Comparison

My Notes vs Penjo

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

Head to head
About

My Notes

This app allows for freeform handwritten note-taking and drawing on an infinite canvas. It supports file imports and graphic diary creation with image integration, serving as a digital tool for learning and organization.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas for notes and drawing
  • Handwritten note-taking
  • Graphic diary creation with images
  • File import and annotation
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Paperless learning tool
Features
Read full description

「My Notes」 is a very popular handwritten note application, breaking the paperless learning. Handwritten notes, more convenient for editing notes, The design is simple and can be used for painting. It is another window for learning software and a good helper for sorting out files. You can also edit a graphic diary. Pictures can be added to each diary, not just words. Support file import annotation and other functions, making it more convenient and concise to use. Support Apple pencil, which can be integrated into your process whether you are studying or working. This subscription will be automatically renewed through your iTunes account, with the renewal fee deducted from your plan within 24 hours prior to the end of the current subscription period. You can manage or cancel automatic renewal at the Account Settings office at least 24 hours before the current subscription period ends. If your trial does not end, the remaining days will automatically expire after you start your subscription. To open a subscription, you agree to the following terms: The terms of service : https://jianxiwu.github.io/posts/jianxi/fuwu Privacy policy : https://jianxiwu.github.io/posts/jianxi/privacy

About

Penjo

This app combines journaling, planning, and note-taking with a pencil-first interface. It offers powerful handwriting search, creative image tools, and seamless integration with calendars and reminders. Organize your thoughts and tasks with flexible layouts and personalized tools.

Highlights
  • Pencil-first writing and sketching
  • Handwriting search and text conversion
  • Calendar and reminders integration
  • Creative image editing tools
  • Customizable pen and tool picker
  • Flexible page layouts
  • iCloud sync across devices
Features
Read full description

Plan forward. Reflect backward. Create freely. Penjo is an Apple Pencil-first digital planner, journal, and diary for iPad and iPhone. Write freely on a clean page every day—backed by seamless Apple Calendar & Reminders integration, Apple Journaling Suggestions, and on-device handwriting search. Why Penjo? PLAN & ORGANIZE • Calendar & Reminders: Check today at a glance and stay on schedule with full Apple Calendar integration (including Google and Exchange sync). • Views that fit your routine: Flip through an entire year in one tap to spot patterns. Manage your schedule in Month and Week modes, or focus on today’s daily spread. • Private & Synced: Lock your thoughts and daily reflections behind Face ID / Touch ID. iCloud keeps your iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro perfectly in sync. REFLECT & CREATE • Apple Pencil first: Write, sketch, and annotate natively. Build a custom toolset for daily note-taking, capture ideas instantly, and let Penjo auto-straighten your drawn lines. • Apple Journaling Suggestions: Relive your days with rich context. Privately add suggestions based on your photos, or use guided reflections as gratitude prompts. • Unrestricted canvas: Edit photos on the page, remove backgrounds, add space dynamically, and choose from dot, grid, or lined paper. FIND, REUSE & SHARE • Handwriting Search: On-device text recognition lets you instantly search your handwriting and image text. Never lose a brilliant idea again. • Native File Sharing: Export class notes or custom planner layouts as .penjo files. Friends, colleagues, or classmates can import them in one tap to reuse your templates or notes in their own journals. • Reusable Templates: Duplicate or move any sheet to another day, making it effortless to reuse your favorite custom digital notebook layouts. • Access & Export: Jump to today with Home Screen Widgets, or save pages and full journals as PDFs to archive, print, or share. Take Penjo Everywhere Penjo Unlimited keeps all your journals, notes, and templates perfectly in sync across your iPad, iPhone, Mac, and Vision Pro. Share custom .penjo layouts, unlock unlimited journals, access full calendar integration, and export pages to PDF. Family Sharing is available on monthly plans. Every day is a blank page. Make it yours. Questions? Every message gets a personal reply. support@penjoapp.com • penjoapp.com Privacy Policy: https://penjoapp.com/penjoappprivacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

My Notes4 screens
Penjo4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Penjo at 76% against My Notes's 0%. Penjo also leads on ads (none vs shown) and rating (4.7 vs 4.4). On price, update cadence, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. My Notes sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month and Penjo sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Penjo holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penjo has 275 ratings behind it against 13, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of My Notes's written reviews are positive against 76% of Penjo's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
My Notes versus Penjo: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterMy NotesPenjo
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.4 (13 ratings)4.7 (275 ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews76.0% of reviews — better
Number of ratings13275 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 weeksEvery 2 weeks
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, Vision Pro — better
Requires iOS16.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size55 MB22 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer文龙 林Zafer ARICAN

Customer experience

My Notes

All ratings13 ratings
Positive76.9%
Neutral7.7%
Negative15.4%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

Penjo

All ratings275 ratings
Positive93.5%
Neutral1.8%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews121 reviews
Positive76.0%
Neutral7.4%
Negative16.5%

Bugs and requests

My Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Penjo

Reported bugs

13 issues
  • Cloud sync not working across devices despite paid subscription
  • App crashes when using photo effects
  • Calendar not syncing or displaying properly
  • Notebooks disappearing or becoming unopenable
  • Text boxes misaligning after app closure
Show 8 more
  • Bluetooth keyboard text appearing at bottom of screen
  • Restore purchases button non-functional
  • iCloud sync not automatic despite being enabled
  • Family sharing not working on secondary Apple IDs
  • Support page returning 404 errors
  • Forced app updates without user consent
  • Text selection tools unreliable on mobile devices
  • Photo shape cutting requires specific upload order

Requested features

24 requests
  • Dark mode or black background option
  • Screen lock/page lock to prevent accidental writing
  • Apple Pencil advanced features (highlighter, squeeze, double-tap)
  • Text formatting options (resize, color change for selected text)
  • More page layout templates and line spacing options
Show 19 more
  • Ability to convert handwriting to text
  • Stickers and decorative elements for journaling
  • Bullet point and to-do list functionality
  • Google Drive and Google Tasks integration
  • PDF annotation and file linking capabilities
  • Folder and subfolder organization system
  • Non-calendar-based notebook organization
  • Weekly and monthly view options
  • Automatic page creation at 50% capacity
  • Customizable default text preferences
  • Straight line drawing tool (like Procreate)
  • Voice memo support
  • Outlook calendar integration
  • Book-style page turning interface
  • Habit tracker and monthly review templates
  • Daily prompt suggestions for journaling
  • Emoji and motivational sticker packs
  • Page thumbnails and quick navigation
  • Hyperlinked navigation tabs

In-app purchases

3 purchases

My Notes

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly VIP3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Quarter VIP3 Days trial$4.493 Months
One-time1
  • Pro Version$4.99
3 purchases

Penjo

Subscriptions2
  • Monthly Subscription$2.991 Month
  • Yearly Subscription7 Days trial$19.991 Year
One-time1
  • Pro Lifetime$39.99

Questions

Is My Notes free?
My Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Penjo free?
Penjo is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, My Notes or Penjo?
Penjo is rated higher. My Notes averages 4.4 out of 5 from 13 ratings, while Penjo averages 4.7 from 275 ratings.
Do My Notes or Penjo have ads?
My Notes shows ads; Penjo does not.
Which is updated more often, My Notes or Penjo?
My Notes ships an update every 2 weeks, and Penjo every 2 weeks. Most recently, My Notes was updated on September 18, 2026 and Penjo on October 3, 2026.

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