ZoomNotes vs Skein
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
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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
Skein
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Turn one sample size into a complete, graded knitting pattern. Skein is grading software for knitwear designers who need their numbers to be right — not just fast. Enter your gauge and finished measurements once. Skein computes exact stitch and row counts across 9 sizes (XS–5XL), writes the shaping instructions to match, and draws a live schematic from the counts it just calculated. SIX CONSTRUCTIONS Raglan, circular yoke, set-in sleeve, drop shoulder, hat, and sock — each with its own real shaping logic, built from published industry method. Set-in sleeves include an armscye check: Skein compares the cap edge to the armhole it eases into and reports the ease honestly, which is the part of set-in design that most often goes wrong. EVERY COUNT VERIFIED The rule Skein is built on: every printed count must be a count the knitter actually has. Table, split, and instructions are asserted to agree for every size, on every launch — 450+ checks across the engine. ONE PATTERN, EVERY SIZE Export a pattern and it reads the way a published one does — one set of instructions with every size bracketed in, smallest first, not size after size repeated on its own. YOUR PATTERNS, EVERYWHERE Your library, your in-progress projects, your yarn stash, and every PDF you've attached sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac through your own iCloud account. No separate sign-in, nothing to configure. A REAL SCHEMATIC, EVERY EXPORT Every exported pattern closes with a measurement diagram drawn to scale from the same stitch counts as the instructions, lettered and keyed the way published patterns are ("34 (38, 42…)″") — not a screenshot you have to add yourself. A FREE PATTERN TO START WITH The Chestnut Raglan, an original relaxed top-down pullover in nine sizes, is built into the app. Free, no email required. YOUR OWN PATTERN LIBRARY Add the patterns you've bought — attach the PDF, add your notes and sections, and keep everything in one place. WHILE YOU KNIT Skein opens on your row counter, right where you left off. Your row count also pins to the Lock Screen and Dynamic Island, so you can glance without unlocking. Add a price per skein and every size shows an estimated yarn cost beside its yardage. STITCH PATTERN REPEATS Enter your motif repeat and every size holds whole repeats — cables and lace land cleanly in all nine sizes, with any deviation reported. ALSO INCLUDED, FREE Project tracker with row counter · Yarn stash · Gauge & needle tool (Craft Yarn Council standard) · Abbreviations & symbols reference DESIGNER PRO ($7.99/mo or $59.99/yr, 7-day free trial) All nine sizes · All six constructions · Designer Workspace with schematic-included PDF export iPhone, iPad, and Mac. Built by a knitwear designer. Terms of Use (EULA): https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy Policy: https://skeinknit.com/privacy-policy.html
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: Skein at Free against ZoomNotes's $7.99. Skein also leads on update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). ZoomNotes's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 17.0). On 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
Skein is free to download; ZoomNotes costs $7.99 up front. Skein sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per month. ZoomNotes asks for nothing beyond the download.
ZoomNotes ships an update every 3 weeks, Skein weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and October 5, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | ZoomNotes | Skein |
|---|---|---|
| Price | $7.99 | Free — better |
| Rating | 4.5 (915 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 85.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 915 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | Weekly — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, Mac |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 149 MB | 4 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Deliverance Software Ltd | Nice People Collective LLC |
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
Skein
Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.
In-app purchases
ZoomNotes
No in-app purchases
Skein
- Designer Pro7 Days trial$7.991 Month
- Designer Pro Annual7 Days trial$59.991 Year









