Comparison

ZoomNotes vs Notes Writer Browser

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read 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

About

Notes Writer Browser

This app is a versatile writing and note-taking tool that supports rich text and Markdown. It allows users to annotate PDFs, fill out forms, and organize their work into unlimited notebooks. The app also includes scanning capabilities and various export options for seamless sharing and backup.

Highlights
  • Rich text and Markdown writing
  • PDF annotation and form filling
  • Unlimited notebook organization
  • Document scanning
  • Cloud sync and multiple export formats
  • Distraction-free writing mode
Features
Read full description

Students, teachers, writers, doctors, journalists, scholars and business professionals use Nautilus every day for class notes, meeting notes, marked-up PDFs, signed documents, papers and lectures. Notes Writer Pro is now Nautilus, built on the all-new Notes Writer app. It carries forward familiar writing and PDF tools, then adds a smart web browser, AI help for reading and research, and Magic Lasso. Math Notebooks help you work through calculations and create charts, all in one place on iPad and iPhone. Write and make it yours Create notes, papers and books with headings, lists, colors and highlights. Add images or handwritten notes with Apple Pencil. Use dictation, listen back to your writing, check word counts, and keep documents open in tabs. Work with MS Word, RTF, Markdown and plain text files. Read and mark up PDFs Read ebooks, articles and class materials, then write in the margins, highlight, draw, and add notes, recordings or signatures. Fill and sign forms, reorder pages, and scan paper documents into PDFs. Compare two documents side by side. Measure drawings to scale and hide sensitive text before sharing. Browse and research Use the built-in browser to read and research without leaving Nautilus. Open pages in tabs and bookmark sites. Ask AI about a webpage, summarize or translate it, or turn it into notes. Use Magic Lasso and AI Circle a passage or other content with Magic Lasso, then ask AI to explain or summarize what you selected. Get help with your own writing too: rewrite, simplify, correct spelling and grammar, adjust the tone, or chat through an idea. Capture ideas, then find them again Record lectures, meetings and ideas. Listen back, or create a transcript so you can find important details later. Connect notes, images and recordings on whiteboards, collect quick thoughts on sticky notes, and organize plans in outlines. Bring research together in Study Projects. Plan a book or long paper with sections and a visual Corkboard. Keep sources beside your draft, save snapshots as you revise, then compile a finished document or ebook. Work through calculations Use Math Notebooks to keep calculations and explanations together. Explore formulas, create charts and preview the finished PDF. Organize and share Keep notes in folders and notebooks. Give notebooks covers that make them easy to spot. Scan paper, import Word and other files, and find what you need with search. Export to PDF, Word, HTML, EPUB and more. Sync with iCloud, Dropbox, Box, Google Drive or WebDAV. Look after your work Autosave, document recovery and automatic backups help protect your progress. Use passcodes for the app or private folders. Your existing Notes Writer PDF notes and outlines open in Nautilus. Privacy Policy http://www.noteswriter.com/Kairoos_Privacy_Policy.html Terms of Use https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

ZoomNotes4 screens
Notes Writer Browser4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is price: Notes Writer Browser at Free against ZoomNotes's $7.99. Notes Writer Browser also leads on ratings volume (3.2K vs 915). ZoomNotes's advantage is review sentiment (85% vs 48%) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). On rating, update cadence, ads and device support 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Notes Writer Browser is free to download; ZoomNotes costs $7.99 up front. Notes Writer Browser sells 1 in-app purchase, starting at $3.99 per month. ZoomNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for ZoomNotes against 4.6 for Notes Writer Browser. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 915 and 3.2K respectively. Written reviews are what separate them: 85% of ZoomNotes's written reviews are positive against 48% of Notes Writer Browser's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, Notes Writer Browser fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
ZoomNotes versus Notes Writer Browser: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZoomNotesNotes Writer Browser
Price$7.99Free — better
Rating4.5 (915 ratings)4.6 (3.2K ratings) — better
Positive reviews85.0% of reviews — better48.3% of reviews
Number of ratings9153.2K — better
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksFortnightly — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree with in-app purchases — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB822 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeliverance Software LtdKairoos Solutions SL

Customer experience

ZoomNotes

All ratings915 ratings
Positive88.6%
Neutral4.3%
Negative7.1%
Written reviews346 reviews
Positive85.0%
Neutral5.8%
Negative9.2%

Notes Writer Browser

All ratings3,235 ratings
Positive91.0%
Neutral2.6%
Negative6.4%
Written reviews786 reviews
Positive48.3%
Neutral15.1%
Negative36.5%

User reviews

ZoomNotes

From 915 App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Powerful features
  • 👍 Customizable interface
  • 🖋 Smooth handwriting
  • 🗓 Calendar integration
  • 🔗 Linking capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Crashes and bugs
  • 📚 Steep learning curve
  • 🖥 Outdated user interface
  • 🔍 Cluttered menus
  • 🔀 Inconsistent page navigation

Notes Writer Browser

From 3.2K App Store ratings

What we love

  • 🚀 Excellent note-taking app
  • 📁 Great folder organization
  • 🎨 Customizable notebook covers
  • 🔍 Useful PDF annotation tools
  • 🤖 Impressive AI capabilities

Room to improve

  • 🐛 Frequent crashes and bugs
  • 🔄 Sync and file transfer issues
  • 🕰️ Slow performance and lag
  • 🔒 Poor customer support
  • 💰 Misleading upgrade pricing

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 more
  • Streamlined UI design

Notes Writer Browser

Reported bugs

5 issues
  • Notes randomly disappearing
  • Formatting issues with text and images
  • Unreliable audio recording and playback
  • Compatibility problems with newer iOS versions
  • Inability to transfer files between free and pro versions

Requested features

5 requests
  • Handwriting recognition
  • Improved eraser and shape tools
  • Customizable keyboard and toolbar
  • Better integration with cloud storage
  • Ability to rotate and resize images

In-app purchases

None

ZoomNotes

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Notes Writer Browser

Subscriptions1
  • Notes Writer Pro AI Assistant3 Days trial$3.991 Month

Questions

Is ZoomNotes free?
ZoomNotes costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notes Writer Browser free?
Notes Writer Browser is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ZoomNotes or Notes Writer Browser?
Notes Writer Browser is rated higher. ZoomNotes averages 4.5 out of 5 from 915 ratings, while Notes Writer Browser averages 4.6 from 3.2K ratings.
Do ZoomNotes or Notes Writer Browser have ads?
Neither ZoomNotes nor Notes Writer Browser shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZoomNotes or Notes Writer Browser?
ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, and Notes Writer Browser fortnightly. Most recently, ZoomNotes was updated on October 17, 2026 and Notes Writer Browser on October 18, 2026.

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