# Noteshelf vs Journal the Word

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: Journal the Word at none against Noteshelf's 10. Journal the Word also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5) and iOS requirement (15.6 vs 18.0). Noteshelf's advantage is update cadence (every 3 days vs monthly) and ratings volume (7.2K vs 1). On price, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Noteshelf sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days. Journal the Word asks for nothing beyond the download.

Journal the Word holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 4.5. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noteshelf has 7.2K ratings behind it against 1, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Noteshelf ships an update every 3 days, Journal the Word monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 4, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Noteshelf | Journal the Word |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.5 (7.2K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203/reviews) | **[5.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-the-word/id6742472002/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 57.5% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Every 3 days** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Freemium | **Free** |
| Best chart rank | **#203** | — |
| Size | 557 MB | 36 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **15.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch | iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fluid Touch Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318004740) | [Jonah Elijah Chitty](https://appshunter.io/developer/1798606150) |

## What reviewers say

### Noteshelf

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203)

**Currently charting:** #203 Top Free · Productivity (US App Store)

This app offers a comprehensive suite for note-taking, planning, and studying. It combines natural handwriting, AI summarization, PDF annotation, and audio recording. Organize your thoughts, annotate documents, and create custom planners with a smooth writing experience.

**Highlights:** Natural handwriting with lifelike pens, AI summarization and explanation, PDF and document annotation, Audio recording alongside notes, Extensive digital planner templates, Handwriting to text conversion, Cross-device iCloud sync

**Features:** Family Sharing, Siri integration, Apple Watch app, Vision Pro support, iPhone Duo support

**In-app purchases (10)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $19.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $29.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $39.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Premium for Noteshelf 2 users | $9.99 | one-time |
| Noteshelf 3 Premium - Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |

**What reviewers like**

- 🚀 Smooth handwriting experience
- 📚 Versatile note-taking features
- 🎨 Customizable templates and covers
- 🔍 Accurate handwriting recognition
- 💻 Seamless integration across devices

**What reviewers complain about**

- 🐛 Frequent crashes and freezes
- 🔄 Sync issues between devices
- 🔒 Concerns about privacy and data security
- 🔍 Unreliable search functionality
- 🔧 Buggy or missing features from previous versions

**Reported bugs**

- Notebooks failing to open or sync correctly
- Handwriting recognition not working as expected
- Imported PDFs losing formatting or functionality
- Unexpected loss of data or notes
- Compatibility issues with older devices or operating systems

**Requested features**

- Add ability to create folders within notebooks
- Improve page organization and navigation
- Implement a more intuitive color picker and pen customization
- Introduce a history/undo feature for linked pages
- Add support for custom stickers and templates


### Journal the Word

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/journal-the-word/id6742472002)

This app provides a digital space for users to engage with scripture through journaling. It offers built-in reading plans and a scripture lookup tool to facilitate reflection and prayer.

**Highlights:** Digital scripture journaling, Built-in reading plans, Scripture lookup tool, Track reading progress, Reflect and pray digitally

**Features:** Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Noteshelf free?

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

### Is Journal the Word free?

Journal the Word is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Noteshelf or Journal the Word?

Journal the Word is rated higher. Noteshelf averages 4.5 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Journal the Word averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Noteshelf or Journal the Word have ads?

Neither Noteshelf nor Journal the Word shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Noteshelf or Journal the Word?

Noteshelf ships an update every 3 days, and Journal the Word monthly. Most recently, Noteshelf was updated on November 4, 2026 and Journal the Word on October 30, 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.*