# Mental Note vs Next Candles

The clearest difference is rating: Next Candles at 5.0 against Mental Note's 1.0. Next Candles also leads on in-app purchases (none vs 3). Mental Note's advantage is update cadence (weekly vs monthly) and iOS requirement (16.0 vs 26.0). On price, ratings volume, ads and device support there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Mental Note sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days. Next Candles asks for nothing beyond the download.

Next Candles holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.0. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 1 and 2 respectively.

Mental Note ships an update weekly, Next Candles monthly. The most recent releases landed on November 3, 2026 and November 4, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | Mental Note | Next Candles |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | [1.0 (1 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-note-ai-mood-diary/id6460934704/reviews) | **[5.0 (2 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-candles/id6474628145/reviews)** |
| Number of ratings | 1 | **2** |
| Positive reviews | 0.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | Yes | **No** |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | **Weekly** | Monthly |
| Monetization | Free with in-app purchases | **Free** |
| Size | 12 MB | 1 MB |
| Requires iOS | **16.0** | 26.0 |
| Devices | iPhone | **iPhone, iPad** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Exhalo](https://appshunter.io/developer/1683499451) | [Frank Anderson](https://appshunter.io/developer/1555648308) |

## What reviewers say

### Mental Note

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/mental-note-ai-mood-diary/id6460934704)

This app uses AI-powered semantic analysis to help you understand your emotions and thoughts through journaling. Record daily musings and reflections to gain personalized insights into your personal development and self-awareness. Your entries are encrypted and securely stored for privacy.

**Highlights:** AI-enhanced semantic analysis, Sentiment and tone evaluation, Personalized insights, Encrypted and secure storage, Selective data sharing options, Daily musings and reflections

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

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Premium Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Premium Weekly | $2.99 | per 7 days |
| Mental Journal Premium | $29.99 | per 3 months |


### Next Candles

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/next-candles/id6474628145)

Never forget a birthday again. This app offers effortless setup by importing contacts, personalized reminders with custom timing, and one-tap access to contact information for easy birthday wishes. Its beautiful design makes managing special dates a pleasure.

**Highlights:** Import from Contacts, Personalized reminders, One-tap contact info, Clean interface, Custom notification timing

**In-app purchases:** none


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Mental Note free?

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

### Is Next Candles free?

Next Candles is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Which has better reviews, Mental Note or Next Candles?

Next Candles is rated higher. Mental Note averages 1.0 out of 5 from 1 ratings, while Next Candles averages 5.0 from 2 ratings.

### Do Mental Note or Next Candles have ads?

Neither Mental Note nor Next Candles shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Mental Note or Next Candles?

Mental Note ships an update weekly, and Next Candles monthly. Most recently, Mental Note was updated on November 3, 2026 and Next Candles on November 4, 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.*