# Penzu vs xTiles

The clearest difference is rating: Penzu at 4.2 against xTiles's 3.5. Penzu also leads on review sentiment (52% vs 35%) and ratings volume (2.5K vs 125). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and xTiles sells 11 in-app purchases, starting at $15.00 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Penzu holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 3.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Penzu has 2.5K ratings behind it against 125, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 52% of Penzu's written reviews are positive against 35% of xTiles's.

Penzu ships an update weekly, xTiles every 10 days. The most recent releases landed on October 12, 2026 and October 9, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | xTiles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732/reviews)** | [3.5 (125 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xtiles-notes-tasks-projects/id1633029507/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | 125 |
| Positive reviews | **52.0% of reviews** | 35.2% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 10 days |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 62 MB | 98 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [xtiles inc](https://appshunter.io/developer/1633029509) |

## What reviewers say

### Penzu

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732)

This app provides a secure and private space for journaling, note-taking, and storing personal thoughts. It offers robust security features like password and PIN locks, encryption, and cloud syncing across devices. Users can also add photos and tags to their entries, making it a comprehensive digital diary.

**Highlights:** Unlimited journaling, Cloud sync for free, Password and PIN locks, Journal encryption, Add photos to entries, Search and tag entries, Offline writing

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Penzu Pro Subscription | $4.99 | per month |
| Penzu Pro Subscription | $19.99 | per year |
| Penzu Pro Upgrade | $18.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 🔒 Secure and private
- 📝 Convenient journaling on the go
- 🗓️ Helpful reminders and date tracking
- 💻 Syncs across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
- 🔑 Password issues and lockout problems
- 📁 Syncing and data loss issues
- 📱 Limited functionality on mobile app
- 💰 Expensive premium subscription

**Reported bugs**

- Keyboard disappearing during use
- Entries not saving or syncing properly
- Inability to access account after updates

**Requested features**

- More customization options for fonts, themes, and layouts
- Ability to export/backup journal entries
- Improved mobile app stability and features
- Better customer support and communication


### xTiles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/xtiles-notes-tasks-projects/id1633029507)

Capture notes, tasks, and ideas with a versatile app that syncs across devices. Organize everything visually with drag-and-drop boards, and access your content online or offline. Stay productive with reminders, calendars, and quick search.

**Highlights:** Jot down notes and voice recordings, Snap sketches and upload photos, Save web content (text, images, links), Create to-do lists and set reminders, Organize ideas into visual boards, Instant cross-device syncing, Offline access

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (11)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus | $15.00 | per month |
| Plus | $19.00 | per month |
| Pro | $35.00 | per month |
| Starter | $69.00 | per year |
| Plus | $99.00 | per year |
| Ultimate Productivity Bundle | $99.00 | per year |
| Plus | $149.00 | per year |
| Pro | $299.00 | per year |
| Basic Productivity Bundle | $59.00 | one-time |
| Lifetime Access | $149.99 | one-time |
| Believer Plan | $199.00 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Intuitive and user-friendly interface
- 🎨 Highly customizable design with templates
- 💡 Excellent for ADHD organization and productivity
- 🖥️ Desktop version works exceptionally well
- 📊 Visual organization with flexible tile-based layout

**What reviewers complain about**

- 📱 Mobile app severely lacks desktop functionality
- 🐛 iPad app is poorly optimized and glitchy
- ❌ Cannot edit or create content on mobile devices
- 🔧 Limited customization options on mobile
- 📊 Tables and charts cannot be edited on mobile

**Reported bugs**

- Mobile app fails to load boards
- Cannot duplicate or delete items on mobile
- Text input jumps and backspace behaves incorrectly
- Long-hold on images triggers copy/paste menu
- Calendar dates incorrect for 2025

**Requested features**

- Home screen widgets for quick access
- Mobile layout optimization for smaller screens
- Full editing capabilities on mobile devices
- Multi-factor authentication (MFA) support
- Ability to delete and rearrange sections on mobile


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is xTiles free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Penzu or xTiles?

Penzu is rated higher. Penzu averages 4.2 out of 5 from 2.5K ratings, while xTiles averages 3.5 from 125 ratings.

### Do Penzu or xTiles have ads?

Neither Penzu nor xTiles shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Penzu or xTiles?

Penzu ships an update weekly, and xTiles every 10 days. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 12, 2026 and xTiles on October 9, 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.*