# n+otes vs Cute Journal

The clearest difference is ratings volume: n+otes at 45K against Cute Journal's 110. Cute Journal's advantage is review sentiment (88% vs 64%). On price, rating, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. n+otes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.49 per month and Cute Journal sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.49 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

On the App Store both sit at effectively the same score — 4.7 for n+otes against 4.6 for Cute Journal. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: n+otes has 45K ratings behind it against 110, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews are what separate them: 64% of n+otes's written reviews are positive against 88% of Cute Journal's.

n+otes ships an update fortnightly, Cute Journal every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 26, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | n+otes | Cute Journal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.7 (45K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/n-plus-otes/id596895960/reviews)** | [4.6 (110 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cute-journal-private-diary/id1602190978/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **45K** | 110 |
| Positive reviews | 64.3% of reviews | **87.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Fortnightly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 25 MB | 43 MB |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 | 13.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [RIEU Limited](https://appshunter.io/developer/446267401) | [俊镇 吴](https://appshunter.io/developer/1116584225) |

## 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


### Cute Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cute-journal-private-diary/id1602190978)

Create a personalized digital journal with customizable backgrounds and materials. Secure your entries with a lock and enjoy ample space for all your thoughts. Offers various national and minimalist styles.

**Highlights:** Customizable backgrounds and materials, Book-like cover customization, Variety of national and minimalist styles, Large writing capacity, Secure and private entries, Lock feature for privacy

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Plus Version | $4.49 | per month |
| Quarterly Plus | $9.49 | per 3 months |
| Half a year Plus | $12.49 | per 6 months |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is n+otes free?

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

### Is Cute Journal free?

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

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

n+otes is rated higher. n+otes averages 4.7 out of 5 from 45K ratings, while Cute Journal averages 4.6 from 110 ratings.

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

Both n+otes and Cute Journal show ads.

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

n+otes ships an update fortnightly, and Cute Journal every 3 weeks. Most recently, n+otes was updated on September 26, 2026 and Cute Journal on September 23, 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.*