# iDatabase vs Formbook

iDatabase and Formbook both sit at 4.4 stars, but that hides the real split: 80% of Formbook's written reviews are positive against 52% of iDatabase's. Formbook also leads on update cadence (every 4 days vs fortnightly) and monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs paid). iDatabase's advantage is ratings volume (510 vs 26). On price, rating, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iDatabase sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Formbook sells 2 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.4 for iDatabase against 4.5 for Formbook. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: iDatabase has 510 ratings behind it against 26, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 52% of iDatabase's written reviews are positive against 80% of Formbook's.

iDatabase ships an update fortnightly, Formbook every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and August 17, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iDatabase | Formbook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (510 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idatabase/id328185048/reviews) | **[4.5 (26 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formbook/id1570038338/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **510** | 26 |
| Positive reviews | 52.0% of reviews | **80.3% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Fortnightly | **Every 4 days** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Free with in-app purchases** |
| Size | 88 MB | 10 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Apimac](https://appshunter.io/developer/320560024) | [Mathieu Morgensztern](https://appshunter.io/developer/1439918443) |

## What reviewers say

### iDatabase

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/idatabase/id328185048)

Create and manage custom databases, inventories, and collections with ease. Organize personal or professional information using pre-built templates or design your own. Secure your data with a PIN and back it up to cloud storage.

**Highlights:** Custom database creation, Pre-built templates, Variety of field types, Search and sort functionality, PIN protection, Cloud backup (Dropbox), Data sharing

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Lifetime License | $59.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Simple database creation
- 📸 Ability to attach photos
- 💾 Dropbox backup/restore

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Crashes and bugs
- 🔗 Dropbox linking issues
- 📁 Limited export/import options
- 🔍 Lacking advanced search/filter features
- 💻 No iPad or desktop version

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes when adding photos
- Inability to open databases
- Data loss and corruption issues
- Syncing problems between devices

**Requested features**

- Add iCloud support
- Improve Dropbox integration
- Enhance sorting and filtering capabilities
- Introduce currency and calculation fields
- Provide a more user-friendly interface


### Formbook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/formbook/id1570038338)

This app allows you to create structured notes that function like database forms, saving you time and providing instant chart statistics. It supports collaboration, cross-device synchronization, and AI-powered form building with numerous field types.

**Highlights:** Form-based note creation, Instant chart statistics, Notebook sharing for collaboration, AI-powered automated form builder, 30+ form field types, Cross-device synchronization, Export to PDF and CSV

**In-app purchases (2)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notebook sharing | $3.99 | one-time |
| Additional fields pack | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and easy-to-use interface
- 🔄 Seamless cross-device synchronization
- 💰 One-time purchase with no subscription
- 🎨 Clean, native Apple design aesthetic
- 📊 Flexible field types and customization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔍 Limited search functionality (no field-specific search)
- 🐛 Frequent crashes on macOS
- ⚠️ Slow performance with large datasets
- 📋 No table/spreadsheet view option
- 🔐 Lack of password protection

**Reported bugs**

- Crashes on macOS Ventura and newer
- Crashes when validating fields in new notes
- Export functionality issues with CSV and PDF
- Barcode field scans but cannot search by barcode
- Star rating field too sensitive to accidental changes

**Requested features**

- Field-specific search functionality
- Advanced multi-criteria filtering
- Table/spreadsheet view for data
- Password/biometric app protection
- Rich text formatting (bold, italic, colors)


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iDatabase free?

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

### Is Formbook free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iDatabase or Formbook?

Formbook is rated higher. iDatabase averages 4.4 out of 5 from 510 ratings, while Formbook averages 4.5 from 26 ratings.

### Do iDatabase or Formbook have ads?

Neither iDatabase nor Formbook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iDatabase or Formbook?

iDatabase ships an update fortnightly, and Formbook every 4 days. Most recently, iDatabase was updated on September 23, 2026 and Formbook on August 17, 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.*