# My Notes vs Penjo

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Penjo at 74% 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.

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.

Penjo holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 4.4. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penjo has 277 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 74% of Penjo's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 18, 2026 and October 13, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | My Notes | Penjo |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (13 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-notes-draft-notes/id1624664967/reviews) | **[4.7 (277 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 13 | **277** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **74.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Freemium |
| Size | 55 MB | 22 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [文龙 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1622961779) | [Zafer ARICAN](https://appshunter.io/developer/1118422608) |

## What reviewers say

### My Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/my-notes-draft-notes/id1624664967)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly VIP | $1.99 | per month |
| Quarter VIP | $4.49 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $4.99 | one-time |


### Penjo

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penjo-pencil-journal-planner/id6446053076)

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:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Pro Lifetime | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✍️ Excellent Apple Pencil integration and handwriting experience
- 📅 Seamless calendar and reminders integration
- 💰 One-time lifetime purchase option (no subscriptions)
- 🎨 Clean, minimalist, and intuitive user interface
- ⚡ Fast and responsive performance

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Unreliable cloud sync across multiple devices
- 💳 Confusing payment model and paywall messaging
- 🔐 Missing security features like screen lock
- 📱 Limited macOS support (Intel Macs incompatible)
- 🎨 Limited customization options for colors and themes

**Reported bugs**

- 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

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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 277 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 13, 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.*