# ZoomNotes Lite vs Calligraphy HD

The clearest difference is review sentiment: ZoomNotes Lite at 72% against Calligraphy HD's 12%. ZoomNotes Lite also leads on rating (4.2 vs 1.6) and ads (none vs shown). Calligraphy HD's advantage is iOS requirement (9.0 vs 15.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. ZoomNotes Lite sells 10 one-off in-app purchases and Calligraphy HD sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

ZoomNotes Lite holds the better App Store score, 4.2 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 214 and 64 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 72% of ZoomNotes Lite's written reviews are positive against 12% of Calligraphy HD's.

ZoomNotes Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, Calligraphy HD every 3 months. The most recent releases landed on August 26, 2026 and September 25, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | ZoomNotes Lite | Calligraphy HD |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.2 (214 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/zoomnotes-lite/id621255925/reviews)** | [1.6 (64 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-hd/id972731593/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | **214** | 64 |
| Positive reviews | **72.0% of reviews** | 11.5% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 weeks** | Every 3 months |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 151 MB | 19 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.6 | **9.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Deliverance Software Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/374494333) | [TOUCHSCREEN LEARNING LTD](https://appshunter.io/developer/501694854) |

## 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


### Calligraphy HD

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/calligraphy-hd/id972731593)

Explore the art of calligraphy with a wide selection of digital nibs and brushes. Customize stroke thickness, texture, and pen angle to develop your unique lettering style. Save your creations to your device's photo gallery.

**Highlights:** Customizable nibs and brushes, Adjustable stroke thickness, Varying stroke texture, Pen angle control, Variety of backgrounds, Save artwork to gallery

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Calligraphy HD Full App | $2.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is ZoomNotes Lite free?

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

### Is Calligraphy HD free?

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

### Which has better reviews, ZoomNotes Lite or Calligraphy HD?

ZoomNotes Lite is rated higher. ZoomNotes Lite averages 4.2 out of 5 from 214 ratings, while Calligraphy HD averages 1.6 from 64 ratings.

### Do ZoomNotes Lite or Calligraphy HD have ads?

Calligraphy HD shows ads; ZoomNotes Lite does not.

### Which is updated more often, ZoomNotes Lite or Calligraphy HD?

ZoomNotes Lite ships an update every 3 weeks, and Calligraphy HD every 3 months. Most recently, ZoomNotes Lite was updated on August 26, 2026 and Calligraphy HD on September 25, 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.*