Comparison

VIA Journal Pro vs Capture

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

Head to head
About

VIA Journal Pro

Features
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VIA Journal Pro is designed to store and manage notes of any kind. Define tags such as "family", "work", "birthdays", "to do", "shopping", "books", "movies" etc. and assign tags to notes to quickly find them later when you need them. You can quickly access notes for a specific day or month, and you can also easily filter notes by tags. Moreover, you can search any string in all or selected notes with VIA Journal Pro. To keep your data safe, you can create a backup and load it again when needed. VIA Journal Pro also allows you to export your notes in the form of a csv file and save this file locally on your smartphone or send it via email, for example. This allows you to view your notes separately via your PC or Mac and access and further process them with desktop software. Last but not least, VIA Journal Pro also allows you to import notes that you have captured or edited with other software.

About

Capture

A fast and private note-taking app that lets you quickly record thoughts via voice or text. Organize ideas with smart tagging and enjoy seamless syncing. Protects your privacy with local storage and optional iCloud sync.

Highlights
  • Voice-to-text transcription
  • Quick thought recording
  • Smart tagging system
  • Swipe gestures for navigation
  • Fast search functionality
  • Private iCloud sync (Pro)
Read full description

A simple, fast notes app to capture and organize your thoughts and ideas. CORE FEATURES: • Voice-to-text transcription for hands-free note taking • Quick thought and idea recording with minimal interface • Smart tagging system for easy notes organization • Swipe gestures for smooth navigation • Fast search through all your thoughts and ideas PRIVACY & STORAGE: • Free users: Fully private local storage on your device • Pro users: Local storage + Fully private iCloud sync • Your notes and journal entries stay yours - we don't track or analyze your thoughts • No ads, no data mining, no third-party sharing FREE VERSION: • 150 thoughts and 10 tags • Complete privacy with local-only storage • All core note-taking features included • Perfect for personal journaling and idea capture CAPTURE PRO: • Unlimited thoughts, ideas, and tags • Fully private iCloud sync across your devices for seamless note access • Custom tag colors for visual organization • Secure cloud backup for your thoughts, ideas, notes SIMPLE BY DESIGN: Capture focuses on speed and simplicity - helping you quickly save and find your thoughts, ideas, and notes. Whether you're journaling, jotting down ideas, organizing meeting notes, or building a personal knowledge base, the app stays out of your way. Built for students, professionals, writers, and anyone who wants a straightforward, private way to capture their thoughts and ideas. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Keywords: notes, note taking, journal, thoughts, ideas, voice notes, fast notes, private notes, simple notes, tagging, organization

Screenshots

VIA Journal Pro4 screens
Capture4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Capture at Free against VIA Journal Pro's $1.99. Capture also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months). VIA Journal Pro's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 18.0). On ads 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

Capture is free to download; VIA Journal Pro costs $1.99 up front. Capture sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. VIA Journal Pro asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

VIA Journal Pro ships an update every 2 months, Capture every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on June 4, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
VIA Journal Pro versus Capture: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterVIA Journal ProCapture
Price$1.99Free — better
Rating—5.0 (2 ratings) — better
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings—2 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
Monetization—Freemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS12.0 — better18.0
Further details — not scored
Size37 MB9 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperVIA Software GmbH & Co KGFabian Røsholm

In-app purchases

None

VIA Journal Pro

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Capture

Subscriptions2
  • Capture Pro Monthly7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Capture Pro Yearly14 Days trial$24.991 Year

Questions

Is VIA Journal Pro free?
VIA Journal Pro costs $1.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Capture free?
Capture is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do VIA Journal Pro or Capture have ads?
Neither VIA Journal Pro nor Capture shows ads.
Which is updated more often, VIA Journal Pro or Capture?
VIA Journal Pro ships an update every 2 months, and Capture every 2 days. Most recently, VIA Journal Pro was updated on June 4, 2026 and Capture on October 6, 2026.

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