# Pencil vs Perenne Note. Digital Notebook

The clearest difference is review sentiment: Perenne Note. Digital Notebook at 50% against Pencil's 25%. Perenne Note. Digital Notebook also leads on iOS requirement (17.6 vs 26.0). Pencil's advantage is rating (4.0 vs 3.8). On price, ratings volume, update cadence and ads there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Pencil sells 4 in-app purchases, starting at $1.99 per 7 days and Perenne Note. Digital Notebook sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.

Pencil holds the better App Store score, 4.0 against 3.8. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 4 and 5 respectively. Written reviews complicate that: 25% of Pencil's written reviews are positive against 50% of Perenne Note. Digital Notebook's, so the app with the better star average is not the one people write more warmly about.

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

## The numbers

| Metric | Pencil | Perenne Note. Digital Notebook |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | **[4.0 (4 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421/reviews)** | [3.8 (5 ratings)](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/perenne-note-digital-notebook/id6758993077/reviews) |
| Number of ratings | 4 | **5** |
| Positive reviews | 25.0% of reviews | **50.0% of reviews** |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Ads | No | No |
| Update frequency | Weekly | Weekly |
| Monetization | Freemium | Free with in-app purchases |
| Size | 511 MB | 61 MB |
| Requires iOS | 26.0 | **17.6** |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad |
| Age rating | 4+ | 17+ |
| Developer | [Kairoos Solutions SL](https://appshunter.io/developer/978066434) | [Nicholas Compagnoni](https://appshunter.io/developer/1876200579) |

## What reviewers say

### Pencil

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/pencil-pdf-notes-with-pencil/id6466286421)

This app allows users to handwrite, sketch, and annotate PDFs on their iPad and iPhone. It supports Apple Pencil and other styluses for note-taking, drawing, and even watercolor painting. Features include audio recording within notes and AI assistance for summarizing and translation.

**Highlights:** Handwrite and sketch with stylus or finger, Annotate and mark up PDFs, Record audio directly in notes, Create formatted text notes, Watercolor painting workspace, Scan and import documents, AI assistance for summaries and translation

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

**In-app purchases (4)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Weekly | $1.99 | per 7 days |
| Unlock All and AI Assistant | $3.99 | per month |
| Pencil Annual | $14.99 | per year |
| Pencil Lifetime | $14.99 | one-time |


### Perenne Note. Digital Notebook

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/perenne-note-digital-notebook/id6758993077)

A minimalist digital notebook designed for iPad and iPhone, offering a realistic writing and sketching experience with Apple Pencil. Organize notes, sketches, and lists with customizable notebooks and real-time syncing.

**Highlights:** Realistic pen and pencil tools, Customizable notebooks and paper styles, iPhone companion app with iCloud sync, Quick notes with rich text and checklists, Reminders and calendar integration, Desk feature for floating elements, PDF and PNG export options

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

**In-app purchases (5)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Monthly | $2.99 | per month |
| Annual | $22.99 | per year |
| Single Notebook | $3.99 | one-time |
| Yearly Planner | $6.99 | one-time |
| Notebook Bundle | $8.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is Pencil free?

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

### Is Perenne Note. Digital Notebook free?

Perenne Note. Digital Notebook is free to download, with in-app purchases available.

### Which has better reviews, Pencil or Perenne Note. Digital Notebook?

Pencil is rated higher. Pencil averages 4.0 out of 5 from 4 ratings, while Perenne Note. Digital Notebook averages 3.8 from 5 ratings.

### Do Pencil or Perenne Note. Digital Notebook have ads?

Neither Pencil nor Perenne Note. Digital Notebook shows ads.

### Which is updated more often, Pencil or Perenne Note. Digital Notebook?

Pencil ships an update weekly, and Perenne Note. Digital Notebook weekly. Most recently, Pencil was updated on November 3, 2026 and Perenne Note. Digital Notebook on November 5, 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.*