SelfNote vs StrataWrite
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
SelfNote
Capture ideas, reminders, and links by sending them directly to your email inbox. Supports text, audio, photos, and drawings, with extensions for seamless sharing from other apps. New features include Apple Watch integration and home screen widgets for quick access.
- Send notes via email
- Attach text, audio, photos, drawings
- Browser extensions for quick sharing
- Apple Watch app for wrist capture
- Home screen widgets for quick actions
- On-device AI for subject lines and categorization
- Speech-to-text dictation
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With SelfNote, you can quickly write notes, reminders or bookmark links from your browser and send them to your own email. The concept is to send notes to self and receive them in the email inbox to be read or managed at a later time. With just a few taps and its quick share to self functions, you can create a new note and send it directly to your email inbox. This makes it easy to capture ideas and thoughts as they occur to you, without having to worry about forgetting them later on. SelfNote allows you to not only write text notes but also to add quick audio recordings, dictate to notes, drawings, and photos as notes. Additionally, you can use one of the extensions available for sending a reminder to self in the form of a link to a website, a photo, or a document (including PDFs) while browsing the internet or using any other app. KEY FEATURES - Apple Watch App: Capture notes from your wrist. Dictate text, record audio, or send quick phrases instantly. Your Watch syncs with your iPhone automatically. - Home Screen Widgets: Quick Actions for one-tap compose, dictate, or record. Quick Send to fire off pre-written phrases without opening the app. Recent Notes to see your latest notes at a glance. - Multiple Recipients: Add up to 10 email addresses and choose which ones receive your notes. Pro subscribers can send to up to 3 recipients simultaneously. - On-Device AI (Pro, iOS 26+): Smart Subject generates email subject lines from your note. Auto-Categorization tags your notes. Action Items detects tasks and highlights them. All processing happens on your device. - Speech-to-Text Dictation: Speak your notes with real-time transcription for hands-free capture. - Custom Note Subjects: Set a custom email subject line for any note. - Improved Note History: Gallery and list views, search, filters by color, type, or attachment. - Siri and Shortcuts: Send notes with Siri or build workflows with the Shortcuts app. - Available in 8 Languages: English, Spanish, French, German, Japanese, Chinese (Simplified), Portuguese (Brazilian), and Italian. Whether you're looking to organize your work tasks, read an article later, plan a vacation, remember something, or simply jot down your thoughts as they occur to you, SelfNote has everything you need to stay on top of your thoughts. Overall, SelfNote is a versatile tool that helps you to easily create and manage reminders and notes, making it an essential app for anyone who wants to stay organised and on top of their tasks. Terms and Conditions: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/
StrataWrite
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StrataWrite is a research-first writing app designed for scholars, researchers, and serious writers who need more than just a blank page. Built with Apple’s native frameworks, StrataWrite unites structured note-taking and manuscript drafting in a clean, focused environment that helps you organize complex projects and keep your ideas connected. StrataWrite is for text only. No Table or Image support. StrataWrite is about getting the words out and not formatting. StratWrite is the first step in writing up your research. Get the words out in either Notes or Manuscript Views. When the first draft of your writing is complete, export to Plaintext or Markdown and import it into your favorite Word Processor for formatting. Whether you are preparing a dissertation, drafting a grant proposal, or developing a book chapter, StrataWrite provides a workspace designed to keep your research structured and your writing clear. Research-Driven Writing StrataWrite is built for projects that demand more than linear word processing: • Structured Notes – Capture and organize your research with tags, categories, and backlinks. Notes connect into a system that grows as your ideas develop. • Manuscript Drafting – Write in a distraction-free workspace with daily word count goals, progress tracking, and export options for Markdown, or TXT. • Linking Ideas – Create bidirectional links between notes and manuscripts, building a network of connections that keeps your sources and insights close at hand. Native Apple Experience StrataWrite is built with SwiftUI and designed to feel at home across macOS and iPadOS: • Universal App – Switch seamlessly between Mac and iPad. StrataWrite adapts to your workflow, wherever you are writing. • CloudKit Sync – Keep your notes and manuscripts securely up to date across devices. • Clean, Distraction-Free Interface – A modern, lightweight design emphasizes your writing while keeping structure available when you need it. Designed for Focus & Clarity StrataWrite emphasizes research structure without unnecessary complexity. Notes and manuscripts are part of the same system, allowing ideas to move fluidly between your research base and your drafts. By connecting thoughts through links and tracking progress as you write, StrataWrite helps you transform research into finished work with confidence. Made for Scholars and Writers If your projects depend on clarity, depth, and organization, StrataWrite was built for you. Graduate students writing theses, researchers assembling journal articles, and professionals developing long-form work will all find a workspace that supports rigorous thinking and clear writing.
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is price: SelfNote at Free against StrataWrite's $9.99. SelfNote also leads on update cadence (monthly vs every 2 months) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). StrataWrite's advantage is in-app purchases (none vs 3). On ads and device support 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
SelfNote is free to download; StrataWrite costs $9.99 up front. SelfNote sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. StrataWrite asks for nothing beyond the download.
SelfNote ships an update monthly, StrataWrite every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on September 23, 2026 and October 3, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | SelfNote | StrataWrite |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free — better | $9.99 |
| Rating | 5.0 (5 ratings) — better | — |
| Number of ratings | 5 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Monthly — better | Every 2 months |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | No — better |
| Monetization | Freemium | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 16.0 — better | 26.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 21 MB | 147 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Makai Labs Srl | Stance Hurst |
In-app purchases
SelfNote
- Monthly - Unlimited access$1.991 Month
- Unlimited access7 Days trial$9.991 Year
- Pro Lifetime$29.99
StrataWrite
No in-app purchases









