# iStratus Notebook & Planner vs NotePlan

The clearest difference is rating: NotePlan at 4.8 against iStratus Notebook & Planner's 4.2. NotePlan also leads on ratings volume (1.5K vs 88) and review sentiment (85% vs 71%). iStratus Notebook & Planner's advantage is monetization model (free with in-app purchases vs subscription) and update cadence (fortnightly vs monthly). On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. iStratus Notebook & Planner sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month and NotePlan sells 8 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NotePlan holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.2. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: NotePlan has 1.5K ratings behind it against 88, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 71% of iStratus Notebook & Planner's written reviews are positive against 85% of NotePlan's.

iStratus Notebook & Planner ships an update fortnightly, NotePlan monthly. The most recent releases landed on October 23, 2026 and October 27, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | iStratus Notebook & Planner | NotePlan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (88 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istratus-notebook-and-planner/id590398471/reviews) | **[4.8 (1.5K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteplan-to-do-list-and-notes/id1505432629/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 88 | **1.5K** |
| Positive reviews | 71.1% of reviews | **85.1% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | **Free with in-app purchases** | Subscription |
| Size | 42 MB | 204 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **16.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [iStratus LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/590398474) | [NotePlan LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1137020763) |

## What reviewers say

### iStratus Notebook & Planner

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/istratus-notebook-and-planner/id590398471)

This app securely manages all your data, including calendar events, tasks, reminders, passwords, and files. It offers robust encryption for your information, with all processing happening on your device for maximum privacy. Organize and track your to-dos, notes, and documents with customizable features and cloud storage options.

**Highlights:** Encrypted data management, Unified calendar view, Task and to-do management, Password vault, File and photo storage, PDF document scanner, Cloud synchronization

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| iStratus Pro Monthly | $0.99 | per month |
| iStratus Pro Yearly | $9.99 | per year |
| iStratus Pro Lifetime | Free | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Highly customizable interface and features
- 📅 Comprehensive all-in-one organization tool
- 💾 Reliable cloud syncing with Dropbox
- 🔒 Secure password vault functionality
- 📱 Works seamlessly across multiple devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent app crashes and freezing
- 🔄 Unreliable syncing between devices
- 📚 Steep learning curve for new users
- ❌ No week/month calendar view
- ⏰ Limited recurring event capabilities

**Reported bugs**

- App crashes on launch
- App freezes and requires hard close
- Syncing fails or occurs at slow speeds
- Calendar events change dates unexpectedly
- Password vault data loss

**Requested features**

- Weekly and monthly calendar overview
- Better Google Calendar and Outlook integration
- Ability to share calendars with other users
- Backup and restore functionality for data protection
- Handwritten notes support for iPad


### NotePlan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteplan-to-do-list-and-notes/id1505432629)

Organize your tasks, notes, and calendar in one unified app. Quickly plan your day with Markdown, link notes bi-directionally, and stay on top of your to-dos with powerful review and search features. Seamlessly integrates with your existing calendars and syncs across all your Apple devices.

**Highlights:** Unified task, note, and calendar view, Markdown for quick task and note creation, Bi-directional note linking, Calendar integration (iCloud, Google, Exchange), Flexible recurring tasks, Global Command Bar for fast navigation, Plaintext note storage

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (8)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Personal Weekly | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Personal Monthly | $6.99 | per month |
| Personal Monthly | $11.99 | per month |
| Personal Monthly | $12.00 | per month |
| Personal Annual | $59.99 | per year |
| Personal Annual | $99.99 | per year |
| Personal Annual | $119.99 | per year |
| Business Class | $199.99 | per year |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Powerful note-taking and task management
- 👍 Seamless calendar and reminders integration
- 💡 Flexible and customizable workflow
- 🔒 Secure and open-format data storage
- 👍 Responsive and helpful developer

**What reviewers complain about**

- 💰 Expensive subscription model
- 🐛 Occasional sync and performance issues
- 👤 Limited collaboration and sharing features

**Reported bugs**

- Inconsistent sync between devices
- Crashes when opening certain files

**Requested features**

- Improved iPad and mobile app experience
- Better integration with other productivity apps
- More automation and scripting capabilities
- Weekly or monthly calendar view


## Frequently asked questions

### Is iStratus Notebook & Planner free?

iStratus Notebook & Planner is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is NotePlan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, iStratus Notebook & Planner or NotePlan?

NotePlan is rated higher. iStratus Notebook & Planner averages 4.2 out of 5 from 88 ratings, while NotePlan averages 4.8 from 1.5K ratings.

### Do iStratus Notebook & Planner or NotePlan have ads?

Neither iStratus Notebook & Planner nor NotePlan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, iStratus Notebook & Planner or NotePlan?

iStratus Notebook & Planner ships an update fortnightly, and NotePlan monthly. Most recently, iStratus Notebook & Planner was updated on October 23, 2026 and NotePlan on October 27, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*