ZoomNotes vs Escape
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ZoomNotes
This comprehensive visual note-taking app offers extensive zoom capabilities for creating handwritten notes and sketches on various digital surfaces. It supports PDF annotation, digital planning with calendar integration, and advanced features like sub-pages and bookmarks for organized visual files.
- Extensive zoom range for notes and sketches
- Write over PDF and Office documents
- Digital planner creation and calendar integration
- Sub-pages for hierarchical organization
- Bookmarks with presentation playback
- Handwriting recognition for search
- Layers for content control
Read full descriptionHide full description
ZoomNotes is the most comprehensive visual note-taking app with huge zoom range. Make handwritten notes and sketches on virtual paper, huge WhiteBoards , PDF files, images and MS Word, Excel and PowerPoint documents (via GoogleDrive). Sync your documents between your iPad and iPhone with iCloud. ZoomNotes is compatible with any capacitive stylus pen and also with the top electronic pens on the market including the fabulous Apple Pencil. ZoomNotes Desktop for Mac now also available. Features include: MULTIPLE PEN TYPES There are 8 pen types to choose from including gel, nib, pencil and watercolour each with unlimited line thicknesses. HANDWRITING RECOGNITION Search handwritten notes. DIGITAL PLANNING Either import a planner pdf or use the ‘Custom digital planner’ option to create your own. You can configure a planner to show events and reminders from the Calendar and Reminder apps. SUB-PAGES This unique feature allows you to use ‘pages within pages’. This allows you to use sticky-notes and enables the creation of hierarchical visual files. You can also insert whole pdf files as sub-pages, or import pages from other ZoomNotes documents into a sub-page. BOOKMARKS Bookmarks allow you save views in your documents, and then return to them at a later date. There are animated playback facilities to allow you to present with or to create videos from your document. LINKS Add links between pages, and even between documents. This lets you create your own digital planners, enhance imported pdf planners or create indices. SPLIT_SCREEN Edit and view two documents side by side (or above and below). You can now also have 2 views of the same document. CALENDAR EVENTS Add events/reminders linked to your documents, possibly with alarms. The URL in the event links back to the document in ZoomNotes. HUGE ZOOM RANGE, WHITEBOARD MODE Zoom in and out without arbitrary limits including rotated views. LAYERS Layers let you control what is visible on a page, also options for 'master layers' which show on all pages. WRITE OVER PDF FILES Import and write over PDFs, Microsoft Office files Word, Excel and PowerPoint (via GoogleDrive). UNLIMITED PAPER SIZES AND STYLES Make your page as small or as large as you like. Choose any type of paper with our configurable paper types. FULLY EDITABLE In ZoomNotes, you can select, scale, rotate, shift and flip (mirror) objects. Cut, copy and paste are also available, including between documents, pages and other apps. SHAPES AND ARROWS Regular shapes and arrows (ideal for visual mapping); they can be drawn with the polygon tool or roughly drawn by hand and automatically converted into the exact geometric shape. SYMBOL LIBRARY Fully configurable library of reusable shapes and images. IMAGES AND IMAGE EDITING Insert images (photos) in your documents at any size and scale. Crop, mask, re-sample, edit transparency, scan-correct and deform images. Insert images and videos from camera or photo library. TYPED TEXT Enter typed text via keyboard; with a wide range of fonts and font sizes, font colours, fills and borders. Text can be entered at all zoom scales and can be selected and moved, scaled and rotated. RECORD AND PLAYBACK SOUNDS Including import and export of mp3 files. You can also insert a sound recording on the page to which it relates. Now linked to drawing. SHARE DOCUMENTS Share documents as PDF files, images, videos or ZoomNotes documents (via email, iTunes, clipboard, Dropbox, Twitter and Evernote, Airdrop, iCloud Drive and Open in. USE FOR PRESENTATIONS ZoomNotes is VGA compatible for use with projectors, monitors and AirPlay. MAGNIFICATION WINDOW Write into a zoomed in view whilst still viewing the zoomed out view. There are lots more details including videos or the app in action at www.zoom-notes.com. We respond to every email sent to support@zoom-notes.com
Escape
Capture, organize, and develop your ideas visually or in an outline format. Transform concepts into actionable tasks and projects with intuitive tools for planning, styling, and collaboration. Share your work in various formats to get things done.
