Comparison

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking vs Notator | Annotate Documents

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

Head to head
About

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking

This app transforms your device into a digital notebook for natural handwriting and drawing. Utilize pre-designed elements, import documents for annotation, and sync notes across devices. It offers a paperless workflow with easy sharing and export options.

Highlights
  • Natural handwriting experience
  • Pre-designed shapes and clipart
  • Import and annotate PDFs/images
  • iCloud Sync for notes
  • Move, resize, and rotate handwriting
  • Export and share documents
Features
Read full description

SketchNote will help you take great notes without any art skill. Use pre-designed shapes, letter & Numbers, clipart to take great notes. Transform your iPhone and iPad into smart digital paper. Take handwritten notes in digital notebooks. WRITE NATURALLY - LIKE ON REAL PAPER * Completely natural writing experience * Write with the Apple Pencil and your finger * Select and customize your pen color, thickness, and style * Easily switch between pen, highlighter etc. NEVER LOSE YOUR NOTES AGAIN * All your notes with you at all times thanks to iCloud Sync ESCAPE THE LIMITS OF ANALOG PAPER * Move, resize, and rotate your handwriting or change colors * Draw perfect shapes and lines with the Shapes Tool * Pinch to zoom and write more precisely GO PAPERLESS * Import PDF, images, photos and more to annotate them right on your iPhone and iPad * Export documents and share them with others for a fully digital workflow ATTACH ANYTHING * Attach videos, images, photos [ Upgrade to subscription version ] Upgrading to subscription version requires auto-renewal subscription. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at the confirmation of purchase. The subscription automatically renews unless it is canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Your account will be charged for renewal within 24 hours prior to the end of the current period. You can manage and cancel your subscriptions by going to your App Store account settings after purchase. Links to Your Privacy Policy and Terms of Use: http://www.btoj.com.au/privacy.html http://www.btoj.com.au/terms.html Please feel free to contact us for anything.

About

Notator | Annotate Documents

This app allows for detailed annotation of PDFs and images with various tools, including support for Apple Pencil. It offers flexible import options, high-quality rendering for large files, and intuitive page management. Upgrade to Pro for advanced export and editing capabilities.

Highlights
  • PDF and image annotation
  • Apple Pencil support
  • Flexible PDF import
  • High-quality PDF support
  • Zoom up to 1000%
  • Intuitive page management
  • Cloud storage integration
Features
Read full description

Notator is the ultimate app for all your PDF and image annotation needs, along with seamless note-taking capabilities. It adapts effortlessly to any situation, whether you're studying, working, or simply organizing your personal life. Experience the versatility of Notator today! What does Notator have in store for you? 1. Easy Annotation on PDFs and Images Effortlessly elevate your PDFs and images using a range of editing tools like pens, text boxes, and shapes. Infuse your own style by adding annotations, whether it's making notes on drawings, creating study guides, or refining your materials to perfection. 2. Supports Apple Pencil Our platform is fully compatible with the Apple Pencil, guaranteeing a seamless and precise writing experience when working on your documents. Additionally, you have the flexibility to utilize your fingers as an alternative input method. 3. Flexible PDF Import Extract specific portions from images saved on your device, recently captured photos, or PDF materials, and seamlessly insert them into your document while editing. 4. High-Quality PDF Support No need to worry about image degradation when importing large PDFs, even ones as big as A0 size. Edit detailed drawings and extensive project materials with ease, so you can stay stress-free while working on your documents. 5. Clipping and Pasting of PDFs & Photos Extract specific portions from images saved on your device, recently captured photos, or PDF materials, and seamlessly insert them into your document while editing. 6. Zoom Function Enables zooming up to 1000%, ensuring a hassle-free experience for annotating and reviewing intricate details in drawings. 7. Intuitive Page Management Effortlessly manage pages in imported PDFs or created documents with an intuitive interface. Rearrange, duplicate, delete, or add pages with ease, putting you in complete control. 8. Cloud Storage Compatible Easily import PDFs and images from cloud storage services like iCloud, Dropbox, Box. You can also upload your own documents hassle-free. 9. Notator Pro By upgrading to Notator Pro, you unlock the following features: - Export your created documents as PDFs or JPGs to easily share them with other apps. - Edit documents created by colleagues, friends, or family on different devices (note: real-time co-editing is not available). Stay tuned for more exciting updates as we add more useful features. To register, simply head to the "Settings" menu and select "Notator Pro." And guess what? You can enjoy a free trial for the first week! ◆ Ideal for a wide range of situations including: - Annotating intricate drawings or documents with precision. - Extracting specific sections from multi-page PDFs and adding your notes. - Annotating PDFs and images stored in cloud storage effortlessly. - Cutting out sections from various PDFs and images and compiling them into a single document. ◆ Contact Us If you have any questions, problems, or requests about using the app, feel free to contact us via our contact form. https://cimtops-sglab.com/about#contact-us ◆ Terms of Service https://cimtops-sglab.com/terms ◆ Privacy Policy https://cimtops-sglab.com/privacy-policy

Screenshots

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking4 screens
Notator | Annotate Documents4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: SketchNote, Visual Note Taking at 3.0 against Notator | Annotate Documents's 2.0. SketchNote, Visual Note Taking also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 months) and ratings volume (3 vs 1). On price, ads, 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. SketchNote, Visual Note Taking sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Notator | Annotate Documents sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking holds the better App Store score, 3.0 against 2.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 3 and 1 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking ships an update every 2 days, Notator | Annotate Documents every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 6, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking versus Notator | Annotate Documents: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSketchNote, Visual Note TakingNotator | Annotate Documents
PriceFreeFree
Rating3.0 (3 ratings) — better2.0 (1 ratings)
Positive reviews33.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings3 — better1
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFreemium
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS13.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size42 MB30 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperB TO J PTY LTDCIMTOPS SG LAB Pte. Ltd.

Customer experience

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking

All ratings3 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral33.3%
Negative33.3%
Written reviews3 reviews
Positive33.3%
Neutral0.0%
Negative66.7%

Notator | Annotate Documents

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

SketchNote, Visual Note Taking

Subscriptions2
  • 1 Month Subscription7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • 1 Year Subscription7 Days trial$19.991 Year
2 purchases

Notator | Annotate Documents

Subscriptions2
  • Notator Pro Monthly7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Notator Pro Yearly7 Days trial$8.991 Year

Questions

Is SketchNote, Visual Note Taking free?
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notator | Annotate Documents free?
Notator | Annotate Documents is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, SketchNote, Visual Note Taking or Notator | Annotate Documents?
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking is rated higher. SketchNote, Visual Note Taking averages 3.0 out of 5 from 3 ratings, while Notator | Annotate Documents averages 2.0 from 1 ratings.
Do SketchNote, Visual Note Taking or Notator | Annotate Documents have ads?
Neither SketchNote, Visual Note Taking nor Notator | Annotate Documents shows ads.
Which is updated more often, SketchNote, Visual Note Taking or Notator | Annotate Documents?
SketchNote, Visual Note Taking ships an update every 2 days, and Notator | Annotate Documents every 2 months. Most recently, SketchNote, Visual Note Taking was updated on October 7, 2026 and Notator | Annotate Documents on October 6, 2026.

Other comparisons