# Handwriting Book vs Element Note

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Element Note at 68% against Handwriting Book's 0%. Element Note also leads on rating (4.6 vs 3.6) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 7). Handwriting Book's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Handwriting Book sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $4.49 per year and Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 3.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Handwriting Book's written reviews are positive against 68% of Element Note's.

## The numbers

| Metric | Handwriting Book | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [3.6 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-book-note-taking/id1645807794/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 7 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | **68.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | — | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 9 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [婧 李](https://appshunter.io/developer/797015558) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Handwriting Book

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-book-note-taking/id1645807794)

This app offers an infinite canvas for note-taking and creative work. It features natural writing, shape and text insertion, document scanning, and easy sharing options. Organize your notes with folders and tags, and sync across devices.

**Highlights:** Infinite canvas, Natural writing experience, Insert text, shapes, and images, Built-in document scanner, Folder and tag organization, Multi-device synchronization, Export to PDF and image

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Annual subscription | $4.49 | per year |


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Handwriting Book free?

Handwriting Book is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Element Note free?

Element Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Handwriting Book or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. Handwriting Book averages 3.6 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Handwriting Book or Element Note have ads?

Neither Handwriting Book nor Element Note shows ads.

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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.*