# Noteshelf vs Handwriting Scan

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Handwriting Scan at 100% against Noteshelf's 58%. Handwriting Scan also leads on rating (5.0 vs 4.5). Noteshelf's advantage is ratings volume (7.2K vs 1) and device support (4 vs 2). On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Noteshelf sells 10 in-app purchases, starting at $7.99 per 7 days and Handwriting Scan sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $3.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Handwriting Scan 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. Written reviews point the same way: 58% of Noteshelf's written reviews are positive against 100% of Handwriting Scan's.

Both ship on a similar rhythm, roughly every 3 days. The most recent releases landed on November 5, 2026 and October 30, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Noteshelf | Handwriting Scan |
| --- | --- | --- |
| 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/handwriting-scan-writescan/id6751835580/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7.2K** | 1 |
| Positive reviews | 57.5% of reviews | **100.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Every 3 days | Every 3 days |
| Monetization | Freemium | Freemium |
| Size | 557 MB | 71 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | **17.0** |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fluid Touch Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318004740) | [Kodai Hiradate](https://appshunter.io/developer/1475852802) |

## What reviewers say

### Noteshelf

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

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


### Handwriting Scan

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/handwriting-scan-writescan/id6751835580)

Digitize handwritten notes and paper memos, converting them into searchable text. Organize, review, and share your captured information easily. Extract to-do lists and sync them with your reminders.

**Highlights:** OCR for handwritten notes, Searchable text notes, Markdown export, iCloud support, Task extraction and management, Sync with Apple Reminders

**Features:** macOS Compatibility, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Pro plan(monthly) | $3.99 | per month |
| Pro plan (Annual) | $29.99 | per year |
| 20-Scan Add-on Pack | $0.49 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Noteshelf free?

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

### Is Handwriting Scan free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Noteshelf or Handwriting Scan?

Handwriting Scan is rated higher. Noteshelf averages 4.5 out of 5 from 7.2K ratings, while Handwriting Scan averages 5.0 from 1 ratings.

### Do Noteshelf or Handwriting Scan have ads?

Neither Noteshelf nor Handwriting Scan shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Noteshelf or Handwriting Scan?

Noteshelf ships an update every 3 days, and Handwriting Scan every 3 days. Most recently, Noteshelf was updated on November 5, 2026 and Handwriting Scan on October 30, 2026.

---

*Compared by [AppsHunter](https://appshunter.io/) from daily US App Store data. Review summaries are generated from verbatim App Store reviews.*