Comparison

Design Fee vs Notesnook

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

Head to head
About

Design Fee

Streamline your design fee calculations with this powerful tool. Generate professional PDF estimates, manage job details visually, and utilize advanced calculators for materials and labor. Syncs seamlessly across iOS devices via iCloud.

Highlights
  • CloudKit integration for cross-device sync
  • Card-based job management with visual identification
  • Expandable project summary sections
  • Professional PDF estimate generation
  • Email integration for client communication
  • Advanced material and labor calculators
  • Customizable pricing and cost controls
Features
Read full description

MODERN ARCHITECTURE Completely rewritten in SwiftUI with SwiftData and CloudKit integration for seamless synchronization across all your iOS devices through iCloud. Start an estimate on your iPhone at the job site, refine it on your iPad in the office, and everything stays perfectly in sync. Your estimates, photos, and client information are automatically backed up to iCloud. ENHANCED JOB MANAGEMENT Jobs now features a card-based interface with cover photos for visual identification. Each card displays project name, client, color-coded status badge (Estimating, Approved, In Progress, Completed), and total in an elegant layout. REVOLUTIONARY PROJECT SUMMARY Completely redesigned with expandable sections replacing old page-by-page navigation. Materials, Labor, Equipment, and Plant Material are organized into collapsible categories. The Materials section intelligently groups similar items with automatic subtotals. Every line item shows quantity, unit, rate, and comprehensive calculator details. PROFESSIONAL PDF GENERATION Generate client-ready PDF estimates with one tap. PDFs include your company logo, detailed line items organized by category, complete cost analysis with taxes and overhead, and professional formatting. Share via Files, email, AirDrop, or print directly from your device. EMAIL INTEGRATION Send estimates directly to clients with pre-formatted professional emails. The system auto-fills client email addresses, creates compelling subject lines, and generates beautiful HTML emails with your company branding. ADVANCED CALCULATORS - Imperial or Metric Paving Stone Calculator - Complete six-layer hardscape system including excavation, gravel base with compaction, leveling course, geotextile fabric, polymeric sand and edge restraint calculations in ONE STEP. Separate, detailed line items represent individual waste percentages. Topsoil Calculator - Multiple areas with individual depth control, automatic calculations, configurable waste percentages Gravel Calculator - Driveways, pathways, drainage with depth and compaction considerations INTELLIGENT LINE ITEMS Items are automatically categorized by type with automatic subtotals. Edit quantities, rates, and notes directly while maintaining detailed calculator information for complete transparency. ENHANCED COST CONTROLS Separate tax rates for labor and materials. Configurable overhead and contingency percentages. Fixed or percentage-based profit margins. Real-time grand total updates. Default rates are stored in Settings and auto-applied to new jobs. CUSTOMIZABLE PRICING Set default pricing for all materials, including sod rolls, grass seed, topsoil, mulch, beach stone, decorative rocks, boulders, paving stone, gravel base, sand leveling course, and geotextile fabric. Prices saved in Settings apply automatically to future estimates. COMPANY SETTINGS Centralized company information, including business name, estimator name, contact details, and logo upload. Your logo appears on all client PDF estimates and emails for consistent professional branding. Currency symbols automatically display based on your country. PHOTO MANAGEMENT Add multiple photos per job from the camera or photo library. Set cover photos for job cards. All photos sync via iCloud across all your devices automatically. PLANT LIST & COSTING Dedicated Plant Material category with detailed plant lists and individual plant costing, a much-requested feature now fully integrated. IMPROVED INTERFACE Full dark mode support with a custom contractor orange theme. Smooth animations and intuitive gestures. Floating action buttons reduce taps needed. Optimized for all iPhone and iPad sizes. Clean, modern design focused on efficiency.

About

Notesnook

This open-source app offers secure, encrypted note-taking and organization across all your devices. It features a robust editor, to-do lists, and a private journal with advanced security to protect your personal information.

Highlights
  • Military-grade encryption
  • Cross-platform synchronization
  • To-do lists and task management
  • Private journal with media support
  • Rich text and Markdown editor
  • Notebook organization
  • App lock with fingerprint support
Features
Read full description

