# Notepad vs Note Widget +

The clearest difference is rating: Note Widget + at 4.4 against Notepad's 2.7. Note Widget + also leads on review sentiment (78% vs 41%) and ratings volume (438 vs 10). Notepad's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3) and update cadence (every 2 weeks vs monthly). On price, ads, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Note Widget + sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Notepad asks for nothing beyond the download.

Note Widget + holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 2.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Note Widget + has 438 ratings behind it against 10, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 41% of Notepad's written reviews are positive against 78% of Note Widget +'s.

Notepad ships an update every 2 weeks, Note Widget + monthly. The most recent releases landed on September 20, 2026 and September 19, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Notepad | Note Widget + |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [2.7 (10 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad/id495125972/reviews) | **[4.4 (438 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-widget-plus/id1495041735/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 10 | **438** |
| Positive reviews | 40.7% of reviews | **78.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 26 MB | 12 MB |
| Requires iOS | **15.1** | 15.8 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [YONGSEOK LEE](https://appshunter.io/developer/453718968) | [Yuri Nesh](https://appshunter.io/developer/521035681) |

## What reviewers say

### Notepad

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notepad/id495125972)

Capture fleeting thoughts and precious memories with a focus on simple recording and easy retrieval. Features include instant note-taking, automatic saving, categorization, keyword search, and customizable themes and font sizes.

**Highlights:** Instant note-taking, Automatic saving, Categorization, Keyword search, Customizable themes, Adjustable font size

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 💡 Fantastic - sort order choices works great
- 👍 Simple and very comfortable!
- 👍 Easy to use for writing stories and notes
- 👍 Great for just simple notes or essays

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Updated app. NOW ALL MY NOTES ARE GONE!!!!
- 🐛 Cannot flip back and forth from a source to copy/paste without running into annoying ads
- 🐛 Why is there no longer a "scrolling signifier" on the side
- 🐛 The search feature option disappears when in use
- 🐛 Notepad Update gone bad

**Reported bugs**

- Updated app. NOW ALL MY NOTES ARE GONE!!!!
- Cannot flip back and forth from a source to copy/paste without running into annoying ads
- The search feature option disappears when in use
- The new update is causing crashes
- App not opening saved notes anymore

**Requested features**

- Add search feature for easier finding in notes
- Add pictures and videos, and let us resize them
- Add landscape mode
- Add undo button
- Add dark mode option


### Note Widget +

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/note-widget-plus/id1495041735)

Create handwritten notes, dictate voice memos, and write over images. Transform speech into text and schedule reminders. Secure your notes with biometric locks and display them directly on your widget screen.

**Highlights:** Handwritten and text notes, Write over images, Dictate notes and record speech, Transform voice to text, Schedule reminders, Password/biometric protection, Display notes on widget

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, iMessage stickers, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Happy Club, monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Happy Club, 6 month | $14.99 | per 6 months |
| Happy Club, Yearly | $24.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy and fast to use
- 👍 Great for various lists
- 👍 Good for note-taking
- 👍 Syncs across devices
- 👍 No distracting ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Cannot delete notes
- 🐛 Subscription not reloading
- 🐛 App won't stay open
- 🐛 Blank yellow page issue
- 🐛 Paper too small for notes

**Reported bugs**

- App won't let me delete a note
- App will not reload subscription
- App won't stay open
- Blank yellow page issue
- Scrolls back to the top of a note

**Requested features**

- Add folder organization
- More than nine categories
- Ability to add tags
- Password protection for notes
- Show full widgets on home screen


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Notepad free?

Notepad is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Note Widget + free?

Note Widget + is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Notepad or Note Widget +?

Note Widget + is rated higher. Notepad averages 2.7 out of 5 from 10 ratings, while Note Widget + averages 4.4 from 438 ratings.

### Do Notepad or Note Widget + have ads?

Both Notepad and Note Widget + show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Notepad or Note Widget +?

Notepad ships an update every 2 weeks, and Note Widget + monthly. Most recently, Notepad was updated on September 20, 2026 and Note Widget + on September 19, 2026.

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*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*