# NeatNotes vs ChessLock

The clearest difference is ads: ChessLock at none against NeatNotes's shown. NeatNotes's advantage is review sentiment (100% vs 67%) and monetization model (free vs freemium). On price, in-app purchases, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NeatNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and ChessLock sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NeatNotes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.8. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NeatNotes has 37 ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of NeatNotes's written reviews are positive against 67% of ChessLock's.

NeatNotes ships an update every 4 days, ChessLock fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on September 17, 2026 and September 26, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NeatNotes | ChessLock |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[5.0 (37 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neatnotes-notes-and-lists/id1672575304/reviews)** | [4.8 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesslock-screen-time-control/id6744930081/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **37** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **100.0% of reviews** | 66.7% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 4 days** | Fortnightly |
| Monetization | **Free** | Freemium |
| Size | 32 MB | 50 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.2 | **17.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fusion Engineering](https://appshunter.io/developer/1233002961) | [Patricio Guzman](https://appshunter.io/developer/1707843725) |

## What reviewers say

### NeatNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/neatnotes-notes-and-lists/id1672575304)

Organize and take notes quickly with a clean interface. See full note previews, customize note styles, and set reminders. Features smart grouping and automatic link title generation.

**Highlights:** Full note previews, Customizable note styles (plain, sticky, lined), Home screen widgets, Paragraph-based reminders, Smart Stacks for automatic note grouping, Readable link titles, Photo integration

**Features:** Family Sharing

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime Unlock | $7.99 | one-time |


### ChessLock

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chesslock-screen-time-control/id6744930081)

This app helps you control screen time by blocking distracting applications. To take a break, you must solve chess puzzles, sharpening your mind and earning your pause. It's designed for anyone seeking enhanced focus and productivity with a unique, brain-boosting approach.

**Highlights:** Block distracting apps, Solve chess puzzles for breaks, Customizable focus sessions, Brain-training puzzles, Private by design, no data collection, Pro version for advanced features

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Chesslock Pro | $2.99 | per month |
| Chesslock Pro | $19.99 | per year |
| Chesslock Pro | $29.99 | per year |
| Chesslock Pro | $17.49 | one-time |
| Chesslock Pro | $34.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NeatNotes free?

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

### Is ChessLock free?

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

### Which has better reviews, NeatNotes or ChessLock?

NeatNotes is rated higher. NeatNotes averages 5.0 out of 5 from 37 ratings, while ChessLock averages 4.8 from 4 ratings.

### Do NeatNotes or ChessLock have ads?

NeatNotes shows ads; ChessLock does not.

### Which is updated more often, NeatNotes or ChessLock?

NeatNotes ships an update every 4 days, and ChessLock fortnightly. Most recently, NeatNotes was updated on September 17, 2026 and ChessLock on September 26, 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.*