Comparison

FiveNotes Mobile vs PILE

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

Head to head
About

FiveNotes Mobile

This app provides quick access to five color-coded notes on your mobile devices. It syncs with its macOS counterpart, offering a minimalist design for jotting down ideas, reminders, or to-dos instantly. Features include widgets, Markdown support, and theming options.

Highlights
  • Five color-coded notes
  • Widgets for quick access
  • iCloud sync with Mac
  • Markdown formatting
  • To-do list functionality
  • Customizable themes
Features
Read full description

This app is a companion app to macOS FiveNotes 3, so you can always have access to your notes. FiveNotes is a tiny note app — fast, focused, and always with you. Whether it’s an idea, number, recipe, or reminder — just jot it down instantly. You get exactly five color-coded notes — no clutter, just what matters. Why FiveNotes? – Just 5 notes: simple and effective – Widgets for quick access to your notes – iCloud sync with Mac version (Note: FiveNotes Mobile is sold separately.) – Markdown formatting – To-dos – Themes and color options – Minimal, distraction-free design – Quick and reliable – Automatic backups – watchOS app to have your notes always with you Made for creators, coders, writers, and thinkers — and everyone who just wants to keep notes fast and tidy.

About

PILE

Organize notes, photos, links, and files privately and securely using your iCloud Drive. Access your organized content across Mac, iPhone, and iPad with seamless syncing. Enjoy a distraction-free experience with no ads and customizable features.

Highlights
  • Private & Secure iCloud storage
  • Organized content retrieval
  • Flexible storage for various file types
  • Customizable tags and pinning
  • Seamless cross-device syncing
  • Distraction-free, ad-free experience
Read full description

The only private, beautiful way to organize everything. Seamlessly synced across Mac, iPhone, and iPad. Keep your notes, bookmarks, files, images, inspiration, memories, articles, and documents safe and accessible with PILE. Key Features: - Private & Secure: All data is stored in your iCloud Drive—no third-party servers, no tracking, no AI. - Organized & Ready: Retrieve deleted items for up to 30 days with our bin system. - Flexible Storage: Save notes, links, photos, videos, and more from any device. - Customization: Unlock tags, pinned items, and visual customization with one simple subscription. Why PILE? - Your data stays yours—secure, private, and always in your control. - Maintain a distraction-free environment with no ads. - Effortless synchronization through iCloud ensures your content is available anytime, anywhere. Subscription: - One subscription unlocks all features, with discounts for students and yearly plans. Join PILE for a transparent, secure, and beautifully organized digital life. Subscription auto-renews until cancelled, more info in https://pile.ie/#terms

Screenshots

FiveNotes Mobile4 screens
PILE4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is review sentiment: FiveNotes Mobile at 89% against PILE's 7%. FiveNotes Mobile also leads on rating (5.0 vs 1.6) and in-app purchases (none vs 5). PILE's advantage is price (Free vs $3.99) and update cadence (every 3 days vs every 2 months). On ads, device support and iOS requirement 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

PILE is free to download; FiveNotes Mobile costs $3.99 up front. PILE sells 5 in-app purchases, starting at $2.99 per month. FiveNotes Mobile asks for nothing beyond the download.

ReceptionRating · Positive reviews · Number of ratings

FiveNotes Mobile holds the better App Store score, 5.0 against 1.6. Both are backed by a comparable volume of ratings — 7 and 24 respectively. Written reviews point the same way: 89% of FiveNotes Mobile's written reviews are positive against 7% of PILE's.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

FiveNotes Mobile ships an update every 2 months, PILE every 3 days. Both last shipped on November 4, 2026.

Scorecard7 real differences · 3 level
FiveNotes Mobile versus PILE: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterFiveNotes MobilePILE
Price$3.99Free — better
Rating5.0 (7 ratings) — better1.6 (24 ratings)
Positive reviews88.9% of reviews — better7.4% of reviews
Number of ratings724 — better
Update frequencyEvery 2 monthsEvery 3 days — better
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNo — betterYes
MonetizationPaidFreemium — better
DevicesiPhone, iPad, Apple WatchiPhone, iPad, Mac
Requires iOS1817.0 — better
Further details — not scored
Size18 MB48 MB
Age rating4+17+
DeveloperApptoriumAwesome Apps Company Ltd.

Customer experience

FiveNotes Mobile

All ratings7 ratings
Positive100.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative0.0%
Written reviews9 reviews
Positive88.9%
Neutral0.0%
Negative11.1%

PILE

All ratings20 ratings
Positive10.0%
Neutral0.0%
Negative90.0%
Written reviews27 reviews
Positive7.4%
Neutral7.4%
Negative85.2%

In-app purchases

None

FiveNotes Mobile

No in-app purchases

5 purchases

PILE

Subscriptions5
  • Monthly for Students$2.991 Month
  • Monthly for Professionals$3.991 Month
  • Yearly Offer$12.991 Year
Show 2 more
  • Yearly - Offer$12.991 Year
  • Yearly for Everyone$22.991 Year

Questions

Is FiveNotes Mobile free?
FiveNotes Mobile costs $3.99, with no in-app purchases.
Is PILE free?
PILE is free to download, with in-app purchases available.
Which has better reviews, FiveNotes Mobile or PILE?
FiveNotes Mobile is rated higher. FiveNotes Mobile averages 5.0 out of 5 from 7 ratings, while PILE averages 1.6 from 24 ratings.
Do FiveNotes Mobile or PILE have ads?
Neither FiveNotes Mobile nor PILE shows ads.
Which is updated more often, FiveNotes Mobile or PILE?
FiveNotes Mobile ships an update every 2 months, and PILE every 3 days. Most recently, FiveNotes Mobile was updated on November 4, 2026 and PILE on November 4, 2026.

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