# Contacts Journal CRM vs Notepad

The clearest difference is ads: Contacts Journal CRM at none against Notepad's shown. Contacts Journal CRM also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months) and review sentiment (91% vs 80%). Notepad's advantage is iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Contacts Journal CRM sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $9.99 per month and Notepad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for Contacts Journal CRM against 4.8 for Notepad. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.4K and 6.4K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 91% of Contacts Journal CRM's written reviews are positive against 80% of Notepad's.

Contacts Journal CRM ships an update weekly, Notepad every 2 months. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Contacts Journal CRM | Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.7 (2.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/contacts-journal-crm/id327685977/reviews) | **[4.8 (6.4K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-simple-notes-and-memo/id1004291915/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2.4K | **6.4K** |
| Positive reviews | **90.6% of reviews** | 80.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 74 MB | 52 MB |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [zaal LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/327685981) | [Komorebi Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/481596469) |

## What reviewers say

### Contacts Journal CRM

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/contacts-journal-crm/id327685977)

This app helps you manage customer relationships by tracking conversations, organizing contacts, and scheduling follow-ups. It allows you to store notes, files, and documents, and offers features like contact mapping and email templates to build stronger connections and never miss opportunities.

**Highlights:** Track last interaction with contacts, Manage follow-ups and reminders, Organize contacts with tags and filters, Store notes, files, and documents, Map contacts and plan meetings, Create personalized email templates, Link contacts to company accounts

**Features:** Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 1 User | $9.99 | per month |
| 5 Users | $24.99 | per month |
| 20 Users | $49.99 | per month |
| 1 User | $99.99 | per year |
| 5 Users | $249.99 | per year |
| 20 Users | $399.99 | per year |
| Unlimited Plan - Legacy User | Free | one-time |
| Unlimited Plan - iOS Add-On | $19.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Personal Plan | $24.99 | one-time |
| Unlimited Plan - iOS + Mac | $69.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Efficient contact management
- 👍 User-friendly interface
- 💡 Customizable fields and tags
- 🗓️ Seamless calendar integration
- 📸 Ability to attach files and photos

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Syncing issues with iCloud
- 🔍 Limited search functionality
- 🗓️ Inflexible scheduling and repeat options
- 🎨 Outdated visual design
- 🔀 Difficulty managing duplicate contacts

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes after recent updates
- Issues with deleting or restoring contacts
- Inconsistent behavior across devices

**Requested features**

- Group messaging and email capabilities
- Advanced reporting and analytics
- Deeper integration with other productivity apps
- More flexible scheduling and repeat options
- Ability to customize the visual appearance


### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-simple-notes-and-memo/id1004291915)

This app provides a straightforward way to jot down thoughts, create lists, and save temporary information. It offers features like search, dark mode, and customizable widgets for quick access to your notes. Data is stored locally for enhanced privacy.

**Highlights:** Search functionality, Dark mode, Lock screen widget, Home screen widget, Automatic note saving, Word count, Customizable note colors

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Fast and responsive
- 💰 Free with no subscription
- 📝 Straightforward note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🙄 Ads can be intrusive
- 🔒 No cloud backup or sync
- 🎨 Limited customization options
- 🔍 Lack of search or organization features

**Reported bugs**

- Notes sometimes disappear after updating
- Auto-correct can be overly aggressive

**Requested features**

- Add ability to print notes
- Implement photo/media attachment
- Introduce different font styles and colors
- Provide cloud sync and backup functionality


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Contacts Journal CRM free?

Contacts Journal CRM is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Notepad free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Contacts Journal CRM or Notepad?

Notepad is rated higher. Contacts Journal CRM averages 4.7 out of 5 from 2.4K ratings, while Notepad averages 4.8 from 6.4K ratings.

### Do Contacts Journal CRM or Notepad have ads?

Notepad shows ads; Contacts Journal CRM does not.

### Which is updated more often, Contacts Journal CRM or Notepad?

Contacts Journal CRM ships an update weekly, and Notepad every 2 months. Most recently, Contacts Journal CRM was updated on September 22, 2026 and Notepad on September 22, 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.*