CanvasNote vs NoteColab
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side ā with what reviewers say about each.
CanvasNote
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The Ultimate Note-Taking App CanvasNote is the indispensable app for everyone who loves to write with a pen and seeks the ultimate note-taking experience. This app is specifically designed for use with a pen and offers a plethora of features to perfect your handwritten notes. It naturally supports the Apple Pencil, as well as alternatives compatible with the iPad or iPad Pro. Here is a detailed overview of everything CanvasNote has to offer: Outstanding Note-Taking Features: Integrated Templates: Choose from a selection of templates, including squared or lined paper, as well as special templates for music notes and mathematics. You can write in both portrait and landscape orientation. The innovative "Own Templates" area: Here, you can not only create individual categories but also share your templates with other users and save them directly on the iPad. A backup of the template folders can also be created to easily restore them on a new device. Effortlessly import templates via the iPad's photo gallery or as a PDF document and explore the variety of free note templates available online in image format or as PDF templates, to save on the iPad and import into CanvasNote. Create your own template collection, neatly divided into categories, to quickly find and apply them in your notes. Customizable Pens and Colors: Switch between different pen types, tools, and colors to give your notes a personal touch. Creating your own color palette is also possible. With three integrated sliders for the individual RGB channels, any conceivable color can be mixed. There are tools for circles, rectangles, and a special line pen that allows for the perfect drawing of vertical and horizontal lines. The line thickness and pressure sensitivity of each pen and tool can be individually adjusted via sliders. The eraser function is also available. Organization and Management: Dynamically Growing Folders: Create folders for different notes that dynamically expand as you add new pages. This keeps you always organized. Image and Document Integration: Add images from the iPad's photo gallery and write directly on them. Use the iPad's internal camera to capture documents and insert them into your notes. The integrated scan function allows for perfect capture of external documents via the iPad camera or photo gallery. Comprehensive PDF Integration: CanvasNote offers extensive PDF features. Import and edit PDF files with ease and export your edited documents in no time. Versatile Application Areas: Perfect for School, Work, and Personal Use: CanvasNote is excellent for use in school, at work, and for personal notes. Whether you want to create lecture notes, ideas, or drawings, this app is the right choice. Intuitive Management: Clear Folders: All your notes are stored neatly in folders within the app and can be easily viewed and organized. Requires a Digital Stylus: Please note that CanvasNote requires a stylus for input (Apple Pencil or iPad-compatible alternative) and cannot be written or drawn on with fingers. Experience the ultimate note-taking experience with CanvasNote and enhance your productivity and creativity. Get CanvasNote now and dive into the world of digital handwritten notes!
NoteColab
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Your ideas. Your people. The same page. NoteColab brings your notes and conversations together, with live collaboration across iPhone, iPad and Android. Plan a trip, organise a household, capture meeting notes or keep a personal journal. WRITE TOGETHER ⢠Edit shared notes in real time across devices. ⢠See who is viewing or editing with live presence indicators. ⢠Recognise collaborators by their profile photos, with initials when no photo is set. ⢠Keep discussions alongside your notes with comments and @mentions. ⢠Invite people by email or share a link with editing or view-only access. CAPTURE IDEAS YOUR WAY ⢠Structure notes with headings, bold text and lists. ⢠Create checklists for shopping, packing and everyday tasks. ⢠Attach photos and record voice notes. ⢠Turn speech into text with dictation. ⢠Sketch ideas with drawing tools. ⢠Start with templates or share text and images from other apps. KEEP EVERYTHING ORGANISED ⢠Arrange notes with folders, tags and pins. ⢠Find what you need with search and filters. ⢠Set reminders so important notes stay on your radar. ⢠Archive finished notes and recover deleted notes from Trash. ⢠Revisit earlier drafts with version history. ⢠Access recent notes from a home screen widget. ⢠Enjoy a split-view layout on iPad. MAKE IT YOURS Add, change or remove your profile photo in Settings. Your photo appears in shared notes, comments and live editing indicators, helping everyone see who is contributing. Start free, with optional NoteColab Pro subscriptions for higher limits and additional features. Available plans and local prices are shown in the app. From a shared shopping list to your next big project, keep your ideas together with NoteColab. Privacy Policy: https://bluebear-devs.com/privacy-policy Terms of Use: https://bluebear-devs.com/terms-of-service
Screenshots
Verdict
CanvasNote and NoteColab are too close to call on the numbers: across 6 compared parameters ā price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases among them ā neither pulls far enough ahead to decide it. What separates them is feature set and interface, not measurable difference.
Scored on Price Ā· Rating Ā· Positive reviews Ā· Number of ratings Ā· Update frequency Ā· Ads Ā· In-app purchases Ā· Monetization Ā· Best chart rank Ā· Devices Ā· Requires iOS
Both are free to download. CanvasNote sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and NoteColab sells 2 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
CanvasNote ships an update every 5 days, NoteColab weekly. The most recent releases landed on October 1, 2026 and September 29, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | CanvasNote | NoteColab |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Update frequency | Every 5 days ā better | Weekly |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Devices | iPad | iPhone, iPad ā better |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 ā better | 16.0 |
| Further details ā not scored | ||
| Size | 44 MB | 21 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Nicolai Kummer | DAVID MICHAEL ROBERTS |
In-app purchases
CanvasNote
- Unlock Full Version$1.99
NoteColab
- NoteColab Pro Monthly7 Days trial$4.991 Month
- NoteColab Pro Yearly7 Days trial$39.991 Year









