Comparison

ZoomNotes Lite vs Defter Notes

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

Head to head
About

ZoomNotes Lite

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
Read full description

ZoomNotes Lite is an iPad/iPhone visual note-taking app. It lets you quickly make handwritten notes and sketches on virtual paper, on PDF files, on MS Word, Excel and Powerpoint docs (via GoogleDrive), and over images. Uniquely, it also lets you zoom in and out without arbitrary limits, an invaluable feature for this type of app. It has a free fully functioning pen (although you will be able to try the pens too), and more available as in-app purchases. It has unlimited paper sizes/styles, unlimited colours and line thicknesses, and a large range of ways to share its documents making ZoomNotes the most versatile handwriting/drawing app. ZoomNotes Desktop for Mac now also available. ZoomNotes is much more than a replacement for your trusted paper notebook! Compatible with any capacitive stylus pen (although fingers work well too). Here some reviews of the app store of the full version- The best note taking app available! ***** by MarkNance – Version 7.1.4 – Jul 6, 2016 Don’t be put off by all its features! ***** by Stevearcher – Version 7.1.3 – May 24, 2016 Most complete Note app I’ve tried ***** by ItsDartstx – Version 7.1.3 – Apr 20, 2016 Most effective note taking app ***** by John25642 – Version 7.1.3 – Jul 7, 2016 Full featured and innovative ***** by music-major – Version 7.1.3 – May 15, 2016 Hands(writing)-down, best notepad replacement out there. ***** by Jed123zz – Version 7.1.3 – Mar 23, 2016 Free features include: -1 Pen type - Felt tip. -Huge Zoom Range and Whiteboard page style -Rotatable views -Split screen mode (edit 2 documents at once) -Digital planning with links, which can also show events and reminders from the Calendar and Reminder apps -Write over PDF file -Write over MS Word, Powerpoint and Excel files (via GoogleDrive) -Calendar events/reminders :add events linked to your documents, possibly with alarms. The URL in the event links back to the document in ZoomNotes. -Typed text- limited to a single font, fills and borders -Regular shapes and arrows -Symbol library -Select, scale, rotate and shift -Cut, copy, paste (including between documents, pages and other apps) -Write over pdf files (markup) -Configurable paper types -Intuitive folder interface for documents -Sharing as PDF files, images, videos or ZoomNotes documents (via email, iTunes, clipboard, Dropbox, Twitter and Evernote) -In app printing -VGA compatible for use with projectors, monitors and AirPlay -Universal app - iPhone and iPad -iCloud support -Geo-located documents; documents can be optionally geo-located and viewed as pins on a map. -Layers let you control what is visible on a page, also options for 'master layers' which show on all pages. In app purchases features include: -7 extra Pen types, including Italic, Gel, Nib, Pencil and Watercolour. -Sub-pages (pages within pages within...) -Typed text- fully configurable fonts, colours, fills and borders -Unlimited colours and line styles -Bookmarks with animated playback -Insert images from camera or photo library -Insert web pages -Insert videos from camera or photo library -Edit inserted images, including masking and cropping -Record and playback sounds, including import and export of caf files - Handwriting recognition (14 different languages). Please note that the full version of ZoomNotes is equivalent to the Lite version with all the in-app purchases. There are lots more details including some videos of the app in action at www.zoom-notes.com Please remember to leave us a review. If you wish, you can send us feedback directly, we reply to every email sent to support@zoom-notes.com. If you experience any problems or bugs in the app, please email us your device information, which iOS version you are running to support@zoom-notes.com and we will fix it asap. Twitter - @zoomnotes

About

Defter Notes

This app provides an infinite canvas for spatial thinking, allowing users to capture, connect, and explore ideas through handwriting, drawing, and text. Organize thoughts with flexible tools and intuitive navigation for enhanced creativity and productivity.

