# Penzu vs StageCue

The clearest difference is update cadence: Penzu at weekly against StageCue's every 2 months. Penzu also leads on iOS requirement (16.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month and StageCue sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Penzu ships an update weekly, StageCue every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | StageCue |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 51.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 69 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 18.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [Yang Rui](https://appshunter.io/developer/950173292) |

## 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


### StageCue

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/stagecue-event-host-assistant/id6760546565)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StageCue Pro (Lifetime) | $4.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is StageCue free?

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

### Do Penzu or StageCue have ads?

Neither Penzu nor StageCue shows ads.

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

Penzu ships an update weekly, and StageCue every 2 months. Most recently, Penzu was updated on September 21, 2026 and StageCue on September 10, 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.*