# DOCUMENT QUEST vs Cortex

The clearest difference is in-app purchases: DOCUMENT QUEST at none against Cortex's 3. DOCUMENT QUEST also leads on update cadence (daily vs every 4 days). Cortex's advantage is ads (none vs shown) and device support (4 vs 2). On price and iOS requirement there is nothing between them.

Both are free to download. Cortex sells 3 in-app purchases, starting at $4.99 per month. DOCUMENT QUEST asks for nothing beyond the download.

DOCUMENT QUEST ships an update daily, Cortex every 4 days. The most recent releases landed on October 24, 2026 and October 28, 2026 respectively.

## The numbers

| Metric | DOCUMENT QUEST | Cortex |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Price | Free | Free |
| Positive reviews | 100.0% of reviews | — |
| In-app purchases | **No** | Yes |
| Ads | Yes | **No** |
| Update frequency | **Daily** | Every 4 days |
| Monetization | Ad-supported | — |
| Size | 50 MB | 132 MB |
| Requires iOS | 15.0 | 15.0 |
| Devices | iPhone, iPod | **iPhone, iPad, iPod, Mac** |
| Age rating | 4+ | 4+ |
| Developer | [Yoshinori Tsuchiya](https://appshunter.io/developer/1685599976) | [JTR Labs LLC](https://appshunter.io/developer/1892768253) |

## What reviewers say

### DOCUMENT QUEST

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/document-quest-hero-of-note/id6474423903)

This app gamifies note-taking by allowing users to level up their writing skills. Earn experience points, manage HP and AP, and unlock new features as you write, but be mindful of neglecting your tasks.

**Highlights:** Gamified writing experience, Level up writing skills, HP and AP management, Unlock new features, Daily writing rewards, Note organization and sharing

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

**In-app purchases:** none


### Cortex

[App page](https://appshunter.io/ios/app/cortex-local-markdown-brain/id6785630809)

**Features:** Safari Extension, Vision Pro support

**In-app purchases (3)**

| Purchase | Price | Billing |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Cortex Plus (Monthly) | $4.99 | per month |
| Cortex Plus (Yearly) | $39.99 | per year |
| Cortex Believer | $99.99 | one-time |


## Frequently asked questions

### Is DOCUMENT QUEST free?

DOCUMENT QUEST is free to download, with no in-app purchases.

### Is Cortex free?

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

### Do DOCUMENT QUEST or Cortex have ads?

DOCUMENT QUEST shows ads; Cortex does not.

### Which is updated more often, DOCUMENT QUEST or Cortex?

DOCUMENT QUEST ships an update daily, and Cortex every 4 days. Most recently, DOCUMENT QUEST was updated on October 24, 2026 and Cortex on October 28, 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.*