Comparison

Notebook vs Cortex Lantern

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

Head to head
About

Notebook

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
Read full description

Organize Your Thoughts, Simplify Your Life! Tired of messy notes or forgotten ideas?
 Turn chaos into clarity with Notes – Notebook & List Maker, your ultimate space for creativity, planning, and productivity.
Whether you’re journaling, managing projects, or capturing daily ideas — keep everything beautifully organized and accessible anytime, anywhere. Perfect for students, professionals, creators, and anyone who loves to stay organized and inspired! Key Features • Unlimited Notes & Lists
Write, plan, and create without limits — from quick thoughts to detailed notebooks. • Folders & Organization Tools
Sort your notes easily into folders and categories for a clean, clutter-free workspace. • Rich Text Editing
Customize fonts, colors, and styles to make your notes uniquely yours. • Checklists & To-Do Lists
Stay productive with easy task lists and reminders — perfect for daily routines or long-term goals. • Cloud Sync & Backup
Access your notes from anywhere with secure cloud sync and never lose important data again. • Quick Search & Tags
Find what you need instantly with smart search and tagging features. Go Premium Unlock your full potential with Notes Premium: • Ad-Free Experience
Enjoy distraction-free writing and focus on what matters most. • Unlimited Folders & Storage
Create as many notebooks and folders as you like — perfect for large projects or journaling. • Exclusive Themes & Customization
Personalize your workspace with elegant themes and color palettes. • Priority Support
Get faster assistance from our team whenever you need help. Subscription Info Weekly Subscription – $4.99 Use Cases * Journaling & daily reflections
 * Project planning & task management
 * Study notes & class organization
 * Grocery lists & reminders
 * Creative writing or brainstorming ideas
 * Work documentation & meeting notes
 We know how valuable your ideas are — that’s why Notes – Notebook & List Maker helps you keep them safe, structured, and stylish.
Capture thoughts instantly, plan smarter, and stay productive every single day — all in one elegant app. Start writing smarter. Stay organized. Be unstoppable. Privacy Policy: https://solitudecolorsllc.wordpress.com/privacy-policy/
 Terms of Use: https://solitudecolorsllc.wordpress.com

About

Cortex Lantern

Features
Read full description

Cortex Lantern is a brain training app and focus timer designed to help you rebuild your attention span and build deep work habits — with a glowing cortex visual that responds to your session in real time. REAL-TIME BRAIN VISUALISATION Start a focus sprint and watch your cortex “light up” as you work. The live brain animation keeps you engaged and present — so focus feels like training, not willpower. TRAIN 5 COGNITIVE PATHWAYS (NEUROSCIENCE-GROUNDED FRAMEWORK) Choose the Pathway that matches what you’re doing right now: • Deep Work — Prefrontal cortex (focus & control) • Creative — Default mode network (ideas & connections) • Learning — Hippocampus (memory & new skills) • Problem-Solving — Frontal-parietal network (logic & decisions) • Communication — Language hubs (expression & understanding) YOUR ATTENTION SPAN SCOREBOARD See focus time, Glow Points, streaks, and progress at a glance — so you always know you’re improving. STREAKS, REWARDS + VISUAL UNLOCKS Turn consistency into momentum: • Daily and weekly streaks • Session history and progress tracking • Achievements and level-ups • Visual unlocks that reward practice SHARE YOUR STREAK Export a premium share card to celebrate wins and make progress visible. FREE VS PRO Start free with core brain training and Deep Work. Upgrade to Pro to unlock all pathways, richer insights, more visual unlocks, and deeper progress tracking. Subscriptions automatically renew unless canceled at least 24 hours before the end of the current period. Payment will be charged to your Apple ID account at confirmation of purchase. You can manage and cancel subscriptions in your App Store account settings. PERFECT FOR • Founders and knowledge workers • Creators and writers • Students and lifelong learners • Anyone rebuilding their attention span and wanting something premium — built for focus. PRIVACY-FIRST Cortex Lantern is not a medical device. It is a visual focus training experience designed to support better habits. Your sessions and stats stay private to you. Privacy Policy: https://cortexlantern.app/privacy Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Built in England by creator and founder Sisi N — made for anyone tired of tab-hopping, notifications, and “one more scroll”.

Screenshots

Notebook4 screens
Cortex Lantern4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is ads: Cortex Lantern at none against Notebook's shown. Cortex Lantern also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 3 weeks). Notebook's advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.1). On price, in-app purchases 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. Notebook sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $2.99 per 7 days and Cortex Lantern sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Notebook ships an update every 3 weeks, Cortex Lantern daily. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Notebook versus Cortex Lantern: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNotebookCortex Lantern
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.3 (523 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews70.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings523 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksDaily — better
AdsYesNo — better
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchases—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPod
Requires iOS13.0 — better15.1
Further details — not scored
Size73 MB44 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperSolitude ColorsThe UGC Playbook LTD

Bugs and requests

Notebook

Reported bugs

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

Requested features

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

Cortex Lantern

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Notebook

Subscriptions1
  • Weekly$2.997 Days
2 purchases

Cortex Lantern

Subscriptions2
  • Cortex Lantern Pro$5.991 Month
  • Cortex Lantern Pro Annual$59.991 Year

Questions

Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Cortex Lantern free?
Cortex Lantern is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Notebook or Cortex Lantern have ads?
Notebook shows ads; Cortex Lantern does not.
Which is updated more often, Notebook or Cortex Lantern?
Notebook ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cortex Lantern daily. Most recently, Notebook was updated on October 8, 2026 and Cortex Lantern on September 26, 2026.

Other comparisons