Comparison

Handwritten note vs Notebook

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Handwritten note

This app allows users to quickly jot down notes by hand with a smooth writing experience. It offers basic drawing tools like adjustable line thickness and color selection, with options to save or clear your notes.

Highlights
  • Handwritten note-taking
  • Multi-finger writing
  • Adjustable line thickness
  • Four color options
  • Save notes as images
  • Erase written lines
Features
Read full description

Draw it down the moment inspiration strikes. Handwritten Notes is a simple, no-fuss drawing and handwriting app that lets you start sketching or taking notes instantly—no setup, no learning curve. Great for * Jotting down quick handwritten notes or reminders * Sketching ideas and rough concepts * Kids’ doodling and drawing practice * Practicing line art and illustrations Key Features * 5 pen colors: Black, Red, Green, Blue, and Pink * Adjustable pen thickness with an easy-to-use slider * Eraser for quick corrections * Clear all with a single tap * Save your drawings directly to the Photos app Why You’ll Love It * No sign-up required—just install and start drawing * Clean, intuitive interface with a simple toolbar * Free to use (ad-supported) No complicated tools. No unnecessary clutter. Just a blank canvas and your ideas, ready whenever inspiration strikes.

About

Notebook

This app offers a natural journaling experience by organizing daily notes on a single page, allowing you to flip through your entries like a physical book. It prioritizes simplicity, security with passcode locks, and seamless iCloud synchronization for easy access across devices.

Highlights
  • Realistic page-turning effect
  • One page per day organization
  • iCloud sync and backup
  • Passcode lock with Face ID/Touch ID
  • Dark mode and font adjustment
  • Ad-free Premium option
Features
Read full description

Keep daily notes and diary entries together on one page. Turn pages like a book and revisit your past entries. Search, iCloud sync, and a passcode lock help you organize and access your notes. Core features are free; ad removal is a one-time purchase. ■ Your day on one page See the notes and diary entries you write each day together on one page. Swipe or tap to turn pages and look back on everyday moments and memories. ■ Find past entries Use the contents list or search to find a note you want to revisit. Change a note's date to record plans or past events. ■ Make reading and writing comfortable Adjust the text size or use Dark Mode. Copy, print, or share your notes. ■ Protect access with a passcode Lock access to your diary with a passcode. Face ID / Touch ID is available on supported devices. ■ Sync between devices with iCloud With iCloud sync enabled, notes synchronize automatically between devices using the same Apple Account. iCloud sync is enabled by default for new installations. iCloud Drive and Notebook's iCloud access must be enabled, with available storage and a network connection. Synchronization may take time. iCloud sync and device backups are separate features. Check your sync status and backups before changing devices. ■ Recover deleted notes Recover notes within 30 days of deletion from Recently Deleted in Settings. ■ Remove ads with a one-time purchase Core features are free. Premium removes ads with a one-time purchase, not a subscription. After changing devices, use Restore Purchases with the Apple Account used for your purchase. Over 2 million downloads worldwide. Rated 4.7 out of 5 from over 21,000 ratings across all countries and regions (October 2026). Capture your everyday moments, one page at a time.

Screenshots

Handwritten note2 screens
Notebook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Notebook at 72% against Handwritten note's 0%. Notebook also leads on rating (4.7 vs 1.0) and update cadence (weekly vs every 4 months). Handwritten note's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 1) and device support (3 vs 1). On price 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Handwritten note asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 1.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notebook has 14K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 0% of Handwritten note's written reviews are positive against 72% of Notebook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Handwritten note ships an update every 4 months, Notebook weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard8 real differences · 2 level
Handwritten note versus Notebook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterHandwritten noteNotebook
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.0 (1 ratings)4.7 (14K ratings) — better
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews72.5% of reviews — better
Number of ratings114K — better
Update frequencyEvery 4 monthsWeekly — better
AdsYesYes
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationAd-supported — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size5 MB25 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKiyoshi KoikeKoji Ito

Customer experience

Handwritten note

All ratings1 ratings
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral50.0%
Negative50.0%

Notebook

All ratings14,314 ratings
Positive94.0%
Neutral3.2%
Negative2.8%
Written reviews276 reviews
Positive72.5%
Neutral12.3%
Negative15.2%

Bugs and requests

Handwritten note

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Notebook

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Deleting entries causes the app to crash
  • Long entries can cause the app to become unresponsive
  • Password feature doesn't always work as expected

Requested features

5 requests
  • Add ability to insert photos and attachments
  • Implement cloud sync and backup
  • Allow more formatting options (font, size, color, bold, italic, etc.)
  • Develop an iPad version with optimized layout
  • Add a search function to easily find past entries

In-app purchases

None

Handwritten note

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

Notebook

One-time1
  • Remove Ads$6.99

Questions

Is Handwritten note free?
Handwritten note is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Notebook free?
Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Handwritten note or Notebook?
Notebook is rated higher. Handwritten note averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Notebook averages 4.7 from 14K ratings.
Do Handwritten note or Notebook have ads?
Both Handwritten note and Notebook show ads.
Which is updated more often, Handwritten note or Notebook?
Handwritten note ships an update every 4 months, and Notebook weekly. Most recently, Handwritten note was updated on October 10, 2026 and Notebook on October 18, 2026.

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