# Inkflow Visual Notebook vs Pencil Journaling

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Pencil Journaling at none against Inkflow Visual Notebook's 1. Pencil Journaling also leads on update cadence (every 6 weeks vs every 5 months). Inkflow Visual Notebook's advantage is rating (4.6 vs 4.1) and ratings volume (1.9K vs 7). On price, ads and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Inkflow Visual Notebook sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Pencil Journaling asks for nothing beyond the download.

Inkflow Visual Notebook holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.1. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Inkflow Visual Notebook has 1.9K ratings behind it against 7, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of Inkflow Visual Notebook's written reviews are positive against 50% of Pencil Journaling's.

Inkflow Visual Notebook ships an update every 5 months, Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 17, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Inkflow Visual Notebook | Pencil Journaling |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.6 (1.9K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkflow-visual-notebook/id519524685/reviews)** | [4.1 (7 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **1.9K** | 7 |
| Positive reviews | **71.2% of reviews** | 50.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | Every 5 months | **Every 6 weeks** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Ad-supported** |
| Size | 58 MB | 5 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **14.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod** | iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Qrayon, LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/354980265) | [Masaru Suzuki](https://appshunter.io/developer/1581410098) |

## What reviewers say

### Inkflow Visual Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/inkflow-visual-notebook/id519524685)

This app offers a fluid digital writing and sketching experience, allowing users to easily capture, resize, and reorganize ideas. It supports high-resolution zooming for detailed work and integrates text, photos, and custom paper backgrounds. Users can share their creations in various formats.

**Highlights:** Fluid digital ink for writing and sketching, Resize and reorganize content with touch gestures, High-resolution zoom for precision detail, Insert text, photos, and custom paper backgrounds, Export to PDF, JPEG, and PNG, Inkport for scanning real-world notes

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Inkflow Plus | $12.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Easy to use
- 🚀 Intuitive interface
- 💡 Great for brainstorming and sketching
- 👍 Useful for note-taking and journaling
- 👍 Versatile for various purposes (work, school, art)

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🔒 Limited features in free version
- 💰 Paid upgrade is expensive for some users
- 🐛 Occasional crashes and data loss issues
- 🔒 Lack of cloud sync and cross-device access
- 🔒 Difficult to organize and manage notebooks/pages

**Reported bugs**

- Frequent crashes and data loss
- Unreliable auto-save and syncing
- Compatibility issues with newer devices/OS
- Pen/input lag and inconsistent responsiveness

**Requested features**

- Add more pen/brush options and customization
- Implement layers and advanced drawing tools
- Improve page management (insert, delete, reorder)
- Integrate cloud sync and cross-device access
- Add password protection and locking features


### Pencil Journaling

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-journaling/id1581410096)

This app offers a focused journaling experience with a pen-compatible notebook and a built-in timer. Choose from over 50 themes and set daily reminders to cultivate a writing habit. Its minimalist interface helps you concentrate on your thoughts and clear your mind.

**Highlights:** Pen-compatible notebook, Focus timer, Over 50 journaling themes, Daily habit notifications, Minimalist UI, Page sharing options

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Inkflow Visual Notebook free?

Inkflow Visual Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Pencil Journaling free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Inkflow Visual Notebook or Pencil Journaling?

Inkflow Visual Notebook is rated higher. Inkflow Visual Notebook averages 4.6 out of 5 from 1.9K ratings, while Pencil Journaling averages 4.1 from 7 ratings.

### Do Inkflow Visual Notebook or Pencil Journaling have ads?

Both Inkflow Visual Notebook and Pencil Journaling show ads.

### Which is updated more often, Inkflow Visual Notebook or Pencil Journaling?

Inkflow Visual Notebook ships an update every 5 months, and Pencil Journaling every 6 weeks. Most recently, Inkflow Visual Notebook was updated on October 17, 2026 and Pencil Journaling on September 30, 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.*