Comparison

HanDBase for iPad vs Notebooks

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

HanDBase for iPad

A powerful relational database manager designed for iPad. Create, edit, and track virtually anything, from personal collections to business inventories, with flexible field types and relational linking. Supports photos, GPS, and barcode scanning.

Highlights
  • Create and edit databases on iPad
  • 19 field types
  • Relational database linking
  • Sorting, filtering, and custom views
  • Field-level encryption
  • Desktop Connect for web browser sync
  • Support for photos, GPS, and barcode scanning
Features
Read full description

Powerful relational database manager now available for the iPad! Please Note: This version is optimized for the iPad, if you have an iPhone, there is a separate version available in the App Store. Track almost anything. Examples: Shopping Lists,DVD Collections,Passwords,Prayer Lists,To Dos,Workouts,Recipes,Checkbook,Weight Loss,Auto Mileage Inventory,Surveys,Directories,Time/Billing CRM,Deliveries,Estimates Patient Lists,Billing Codes,Charge Capture * Create and Edit Databases right on your iPad * 19 different field types * Relational- link between different database tables * Sorting,Filtering, and Customized Views * Field level Encryption * Optional Forms Designer available via In-App Purchase * Desktop Connect- connect via web browser and load/save databases, import/export * Databases emailed to you can be opened from the mail program and synced right into HanDBase * Backup and Install databases directly from the iTunes cabled interface. * Integration w/ HanDBase Gallery-download over 2000 templates * Support for photos, GPS/Maps, and barcode scanning via camera equipped devices We are a world leader in the mobile database space and have compatible solutions (sold separately) for desktops, synchronization to programs like Microsoft Access, SQL Server, Filemaker, and most ODBC enabled apps. See our web site for more details and options: http://www.ddhsoftware.com/iPad Please Note: The HanDBase database format does not support Unicode, so while English and most European languages are supported, other languages are not.

About

Notebooks

This app helps you write, organize, and manage documents, tasks, and files. It offers flexible writing modes, robust organization tools, and task management features, all while ensuring your data remains accessible and under your control.

Highlights
  • Formatted text, plain text, and Markdown writing
  • Create documents with styles, tables, and attachments
  • Organize with nested hierarchies and 'books'
  • Task management with due dates and checklists
  • Wiki-style linking and backlinks
  • Full-text search
  • Cross-device synchronization
Features
Currently charting
Read full description

Own your notes — forever. Notebooks is a writing and organization app with no subscription, no lock-in, and no worries. Your documents are stored as standard files you can always access, export, or move freely. Pay once. Use for life. Use Notebooks as a personal wiki, Zettelkasten, document archive, task manager, or long-term writing space. Capture quick notes, turn them into actionable tasks, combine text fragments into chapters, organize research, or keep business documents separate from personal journals — without ever switching apps. Designed to help you stay focused and work at your own pace, Notebooks grows with your needs and is always ready to support you. WRITE AND CREATE Create beautifully formatted documents with styles, attachments, tables, checklists, and optional tables of contents. Choose from ready-made styles or design your own. Write in different ways: Formatted text (WYSIWYG) Plain text, with smart handling of lists, automatic character pairing, and a focused writing view Markdown, supporting MultiMarkdown and Discount, with syntax highlighting, dedicated keyboard keys, wiki-style links, and interactive checklists Sketch ideas or annotate images and PDFs using Apple Pencil. STORE AND ORGANIZE Notebooks stores all documents as regular files in standard formats. You always remain in control — no lock-in, no export worries, fully compatible across devices and over time. Organize your work in books and nested hierarchies without limits. Import PDFs, emails, web pages, MS Office and iWork documents, images, audio, video, and more. Use full-text search to find even the most deeply nested document. PLAN AND ACT Turn books into project lists and documents into tasks. Assign due dates and alerts, create nested projects, and track progress naturally — right where your work lives. Use simple checklists in formatted documents or Markdown for lightweight task tracking. STAY FOCUSED Link documents together to build knowledge over time. Use wiki-style links, backlinks, contexts, and smart books to keep everything connected and within reach. When you rename or move documents, links stay intact. A PLACE YOU CAN RELY ON Sync your documents between iPhone, iPad, Mac, and PC. Work on documents stored in other apps, compile selections into PDFs or eBooks, scan documents and extract text using OCR, and trust that your data stays accessible — now and in the future. With time, Notebooks often becomes the one place users rely on to keep everything that matters close at hand. WHAT USERS SAY “Notebooks is a wonderful app — sophisticated in an unassuming way. I feel more productive without spending time managing the app itself.” “You are GTD in every way that makes it efficient — and makes me efficient.”

