Comparison

Pencil vs Notes

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

Head to head
About

Pencil

Create beautiful notes, sketch ideas, and annotate PDFs with advanced ink tools and AI assistance. Convert handwriting to text, scan documents, and organize files seamlessly across cloud services. Enjoy a realistic ink-on-paper feel with stylus support.

Highlights
  • Advanced ink tools for writing and sketching
  • AI Assistant for summarization and translation
  • Handwritten notes to editable text conversion
  • Document scanning with automatic frame recognition
  • Cloud service integration for file management
  • Full-text search for PDFs
  • PDF reader with highlighting and read aloud
Features
Read full description

Pencil brings handwriting, sketching, PDF annotation and watercolor painting to iPad and iPhone. Designed especially for Apple Pencil on iPad, it also works with other compatible styluses and your finger. Take notes in class, mark up a document, plan your week or paint an idea while it is still fresh. • Write and sketch your way. Use Apple Pencil on iPad, or write and draw with a compatible stylus or your finger on iPad and iPhone. Start a PDF note from a paper template, choose your ink colors and add typed text, images and shapes. Use lined or grid backgrounds to give your notes structure. • Make your PDFs useful. Highlight passages, add comments, write in the margins and insert your signature. Search inside a document, bookmark important pages and rearrange, duplicate or rotate pages as your work develops. • Keep the conversation with your notes. Record audio directly in a PDF note and play it back alongside the page. Revisit a lecture, meeting or explanation without separating the recording from your written notes. • Type when words come first. Create formatted Text Notes with fonts, colors, lists, checklists, tables and images. Turn a quick thought into a clear set of notes, a plan or a longer draft, then export it as a PDF to share. • Explore watercolor painting. Open a dedicated painting workspace, choose your paper and experiment with brushes, mixed colors and washes. Paint from a reference photo, try guided practice lessons and export your painting as an image or PDF. • Bring paper into your notebook. Scan documents with the camera, import files through the Files app and add photos to your work. Keep notes, PDFs and paintings organized in folders, ready to return to when you need them. • Get help from AI. Ask questions about your documents, summarize a passage, explain an unfamiliar concept or translate selected text. Use AI Chat to work through an idea alongside your notes. Privacy Policy: https://www.noteswriter.com/Kairoos_Privacy_Policy.html Terms of Use: https://www.apple.com/legal/internet-services/itunes/dev/stdeula/

About

Notes

Capture ideas, create to-do lists, and sketch designs with a versatile digital notebook. Customize your notes with various paper templates, stickers, fonts, and colors. Effortlessly organize and share your work as PDFs.

Highlights
  • Customizable paper covers and templates
  • Multimedia tools: pencil, text, photos
  • Vector-based digital pencil for drawing
  • Hundreds of font and color options
  • Organize notes with custom titles and covers
  • Export notes as PDF
Features
Read full description

Take your notes to the next level! Download Notes: Note taking & writing for free and experience the new way of taking digital notes. This notetaking app is as flexible as you are. Jot down ideas, take notes, or sketch your next big idea. Whether you're a student, a professional, or just love doodling, you'll find all the tools you need. UPGRADE YOUR NOTE-TAKING • Choose from various cute and inspiring paper covers. • Work on your content with many available paper templates like Daily Plan, To-do-list, Vocabulary list, and more. • Bring photos from the gallery to your notes with one click. Easily memorize and mark the photos you prefer. • Various sticker selections to make your notes lively and memorable. YOUR NOTES YOUR STYLES WITH CUSTOMIZED TEXTS AND HAND-DRAW OPTION • Use multi-media tools like pencil, and text to work on the content. • Add your text anywhere in the notes and choose from hundreds of available fonts and colors of your choice. • Experience the most lifelike, vector-based digital pencil to freely draw anything you like. Enjoy fine-tuned, responsive, and precise writing. STAY ORGANIZED, STAY PAPER-FREE • Keep all your notes in one place, without the bulk or waste of paper. • Freely add additional pages to your current work to make your note endless. • Organize with hundreds of different notebook covers and specify the title of your choice. SHARE IDEAS EFFORTLESSLY AS PDF • Easily share your notes in PDF format with any contacts and channels. Our note-writer app goes beyond just being a cutting-edge, fast, and reliable note-taking app—it's designed for anyone who takes notes or writes. This smart notepad and writing workspace is perfect for both your iPad and iPhone. Contact us: teammarketing@lutech.ltd Terms of Services: https://lutech.vn/term Privacy Policy: http://lutech.vn/privacy

Screenshots

Pencil4 screens
Notes4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Pencil at 25% against Notes's 0%. Notes's advantage is update cadence (every 2 days vs every 8 days) and iOS requirement (14.0 vs 26.0). On price, ads, in-app purchases and monetization model 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. Pencil sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month and Notes sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $0.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Pencil ships an update every 8 days, Notes every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 11, 2026 and October 7, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard3 real differences · 7 level
Pencil versus Notes: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterPencilNotes
PriceFreeFree
Rating4.0 (4 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews25.0% of reviews — better0.0% of reviews
Number of ratings4 — better—
Update frequencyEvery 8 daysEvery 2 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesYesYes
MonetizationFreemiumFree with in-app purchases
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad, iPod — better
Requires iOS26.014.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size465 MB180 MB
Age rating4+4+
DeveloperKairoos Solutions SLLutech-DN

Customer experience

Pencil

All ratings4 ratings
Positive75.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative25.0%
Written reviews4 reviews
Positive25.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative75.0%

Notes

Written reviews1 reviews
Positive0.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative100.0%

In-app purchases

2 purchases

Pencil

Subscriptions1
  • Unlock All and AI Assistant3 Days trial$2.991 Month
One-time1
  • GoodPencil Upgrade$3.99
4 purchases

Notes

Subscriptions4
  • monthly$0.991 Month
  • quarterly$2.493 Months
  • Premium Year$3.491 Year
Show 1 more
  • Loyalty member1 Year trial$3.991 Year

Questions

Is Pencil free?
Pencil is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Is Notes free?
Notes is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Do Pencil or Notes have ads?
Neither Pencil nor Notes shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Pencil or Notes?
Pencil ships an update every 8 days, and Notes every 2 days. Most recently, Pencil was updated on October 11, 2026 and Notes on October 7, 2026.

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