# Chirys Draw vs Element Note

The clearest difference is rating: Element Note at 4.6 against Chirys Draw's 2.6. Element Note also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 9 months) and ratings volume (2.6K vs 8). Chirys Draw's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 5) and iOS requirement (10.0 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Chirys Draw asks for nothing beyond the download.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 2.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 8, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 67% of Chirys Draw's written reviews are positive against 69% of Element Note's.

Chirys Draw ships an update every 9 months, Element Note fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 15, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Chirys Draw | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.6 (8 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chirys-draw/id455125162/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 8 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 66.7% of reviews | **68.5% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 9 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | **Free** | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 18 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **10.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [John Clark](https://appshunter.io/developer/1626395909) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Chirys Draw

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/chirys-draw/id455125162)

Easily create complex molecular structures and reaction schemes with intuitive gestures. This app offers chemically aware text, automatic calculations, and publication-quality export options for scientists and students.

**Highlights:** Draw complex molecular structures and reaction schemes, Chemically aware text and automatic calculations, Intuitive circle gesture for ring creation, Publication-quality image and PDF export, Airdrop sharing and cross-platform compatibility, Import/export MOL files

**In-app purchases:** none


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Chirys Draw free?

Chirys Draw is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Element Note free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Chirys Draw or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. Chirys Draw averages 2.6 out of 5 from 8 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Chirys Draw or Element Note have ads?

Neither Chirys Draw nor Element Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Chirys Draw or Element Note?

Chirys Draw ships an update every 9 months, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Chirys Draw was updated on October 15, 2026 and Element Note on October 18, 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.*