- Jot down notes, images, links, and tasks
- Switch between mind map and outline views
- Rearrange, edit, and merge ideas
- Turn ideas into prioritized tasks
- Style mind maps with custom layouts and markers
- Share maps as image, text, PDF, and more
- Collaborate on tasks
Read full descriptionHide full description
Escape is your place to jot down notes & ideas, connect and develop them, and get things done. WHAT'S YOUR NEXT IDEA? • Jot down & Collect Notes, images, links or tasks, drop them all in a mind map. Start an outline for an organized, structured view, and switch to mind map to visually rearrange ideas or add new ones. • Plan & Organize Information is ever changing and your app should help you stay on top of things. Rearrange, edit, merge or highlight with intuitive gestures. Instantly switch between outline and mind map. Focus on details by unfolding branches. • Get Things Done Turn ideas into tasks and projects. Prioritize, sort, group and add task completion percentage. • Style Your Mind Map Create expressive maps with beautiful automatic layout, intuitive markers, Apple Pencil sketches and various text styles. Your mind map looks perfect out-of-the-box. • Share and Collaborate Easily share your maps with others as image, text, MD, OPML, PDF or MMAP. Collaborate on tasks with non-mind mapping users, by exporting the map as PDF with clickable checkboxes. ESCAPE The app comes out of the box with a full set of mind mapping features, completely free. • Create and edit topics • Fold and reorganize • Add images and markers • Add links and supplementary topic notes • Add tasks and set completion percentage and priority • Import MD, OPML, MMAP, text • Export outline text, MMAP • Widgets • Dark Mode ESCAPE PRO PRO add-on is available as in-app subscription. It gives access to all the advanced features like Outlining and Batch Actions. It is available as monthly and yearly subscription. Try all the features with a free 30-day trial. • Outlining: create your document using a hierarchical, organized approach • Batch Actions: work faster by sorting and styling topics in batches • Text Styles: highlight meaning with various text styles • Draw: sketch and annotate using Apple Pencil or your finger • Tasks: roll-ups, automatically sort and cross off tasks • Map structures: Mind Map, Org Chart • Export: MD, OPML, PDF, PNG image • Share Tasks: export PDF with checkboxes • Deep Black Theme: custom dark theme to protect your eyes during late-night sessions • Siri Shortcuts and App Actions * Escape for macOS requires a separate subscription. QUESTIONS? Reach out with questions any time at support@escapeapp.cloud, on Reddit (r/EscapeApp), Bluesky (@escapeapp.cloud), or on X (@EscapeMindMap). Terms of Use: https://escapeapp.cloud/terms.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Escape at Free against ZoomNotes's $7.99. ZoomNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 3 months). On review sentiment, ads, device support and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.
Scored on Price · Rating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings · Update frequency · Ads · In-app purchases · Monetization · Best chart rank · Devices · Requires iOS
Escape is free to download; ZoomNotes costs $7.99 up front. Escape sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $1.49 per month. ZoomNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.
ZoomNotes holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZoomNotes has 907 ratings behind it against 41, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 84% of ZoomNotes's written reviews are positive against 79% of Escape's.
ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, Escape every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on September 29, 2026 and September 16, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZoomNotes | Escape |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (907 ratings) — better | 4.3 (41 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 84.3% of reviews — better | 79.3% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 907 — better | 41 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks — better | Every 3 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Freemium — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 16.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 149 MB | 22 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Deliverance Software Ltd | Bogdan Gherasim |
Customer experience
ZoomNotes
Escape
Bugs and requests
ZoomNotes
Reported bugs
4 issues- Randomly deleted text and input
- Syncing issues with cloud storage
- Unstable performance after updates
- Compatibility problems with newer devices
Requested features
6 requests- Handwriting to text conversion
- Improved page management
- Smoother page transitions
- Customizable keyboard shortcuts
- Better integration with cloud services
Show 1 moreShow fewer
- Streamlined UI design
Escape
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ZoomNotes
No in-app purchases
Escape
- PRO Monthly$1.491 Month
- PRO Yearly$9.991 Year









