# abcNotes vs Sticky Notes

The clearest difference is monetization model: abcNotes at freemium against Sticky Notes's subscription. abcNotes also leads on update cadence (every 2 weeks vs every 5 weeks) and iOS requirement (12.0 vs 14.0). Sticky Notes's advantage is ads (none vs shown). On price, rating, review sentiment and ratings volume there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. abcNotes sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Sticky Notes sells 12 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

abcNotes holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.4. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 2.9K and 6K respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 77% of abcNotes's written reviews are positive against 72% of Sticky Notes's.

abcNotes ships an update every 2 weeks, Sticky Notes every 5 weeks. Both last shipped on September 22, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | abcNotes | Sticky Notes |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (2.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abcnotes-sticky-note-madness/id504756763/reviews)** | [4.4 (6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sticky-notes-free-note-taking/id608937293/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 2.9K | **6K** |
| Positive reviews | **77.0% of reviews** | 71.8% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Every 2 weeks** | Every 5 weeks |
| Monetization | **Freemium** | Subscription |
| Size | 41 MB | 166 MB |
| Requires iOS | **12.0** | 14.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [ALSEDI Group](https://appshunter.io/developer/331879616) | [Epiphany Labs](https://appshunter.io/developer/577389343) |

## What reviewers say

### abcNotes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/abcnotes-sticky-note-madness/id504756763)

Create realistic, customizable sticky notes and to-do lists on your iOS device. Organize shopping lists, class notes, and projects with a variety of backgrounds and skins. Share and sync your notes across devices.

**Highlights:** Realistic sticky note appearance, Customizable skins and backgrounds, Virtual desktops for organization, Scale, rotate, and drag notes, Email and sync notes, Save notes as images

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlock all features | $2.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Easy to use
- 👍 Visually appealing
- 💡 Customizable notes
- 🚀 Convenient for quick notes
- 👍 Helpful for organization

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes
- 💸 Expensive for full version
- 🔍 Difficult to search/find notes
- 🔍 Limited note editing options
- 📢 Intrusive ads in free version

**Reported bugs**

- Notes randomly deleted
- Checklist feature not working
- Sync issues between iOS devices

**Requested features**

- Add date/time stamp to notes
- Ability to write notes with Apple Pencil
- Option to set reminders/alarms for notes
- Improved search and organization tools
- More customization options for note styles


### Sticky Notes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/sticky-notes-free-note-taking/id608937293)

Capture ideas, create to-do lists, and set reminders with this versatile note-taking app. Supports handwritten notes, audio recordings, photos, and text. Organize notes with folders and share them easily.

**Highlights:** Handwritten notes, Audio recordings, Photo attachments, Text notes, Widgets for home/lock screen, Customizable folders, Reminders with alarms

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Family Sharing, Siri integration, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (12)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| One month subscription | $1.99 | per month |
| Monthly Pack with 7 Day Trial | $1.99 | per month |
| Weekly Pack with 7 Day Trial | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Three months subscription | $4.99 | per 3 months |
| Half-Yearly Subscription | $10.99 | per 6 months |
| One year subscription | $15.99 | per year |
| Annual Pack with 7 Day Trial | $19.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Plan | Free | one-time |
| Unlimited Notes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Task Paper Notes | $0.99 | one-time |
| Folder Pack | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bonanza Pack | $3.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Great app
- 👍 Easy to use
- 👍 Helpful reminders
- 👍 Useful for organization
- 👍 Customizable notes

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Requires subscription
- 🐛 Bugs and crashes
- 🔒 Privacy concerns
- 💰 Expensive
- 🤔 Limited free version

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing
- Freezing and crashing
- Formatting issues
- Sync problems

**Requested features**

- More customization options
- Improved sync and backup
- Better widget functionality
- Ability to rearrange notes
- Longer note length


## Frequently asked questions

### Is abcNotes free?

abcNotes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Sticky Notes free?

Sticky Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, abcNotes or Sticky Notes?

abcNotes is rated higher. abcNotes averages 4.6 out of 5 from 2.9K ratings, while Sticky Notes averages 4.4 from 6K ratings.

### Do abcNotes or Sticky Notes have ads?

abcNotes shows ads; Sticky Notes does not.

### Which is updated more often, abcNotes or Sticky Notes?

abcNotes ships an update every 2 weeks, and Sticky Notes every 5 weeks. Most recently, abcNotes was updated on September 22, 2026 and Sticky Notes on September 22, 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.*