Screenshots

Notebooks4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Notebooks at 4.7 against HanDBase for iPad's 2.9. Notebooks also leads on review sentiment (82% vs 50%) and ratings volume (1.1K vs 15). HanDBase for iPad's advantage is price ($9.99 vs $17.99) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

HanDBase for iPad costs $9.99 and Notebooks $17.99 up front. HanDBase for iPad sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notebooks sells 4 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notebooks holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 2.9. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebooks has 1.1K ratings behind it against 15, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 50% of HanDBase for iPad's written reviews are positive against 82% of Notebooks's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

HanDBase for iPad ships an update every 4 months, Notebooks monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 3 level
HanDBase for iPad versus Notebooks: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHanDBase for iPadNotebooks
Price$9.99 — better$17.99
Rating2.9 (15 ratings)4.7 (1.1K ratings) — better
Positive reviews50.2% of reviews82.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings151.1K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsMonthly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationPaidPaid
Best chart rank—#73 — better
DevicesiPadiPhone, iPad, Apple Watch — better
Requires iOS15.0 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size23 MB48 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDDH Software, LLCAlfons Schmid

Customer experience

HanDBase for iPad

All ratings15 ratings
Positive33.3%
Neutral26.7%
Negative40.0%
Written reviews235 reviews
Positive50.2%
Neutral10.6%
Negative39.1%

Notebooks

All ratings1,069 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral2.7%
Negative3.3%
Written reviews215 reviews
Positive82.3%
Neutral5.6%
Negative12.1%

User reviews

HanDBase for iPad

From 15 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful and flexible database app
  • 👍 Easy to create and customize databases
  • 💡 Ability to link databases and create relationships
  • 👍 Good customer support and responsive developers
  • 🚀 Seamless sync between iPad, iPhone, and desktop

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and stability issues
  • 🔧 Clunky and outdated user interface
  • 🔧 Limited customization options for forms and views
  • 🔧 Difficult to backup and sync data without a desktop app
  • 🔧 Lack of cloud sync and integration with popular services

Notebooks

From 1.1K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful and flexible organization
  • 🔒 Respects user data and privacy
  • 👍 Reliable and stable
  • 👍 Responsive and helpful developer
  • 👍 Elegant and intuitive interface

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Occasional crashes and sync issues
  • 🐛 Formatting and editing limitations
  • 🐛 Steep learning curve for some users

Bugs and requests

HanDBase for iPad

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • Crashes when rotating iPad or editing forms
  • Inability to edit existing records without losing data
  • Inconsistent behavior when syncing data between devices
  • Limitations with date fields and handling of pre-1904 dates

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved cloud sync and integration with services like Dropbox
  • More customization options for forms, views, and data presentation
  • Better support for right-to-left languages
  • Barcode scanning and integration capabilities
  • Improved stability and fewer crashes

Notebooks

Reported bugs

2 issues
  • Data loss after iOS upgrades
  • Compatibility issues with newer iOS versions

Requested features

4 requests
  • Improved Markdown support
  • More font and color customization options
  • Better Apple Watch integration
  • Export to Word format

In-app purchases

1 purchases

HanDBase for iPad

One-time1
  • HanDBase Forms Designer for iPad$4.99
4 purchases

Notebooks

One-time4
  • Small Tip$0.99
  • Custom Storage Locations$2.99
  • Medium Tip$2.99
Show 1 more
  • Generous Tip$4.99

Questions

Is HanDBase for iPad free?
HanDBase for iPad costs $9.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Is Notebooks free?
Notebooks costs $17.99, and also offers in-app purchases.
Which has better reviews, HanDBase for iPad or Notebooks?
Notebooks is rated higher. HanDBase for iPad averages 2.9 out of 5 from 15 ratings, while Notebooks averages 4.7 from 1.1K ratings.
Do HanDBase for iPad or Notebooks have ads?
Neither HanDBase for iPad nor Notebooks shows ads.
Which is updated more often, HanDBase for iPad or Notebooks?
HanDBase for iPad ships an update every 4 months, and Notebooks monthly. Most recently, HanDBase for iPad was updated on November 6, 2026 and Notebooks on November 7, 2026.

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