# Journal Notebook vs Serious Notebook

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.

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

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.

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.

## The numbers

| Metric | Journal Notebook | Serious Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.3 (3 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-notebook/id1609311760/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/serious-notebook/id6769515671/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **3** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 1 MB | 6 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Information Arts Bureau LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1609311762) | [BILGESU KADAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896346142) |

## What reviewers say

### Journal Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-notebook/id1609311760)

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Serious Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/serious-notebook/id6769515671)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $24.99 | one-time |


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