Lionote vs StarNote
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Lionote
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Lionote is a freedom, privacy-first, local personal data hub, based on note app but beyond note app. Freely use a variety of information formats to record and create(Text, Whiteboard, Mind Map, Flowchart, UML, Markdown, AI assistant, Audio, Image, File, Schedule Management etc.). All notes are saved locally as files, you don't have to worry about losing them due to cloud server error. Sync is fully encrypted (PBKDF2+RandomSalt+AES), No one can see your notes
StarNote
This app offers a realistic pen-on-paper handwriting experience on tablets with an infinite canvas for notes and sketches. It includes advanced layering, PDF annotation, and a robust organizer for efficient digital note-taking and planning.
- Realistic low-latency handwriting
- Infinite canvas for unlimited space
- Layered design for complex projects
- Deep PDF annotation and markup
- Robust file management and search
- Lifetime access with one-time purchase
- Free templates and digital assets
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StarNote is a clean and powerful note-taking app for handwriting, PDF annotation, study, work, and everyday planning. Write naturally with your stylus, organize notebooks, mark up PDFs, and keep all your ideas in one simple workspace. Built for students, professionals, and tablet users, StarNote helps you take class notes, review lecture slides, annotate documents, plan your day, and build a paperless study or work system. With smooth handwriting, flexible notebooks, PDF markup, and digital planning tools, StarNote makes it easy to capture ideas and stay organized. No monthly subscription. Choose a one-time purchase and enjoy a long-term note-taking tool without ongoing fees. Download StarNote and start building your digital notebook today.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Lionote at 13.0 against StarNote's 15.0. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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
Both are free to download. Lionote sells 6 one-off in-app purchases and StarNote sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
Lionote ships an update every 11 days, StarNote every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 7, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Lionote | StarNote |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | 4.6 (118 ratings) — better |
| Positive reviews | — | 74.4% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | — | 118 — better |
| Update frequency | Every 11 days — better | Every 2 weeks |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac — better | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Requires iOS | 13.0 — better | 15.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 108 MB | 422 MB |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | 杭州草莓互娱科技有限公司 | Onyx International Inc. |
In-app purchases
Lionote
- VIP1, one month$0.69
- VIP2, one month$1.69
- VIP3, one month$6.29
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- VIP1, one year$7.59
- VIP2, one year$17.90
- VIP3, one year$64.90
StarNote
- StarNote AI Trial$0.99
- Templates\Stickers$3.90
- Templates\Stickers$4.49
Show 18 moreShow fewer
- Templates\Stickers$4.79
- Templates\Stickers$5.00
- Templates\Stickers$5.79
- StarNote Lifetime PRO$5.99
- Templates\Stickers$6.69
- Templates\Stickers$6.79
- StarNote AI Plus$6.99
- Templates\Stickers$7.79
- Templates\Stickers$8.99
- Templates\Stickers$9.79
- Templates\Stickers$9.99
- Templates\Stickers$10.99
- Templates\Stickers$11.49
- Templates\Stickers$11.90
- Templates\Stickers$12.99
- StarNote AI Pro$22.99
- Templates\Stickers$38.90
- Templates\Stickers$42.90









