • Recording data is lost
  • Cannot create new notebooks
  • Gear icon for settings missing in dark mode
  • Issue with eraser and color selection logic
  • Lasso tool missing cut button after cropping
  • PDF embeds appear blurry
  • Handwriting search not implemented
  • Accidental touches/palm rejection issues
  • Chinese font display issues in markdown
  • App freezes when using search function
  • Software flashes back (crashes)

Requested features

24 requests
  • Sync to Google Drive/other cloud services
  • Faster 'add to cards' function
  • View carded items in sidebar
  • Color coding for pins
  • Image opacity adjustment
Show 19 more
  • Faster image copy from whiteboard
  • Android app version
  • WebDAV function
  • Markdown editing/viewing function
  • Handwriting recognition and search
  • Improve palm rejection/anti-touch
  • Add more brush types (with stroke variation)
  • Search for handwritten text
  • Dark Mode UI
  • More calculator functions (square root, trig identities)
  • In-app browser (ChatGPT, YouTube integration)
  • Easier UI navigation of notebook pages
  • Ability to change existing page formats
  • More in-depth pen fine-tuning
  • Optimize UI, move undo/redo to top right
  • Adjust pressure sensitivity
  • Customizable top toolbar icons
  • Add college rule paper
  • Translate function for papers

In-app purchases

5 purchases

NoteEase

Subscriptions2
  • Yearly member3 Days trial$4.491 Year
  • Yearly member3 Days trial$29.991 Year
One-time3
  • Xnotes永久会员优惠价$3.99
  • Permanent member$6.99
  • Permanent member$49.99
23 purchases

BoardNotes

One-time23
  • 7 days membership$0.99
  • 5 days membership$0.99
  • Math Formula Recognition$1.99
Show 20 more
  • 1 month membership$1.99
  • Annual Membership$3.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$3.99
  • 6 months membership$3.99
  • 6 months membership (discount)$3.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$4.99
  • Annual Membership$4.99
  • 6 months membership2 variants$4.99
  • Full version Unlock$5.99
  • Annual Membership (discount)$5.99
  • 6 months membership$6.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$6.99
  • Annual Membership2 variants$6.99
  • Spring Festival Discount$6.99
  • Annual Membership$7.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$7.99
  • Permanent Unlock All(discount)$7.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$8.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$9.99
  • Permanent Unlock All$19.99

Questions

Is NoteEase free?
NoteEase is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is BoardNotes free?
BoardNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, NoteEase or BoardNotes?
BoardNotes is rated higher. NoteEase averages 4.4 out of 5 from 66 ratings, while BoardNotes averages 4.7 from 115 ratings.
Do NoteEase or BoardNotes have ads?
BoardNotes shows ads; NoteEase does not.
Which is updated more often, NoteEase or BoardNotes?
NoteEase ships an update monthly, and BoardNotes every 10 days. Most recently, NoteEase was updated on October 13, 2026 and BoardNotes on October 8, 2026.

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