Comparison

Neo Studio 2 vs ActionBuddy

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

Head to head
About

Neo Studio 2

This app digitizes your handwritten notes from paper using a smartpen. It offers features like text extraction, area selection for sharing, and automatic separation of overlapping handwriting. Enjoy real-time synchronization across devices for a seamless note-taking experience.

Highlights
  • Digitize handwriting on paper
  • Text extraction from notes
  • Lasso tool for area selection
  • Automatic separation of overlapping handwriting
  • Real-time synchronization
  • Voice recording
Features
Read full description

A note-taking app that digitizes handwriting on paper. Reborn as the dedicated application for Neo Smartpen: Neo Studio 2! Experience the improved Neo Studio 2 with a more convenient and streamlined note-taking environment, expanding the handwriting paradigm. #Introduction of Main Features [Page View] Now you can scroll through the timeline with a single page view. You can easily check your handwritten notes without entering a detailed page. [Text Extraction] The previous 'Handwriting Recognition' function has been renamed to 'Text Extraction.' It has also been changed to a button at the bottom right of the handwriting detail page, allowing you to instantly convert your handwritten content into text. [Lasso Tool] In the handwriting detail page, you can select specific areas with the Lasso Tool for text extraction or to share only the selected area. [Split] Now overlapping handwriting is automatically separated. This addresses the issue of choosing the right time of overlapping notes, allowing you to isolate them and then automatically separate into the same notebook as the first writing. [Connect Only This Pen] If other smart pens are on, they may automatically connect to the app, but now you can focus on one pen, adding this feature to boost concentration. [Synchronization] Synchronization is now done in real-time without manual intervention, so you can log in with your existing account on any device, and your handwritten data will be reflected automatically. [Compatible Smartpens for Neo Studio] Neo Smartpen A1 (NWP-F151), Neo Smartpen R1 (NWP-F40), Neo Smartpen R1(NWP-F45-NC), Neo Smartpen M1 (NWP-F50), Neo Smartpen M1+ (NWP-F51), Neo Smartpen N2 (NWP-F121C), Neo Smartpen dimo (NWP-F30), LAMY Sadari all black ncode (NWP-F80) [Service Access Permission Information] - Bluetooth: Used to connect smart pens and devices through Bluetooth. - Photo permission: Used to set notebook covers with personal photos or save shared files to the device. - Audio recording and microphone: Used for voice recording in Neo Studio 2. * If you don't agree to these permissions, some features of the service might not function properly. * The Neo Studio 2 app's access permissions are compatible with iOS 16 or later versions. [Service Access Permissions Guide] Bluetooth: Used to connect the smartpen and device Photo access: Used to set personal photos as notebook covers or to save shared files to the device Audio recording & microphone: Used for the voice recording feature of Neo Studio 2 Some features may not function properly if permissions are not granted. Neo Studio 2 requires iOS 16 or later.

About

ActionBuddy

Features
Read full description

Most apps track what you did. Action Buddy helps you understand why you did it, and what to do next. Action Buddy is an AI-powered clarity engine for ambitious people who feel mentally crowded, especially during transitions (new job, exams, burnout, pivots, breakups, “what am I doing with my life?” seasons). Instead of long, text-heavy journaling, the Action Buddy Loop helps you: capture what’s going on (fast), clarify what it means (patterns + triggers), and choose one next step (small, doable, repeatable).

Screenshots

Neo Studio 24 screens
ActionBuddy4 screens

Verdict

The call

The clearest difference is iOS requirement: Neo Studio 2 at 16.0 against ActionBuddy's 18.6. On price, update cadence, ads and in-app purchases 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

Both are free to download. Neither carries in-app purchases, so what you see is what you pay.

UpkeepUpdate frequency

Neo Studio 2 ships an update monthly, ActionBuddy every 2 months. The most recent releases landed on November 8, 2026 and October 31, 2026 respectively.

Scorecard1 real difference · 9 level
Neo Studio 2 versus ActionBuddy: the parameters behind the verdict, then further details
ParameterNeo Studio 2ActionBuddy
PriceFreeFree
Rating1.8 (20 ratings) — better—
Positive reviews19.6% of reviews—
Number of ratings20 — better—
Update frequencyMonthly — betterEvery 2 months
AdsNoNo
In-app purchasesNoNo
MonetizationFree—
DevicesiPhone, iPadiPhone, iPad
Requires iOS16.0 — better18.6
Further details — not scored
Size885 MB59 MB
Age rating4+9+
DeveloperNeoLAB Convergence IncAchieversProfile

In-app purchases

None

Neo Studio 2

No in-app purchases

None

ActionBuddy

No in-app purchases

Questions

Is Neo Studio 2 free?
Neo Studio 2 is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Is ActionBuddy free?
ActionBuddy is free to download, with no in-app purchases.
Do Neo Studio 2 or ActionBuddy have ads?
Neither Neo Studio 2 nor ActionBuddy shows ads.
Which is updated more often, Neo Studio 2 or ActionBuddy?
Neo Studio 2 ships an update monthly, and ActionBuddy every 2 months. Most recently, Neo Studio 2 was updated on November 8, 2026 and ActionBuddy on October 31, 2026.

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