# n+otes vs Basic Journal

The clearest difference is rating: n+otes at 4.7 against Basic Journal's 3.3. n+otes also leads on ratings volume (45K vs 4) and review sentiment (64% vs 40%). Basic Journal's advantage is iOS requirement (11.0 vs 13.0). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. n+otes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month and Basic Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

n+otes holds the better App Store score, 4.7 against 3.3. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: n+otes has 45K ratings behind it against 4, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 64% of n+otes's written reviews are positive against 40% of Basic Journal's.

n+otes ships an update fortnightly, Basic Journal every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on November 7, 2026 and November 2, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | n+otes | Basic Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-otes/id596895960/reviews)** | [3.3 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **45K** | 4 |
| Positive reviews | **64.2% of reviews** | 40.0% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 14 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | **11.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RIEU Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/446267401) | [James Hudson](https://appshunter.io/developer/599997663) |

## What reviewers say

### n+otes

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-otes/id596895960)

Capture thoughts and ideas instantly with a simple interface. Secure your notes with a private lock feature.  Optional subscription removes ads and supports development.

**Highlights:** Quick note-taking, Private note lock, Ad-free experience (subscription), Easy to use interface

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Ad-free Experience (Monthly) | $0.49 | per month |
| Ad-free Experience (3 Months) | $0.99 | per 3 months |
| Ad-free Experience (1 Year) | $3.99 | per year |
| Remove Ads | $19.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Simple and easy to use
- 🚀 Efficient note-taking experience
- 🔒 Secure with passcode protection
- 💡 Customizable themes and backgrounds
- 👍 Great for organizing thoughts and ideas

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional bugs and glitches
- 💰 Intrusive ads interrupting workflow
- 🔋 Concerns about battery drain
- 🔒 Lack of cross-device syncing

**Reported bugs**

- Notes disappearing or getting lost
- Inability to delete notes on Apple Watch
- Scrolling issues and text freezing at the bottom
- Inconsistent behavior after updates

**Requested features**

- Ability to sync notes across devices
- More font and formatting options
- Folder or category organization
- Voice-to-text functionality
- Ability to insert images and attachments


### Basic Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/basic-journal/id1139438456)

A fast and simple journal app designed for busy individuals to quickly jot down notes on daily activities. It offers an elegant, chronological display of entries with easy editing and export options.

**Highlights:** Quick note-taking, Chronological note display, Summary and detail views, Edit and delete notes easily, Recently edited notes highlighted, iCloud syncing, Text export option

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Remove Ads | $0.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is n+otes free?

n+otes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Is Basic Journal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, n+otes or Basic Journal?

n+otes is rated higher. n+otes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 45K ratings, while Basic Journal averages 3.3 from 4 ratings.

### Do n+otes or Basic Journal have ads?

Both n+otes and Basic Journal show ads.

### Which is updated more often, n+otes or Basic Journal?

n+otes ships an update fortnightly, and Basic Journal every 2 weeks. Most recently, n+otes was updated on November 7, 2026 and Basic Journal on November 2, 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.*