Highlights
  • Infinite canvas for spatial thinking
  • Handwritten notes, sketches, and typed text
  • Connect and layer ideas
  • Organize with Stacks
  • Deft movement with gestures
  • Cross-reference and multitask documents
  • Supports links and files
Features
Read full description

Defter Notes is loved by academics, students, teachers, researchers, journal keepers, knowledge workers, designers, architects, engineers, writers, and anyone who thinks best with their hands and eyes.  It’s built for people who see ideas as living things: connected, evolving, and worth exploring. Think without boundaries Defter Notes gives you an infinite canvas for spatial thinking. Drop ideas anywhere. Draw connections. Expand as far as your thoughts take you. Enjoy pure creative flow. Capture ideas your way Whether it starts as a quick sketch, a handwritten note, or a PDF you’re diving into, Defter Notes adapts to your process. Write, draw, or type; then move, link, and layer it all together. Your ideas stay flexible and alive. Work the way your brain works Move items freely. Zoom in and out of context. Build hierarchies of Spaces that let you go deeper into your projects. Defter Notes stays out of the way so your focus stays on thinking. Top features * Stacks for deep work: Ideal for reading, studying, or comparing multiple resources. * Deft movement with gestures: Drag pages or extract text directly out of PDFs. * Cross-reference and multitask: View, resize, and reorder documents side by side. * Handwriting and text tools: Combine pen, pencil, marker, and text boxes using Apple Pencil or Scribble. * Fluid editing: Double-tap any item to edit or share. * Intuitive navigation: Use the mini-map, navigation bar, gestures, and select tool to move effortlessly through infinite spaces. * Supports links and files: Drop in PDFs, images, URLs, and attachments right onto your canvas. Join the community: https://discord.com/invite/GjS5tJSmBW Terms of use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/ Privacy policy: https://www.defternotes.com/touprivacypolicy https://defternotes.com

Screenshots

ZoomNotes Lite4 screens
Defter Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is rating: Defter Notes at 4.4 against ZoomNotes Lite's 4.2. ZoomNotes Lite's advantage is iOS requirement (15.6 vs 17.0). On price, review sentiment, ratings volume and update cadence 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. ZoomNotes Lite sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Defter Notes sells 7 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

Defter Notes holds the better App Store score, 4.4 against 4.2. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 214 and 75 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of ZoomNotes Lite's written reviews are positive against 75% of Defter Notes's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

ZoomNotes Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, Defter Notes every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 2, 2026 and September 30, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard2 real differences · 8 level
ZoomNotes Lite versus Defter Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterZoomNotes LiteDefter Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.2 (214 ratings)4.4 (75 ratings) — better
Positive reviews72.0% of reviews75.3% of reviews — better
Number of ratings214 — better75
Update frequencyEvery 3 weeksEvery 2 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFree with in-app purchasesFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPad, iPod — betteriPhone, iPad
Requires iOS15.6 — better17.0
Further details — not scored
Size151 MB59 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperDeliverance Software LtdDeft Works ApS

Customer experience

ZoomNotes Lite

All ratings214 ratings
Positive77.6%
Neutral9.8%
Negative12.6%
Written reviews329 reviews
Positive72.0%
Neutral8.5%
Negative19.5%

Defter Notes

All ratings75 ratings
Positive84.0%
Neutral4.0%
Negative12.0%
Written reviews81 reviews
Positive75.3%
Neutral11.1%
Negative13.6%

Bugs and requests

ZoomNotes Lite

Reported bugs

4 issues
  • 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

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

Defter Notes

Not enough reviews yet to summarise bugs or requests.

In-app purchases

10 purchases

ZoomNotes Lite

One-time10
  • Highlighter pen$0.99
  • Text$0.99
  • Images$0.99
Show 7 more
  • Bookmarks$0.99
  • Sounds$0.99
  • Sub-documents$0.99
  • Tables$0.99
  • Workspaces$1.99
  • All Pens$2.99
  • All features$7.99
7 purchases

Defter Notes

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly Plan$2.991 Month
  • Mini Supporter$2.991 Month
  • Supporter$7.991 Month
Show 2 more
  • Yearly Plan$17.991 Year
  • Big Supporter$29.991 Month
One-time2
  • Lifetime Access - Welcome Offer$29.99
  • Lifetime Access$39.99

Questions

Is ZoomNotes Lite free?
ZoomNotes Lite is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Defter Notes free?
Defter Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, ZoomNotes Lite or Defter Notes?
Defter Notes is rated higher. ZoomNotes Lite averages 4.2 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Defter Notes averages 4.4 from 75 ratings.
Do ZoomNotes Lite or Defter Notes have ads?
Neither ZoomNotes Lite nor Defter Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, ZoomNotes Lite or Defter Notes?
ZoomNotes Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, and Defter Notes every 2 weeks. Most recently, ZoomNotes Lite was updated on October 2, 2026 and Defter Notes on September 30, 2026.

Other comparisons