Comparison

XNote vs Notebook

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

Head to head
About

XNote

This app offers unlimited whiteboards, PDF annotation, and notebook creation in a simple, intuitive interface. It allows for jotting down ideas, studying materials, and taking daily notes with smooth performance and flexible organization.

Highlights
  • Unlimited whiteboards
  • PDF annotation
  • Notebook creation
  • File organization with folders
  • Web, photo, and file browsing within the app
  • Quick search functionality
  • One-click export and sharing
Features
Read full description

XNote is a passionate app that hopes to slow you down~ XNote combines the ability of using unlimited whiteboards, annotating PDFs and creating notebooks in one, and is easy-to-use You can use it to jot down inspiration, read professional materials and take daliy notes In every possible scenario, Xnote wants to give you smooth experience 【simple and understated, relaxing and flexible】 We made XNote simple and understated, with no complicated buttons and no confusing controls All the important features are at a glance and easy to operate ~ Keep the homepage as default and you'll find most of the files you want to edit ~ On the homepage, you can drag files directly into folders ~ You can quickly create a temporary draft with very simple gestures ~ By clicking the "+" button in the upper right corner, you can easily browse different files and web pages ~ You can take excerpts at any time while browsing files Xnote will become more and more flexible in continuous improvement and iteration 【Pursue the details and control the whole】 We worked on the XNote like horticulturists, pruning the gaudy leaves and carving the key branches You can create folders on the homepage to categorize files Highly compatible with the original pen case gives you a silky writing experience Text, picture, shape, search, every button is irreplaceable You can use the "Search" button to search quickly, and locate the target locator pin with one click You can edit and switch shapes at any time 【Sincere enthusiasm, aspirant and hardworking] We want XNote to be as sincere and passionate as the people it serves We hope that in the classroom, XNote accompanies the students to absorb the essence of knowledge with enthusiasm We hope that in life, XNote accompanies people to record the happy moments of their daily life We hope that at work, XNote accompanies everyone who strives to record the traces of their struggle 【XNote can】 Provide unlimited drawing boards allowing your thoughts and inspiration to extend infinitely Support finger doodling and the original brush of system, making it more convenient for you to draw Support viewing multiple documents simultaneously and inserting pictures, videos, files to enrich your notes Create different shapes to help you highlight key messages quickly Create locator pins to help you locate your target content Support browsing the web, photos and files within the app, helping you integrate internal and external information and study efficiently Search for notes quickly ...... 【Easy to share】 One click export, support for sharing (supports images, PDFs, drafts, and can be shared to guga, goodnotes, notability, collanote, and noteshelf for use) 【Friendly reminder】 XNote is currently in a high-frequency iteration stage, and we are continuously working on new features, welcome to follow and explore! 【Report the issue】 Report bugs and crashes to us, and we'll be happy to fix any problem you encounter while using it Email address:xnoteapp@163.com 【Contact us】 What do you expect from XNote, come and chat with us! ~ Your problems ~ Your advice ~ Your expectations All of the above can be heared in XNote community There are not only users like you, but also our R&D team We believe that everyone here will be excited by the spark of inspiration Contact our WeChat:li1299033501

About

Notebook

This app offers a simple and efficient way to create various types of notes, from study materials and to-do lists to life records and work summaries. It allows for easy organization with labels, image insertion, and customizable paper styles. It is compatible with Apple devices and supports Apple Pencil.

Highlights
  • Label classification for easy organization
  • Insert pictures into notes
  • Select practical paper styles
  • Supports Apple Pencil
  • Compatible with iPhone and iPad
Features
Read full description

Notebook : Simple note-taking app and notepad. We start from the simple and efficient design concept to create a convenient note for you. You can make study notes, to-do list, record life, work summary, etc. through notebook. Features: *Label classification: You can set different labels for your notes to make it easier to find. *Insert pictures: Take pictures of important notes and insert them into the notes, which saves time and effort. *Practical paper: select special paper for your notes, select paper according to different needs, and make notes easier. *Device support: It is compatible with iPhone and iPad, and supports the use of Apple Pencil. [Subscription Description] We support three methods of monthly, quarterly, and permanent subscription. The payment is made through the user's iTunes account. After the user confirms the purchase, the payment is made immediately. Automatic renewal: Apple's iTunes account will be charged within 24 hours before the expiration date. After successful deduction, the subscription cycle will be extended by one subscription cycle. To cancel the renewal, please operate at least 24 hours before the current fee deduction period by clicking "Settings" - "iTunes Store and AppStore" - "AppleID" - "View AppleID" - "Subscription" to cancel the automatic renewal member subscription. Terms of Service: https://linkunyumou.github.io/posts/likun/fuwu.html Privacy terms: https://linkunyumou.github.io/posts/likun/privacy.html

Screenshots

XNote3 screens
Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: XNote at none against Notebook's 3. XNote also leads on ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). Notebook's advantage is review sentiment (93% vs 60%). On price, rating, ratings volume 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. Notebook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. XNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.6 for XNote against 4.6 for Notebook. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 76 and 122 respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 60% of XNote's written reviews are positive against 93% of Notebook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

XNote ships an update weekly, Notebook every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and October 17, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
XNote versus Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterXNoteNotebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.6 (76 ratings)4.6 (122 ratings) — better
Positive reviews60.0% of reviews93.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings76122 — better
Update frequencyWeekly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNo — betterYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, iPod
Requires iOS14.014.0
Further details — not scored
Size40 MB31 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer华清 杨玉坤 林

Customer experience

XNote

All ratings76 ratings
Positive86.8%
Neutral9.2%
Negative3.9%
Written reviews5 reviews
Positive60.0%
Neutral40.0%
Negative0.0%

Notebook

All ratings121 ratings
Positive87.6%
Neutral7.4%
Negative5.0%
Written reviews45 reviews
Positive93.3%
Neutral4.4%
Negative2.2%

Bugs and requests

XNote

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Notebook

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Login screen freezes
  • Incompatible with older devices

Requested features

7 requests
  • More themes/customization options
  • Ability to insert PDFs for annotation
  • Landscape mode support
  • Two-finger pinch to zoom functionality
  • Sharper pen tool for black ink
Show 2 more
  • Ability to resize inserted photos
  • More advanced features

In-app purchases

None

XNote

No in-app purchases

3 purchases

Notebook

Subscriptions2
  • Plus version3 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Plus version Quarterly3 Days trial$3.993 Months
One-time1
  • Pro version$6.99

Questions

Is XNote free?
XNote is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, XNote or Notebook?
Notebook is rated higher. XNote averages 4.6 out of 5 from 76 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.6 from 122 ratings.
Do XNote or Notebook have ads?
Notebook shows ads; XNote does not.
Which is updated more often, XNote or Notebook?
XNote ships an update weekly, and Notebook every 2 months. Most recently, XNote was updated on October 1, 2026 and Notebook on October 17, 2026.

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