Comparison

ZoomNotes vs StrataWrite

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

StrataWrite

Features
Read full description

StrataWrite is a research-first writing app designed for scholars, researchers, and serious writers who need more than just a blank page. Built with Apple’s native frameworks, StrataWrite unites structured note-taking and manuscript drafting in a clean, focused environment that helps you organize complex projects and keep your ideas connected. StrataWrite is for text only. No Table or Image support. StrataWrite is about getting the words out and not formatting. StratWrite is the first step in writing up your research. Get the words out in either Notes or Manuscript Views. When the first draft of your writing is complete, export to Plaintext or Markdown and import it into your favorite Word Processor for formatting. Whether you are preparing a dissertation, drafting a grant proposal, or developing a book chapter, StrataWrite provides a workspace designed to keep your research structured and your writing clear. Research-Driven Writing StrataWrite is built for projects that demand more than linear word processing: • Structured Notes – Capture and organize your research with tags, categories, and backlinks. Notes connect into a system that grows as your ideas develop. • Manuscript Drafting – Write in a distraction-free workspace with daily word count goals, progress tracking, and export options for Markdown, or TXT. • Linking Ideas – Create bidirectional links between notes and manuscripts, building a network of connections that keeps your sources and insights close at hand. Native Apple Experience StrataWrite is built with SwiftUI and designed to feel at home across macOS and iPadOS: • Universal App – Switch seamlessly between Mac and iPad. StrataWrite adapts to your workflow, wherever you are writing. • CloudKit Sync – Keep your notes and manuscripts securely up to date across devices. • Clean, Distraction-Free Interface – A modern, lightweight design emphasizes your writing while keeping structure available when you need it. Designed for Focus & Clarity StrataWrite emphasizes research structure without unnecessary complexity. Notes and manuscripts are part of the same system, allowing ideas to move fluidly between your research base and your drafts. By connecting thoughts through links and tracking progress as you write, StrataWrite helps you transform research into finished work with confidence. Made for Scholars and Writers If your projects depend on clarity, depth, and organization, StrataWrite was built for you. Graduate students writing theses, researchers assembling journal articles, and professionals developing long-form work will all find a workspace that supports rigorous thinking and clear writing.

Screenshots

ZoomNotes4 screens
StrataWrite4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: ZoomNotes at every 3 weeks against StrataWrite's every 2 months. ZoomNotes also leads on chart position (#159 vs unranked) and price ($7.99 vs $9.99). On ads, in-app purchases 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

ZoomNotes costs $7.99 and StrataWrite $9.99 up front. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, StrataWrite every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 1, 2026 and October 25, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard4 real differences · 7 level
ZoomNotes versus StrataWrite: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZoomNotesStrataWrite
Price$7.99 — better$9.99
Rating4.5 (915 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews83.3% of reviews—
Number of ratings915 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeks — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationPaid—
Best chart rank#159 — better—
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPodiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS15.0 — better26.0
Further details — not scored
Size149 MB147 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeliverance Software LtdStance Hurst

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

StrataWrite

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

None

ZoomNotes

No in-app purchases

None

StrataWrite

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is ZoomNotes free?
ZoomNotes costs $7.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is StrataWrite free?
StrataWrite costs $9.99, with no in-app purchases.
Do ZoomNotes or StrataWrite have ads?
Neither ZoomNotes nor StrataWrite shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZoomNotes or StrataWrite?
ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, and StrataWrite every 2 months. Most recently, ZoomNotes was updated on November 1, 2026 and StrataWrite on October 25, 2026.

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