Handwritten note vs Notebook
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
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.
- Handwritten note-taking
- Multi-finger writing
- Adjustable line thickness
- Four color options
- Save notes as images
- Erase written lines
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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.
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.
- 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
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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
Verdict
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
Both are free to download. Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Handwritten note asks for nothing beyond the download.
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.
Handwritten note ships an update every 4 months, Notebook weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 18, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Handwritten note | Notebook |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 1.0 (1 ratings) | 4.7 (14K ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | 72.5% of reviews — better |
| Number of ratings | 1 | 14K — better |
| Update frequency | Every 4 months | Weekly — better |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Ad-supported — better | Free with in-app purchases |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod — better | iPhone |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 — better | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 5 MB | 25 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kiyoshi Koike | Koji Ito |
Customer experience
Handwritten note
Notebook
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
Handwritten note
No in-app purchases
Notebook
- Remove Ads$6.99
Questions
Is Handwritten note free?
Is Notebook free?
Which has better reviews, Handwritten note or Notebook?
Do Handwritten note or Notebook have ads?
Which is updated more often, Handwritten note or Notebook?
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