# Noteshelf vs Widget Studio

The clearest difference is ads: Noteshelf at none against Widget Studio's shown. Noteshelf also leads on ratings volume (7K vs 6) and update cadence (weekly vs every 3 weeks). Widget Studio's advantage is rating (4.8 vs 4.6). On price, in-app purchases, monetization model and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Noteshelf sells 17 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per 7 days and Widget Studio sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Widget Studio holds the better App Store score, 4.8 against 4.6. That said, the two scores are not equally well evidenced: Noteshelf has 7K ratings behind it against 6, so its average is the more settled of the two.

Noteshelf ships an update weekly, Widget Studio every 3 weeks. Both last shipped on October 15, 2026.

## The numbers

| Metric | Noteshelf | Widget Studio |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [4.6 (7K ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/noteshelf-ai-notes-and-pdf/id6458735203/reviews) | **[4.8 (6 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widget-studio-custom-widgets/id6757310906/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | **7K** | 6 |
| Positive reviews | 57.1% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | **No** | Yes |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Every 3 weeks |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 464 MB | 174 MB |
| Requires iOS | 18.0 | 18.0 |
| Devices | **iPhone, iPad, Mac, Apple Watch** | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Fluid Touch Pte. Ltd.](https://appshunter.io/developer/318004740) | [Olyndo Ltd](https://appshunter.io/developer/1833996613) |

## What reviewers say

### Noteshelf

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

Create handwritten notes, annotate PDFs, and record audio with this app. It offers extensive customization for notebooks, a variety of writing tools, and AI-powered features for summarization and translation. Organize your thoughts and documents seamlessly.

**Highlights:** Handwritten note creation, PDF annotation and markup, Audio recording with notes, AI-powered summarization and translation, Customizable notebooks and templates, Handwriting to text conversion, Document scanning and import

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

**In-app purchases (17)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $4.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf 3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Weekly Premium | $7.99 | per 7 days |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $9.99 | per month |
| Noteshelf3 Monthly Premium | $19.99 | 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 |
| Noteshelf Premium Yearly | $49.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $49.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf 3 Yearly Premium | $69.99 | per year |
| Noteshelf3 Yearly Premium | $79.99 | per year |
| Premium | $99.99 | 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


### Widget Studio

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/widget-studio-custom-widgets/id6757310906)

Design and personalize your iPhone home screen with custom widgets for photos, clocks, weather, and events. This app offers a powerful yet simple editor to create unique themes and express your style without requiring technical skills.

**Highlights:** Live widget editor, Photo widgets with slideshows, Customizable clock and date widgets, Weather forecast widgets, Event countdown and agenda widgets, Deep customization of fonts, colors, and shapes

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Studio Pro Monthly | $1.99 | per month |
| Studio Pro Yearly | $19.99 | per year |
| Studio Pro Lifetime | $49.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Noteshelf free?

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

### Is Widget Studio free?

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

### Which has better reviews, Noteshelf or Widget Studio?

Widget Studio is rated higher. Noteshelf averages 4.6 out of 5 from 7K ratings, while Widget Studio averages 4.8 from 6 ratings.

### Do Noteshelf or Widget Studio have ads?

Widget Studio shows ads; Noteshelf does not.

### Which is updated more often, Noteshelf or Widget Studio?

Noteshelf ships an update weekly, and Widget Studio every 3 weeks. Most recently, Noteshelf was updated on October 15, 2026 and Widget Studio on October 15, 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.*