# Penzu vs ePDFNotes

The clearest difference is price: Penzu at Free against ePDFNotes's $6.99. Penzu also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 2 months). ePDFNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Penzu is free to download; ePDFNotes costs $6.99 up front. Penzu sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. ePDFNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

Penzu ships an update weekly, ePDFNotes every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on October 3, 2026 and September 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Penzu | ePDFNotes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | **Free** | $6.99 |
| Rating | **[4.2 (2.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/penzu/id452674732/reviews)** | — |
| Number of ratings | **2.5K** | — |
| Positive reviews | 51.7% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | — |
| Size | 62 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 | 16.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 9+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Penzu Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/452674735) | [Danny Law](https://appshunter.io/developer/1896414313) |

## 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


### ePDFNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/epdfnotes/id6767184516)

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Penzu free?

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

### Is ePDFNotes free?

ePDFNotes costs $6.99, with no in-app purchases.

### Do Penzu or ePDFNotes have ads?

Neither Penzu nor ePDFNotes shows ads.

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

Penzu ships an update weekly, and ePDFNotes every 2 months. Most recently, Penzu was updated on October 3, 2026 and ePDFNotes on September 28, 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.*