# Minimalist Journal vs Element Note

The clearest difference is rating: Element Note at 4.6 against Minimalist Journal's 4.0. Element Note also leads on update cadence (fortnightly vs every 3 months) and review sentiment (70% vs 58%). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Minimalist Journal sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Element Note sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $3.49 per year. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Element Note holds the better App Store score, 4.6 against 4.0. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Element Note has 2.6K ratings behind it against 377, so its average is the more settled of the two. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Minimalist Journal's written reviews are positive against 70% of Element Note's.

Minimalist Journal ships an update every 3 months, Element Note fortnightly. Both last shipped on October 25, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Minimalist Journal | Element Note |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.0 (377 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-journal/id6443493135/reviews) | **[4.6 (2.6K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 377 | **2.6K** |
| Positive reviews | 58.4% of reviews | **69.8% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 months | **Fortnightly** |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 2 MB | 129 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 17.0 |
| Devices | iPad | **iPhone, iPad, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Christian Merk](https://appshunter.io/developer/1487924099) | [Soysauce Lab](https://appshunter.io/developer/598496583) |

## What reviewers say

### Minimalist Journal

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/minimalist-journal/id6443493135)

Capture your thoughts and ideas digitally with a handwriting experience that mimics pen on paper. Utilize Apple Pencil for precision and ease, transforming your device into a personal diary. Unlock unlimited entries with a one-time purchase.

**Highlights:** Handwritten journaling, Apple Pencil support, Digital diary, Capture thoughts and ideas, Unlimited entries unlock

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Unlimited entries | $8.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 👍 Minimalist design
- 💡 Handwriting support
- 🔒 Password protection
- 🚀 Simple and intuitive
- 📝 Effective for journaling

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Buggy performance
- 🖌️ Limited drawing/editing tools
- 💰 Paywall after limited entries
- 📁 No backup/export options
- 👨‍💻 Lack of customization

**Reported bugs**

- Apple Pencil double-tap not working
- Keyboard not appearing on screen
- Jumping between entries while writing
- Faint/invisible writing lines in dark mode

**Requested features**

- Ability to erase entire pages
- Option to change pen color
- Landscape mode support
- Sync with iCloud or other cloud storage
- Undo/redo functionality


### Element Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/element-note/id6444015673)

This app offers a distraction-free digital notebook experience with advanced handwriting, PDF annotation, and sketching capabilities. It features unique brushes, a powerful rendering engine, and smart organization tools. Sync your notes across devices and collaborate with others seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Unique handwriting brushes, Smooth drawing engine, PDF annotation, Text, shape, and image attachments, On-device OCR search, Smart dark mode, iCloud sync and collaboration

**Features:** Family Sharing, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Element Note Yearly | $3.49 | per year |
| Element Note Yearly | $4.99 | per year |
| Lifetime Launch Special | $4.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $9.99 | one-time |
| Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 💡 Customizable pens and colors
- 👍 Clean and intuitive interface
- 🎨 Gradient and gradient brush tools
- 📚 Great for journaling and note-taking

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔍 Search function not working
- 🖼️ Issues with image handling and export
- 🔀 Difficulty switching between pen and eraser
- 🔑 Lack of password/locking feature for notes

**Reported bugs**

- Notes and files randomly disappearing
- Inconsistent behavior when using the floating keyboard
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Exported PDFs losing formatting and background colors

**Requested features**

- Ruler tool
- Ability to resize/rotate selections
- Improved text editing and formatting
- Presentation mode for connecting to displays
- Ability to import/export multiple files at once


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Minimalist Journal free?

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

### Is Element Note free?

Element Note is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Minimalist Journal or Element Note?

Element Note is rated higher. Minimalist Journal averages 4.0 out of 5 from 377 ratings, while Element Note averages 4.6 from 2.6K ratings.

### Do Minimalist Journal or Element Note have ads?

Neither Minimalist Journal nor Element Note shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Minimalist Journal or Element Note?

Minimalist Journal ships an update every 3 months, and Element Note fortnightly. Most recently, Minimalist Journal was updated on October 25, 2026 and Element Note on October 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.*