# NoteList vs Cortex

The clearest difference is update cadence: Cortex at every 3 days against NoteList's every 3 weeks. Cortex also leads on device support (4 vs 2) and iOS requirement (15.0 vs 18.0). On price, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. NoteList sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Cortex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

NoteList ships an update every 3 weeks, Cortex every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on October 10, 2026 and October 12, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | NoteList | Cortex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 weeks | **Every 3 days** |
| Size | 22 MB | 131 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.0** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Koushik Karmakar](https://appshunter.io/developer/1100134240) | [JTR Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892768253) |

## What reviewers say

### NoteList

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/notelist-todo-and-markdown/id6449396171)

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

**In-app purchases (1)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| NoteList Pro | $4.99 | one-time |


### Cortex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-local-markdown-brain/id6785630809)

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cortex Plus (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Cortex Plus (Yearly) | $39.99 | per year |
| Cortex Believer | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is NoteList free?

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

### Is Cortex free?

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

### Do NoteList or Cortex have ads?

Neither NoteList nor Cortex shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, NoteList or Cortex?

NoteList ships an update every 3 weeks, and Cortex every 3 days. Most recently, NoteList was updated on October 10, 2026 and Cortex on October 12, 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.*