Comparison

CamNote vs LightNotes

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

Head to head
About

CamNote

Easily extract, edit, and act on text from your photos. Recognize key information like dates, phone numbers, and URLs, and sync your notes across devices with iCloud. Supports multiple languages and dark mode.

Highlights
  • Extract text from photos
  • Auto-recognize key information
  • Take actions on recognized text
  • iCloud data sync
  • Dark mode support
  • Folder management
Features
Read full description

CamNote aims to saving your time from managing photos that contain texts, you can easily edit, search and even take further actions on the texts appeared in your photos. Features: 1. Extract all the texts from one or multiple photos. 2. Auto-recognize key information like date, phone numebr, location, email address, URL and QR code. 3. Further actions can be taken on key information, by different types like create calendar event or open location in Map, etc. 4. Fully support iCloud to sync your data on all your devices. 5. Fully support dark mode. 6. Support both Camera and Document Camera. 7. Support searching for note title or note content. 8. Support folder management. CamNote currently support to recognize 8 languages: 1. English 2. French 3. Italian 4. German 5. Spanish 6. Portuguese 7. Simplified Chinese 8. Traditional Chinese Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

LightNotes

This app offers a fast and private note-taking experience on iOS devices. It supports markdown formatting, secure local storage with Face ID protection, and offline functionality. Ideal for users who prioritize productivity and data privacy.

Highlights
  • Fast note taking
  • Complete privacy with local storage
  • Markdown support with live preview
  • Face ID and passcode protection
  • Offline functionality
  • Export notes to PDF, HTML, and plain text
  • Beautiful themes and dark mode
Features
Read full description

LightNotes is the fastest, most private note taking app for iPhone and iPad. Take smart notes with markdown support, organize your thoughts instantly, and keep your data secure with Face ID protection. Perfect for developers, students, writers, and anyone who values productivity and privacy. FAST NOTE TAKING Instant response, even with large texts. Create, edit, and organize notes without delays. Built with Swift for native iOS performance that outperforms web-based competitors. COMPLETE PRIVACY Your notes stay on your device - no cloud required. No registration, no tracking, no data collection. Complete control over your personal information with local storage only. MARKDOWN SUPPORT Professional text formatting made simple. Full markdown syntax support with live preview. Perfect for technical documentation, code snippets, and structured writing. BEAUTIFUL THEMES Three carefully crafted color palettes plus automatic dark mode. Clean, distraction-free interface that adapts to your preferences and lighting conditions. SECURE NOTES Face ID and passcode protection for sensitive information. Military-grade encryption keeps your private thoughts completely secure from unauthorized access. MULTILINGUAL SUPPORT Full localization in 10 languages: English, Russian, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Korean, Hindi, Portuguese and Dutch. Native language support for global users. NATIVE iOS EXPERIENCE Built exclusively for iOS with Swift and SwiftUI. Seamless integration with Apple ecosystem, optimized for all iPhone models. PERFECT FOR DEVELOPERS Code snippets, technical notes, and markdown documentation. Syntax highlighting support and export options for development workflows. IDEAL FOR STUDENTS Quick study notes, research organization, and offline access. No internet required - perfect for classrooms and libraries with limited connectivity. GREAT FOR WRITERS Distraction-free writing environment with markdown formatting. Export to multiple formats including PDF, HTML, and plain text for publishing workflows. PRIVACY-FOCUSED USERS Local storage means complete data ownership. No cloud synchronization, no server uploads, no privacy concerns. Your data never leaves your device. KEY FEATURES • No ads, no subscriptions, no registration required • Works completely offline - no internet connection needed • Export notes - plain text, and more • Minimal app size - won't slow down your device • Regular updates with new features and improvements • Responsive customer support and active development EXPORT AND SHARING Share your notes in multiple formats. Export to PDF for presentations, HTML for web publishing, or plain text for maximum compatibility. Seamless integration with other iOS apps. Download LightNotes today and experience the perfect balance of simplicity, power, and privacy. Your thoughts deserve the best note taking app available.

Screenshots

CamNote4 screens
LightNotes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: CamNote at 5.0 against LightNotes's 4.5. CamNote also leads on update cadence (every 2 days vs every 2 weeks). LightNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2). On price, ratings volume, ads 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. CamNote sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. LightNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

CamNote holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

CamNote ships an update every 2 days, LightNotes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on June 1, 2026 and September 4, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 6 level
CamNote versus LightNotes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterCamNoteLightNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.5 (2 ratings)
Positive reviews—100.0% of reviews
Number of ratings12 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 days — betterEvery 2 weeks
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesNo — better
MonetizationFreemiumFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.0 — better16.0
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB4 MB
Age rating4+4+
Developer若宣 殷Oppeldt Dmitrii

Customer experience

CamNote

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

LightNotes

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

CamNote

Subscriptions2
  • CamNote Premium Monthly$0.991 Month
  • CamNote Premium Yearly$5.991 Year
None

LightNotes

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is CamNote free?
CamNote is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is LightNotes free?
LightNotes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, CamNote or LightNotes?
CamNote is rated higher. CamNote averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while LightNotes averages 4.5 from 2 ratings.
Do CamNote or LightNotes have ads?
Neither CamNote nor LightNotes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, CamNote or LightNotes?
CamNote ships an update every 2 days, and LightNotes every 2 weeks. Most recently, CamNote was updated on June 1, 2026 and LightNotes on September 4, 2026.

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