Comparison

Chatboard vs Carbon Notes

Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.

Head to head
About

Chatboard

Access advanced AI models directly from your keyboard. Effortlessly get AI-powered responses for tasks like rewriting emails or finding recommendations while chatting. Integrates with multiple AI providers and personal context securely.

Highlights
  • Access AI models from any app
  • Rewrite and summarize text
  • Get recommendations on the go
  • Integrates with multiple AI providers
  • Secure personal context integration
  • View and manage past prompts
Read full description

With Chatboard, you can access the latest AI models from anywhere on your iPhone. Simply select some text, tap the Globe key, and get your AI response—it's that easy. Whether you want to rewrite an email or get the three best restaurants while texting in a group chat, Chatboard makes AI quick and effortless. A delightful interface makes it simple to view your previous prompts, add new AI Providers, and even integrate personal context about you—all securely. Chatboard works with AI models from Anthropic, OpenAI, Google, and Groq.

About

Carbon Notes

Features
Read full description

Carbon is a markdown-focused note-taking app designed for seamless organization of your ideas, tasks, and knowledge. With powerful markdown support and AI-powered tools, Carbon transforms how you capture and develop your thoughts. Unlock one-tap AI for your notes: Use our keys for $20/mo or use your OpenAI, Claude, or Open Router API keys for $5 (one-time unlock) This app supports iPhone, iPad, and Mac OS KEY FEATURES: - Powerful Markdown Support: Write and format your notes with intuitive markdown syntax. Carbon provides real-time preview and styling for a distraction-free writing experience. - AI-Powered Assistance: Leverage AI to enhance your writing with smart tools that can summarize, expand, polish, translate, and transform your content with just a tap. - Intelligent Tagging System: Organize your notes with an advanced tagging system that automatically recognizes hashtags in your content and creates hierarchical tag structures. - Robust Search: Find exactly what you need with our powerful search engine that indexes note content, titles, and tags for lightning-fast results. - Complete Privacy: Your data belongs to you. Carbon supports end-to-end encryption to protect your sensitive notes with military-grade security. - Seamless iCloud Sync: Access your notes across all your Apple devices with reliable CloudKit synchronization that works silently in the background. - Clean, Customizable Interface: Focus on your writing with a distraction-free interface featuring multiple themes and typography options. - Export Flexibility: Share your notes in multiple formats including Markdown, Text, HTML, PDF, and JSON. - Deep Organization: Create a personalized knowledge base with nested tags, favorites, smart collections, and custom filters. - Distraction-Free Writing: Enter a focused writing state with Carbon's minimal interface and keyboard shortcuts. - Markdown Import/Export: Easily bring in existing markdown files or export your notes for use in other applications. - Version History: Never lose important changes with automatic versioning of your notes. - Customizable Themes: Choose from light and dark themes, or customize colors to match your style. - Secure Biometric Authentication: Protect your notes with Face ID, Touch ID, or passcode authentication. CARBON IS PERFECT FOR: - Writers who need a clean environment for drafting and organizing their work - Students taking lecture notes and organizing course materials - Developers documenting projects and code snippets - Researchers collecting and connecting ideas - Professionals managing meeting notes and action items - Anyone looking to build a personal knowledge management system Carbon strikes the perfect balance between simplicity and power. The interface stays out of your way when you want to write, while offering powerful tools when you need them. Advanced features include batch operations, smart lists, custom AI prompts, note encryption, advanced search filters, and multiple export options to fit into any workflow. Your data is yours - Carbon is designed with privacy at its core. Your notes are stored locally and can be optionally encrypted and synced via iCloud. We never collect your notes or personal information. Whether you're capturing quick thoughts, writing detailed documents, or building a complete knowledge base, Carbon provides the tools you need to organize your digital life. Download Carbon today and experience the perfect balance of simplicity, power, and privacy in note-taking. PREMIUM FEATURES (available via subscription or one-time purchase): - AI-powered writing responses - OpenAI key support - Claude key support - Open Router key support Carbon respects your privacy and does not collect personal data or tracking information. Terms and Conditions: https://basicarcana.com/apps/carbon/legal Privacy Policy: https://basicarcana.com/apps/carbon/privacy Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

Screenshots

Chatboard3 screens
Carbon Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Chatboard at none against Carbon Notes's 2. Carbon Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 3 weeks vs every 8 months) and iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). On price, 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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. Carbon Notes sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $19.99 per month. Chatboard asks for nothing beyond the download.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Chatboard ships an update every 8 months, Carbon Notes every 3 weeks. The most recent releases landed on September 21, 2026 and September 10, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Chatboard versus Carbon Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterChatboardCarbon Notes
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (1 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews0.0% of reviews—
Number of ratings1 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 monthsEvery 3 weeks — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhoneiPhone, iPad — better
Requires iOS26.017.6 — better
Further details — not scored
Size32 MB12 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKyle HaleviYMMV

In-app purchases

None

Chatboard

No in-app purchases

2 purchases

Carbon Notes

Subscriptions1
  • Pro$19.991 Month
One-time1
  • AI Unlock$4.99

Questions

Is Chatboard free?
Chatboard is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is Carbon Notes free?
Carbon Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Chatboard or Carbon Notes have ads?
Neither Chatboard nor Carbon Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Chatboard or Carbon Notes?
Chatboard ships an update every 8 months, and Carbon Notes every 3 weeks. Most recently, Chatboard was updated on September 21, 2026 and Carbon Notes on September 10, 2026.

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