# ZoomNotes Lite vs Charcoal

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Charcoal at none against ZoomNotes Lite's 10. Charcoal also leads on rating (4.5 vs 4.2). ZoomNotes Lite's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 2 months). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ZoomNotes Lite sells 10 one-off in-app purchases. Charcoal asks for nothing beyond the download.

Charcoal holds the better App Store score, 4.5 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 214 and 143 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of ZoomNotes Lite's written reviews are positive against 77% of Charcoal's.

ZoomNotes Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, Charcoal every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 8, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZoomNotes Lite | Charcoal |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.2 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoomnotes-lite/id621255925/reviews) | **[4.5 (143 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charcoal/id1490279484/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **214** | 143 |
| Positive reviews | 72.0% of reviews | **76.9% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 2 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 151 MB | 28 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Vision Pro** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Deliverance Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/374494333) | [Lars Augustin](https://appshunter.io/developer/1806278075) |

## What reviewers say

### ZoomNotes Lite

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoomnotes-lite/id621255925)

This app allows for handwritten notes and sketches on various digital documents, including PDFs and Office files. It offers unlimited zooming, customizable paper styles, and extensive sharing options. Additional features and pen types are available through in-app purchases.

**Highlights:** Unlimited zoom and panning, Handwritten notes and sketches, Markup PDFs and Office documents, Customizable paper sizes and styles, Extensive document sharing options, Digital planning with calendar integration

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

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Highlighter pen | $0.99 | one-time |
| Text | $0.99 | one-time |
| Images | $0.99 | one-time |
| Bookmarks | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sounds | $0.99 | one-time |
| Sub-documents | $0.99 | one-time |
| Tables | $0.99 | one-time |
| Workspaces | $1.99 | one-time |
| All Pens | $2.99 | one-time |
| All features | $7.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Versatile and feature-rich
- 👍 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Powerful customization options
- 🚀 Seamless PDF annotation
- 👍 Reliable syncing and backup

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Occasional crashes and glitches
- 👎 Confusing and outdated user interface
- 🐛 Inconsistent pen and eraser behavior
- 👎 Limited free version functionality

**Reported bugs**

- Syncing issues leading to document conflicts
- Random lines and dots appearing on the page
- Disappearing handwritten notes after saving
- Inability to unlock paid features after purchase

**Requested features**

- Improved text editing and formatting
- Easier organization with better folder management
- More tutorials and documentation
- Ability to recover accidentally deleted notes


### Charcoal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/charcoal/id1490279484)

This app offers a simple yet powerful sketching experience with rich tools and beautiful color palettes. Easily create and export your artwork for use in other graphics programs. It supports modern iOS features like multiple windows and dark mode for enhanced productivity.

**Highlights:** Simple sketching interface, Rich drawing tools, Beautiful color palettes, Export sketches, Multiple window support, Dark mode

**Features:** macOS Compatibility

**In-app purchases:** none

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Simple and intuitive
- 👍 Great for quick sketching
- 🎨 Aesthetically pleasing design
- 💰 Free with no ads

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🎨 Limited color palette
- 🎨 Lack of customization options
- 🎨 Missing advanced drawing tools
- 🐛 Occasional bugs and crashes

**Reported bugs**

- Saved sketches lose quality
- Palette colors change unexpectedly
- Freezing when opening color palette

**Requested features**

- Ability to change brush/pen size
- Layers and blending tools
- Color wheel and custom color selection
- Import/export options


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZoomNotes Lite free?

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

### Is Charcoal free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ZoomNotes Lite or Charcoal?

Charcoal is rated higher. ZoomNotes Lite averages 4.2 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Charcoal averages 4.5 from 143 ratings.

### Do ZoomNotes Lite or Charcoal have ads?

Neither ZoomNotes Lite nor Charcoal shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, ZoomNotes Lite or Charcoal?

ZoomNotes Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, and Charcoal every 2 months. Most recently, ZoomNotes Lite was updated on August 26, 2026 and Charcoal on September 8, 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.*