# abcNotes Full Version vs Notability

abcNotes Full Version and Notability both sit at 4.8 stars, but that hides the real split: 86% of abcNotes Full Version's written reviews are positive against 36% of Notability's. abcNotes Full Version also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 13) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 17.5). Notability's advantage is price (Free vs $2.99) and update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). On rating, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Notability is free to download; abcNotes Full Version costs $2.99 up front. Notability sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $5.99 per month. abcNotes Full Version asks for nothing beyond the download.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.8 for abcNotes Full Version against 4.8 for Notability. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notability has 457K ratings behind it against 882, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 86% of abcNotes Full Version's written reviews are positive against 36% of Notability's.

abcNotes Full Version ships an update every 2 months, Notability weekly. Both last shipped on September 27, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | abcNotes Full Version | Notability |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | $2.99 | **Free** |
| Rating | [4.8 (882 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abcnotes-full-version/id354015291/reviews) | [4.8 (457K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notability-ai-notes-and-planner/id360593530/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 882 | **457K** |
| Positive reviews | **86.1% of reviews** | 36.3% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | **Weekly** |
| Monetization | Paid | **Freemium** |
| Best chart rank | — | **#77** |
| Size | 41 MB | 411 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 17.5 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ALSEDI Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/331879616) | [Ginger Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/318126112) |

## What reviewers say

### abcNotes Full Version

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abcnotes-full-version/id354015291)

This app allows you to create stylish and functional notes and to-do lists with a realistic paper sticky note feel. It offers extensive customization options for appearance and functionality, including iCloud synchronization and checklist management.

**Highlights:** iCloud Synchronization, Checklist style notes, Customizable appearance (backgrounds, skins, icons), Virtual desktops, Scale, rotate, and drag notes, Email and share notes, Save notes as images

**In-app purchases:** none


### Notability

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notability-ai-notes-and-planner/id360593530)

**Currently charting:** #77 Top Grossing · Productivity, #160 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

Capture, organize, and enhance your thoughts with a versatile digital notebook. Seamlessly blend handwriting, typing, and multimedia to annotate documents, record lectures, and generate summaries. Ideal for students and professionals seeking to boost productivity and learning.

**Highlights:** Handwritten and typed notes, PDF and document annotation, Audio recording and transcription, AI-powered summaries and quizzes, Customizable organization, Cross-device sync

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Notability Lite | $5.99 | per month |
| Notability Plus | $7.99 | per month |
| Notability Plus | $12.99 | per 3 months |
| Notability Lite | $14.99 | per year |
| Notability Plus | $19.99 | per year |
| Notability Plus | $19.99 | per year |
| Notability Pro | $19.99 | per month |
| Notability Plus | $29.99 | per year |
| Notability Pro | $99.99 | per year |
| Notability Classic | $49.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Great app for note-taking
- 👍 Smooth handwriting experience
- 📝 Excellent organization and file management
- 🎙️ Useful audio recording feature
- 🔍 Handwriting recognition and search

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Sync issues with iCloud
- 🔍 Limited search and organization options
- 🖍️ Frustrating highlighter behavior
- 🔒 Concerns about subscription model
- 🔧 Buggy after recent updates

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting corrupted
- Frequent crashes and performance issues
- Palm rejection problems after updates
- Inconsistent behavior when importing files

**Requested features**

- Improved folder/hierarchy organization
- More shape recognition and drawing tools
- Side-by-side viewing of multiple notes
- Ability to edit/rename audio recordings
- Better integration with other apps and services


## Frequently asked questions

### Is abcNotes Full Version free?

abcNotes Full Version costs $2.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Notability free?

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

### Which has better reviews, abcNotes Full Version or Notability?

abcNotes Full Version and Notability are both rated 4.8 out of 5 on the App Store, from 882 and 457K ratings respectively.

### Do abcNotes Full Version or Notability have ads?

Neither abcNotes Full Version nor Notability shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, abcNotes Full Version or Notability?

abcNotes Full Version ships an update every 2 months, and Notability weekly. Most recently, abcNotes Full Version was updated on September 27, 2026 and Notability on September 27, 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.*