# Pen and Paper vs Note X

The clearest difference is ads: Pen and Paper at none against Note X's shown. Pen and Paper also leads on update cadence (every 5 weeks vs every 10 months). On price, rating, ratings volume and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pen and Paper sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and Note X sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Note X holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 41 and 23 respectively.

Pen and Paper ships an update every 5 weeks, Note X every 10 months. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Pen and Paper | Note X |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.4 (41 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pen-and-paper/id425893570/reviews) | **[4.6 (23 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-x-notepad/id1673667097/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **41** | 23 |
| Positive reviews | 69.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 5 weeks** | Every 10 months |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 50 MB | 30 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Vivid Apps](https://appshunter.io/developer/291793754) | [受杰 柯](https://appshunter.io/developer/1634142370) |

## What reviewers say

### Pen and Paper

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pen-and-paper/id425893570)

Create handwritten notes and drawings, annotate PDFs, and add text and shapes. Zoom in for detailed editing, organize content with layers, and import custom fonts and page styles. Share your creations as PDFs or JPEGs.

**Highlights:** Handwritten notes and drawings, PDF import and annotation, Text and shape insertion, Zoom and split view, Layer management, Custom font installation, PDF export

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pen and Paper PRO monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| Pen and Paper PRO | $5.99 | per year |
| Pen and Paper PRO | $7.99 | one-time |


### Note X

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-x-notepad/id1673667097)

A versatile note-taking app for digital and handwritten notes, memos, and drafts. Organize study materials with built-in notebooks, insert images, and customize writing styles. Secure your notes with password protection.

**Highlights:** Keyboard and handwriting input, Built-in notebooks for organization, Insert pictures into notes, Customizable paper and font colors, Password protection and encryption, Share notes as images

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $1.99 | per month |
| Plus Version Quarterly | $3.99 | per 3 months |
| Pro Version | $6.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pen and Paper free?

Pen and Paper is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Note X free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Pen and Paper or Note X?

Note X is rated higher. Pen and Paper averages 4.4 out of 5 from 41 ratings, while Note X averages 4.6 from 23 ratings.

### Do Pen and Paper or Note X have ads?

Note X shows ads; Pen and Paper does not.

### Which is updated more often, Pen and Paper or Note X?

Pen and Paper ships an update every 5 weeks, and Note X every 10 months. Most recently, Pen and Paper was updated on October 15, 2026 and Note X on September 16, 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.*