# SideNotes Mobile vs Scratchpad

The clearest difference is rating: Scratchpad at 4.8 against SideNotes Mobile's 4.2. Scratchpad also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly) and device support (4 vs 2). SideNotes Mobile's advantage is chart position (#96 vs unranked) and price ($9.99 vs $12.00). On review sentiment, ratings volume, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

SideNotes Mobile costs $9.99 and Scratchpad $12.00 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

Scratchpad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 28 and 25 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 88% of SideNotes Mobile's written reviews are positive against 96% of Scratchpad's.

SideNotes Mobile ships an update monthly, Scratchpad fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 16, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | SideNotes Mobile | Scratchpad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **$9.99** | $12.00 |
| Rating | [4.2 (28 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidenotes-mobile/id1607089308/reviews) | **[4.8 (25 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **28** | 25 |
| Positive reviews | 88.4% of reviews | **96.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | No | No |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Monthly | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Paid | Paid |
| Best chart rank | **#96** | — |
| Size | 10 MB | 13 MB |
| Requires iOS | **17** | 27.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apptorium](https://appshunter.io/developer/551772156) | [Sindre Sorhus](https://appshunter.io/developer/328077650) |

## What reviewers say

### SideNotes Mobile

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sidenotes-mobile/id1607089308)

**Currently charting:** #96 Top Paid · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture thoughts and to-dos on the go with this mobile note-taking app. It offers iCloud sync, Markdown formatting, and customizable themes for a personalized experience. Easily access notes from other applications.

**Highlights:** iCloud Synchronization, Markdown Formatting, Task Management, Customizable Themes, Note and Folder URLs, Note Colors

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### Scratchpad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/scratchpad/id6504040051)

Capture fleeting thoughts and ideas instantly with a clean, distraction-free interface. This lightweight app offers quick drafting, word counts, and iCloud sync for seamless access across devices. It's designed for simplicity and speed, making note-taking effortless.

**Highlights:** Distraction-free interface, Lightning-fast and lightweight, iCloud sync, Word and character count, Linkifies URLs, Shortcuts and share sheet support

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is SideNotes Mobile free?

SideNotes Mobile costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Scratchpad free?

Scratchpad costs $12.00, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, SideNotes Mobile or Scratchpad?

Scratchpad is rated higher. SideNotes Mobile averages 4.2 out of 5 from 28 ratings, while Scratchpad averages 4.8 from 25 ratings.

### Do SideNotes Mobile or Scratchpad have ads?

Neither SideNotes Mobile nor Scratchpad shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, SideNotes Mobile or Scratchpad?

SideNotes Mobile ships an update monthly, and Scratchpad fortnightly. Most recently, SideNotes Mobile was updated on October 16, 2026 and Scratchpad on October 17, 2026.

---

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