Comparison

Journal Notebook vs Serious Notebook

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

Head to head
About

Journal Notebook

A straightforward digital notebook for personal use. It allows users to record thoughts, create to-do lists, and keep records with an intuitive interface. Entries can be searched and organized by topic, with cloud storage for added security.

Highlights
  • Simple writing interface
  • Dictate or scan text entries
  • Organize by topic
  • Searchable journal
  • Cloud storage integration
  • Permanent data retention
Read full description

Journal to write in with simple easy-to-use interface. It can be your: to-do list, notebook, records keeper, and diary, but most likely, it will be all of the above. All purpose in one. Write in everything you think about, search and read it later (next day, or even after years). Very easy to use: 1. Write Entry - just type in, dictate or scan text (if supported by your device). 2. Read Journal - turn over pages to read, tap on topic name to narrow down narrative. 3. Search Index - read what is related to specific topic only. This Journal intentionally left without dangerous data deletion functionality. Everything you write stays there forever, because nobody knows when you'll need it. And, for extra layer of protection for your memories, Journal Notebook is designed to utilize cloud storage.

About

Serious Notebook

A private digital notebook for handwriting, typing, and annotating documents. Import PDFs, scan paper, and organize your thoughts with customizable tools. Keep your work securely on your device with no accounts or tracking.

Highlights
  • Handwrite and sketch with Apple Pencil
  • Type notes and highlight on iPhone
  • Import and annotate PDFs
  • Scan paper into notebooks
  • Insert text boxes, sticky notes, photos, and scans
  • Export notebooks as PDF
Read full description

Your handwriting, PDFs, and ideas. A quieter place to think. Write naturally with Apple Pencil on iPad. Type notes and highlight pages on iPhone. Import a PDF planner, annotate a worksheet, or scan paper into a notebook you can keep working in. Serious Notebook keeps your work on your device, with no account, ads, tracking, or subscription. WRITE, STUDY, AND PLAN • Handwrite and sketch on iPad with pen, pencil, highlighter, and eraser tools. Apple Pencil works on compatible iPads. • Type notes and highlight with your finger on iPhone. • Choose blank, ruled, grid, or dot-grid paper in soft white or cream. • Give each notebook its own title and cover. MAKE DOCUMENTS YOUR OWN • Import PDFs as notebooks and annotate their pages. • Scan paper on supported camera-equipped devices, review the pages, then start writing. • Add text boxes and sticky notes. With lifetime access, insert photos, PDF pages, and scans into your notes. • Move, resize, and rotate inserted objects. • Export a notebook or selected pages as PDF to save or share. NEW IN 3.0 Scan several pages straight into your open notebook as movable objects with lifetime access. Take multiple photos, review them, and add them together. On iPad, a clearer top toolbar leaves more room to write. TRY YOUR OWN NOTES The free workspace includes one handwritten notebook plus one separate PDF or scan notebook, up to 10 pages each. Try the included example without using either allowance. ONE LIFETIME PURCHASE Unlock unlimited notebooks, pages, PDF imports, camera scans, and photo insertion with a single non-consumable purchase. No recurring payments. Existing lifetime customers and eligible original paid-app customers keep access. Restore Purchases is available in Settings. PRIVATE, ON YOUR DEVICE Notes, imported documents, photos, and scans stay on the device where you create them. No app account or document upload is required. Notebooks do not automatically sync between devices. Export PDFs regularly to keep a copy of your work. Purchase and restoration use Apple's App Store services. For class notes, project ideas, PDF planners, and everyday thinking on iPhone and iPad.

Screenshots

Journal Notebook4 screens
Serious Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Serious Notebook at 5.0 against Journal Notebook's 2.3. Journal Notebook's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). On price, 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

Both are free to download. Serious Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Journal Notebook asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Serious Notebook holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 2.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Journal Notebook ships an update daily, Serious Notebook every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Journal Notebook versus Serious Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterJournal NotebookSerious Notebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating2.3 (3 ratings)5.0 (1 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyDaily — betterEvery 3 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPodiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size1 MB6 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperInformation Arts Bureau LLCBILGESU KADAN

Customer experience

Journal Notebook

All ratings2 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Serious Notebook

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

None

Journal Notebook

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Serious Notebook

One-time1
  • Lifetime Unlock$24.99

Questions

Is Journal Notebook free?
Journal Notebook is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Serious Notebook free?
Serious Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Journal Notebook or Serious Notebook?
Serious Notebook is rated higher. Journal Notebook averages 2.3 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Serious Notebook averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.
Do Journal Notebook or Serious Notebook have ads?
Neither Journal Notebook nor Serious Notebook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Journal Notebook or Serious Notebook?
Journal Notebook ships an update daily, and Serious Notebook every 3 weeks. Most recently, Journal Notebook was updated on October 24, 2026 and Serious Notebook on October 25, 2026.

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