ZoomNotes vs Defter Notes
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
ZoomNotes
This app offers extensive visual note-taking capabilities with a vast zoom range, allowing users to sketch, write, and annotate on various document types. It supports multiple pen styles, handwriting recognition, and advanced features like sub-pages and linking for complex organization.
- Infinite zoom range
- Handwritten note search
- Sub-pages and layers
- Link pages and documents
- Write over PDFs and Office files
- Customizable paper sizes and styles
- Object editing and manipulation
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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
Defter Notes
This app provides an infinite canvas for spatial thinking, allowing users to capture, connect, and explore ideas through handwriting, drawing, and text. It adapts to various creative processes, offering fluid editing and intuitive navigation for deep work and complex projects.
- Infinite canvas for spatial thinking
- Handwriting, drawing, and text input
- Connect and link ideas
- Stacks for deep work
- Fluid editing with gestures
- Supports PDFs, images, and links
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Defter Notes is loved by academics, students, teachers, researchers, journal keepers, knowledge workers, designers, architects, engineers, writers, and anyone who thinks best with their hands and eyes. It’s built for people who see ideas as living things: connected, evolving, and worth exploring. Think without boundaries Defter Notes gives you an infinite canvas for spatial thinking. Drop ideas anywhere. Draw connections. Expand as far as your thoughts take you. Enjoy pure creative flow. Capture ideas your way Whether it starts as a quick sketch, a handwritten note, or a PDF you’re diving into, Defter Notes adapts to your process. Write, draw, or type; then move, link, and layer it all together. Your ideas stay flexible and alive. Work the way your brain works Move items freely. Zoom in and out of context. Build hierarchies of Spaces that let you go deeper into your projects. Defter Notes stays out of the way so your focus stays on thinking. Top features * Stacks for deep work: Ideal for reading, studying, or comparing multiple resources. * Deft movement with gestures: Drag pages or extract text directly out of PDFs. * Cross-reference and multitask: View, resize, and reorder documents side by side. * Handwriting and text tools: Combine pen, pencil, marker, and text boxes using Apple Pencil or Scribble. * Fluid editing: Double-tap any item to edit or share. * Intuitive navigation: Use the mini-map, navigation bar, gestures, and select tool to move effortlessly through infinite spaces. * Supports links and files: Drop in PDFs, images, URLs, and attachments right onto your canvas. Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/GjS5tJSmBW Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.defternotes.com/touprivacypolicy https://defternotes.com
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Defter Notes at Free against ZoomNotes's $7.99. ZoomNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 7) and ratings volume (915 vs 75). On rating, review sentiment, update cadence and ads 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
Defter Notes is free to download; ZoomNotes costs $7.99 up front. Defter Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. ZoomNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.
On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.5 for ZoomNotes against 4.4 for Defter Notes. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: ZoomNotes has 915 ratings behind it against 75, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 83% of ZoomNotes's written reviews are positive against 76% of Defter Notes's.
ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, Defter Notes fortnightly. The most recent releases landed on November 6, 2026 and November 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZoomNotes | Defter Notes |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (915 ratings) — better | 4.4 (75 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 83.2% of reviews — better | 75.6% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 915 — better | 75 |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Fortnightly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free with in-app purchases — better |
| Best chart rank | #71 — better | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 152 MB | 59 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Deliverance Software Ltd | Deft Works ApS |
Customer experience
ZoomNotes
Defter Notes
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
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- Streamlined UI design
Defter Notes
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ZoomNotes
No in-app purchases
Defter Notes
- Monthly Plan$2.991 Month
- Mini Supporter$2.991 Month
- Supporter$7.991 Month
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- Yearly Plan$17.991 Year
- Big Supporter$29.991 Month
- Lifetime Access - Welcome Offer$29.99
- Lifetime Access$39.99








