# Calligrapher vs Element Note

The clearest difference is rating: Element Note at 4.6 against Calligrapher's 3.8. Element Note also leads on review sentiment (70% vs 31%) and ads (none vs shown). Calligrapher's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Calligrapher sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Element Note sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 115, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 31% of Calligrapher's written reviews are positive against 70% of Element Note's.

Calligrapher ships an update every 5 weeks, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 9, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Calligrapher | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.8 (115 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligrapher-handwriting-font/id1592807878/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 115 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 30.6% of reviews | **69.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 5 weeks | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 133 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [KREATIVITY APPS SRL](https://appshunter.io/developer/1567387133) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Calligrapher

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligrapher-handwriting-font/id1592807878)

Transform your handwriting into a custom font and use it across your device. Design beautiful pages with personalized backgrounds and writing styles. Export your creations as PDFs or images for printing and sharing.

**Highlights:** Handwriting to font conversion, Custom keyboard for typing, Page designer with custom backgrounds, AI-powered letter scanning, Font editing tools, Export as PDF or image

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly subscription | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Weekly subscription | $5.99 | per 7 days |
| Monthly subscription | $6.99 | per month |
| 3 months subscription | $15.49 | per 3 months |
| Annual subscription | $69.99 | per year |
| Einstein font | $1.99 | one-time |
| Curie font | $1.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $89.99 | one-time |


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Calligrapher free?

Calligrapher is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Element Note free?

Element Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Calligrapher or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. Calligrapher averages 3.8 out of 5 from 115 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Calligrapher or Element Note have ads?

Calligrapher shows ads; Element Note does not.

### Which is updated more often, Calligrapher or Element Note?

Calligrapher ships an update every 5 weeks, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Calligrapher was updated on November 9, 2026 and Element Note on November 7, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*