Comparison

Desktop Note vs OpenNotes

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

Head to head
About

Desktop Note

Create customizable sticky notes and display them on your device's home screen. Organize tasks with checklists, add photos, and format text. Syncs across devices via iCloud for privacy and convenience.

Highlights
  • Customizable note colors
  • Illustrated backgrounds
  • To-do checklists
  • Photos in Home Screen widgets
  • Text formatting (bold, italics)
  • iCloud backup and sync
  • Data export/import
Features
Read full description

Do you miss the days when your desk was covered with sticky notes? Create sticky notes with Desktop Note and display them on your Home Screen. Customize note colors, choose beautiful illustrated backgrounds, and create to-do checklists. You can also use widgets to display notes or photos on your Home Screen. Download the macOS version to display sticky notes on your Mac desktop and even pin them above any window. Desktop Note syncs your sticky notes across devices with iCloud while protecting your privacy. What users love about Desktop Note: #A wide range of note colors and illustrated backgrounds #To-do checklists #Photos in Home Screen widgets #Text formatting Supports bold, highlighting, italics, and more #iCloud backup and sync Automatically sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac with iCloud # Data Export & Import Your data belongs to you. Export your notes as Markdown files anytime to back them up or move them to another app. Import your notes from Apps like ColorNote. #Privacy Your notes are stored in your own iCloud, and only you can access them. If you have any questions or product suggestions, feel free to email me anytime: cswenshuo@gmail.com Terms of Use: https://www.notion.so/Terms-of-Use-e2fd82b183504ad1b5e82c684c25865a Privacy Policy: https://www.notion.so/Privacy-Policy-f692aafe77d540f1b191bd0e5aa5ee59

About

OpenNotes

Create handwritten notes, import and annotate PDFs, and organize your thoughts with folders. This free, open-source app prioritizes privacy by keeping all your data local and on your device.

Highlights
  • Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil
  • PDF import and annotation
  • Folder-based organization
  • Add images and text
  • Local-first data storage
  • Export and share notes
Features
Read full description

OpenNotes is a simple, free, open-source notes app built for handwriting, PDFs, and focused organization. Create notebooks, import PDFs, write with Apple Pencil, add images or text, organize notes into folders, and export your work when you need it. OpenNotes is local-first and privacy focused. There are no accounts, no analytics, and no tracking. Your notes live on your device, with optional backup to your own iCloud so they survive a lost iPad or a deleted app. Nothing is ever sent to us — your notes stay in your Apple account, readable by no one else.

Screenshots

Desktop Note4 screens
OpenNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: OpenNotes at none against Desktop Note's 5. OpenNotes also leads on iOS requirement (15.1 vs 17.0). Desktop Note's advantage is review sentiment (91% vs 60%) and rating (4.7 vs 4.3). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads 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. Desktop Note sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per 3 months. OpenNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Desktop Note holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.3. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 29 and 35 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 91% of Desktop Note's written reviews are positive against 60% of OpenNotes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Desktop Note ships an update every 5 days, OpenNotes every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Desktop Note versus OpenNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesktop NoteOpenNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.7 (29 ratings) — better4.3 (35 ratings)
Positive reviews90.8% of reviews — better60.0% of reviews
Number of ratings2935 — better
Update frequencyEvery 5 daysEvery 4 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, MaciPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS17.015.1 — better
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer文烁 蔡Mark Miller

Customer experience

Desktop Note

All ratings29 ratings
Positive93.1%
Neutral3.4%
Negative3.4%
Written reviews174 reviews
Positive90.8%
Neutral2.9%
Negative6.3%

OpenNotes

All ratings30 ratings
Positive86.7%
Neutral0.0%
Negative13.3%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative40.0%

In-app purchases

4 purchases

Desktop Note

Subscriptions4
  • Desktop Note - 1 Quarter$0.993 Months
  • Desktop Note Premium$0.991 Month
  • Desktop Note Premium2 variants$1.993 Months
Show 1 more
  • Premium$2.993 Months
None

OpenNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Desktop Note free?
Desktop Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is OpenNotes free?
OpenNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, Desktop Note or OpenNotes?
Desktop Note is rated higher. Desktop Note averages 4.7 out of 5 from 29 ratings, while OpenNotes averages 4.3 from 35 ratings.
Do Desktop Note or OpenNotes have ads?
Neither Desktop Note nor OpenNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Desktop Note or OpenNotes?
Desktop Note ships an update every 5 days, and OpenNotes every 4 days. Most recently, Desktop Note was updated on November 3, 2026 and OpenNotes on October 31, 2026.

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