VisualRecord vs Etched
Price, ratings, monetisation and update history for both apps, side by side — with what reviewers say about each.
VisualRecord
This app offers a visual database for recording information about objects, including photos. It allows for powerful searching using SQL or a simpler fetch interface. Ideal for cataloging valuables for insurance or personal inventory.
- Visual record keeping
- Attach multiple photos per record
- Store textual descriptions
- SQLite database storage
- SQL query language support
- Intuitive 'fetch' interface for filtering
- Use iPad camera or Photo Library
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VisualRecord for iPad provides an easy to use, visual record keeping database. With its intuitive interface, VisualRecord allows you to record information about a particular object, including one or more pictures of the object itself. The information you supply about the object, including photos, is stored in the form of a record in a SQLite database table. This allows you to use the powerful SQL query language to search over the records you've created and filter the data to suit your needs. In addition, VisualRecord provides a "fetch" interface which requires no prior knowledge of SQL that also allows you to filter your data based on simple criteria. When you add a new record for a particular object to your database table, VisualRecord makes it easy to insert a picture of the object into the record itself using your iPad's Photo Library or Camera. The records in your database table can include textual fields of arbitrary length. This allows you to include descriptive text in the record associated with the object in question. VisualRecord is ideal for record keeping of your valuables for insurance purposes.
Etched
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Stop losing your own notes. Etched finds what you wrote by meaning — not just by keyword. Ask for "the note about slowing down to think" and it surfaces, even if those exact words were never written. Everything runs on your device. Write in plain markdown and watch it render as you type — no symbols, no preview pane, no modes. What you see is the file. Your notes stay portable .md, yours forever. FREE, and complete: • On-device semantic search — find notes by meaning • Live WYSIWYG markdown — bold, headings, lists, quotes, code • Tables, callouts, code blocks, footnotes, highlights, links • iCloud sync across your devices • Export to .md (raw or with rendered images), PDF, plain text ETCHED PRO — one-time purchase, yours forever: • Flashcards + spaced repetition — turn notes into memory • Diagrams from plain text (flowcharts, sequences, mind maps) • Typeset math and chemistry (LaTeX) • Charts from a few rows of data • Sheet music from ABC notation • Handwriting / sketches • Present mode — turn a note into full-screen slides • Per-note themes Reading every format is always free — Pro unlocks creating them. No subscription, ever. Pay once and keep it. Coming from Apple Notes, Obsidian, or Bear? Your markdown imports as plain .md, and you finally get search that finds notes by meaning — privately, with no account. Private by design: your notes never leave your devices except through your own iCloud. No account, no tracking, no ads. Your notes, etched in memory. — Made by Hyojin Mo. Support: support@vibeland.app
Screenshots
Verdict
The clearest difference is update cadence: Etched at every 2 days against VisualRecord's every 10 months. On price, ads, in-app purchases and device support 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
Both are free to download. VisualRecord sells 1 one-off in-app purchase and Etched sells 1 one-off in-app purchase. Whichever you choose, the download price is not the number that matters.
VisualRecord ships an update every 10 months, Etched every 2 days. The most recent releases landed on October 8, 2026 and September 23, 2026 respectively.
| Parameter | VisualRecord | Etched |
|---|---|---|
| Price | Free | Free |
| Rating | 5.0 (2 ratings) — better | — |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| Number of ratings | 2 — better | — |
| Update frequency | Every 10 months | Every 2 days — better |
| Ads | No | No |
| In-app purchases | Yes | Yes |
| Monetization | Free | — |
| Devices | iPhone, iPad | iPhone, iPad, Mac — better |
| Requires iOS | 17.0 | 17.0 |
| Further details — not scored | ||
| Size | 4 MB | 87 MB |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | Kal-El Software | Soyeon Noh |
In-app purchases
VisualRecord
- Remove App Restrictions$2.99
Etched
- Etched Pro$14.99









