# Mental Note Lite ๛ vs Notepad

The clearest difference is update cadence: Notepad at every 8 days against Mental Note Lite ๛'s every 5 months. Notepad also leads on review sentiment (84% vs 58%) and ratings volume (28K vs 2). Mental Note Lite ๛'s advantage is iOS requirement (13.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mental Note Lite ๛ sells 8 one-off in-app purchases and Notepad sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Notepad holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notepad has 28K ratings behind it against 2, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Mental Note Lite ๛'s written reviews are positive against 84% of Notepad's.

Mental Note Lite ๛ ships an update every 5 months, Notepad every 8 days. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mental Note Lite ๛ | Notepad |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-note-lite/id348204405/reviews) | **[4.8 (28K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 2 | **28K** |
| Positive reviews | 58.0% of reviews | **84.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 8 days** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 10 MB | 100 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Zymbiotic Technologies](https://appshunter.io/developer/338578112) | [1381802 Ontario Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318613521) |

## What reviewers say

### Mental Note Lite ๛

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-note-lite/id348204405)

This app transforms your device into a versatile digital notepad. Seamlessly combine text, drawings, photos, and voice recordings on a single page to capture ideas in rich detail. Organize, protect, and share your notes in various formats.

**Highlights:** Combine text, photos, audio, and drawings, Finger drawing with multiple colors, Organize notes with tags, Password protect private notes, Export notes to PDF, text, and more, Share notes via email and cloud services

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Paper Customization feature | $2.99 | one-time |
| 100 sheet refill pack | $3.99 | one-time |
| Note Copying feature (includes free Note Linking feature) | $3.99 | one-time |
| Export to another app feature | $3.99 | one-time |
| Password Protection feature | $3.99 | one-time |
| Straight Line Drawing feature | $3.99 | one-time |
| Dark Mode Override feature | $3.99 | one-time |
| 250 sheet refill pack | $4.99 | one-time |


### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad-easy-notes-and-memos/id725368535)

Capture thoughts, create to-do lists, and organize ideas with a versatile digital notebook. Supports handwriting, text notes, and secure cloud syncing. Personalize your experience with custom themes and icons.

**Highlights:** Create to-do lists with checkboxes, Unlimited text notes, Handwritten notes with Apple Pencil, Organize notes into folders, Pin and sort notes, iCloud backup and sync, Advanced search functionality

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

**In-app purchases (7)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly Premium Membership | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Premium Subscription | $2.99 | per month |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $14.99 | per year |
| Yearly Premium Subscription | $17.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $19.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $29.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime Premium Membership | $39.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 📝 Useful for notes, lists, and reminders
- 🎨 Customizable font and color options
- 💾 Reliable for storing important information
- 🔍 Helpful search functionality

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Premium subscription required to remove ads
- 🐛 Occasional data loss or note disappearance
- 📤 Lack of sharing or exporting options
- 🔒 No password protection for individual notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly disappearing
- Ads covering up the note-taking area

**Requested features**

- Add drawing/highlighting tools
- Integrate with calendar and contacts
- Ability to sort and organize notes
- Option to password protect specific notes


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mental Note Lite ๛ free?

Mental Note Lite ๛ 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, Mental Note Lite ๛ or Notepad?

Notepad is rated higher. Mental Note Lite ๛ averages 4.5 out of 5 from 2 ratings, while Notepad averages 4.8 from 28K ratings.

### Do Mental Note Lite ๛ or Notepad have ads?

Both Mental Note Lite ๛ and Notepad show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mental Note Lite ๛ or Notepad?

Mental Note Lite ๛ ships an update every 5 months, and Notepad every 8 days. Most recently, Mental Note Lite ๛ was updated on August 26, 2026 and Notepad on September 25, 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.*