# Notebook vs Dotted

The clearest difference is rating: Notebook at 4.3 against Dotted's 3.8. Notebook also leads on ratings volume (523 vs 4) and device support (3 vs 1). Dotted's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and update cadence (every 4 days vs every 3 weeks). On price, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Notebook sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Dotted sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.3 against 3.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 523 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Notebook ships an update every 3 weeks, Dotted every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 13, 2026 and October 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notebook | Dotted |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.3 (523 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-journal/id1670365742/reviews)** | [3.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotted-digital-planner/id6497405508/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **523** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | 70.6% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 73 MB | 27 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 16.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Solitude Colors](https://appshunter.io/developer/1614422096) | [Akim Kasabulatov](https://appshunter.io/developer/1211314144) |

## What reviewers say

### Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notebook-notes-and-journal/id1670365742)

Organize your thoughts, plans, and ideas with a versatile notebook and list-making application. Create unlimited notes, manage tasks with checklists, and customize your workspace. Sync across devices for seamless access to your organized information.

**Highlights:** Unlimited notes and lists, Folders and organization tools, Rich text editing, Checklists and to-do lists, Cloud sync and backup, Quick search and tags

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 💡 Great organization system
- 🚀 Simple and quick
- 🤩 Excellent AI-powered features

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and freezes
- 💸 Excessive ads disrupting usage
- 🔒 Lack of customization options
- 🤯 Confusing navigation

**Reported bugs**

- Login issues and lost user data
- Compatibility problems with older devices
- Copying and pasting not working as expected

**Requested features**

- Add search functionality
- Improve delete/edit options
- Provide subscription-free version
- Enhance calendar integration


### Dotted

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/dotted-digital-planner/id6497405508)

This app offers a digital planning and journaling experience with a focus on customization and efficiency. It features a vast template library, customizable covers, and advanced handwriting recognition to transform your notes into searchable text.

**Highlights:** Extensive template library, Customizable covers and themes, Advanced handwriting recognition, Powerful search functionality, Intuitive interface

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Digital Planner Weekly Access | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Digital Planner Monthly Access | $9.99 | per month |
| Digital Planner Annual Access | $39.99 | per year |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notebook free?

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

### Is Dotted free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Notebook or Dotted?

Notebook is rated higher. Notebook averages 4.3 out of 5 from 523 ratings, while Dotted averages 3.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do Notebook or Dotted have ads?

Notebook shows ads; Dotted does not.

### Which is updated more often, Notebook or Dotted?

Notebook ships an update every 3 weeks, and Dotted every 4 days. Most recently, Notebook was updated on October 13, 2026 and Dotted on October 16, 2026.

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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.*