# XNote vs Notebook

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.

Both are free to download. Notebook sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. XNote asks for nothing beyond the download.

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.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | XNote | Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (76 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-infinite-boards-and-notes/id1644300153/reviews) | **[4.6 (122 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-cute-notes/id6446192566/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 76 | **122** |
| Positive reviews | 60.0% of reviews | **93.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 40 MB | 31 MB |
| Requires iOS | 14.0 | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [华清 杨](https://appshunter.io/developer/1643454681) | [玉坤 林](https://appshunter.io/developer/1662301648) |

## What reviewers say

### XNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xnote-infinite-boards-and-notes/id1644300153)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-cute-notes/id6446192566)

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:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus version | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus version Quarterly | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro version | $6.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- ✨ Very cute and decorative design
- 👍 Easy to use and user-friendly
- 💡 Handy for school and personal notes
- ✍️ Supports typing and writing/drawing
- 🎨 Great variety of templates and customization options

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🤔 Lacking some basic features
- 📄 Single page limit per note
- 🚫 No PDF insertion for annotation
- 🔄 No landscape mode
- 🤏 No two-finger pinch to zoom

**Reported bugs**

- Login screen freezes
- Incompatible with older devices

**Requested features**

- 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


## Frequently asked 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.

---

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