Comparison

Sidebar | Fast Notes vs BayesChat

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

Head to head
About

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.

Highlights
  • Instant note capture
  • Timestamped entries
  • To-do list integration
  • Personal scoreboard
  • Cross-device sync
  • Custom themes
  • Stealth mode
Features
Read full description

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

About

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.

Highlights
  • 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
Features
Read full description

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

Sidebar | Fast Notes4 screens
BayesChat4 screens

Verdict

The call

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

CostPrice · In-app purchases · Ads · Monetization

Both are free to download. BayesChat sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Sidebar | Fast Notes asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

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.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

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.

Scorecard5 real differences · 5 level
Sidebar | Fast Notes versus BayesChat: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterSidebar | Fast NotesBayesChat
PriceFreeFree
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better3.0 (4 ratings)
Positive reviews100.0% of reviews — better50.0% of reviews
Number of ratings7 — better4
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 6 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFree — better
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS18.617.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size2 MB14 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperChris Woods永勇 范

Customer experience

Sidebar | Fast Notes

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews1 reviews
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%

BayesChat

All ratings4 ratings
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%
Written reviews2 reviews
Positive50.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative50.0%

In-app purchases

None

Sidebar | Fast Notes

No in-app purchases

1 purchases

BayesChat

One-time1
  • BayesChat Pro Access$14.99

Questions

Is Sidebar | Fast Notes free?
Sidebar | Fast Notes is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is BayesChat free?
BayesChat is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, Sidebar | Fast Notes or BayesChat?
Sidebar | Fast Notes is rated higher. Sidebar | Fast Notes averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while BayesChat averages 3.0 from 4 ratings.
Do Sidebar | Fast Notes or BayesChat have ads?
Neither Sidebar | Fast Notes nor BayesChat shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Sidebar | Fast Notes or BayesChat?
Sidebar | Fast Notes ships an update every 2 months, and BayesChat every 6 days. Most recently, Sidebar | Fast Notes was updated on November 3, 2026 and BayesChat on November 7, 2026.

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