Sidebar | Fast Notes vs BayesChat
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
Sidebar | Fast Notes
Quickly capture thoughts and ideas without the need for organization. Entries are timestamped logs that can be tagged as to-dos or personal wins/losses. Syncs across devices with custom themes and a stealth mode.
- Instant note capture
- Timestamped entries
- To-do list integration
- Personal scoreboard
- Cross-device sync
- Custom themes
- Stealth mode
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Open. Type. Done. Sidebar opens with the keyboard ready, so you can catch an idea in seconds and get back to what you were doing. No folders, no file names, no formatting. Just get it down before it's gone. EVERY ENTRY IS A LOG Notes are quick, timestamped logs, not documents. Add a tag when one needs to do more: - Todo: adds it to your task list - Win or Loss: counts toward your scoreboard - Love: marks the ideas worth coming back to KEEP SCORE Track wins and losses for anything: running, flossing, screen time. Your scoreboard shows what's on track and what needs attention. MAKE IT YOURS Choose any color for your theme. AND A FEW EXTRAS - Widget: pin an idea to your home screen - Sync across iPhone, iPad, and Mac - Stealth Mode: keep sensitive notes private - Time Travel: revisit a random day
BayesChat
This app allows you to chat with various AI models using your own API keys. It offers features like customizable chat presets, on-device memory for personalized interactions, and agent capabilities with MCP tools. Enjoy private, real-time AI conversations with advanced rendering and on-device data storage.
- Connect to any AI model via compatible APIs
- Save and switch between chat presets
- On-device memory for personalized conversations
- Agent capabilities with MCP tools (web search, fetch)
- Prompt variables for dynamic context
- Live streaming with LaTeX, tables, and code rendering
- Privacy-focused with on-device storage
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BayesChat: Chat with any AI model using your own API key (BYOK), support MCP, Memory & Chat Preset. • Any Model, Any Provider — OpenAI, Anthropic, Gemini, OpenRouter, local models, and more via compatible APIs. • Chat Presets — Save model, prompt, params, and tools as one reusable setup; switch with one tap. • Memory — The assistant learns durable facts and preferences from your chats and applies them in future conversations. Stored on your device, and switchable per chat. • MCP Tools — Add web search, fetch, or your own servers so your assistant acts as an agent. • Prompt Variables — Auto-fill context like date, time, or model into your prompts. • Live Streaming — Real-time typewriter rendering with LaTeX, tables, and code. • Privacy On-Device — Keys in Apple Keychain, chats in local SwiftData — no account, no cloud. • Background Task: Long answers and tool runs keep going after you leave the app, with progress on the Lock Screen and in the Dynamic Island
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is review sentiment: Sidebar | Fast Notes at 100% against BayesChat's 50%. Sidebar | Fast Notes also leads on rating (5.0 vs 3.0) and in-app purchases (none vs 1). BayesChat's advantage is update cadence (every 6 days vs every 2 months). On price, ratings volume, 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
Both are free to download. BayesChat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sidebar | Fast Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.
Sidebar | Fast Notes holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 3.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 4 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 100% of Sidebar | Fast Notes's written reviews are positive against 50% of BayesChat's.
Sidebar | Fast Notes ships an update every 2 months, BayesChat every 6 days. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 7, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | Sidebar | Fast Notes | BayesChat |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (7 ratings) — better | 3.0 (4 ratings) |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews — better | 50.0% of reviews |
| Number of ratings | 7 — better | 4 |
| Update frequency | Every 2 months | Every 6 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | No — better | Yes |
| Monetization | Paid | Free — better |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Requires iOS | 18.6 | 17.0 — better |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 2 MB | 14 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Chris Woods | 永勇 范 |
Customer experience
Sidebar | Fast Notes
BayesChat
In-app purchases
Sidebar | Fast Notes
No in-app purchases
BayesChat
- BayesChat Pro Access$14.99
Questions
Is Sidebar | Fast Notes free?
Is BayesChat free?
Which has better reviews, Sidebar | Fast Notes or BayesChat?
Do Sidebar | Fast Notes or BayesChat have ads?
Which is updated more often, Sidebar | Fast Notes or BayesChat?
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