Comparison

SideNotes Mobile vs Totem

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

Head to head
About

SideNotes Mobile

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
Read full description

SideNotes Mobile is a fast notes app for iPhone and iPad. Capture notes, tasks, links, and snippets in seconds, then access them across devices with iCloud sync. Version 1.2 brings a major upgrade: - A new editor with hidden Markdown markup - the same as in SideNotes for macOS - Refreshed iOS 26-style interface (Liquid Glass look) - Note folding - Note & Folder pinning - Simple drag-and-drop reordering - New contextual menu - New formatting options - Add Note action for the iPhone Action Button - New translations: Chinese (Simplified), French, German, Italian, Japanese, Korean, Polish, and Spanish - UI polish, bug fixes, and quality improvements Core features: - iCloud sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Themes and note colors for personalization - Tasks and checklists for daily work - Folder organization and quick search - Note and folder URLs for fast access from other apps - Text settings for comfortable writing and reading - One-time purchase (paid per major version). No subscription. Note: SideNotes Mobile is a companion app to SideNotes for macOS. SideNotes for macOS is sold separately.

About

Totem

Features
Read full description

Totem is a high-speed all-in-one workspace that centralizes document creation, task management, and shared wiki organization for individuals and teams. Whether you are managing client work, building a team knowledge base, or simply organizing your thoughts on the fly, Totem keeps your workflow moving without interruption. Built to be lean and fast, Totem uses offline-first design which helps it launch instantly. Documents, databases, and collections feature live collaboration and sync in realtime across all your devices. HANDLE EVERYTHING IN ONE PLACE Write documents, manage tasks, and build a team wiki where the information you need is always easy to find—all without switching between apps. Documents: Write and edit in real-time. Instant synchronization across all devices Databases: Flexibly manage tasks, clients, and projects using views tailored to your team's workflow Wikis: Organize team knowledge and keep it searchable so information never gets lost Our in-built AI assistant, Mote, procures accurate answers based on your queries and helps you modify and update your workspace using natural language. FREE FOR INDIVIDUAL USE Whether for work or for yourself, create unlimited documents, databases, and collections. FREE 90-DAY TRIAL FOR TEAMS Unlock all duo or team plan features for 90 days, with no credit card required. Collaborate live with your team, enjoy role-based permissions and granural row-and-column access, with up to 50 seats during the trial. DOCUMENTS & WIKIS Write and organize documents with a clean, elegant editor that doesn't interrupt your train of thought. Organize your work with collection-scoped hierarchical tags anyone in your workspace can create. Cross-search your team's entire knowledge base and instantly access the information you need. TASKS & DATABASES Manage tasks, clients, and projects with flexible, customizable databases, freely building views and properties that match your team's actual workflow. BLAZING FAST PERFORMANCE & FULL OFFLINE SUPPORT Enjoy instant startup, smooth scrolling, and impeccable framerate, even with larger workspaces. Keep working without an internet connection and sync automatically when back online. IT'S YOUR DATA, NOT OURS All your data is stored in open formats: Markdown and SQLite, synced seamlessly across Mac, Windows, iOS, and Web. Export anytime. Pick up right where you left off on desktop when switching to mobile. Have any questions, comments, or concerns? Please feel free to contact us at founders@thinktotem.com. Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

SideNotes Mobile4 screens
Totem4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Totem at Free against SideNotes Mobile's $9.99. SideNotes Mobile's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 4) and iOS requirement (17 vs 26.0). On update cadence, 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

Totem is free to download; SideNotes Mobile costs $9.99 up front. Totem sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $12.99 per month. SideNotes Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SideNotes Mobile ships an update monthly, Totem every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
SideNotes Mobile versus Totem: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSideNotes MobileTotem
Price$9.99Free — better
Rating4.2 (29 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews88.4% of reviews—
Number of ratings29 — better—
Update frequencyMonthlyEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaid—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS17 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size10 MB23 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperApptoriumTripletype

In-app purchases

None

SideNotes Mobile

No in-app purchases

4 purchases

Totem

Subscriptions4
  • Totem Duo (Monthly)$12.991 Month
  • Totem Team (Monthly)$40.001 Month
  • Totem Duo (Annual)$129.991 Year
Show 1 more
  • Totem Team (Annual)$400.001 Year

Questions

Is SideNotes Mobile free?
SideNotes Mobile costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Totem free?
Totem is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do SideNotes Mobile or Totem have ads?
Neither SideNotes Mobile nor Totem shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SideNotes Mobile or Totem?
SideNotes Mobile ships an update monthly, and Totem every 3 weeks. Most recently, SideNotes Mobile was updated on October 30, 2026 and Totem on October 31, 2026.

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