Your notes are yours. Notesnook encrypts every one of them on your device before it ever reaches the cloud — so no one can read them. Not advertisers, not us. UNLIMITED NOTES. EVERY DEVICE. FREE. Most note apps cap the free plan until it hurts. Others stop after a few dozen notes. Notesnook never limits how much you write or how many devices you sync. A REAL EDITOR Headings, tables, code blocks, maths, outlines, Markdown and full-quality images. Notes that hold up whether you are writing a shopping list or a thesis chapter. ORGANISED AT ANY SIZE Nested notebooks, tags, colours, pinned and favourite notes, and search that stays instant at 10,000 notes. Link notes to each other and build your own private wiki. PRIVACY YOU CAN CHECK YOURSELF • End-to-end encryption is always on — you cannot switch it off, so you cannot forget • Encrypted on your device, in transit and at rest, using XChaCha20-Poly1305 and Argon2 • Even your notebook and tag names are encrypted • 100% open source under AGPLv3 — read every line, or run your own sync server • Recommended by Privacy Guides IMPORT YOUR OLD NOTES Bring your notes, notebooks and tags with you. Import from your previous notes app, plus plain Markdown and HTML files. EVERYWHERE YOU WRITE iPhone, iPad, Mac and the web. Sync is instant, and encrypted the whole way. ALSO INSIDE • Web clipper — save any article, ad-free and offline • Reminders across all your devices • Note version history, so nothing is ever really lost • Publish a note to a shareable link • Dark mode and custom themes FREE FOREVER Unlimited notes, unlimited devices, 50 notebooks, 50 tags and full end-to-end encryption. No ads. No trial countdown. PAID PLANS Add task lists, callouts, recurring reminders, more storage, and — on Pro — app lock, an encrypted vault and full-quality images. From $19.99 a year. Questions or feedback: support@streetwriters.co Privacy policy: https://notesnook.com/privacy Terms: https://notesnook.com/terms

Screenshots

Design Fee4 screens
Notesnook4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is update cadence: Notesnook at every 8 days against Design Fee's every 8 months. Notesnook also leads on ratings volume (688 vs 1) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 26.2). Design Fee's advantage is monetization model (free vs free with in-app purchases) and rating (5.0 vs 4.7). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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. Design Fee sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Notesnook sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Design Fee holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.7. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Notesnook has 688 ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Design Fee's written reviews are positive against 79% of Notesnook's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Design Fee ships an update every 8 months, Notesnook every 8 days. Both last shipped on October 29, 2026.

Scorecard6 real differences · 4 level
Design Fee versus Notesnook: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterDesign FeeNotesnook
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better4.7 (688 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better78.9% of reviews
Number of ratings1688 — better
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 8 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree — betterFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.215.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size3 MB82 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperJohn LeinStreetwriters LLC

Customer experience

Design Fee

All ratings1 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

Notesnook

All ratings681 ratings
Positive93.0%
Neutral2.3%
Negative4.7%
Written reviews402 reviews
Positive78.9%
Neutral6.5%
Negative14.7%

Bugs and requests

Design Fee

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

Notesnook

Reported bugs

3 issues
  • Crashes on launch on older iOS devices
  • Sync issues leading to data loss
  • Unreliable login and verification process

Requested features

5 requests
  • Improved search functionality
  • Reminders and calendar integration
  • Handwriting and drawing support
  • Multilingual support
  • Improved table and spreadsheet features

In-app purchases

1 purchases

Design Fee

One-time1
  • Premium Access$2.99
17 purchases

Notesnook

Subscriptions17
  • Notesnook Pro$0.991 Month
  • Notesnook Essential Plan7 Days trial$1.991 Month
  • Notesnook Pro$2.491 Month
Show 14 more
  • Notesnook Pro Plan7 Days trial$2.991 Month
  • Notesnook Pro3 variants$4.491 Month
  • Notesnook Pro1 Month trial$4.491 Month
  • Notesnook Pro Plan7 Days trial$6.991 Month
  • Notesnook Believer Plan7 Days trial$8.991 Month
  • Notesnook Pro$9.991 Year
  • Notesnook Essential Plan14 Days trial$19.991 Year
  • Notesnook Pro$24.991 Year
  • Notesnook Pro Plan14 Days trial$29.901 Year
  • Notesnook Pro Yearly$49.991 Year
  • Notesnook Pro2 variants$49.991 Year
  • Notesnook Pro1 Year trial$49.991 Year
  • Notesnook Pro Plan14 Days trial$69.991 Year
  • Notesnook Believer Plan14 Days trial$89.991 Year

Questions

Is Design Fee free?
Design Fee is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notesnook free?
Notesnook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Design Fee or Notesnook?
Design Fee is rated higher. Design Fee averages 5.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Notesnook averages 4.7 from 688 ratings.
Do Design Fee or Notesnook have ads?
Neither Design Fee nor Notesnook shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Design Fee or Notesnook?
Design Fee ships an update every 8 months, and Notesnook every 8 days. Most recently, Design Fee was updated on October 29, 2026 and Notesnook on October 29, 2026.

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