# Lionote vs StarNote

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Lionote at none against StarNote's 21. Lionote also leads on iOS requirement (13.0 vs 15.0). On price, update cadence, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. StarNote sells 21 one-off in-app purchases. Lionote asks for nothing beyond the download.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 2 weeks. The most recent releases landed on October 30, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Lionote | StarNote |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | — | **[4.6 (118 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnote-handwritten-notes/id6751570915/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | — | **118** |
| Positive reviews | — | 74.4% of reviews |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 2 weeks | Every 2 weeks |
| Monetization | — | Paid |
| Size | 108 MB | 422 MB |
| Requires iOS | **13.0** | 15.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** | iPhone, iPad, iPod |
| Age rating | 17+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [杭州草莓互娱科技有限公司](https://appshunter.io/developer/1651068413) | [Onyx International Inc.](https://appshunter.io/developer/1527846836) |

## What reviewers say

### Lionote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/lionote/id6443962372)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


### StarNote

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/starnote-handwritten-notes/id6751570915)

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.

**Highlights:** 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

**In-app purchases (21)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| StarNote AI Trial | $0.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $3.90 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $4.49 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $4.79 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $5.00 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $5.79 | one-time |
| StarNote Lifetime PRO | $5.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $6.69 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $6.79 | one-time |
| StarNote AI Plus | $6.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $7.79 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $8.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $9.79 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $9.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $10.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $11.49 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $11.90 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $12.99 | one-time |
| StarNote AI Pro | $22.99 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $38.90 | one-time |
| Templates\Stickers | $42.90 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Lionote free?

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

### Is StarNote free?

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

### Do Lionote or StarNote have ads?

Neither Lionote nor StarNote shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Lionote or StarNote?

Lionote ships an update every 2 weeks, and StarNote every 2 weeks. Most recently, Lionote was updated on October 30, 2026 and StarNote on October 28, 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.*